Have Gun Will Travel

SUMMARY: A brief look at some of the factors to be considered when choosing a concealed carry pistol.

Have Gun Will Travel was an American Western television series that was on both television and radio from 1957 through 1963. Set in the period of the Old West, the series follows the adventures of "Paladin", a gentleman investigator who travels around the Old West working as a gunfighter for hire.

Paladin open carried his custom-made, first-generation Colt Single Action Army in .45 Colt caliber with a 7.5-inch barrel. He also carried concealed a two-shot Remington derringer as a backup weapon. In a high threat environment, a backup is a pretty good idea.

I would never openly carry a pistol. Would you show your hole cards in Texas Hold'em? Open carry provides a nefarious actor with the opportunity to disarm you. There are many potential scenarios where that could happen, unless you are John Wick. Open carry, or a poorly concealed pistol, just screams “shoot me first”!

Look around and see if you can tell who is armed. If you carry a concealed weapon then it is very important to know the signs that someone is carrying a weapon so that you don't display these signs yourself. Here is how to tell if someone is armed. Link

Carry extra magazines? In the movie, Unforgiven, Deputy Clyde is chided for carrying three pistols when he only has one arm. His reasoning? "I just don't want to get killed for lack of shooting back". Carry extra magazines.

Gun safety? The first rule is, keep your booger hook off the bang switch. Never put your finger on the trigger unless you are going to squeeze it. If you don't know how to handle a gun don't carry one. You will most likely shoot yourself or someone that you didn't mean to. There are plenty of YT videos of stupid criminals playing stupid games and winning stupid prizes.

The summer riot season is off to a bang up start. It will get much worse with nationwide protests planned for June 14. Stay strapped or get clapped.

OK, so what factors should be considered in choosing a concealed carry pistol?

For one thing, it is a matter of personal taste. If you are reasonably skilled with a pistol then you can pretty much carry whatever you want. Any well-made, high-quality modern pistol will serve. I carry a 9mm HK USPc because I think it looks cool. I also have her cousin in .45 ACP.

I like wheel guns but revolvers don't hold enough rounds to suit me for self-defense carry. I have a S&W 686 Combat Magnum chambered in .357 Mag that I carry sometimes when walking the dog out back.

Choosing a concealed carry pistol involves balancing several factors based on your needs, preferences, and lifestyle. Here are a few things to consider.

Consider your purpose and use case. What is your primary goal? Self-defense, home defense, or both? Will your concealed carry pistol also be your primary home defense weapon? Personally, for home defense I prefer a rifle and shotgun. Concealed carry pistols are typically compact for everyday carry, but home defense might allow for larger options, including larger calibers and longer barrels.

Will you carry daily or occasionally? Daily carry prioritizes comfort and concealability. I recommend always carry. However, remember that if you ever get into a situation where you need a gun it will be when you don’t have one. That's just how things work.

Size and concealability are important factors. If you want to carry concealed then your pistol should be easy to conceal.

Smaller pistols (subcompact or compact) are easier to conceal but may have reduced magazine capacity and be harder to shoot accurately. For self-defense, most gunfights happen at less than 5 yards. Many are much less. Accuracy with a quality pistol shouldn't be an issue. Many policemen report not using their sights during a gunfight, mainly due to stress and the speed and intensity of the action.

Lighter weight guns are more comfortable for all-day carry but may increase felt recoil. In a high intensity gunfight you will feel the adrenaline but you probably won't feel the recoil. Typical concealed carry pistols weigh 15–30 oz. A loaded compact Glock 19 weighs about 30 oz. A loaded subcompact Glock 26 weighs about 25 oz.

Consider an adequate, high quality holster and clothing that will conceal the weapon. Consider your wardrobe (tight vs. loose clothing) and holster type (inside the waistband IWB, outside the waistband OWB, appendix, etc.) to ensure concealability. Know the most common carry positions so you know where to look when watching others.

Caliber and stopping power is a rediculous, and never ending, argument among arm chair keyboard warriors. Carry whatever you want and forget the self-proclaimed “experts”. It's really a matter of magazine capacity. I would rather have a 9mm with more rounds than a .45 with less. That said, the 1911 is my favorite pistol of all time. I carried one in the military. From the looks of it, it was a WW2 leftover.

Common calibers: 9mm is most popular due to its balance of recoil, capacity, and effectiveness. .380 ACP is smaller with lighter recoil (but it can be snappy), while .40 S&W or .45 ACP offer more stopping power but increased recoil and reduced magazine capacity. 9mm is NATO standard. Many people have given up on .40 cal as a fad.

That's one storyline. Another is that the type of ammo is also a critical factor. A well designed, high quality 9mm self-defense round has excellent terminal ballistics. Choose reliable defensive rounds (e.g., hollow points) based on ballistic performance. If you are likely to face someone wearing body armor a hollow point might not be the best choice.

Ergonomics and comfort are important. The pistol should feel natural in your hand, with easy access to controls (trigger, safety, magazine release). Test different models if possible. Some gun ranges rent guns so you can try several models. Learn proper grip.

Recoil management is important for follow-up shots. Anyone worth shooting once is worth shooting twice. Perfect the double tap. Smaller, lighter-weight guns often have snappier recoil. Consider your strength and experience level.

Trigger pull is important but in a high-stress situation you aren't likely to notice the trigger pull. It is a balance between performance and safety. Military weapons usually have a heavier trigger pull to reduce the likelihood of friendly fire. Nothing very friendly about shooting someone who is on your side. A smooth, consistent trigger enhances accuracy.

Reliability and durability typically are not an issue with modern, high-quality pistols. Some people like stainless steel. Yeah, it can look cool but isn't really necessary in most use cases. That said, a nickle boron finish is quite delightful.

Look at pistols with proven performance. Choose a pistol with a track record of reliability under various conditions (e.g., Glock, Sig Sauer, Smith & Wesson). Pretty much any quality name manufacturer will fit the bill. I am partial to Heckler & Koch.

Maintenance is important. Ensure the gun is easy to clean and maintain, especially if carried daily in lint or sweat-prone environments. Learn how to field strip and clean. I clean my pistol after anytime it is fired or every few weeks if not fired. I have noticed it tends to collect lint while carrying.

Magazine capacity is a major consideration. I would rather have more bullets than less. I’ve never heard anyone after a firefight say, dammit, I was carrying too much ammo. The only time that you can have too much ammo is if you are drowning or on fire. At least one extra magazine is a necessity.

Standard pistol magazine capacity can vary a lot (normally 6–19 rounds). Subcompacts often hold fewer rounds, but extended magazines can help. Balance capacity with concealability. I like extended magazines in subcompacts with a pinky rest. I also like the Glock 33 round 9mm mag.

Some states restrict magazine capacity (e.g., 10 rounds max). Fuck them. They are restricting your God-given right of self-defense with arbitrary and capricious bullshit. Criminals will carry whatever they want.

Night sights or high-visibility sights improve low-light performance. Some pistols allow for red dot optics. I am a big fan of night sights but don't care much for a red dot on a pistol. I am old school, I guess. Carry whatever you want.

As mentioned, most self-defense gunfights happen at 5 yards or less. They are high adrenaline and high intensity. The average self-defense gunfight lasts about 3 seconds. Whatever sights you have on your pistol you aren’t likely to use them. Unless you train like a Navy SEAL. At high intensity, close range you might consider practicing point shooting.

Barrel length is important for concealability. Shorter barrels (3–4 inches) are common for concealed carry but may reduce accuracy at longer ranges. If you need to shoot someone more than 10 yards away then use your rifle. There is an inverse relationship between barrel length and the shooter's penis length. Unless you are female. I like short barrels.

Pistols have safety features. Know them.

In the movie "Black Hawk Down," the line "This is my safety, sir" is spoken by the character "Hoot," played by Eric Bana, in response to Capt. Steele (Jason Isaacs) pointing out his rifle wasn't on '“safe”. Hoot holds up his trigger finger and says the line, essentially arguing that his finger is the safety mechanism. True story.

Manual safety: Some prefer a manual safety for added security, while others opt for striker-fired pistols without a manual for simplicity. It is very easy to not remove the manual safety in a high-stress engagement. I saw a video of a robbery where the store owner was killed because he didn't disengage a manual safety. It was the bad guy's lucky day.

Trigger safety: Many modern pistols have built-in safeties (e.g., Glock’s Safe Action system).

Drop safety: Ensure the pistol is drop-safe to prevent accidental discharge.

Ease of operation is a consideration.

Slide manipulation: Ensure you can rack the slide comfortably, especially if you have limited hand strength. Some slides can be very stiff. Learn the proper way to rack a slide using leverage. Hint: rack the slide close in to the body.

Controls: Check accessibility of magazine release and slide stop. There is some variability here. My HK has a wierd ambidextrous paddle safety. It is one of the things that I like about it.

Cost and budget? Realize that you need a lot more than a pistol. Holster, ammo, cleaning supplies, etc.

Price range: Quality concealed carry pistols typically cost $400–$1000 and up. Budget options exist but may compromise reliability. When in doubt, or on a limited budget, get a Glock. Over 20 million Glock pistols have been manufactured. There's a reason for that.

Training and proficiency are the most important thing period. Budget for some quality training. It is available pretty much everywhere. Surprisingly, YouTube has a lot of good firearm training videos, including firearm safety. It's a cheap place to start.

Experience level: Beginners may prefer simpler designs (e.g., striker-fired pistols). Experienced shooters might opt for more complex systems.

Training: Commit to regular practice and professional training to master your pistol. Dry fire is very useful. You get everything except the recoil. I highly recommend regular dry fire practice.

Pro tip: When you are practicing dry fire, don't use ammo.

Legal Considerations? How does that go? It's better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6. If you live in a non-permissive area then move. Don't let a criminal government take away your natural right of self-defense.

State laws: Research concealed carry laws in your state, including restricted areas, permit requirements, and reciprocity with other states. It can be complicated. Many states don't allow carry in places like courthouses, schools, bars, etc. Makes sense to outlaw guns in schools. Gun free zone! That way you never have any school shootings. And if you do, the shooter doesn't have to worry about anyone shooting back.

Transport: Understand laws for carrying in vehicles or across state lines. State lines. Can be a real problem traveling cross country.

Range rentals: Test-fire pistols at a range to assess fit, recoil, and accuracy. A lot of ranges allow this.

Recommendation: Start with a 9mm subcompact or compact pistol from a reputable brand (e.g., Glock) for a balance of concealability, magazine capacity, and ease of use. Visit a range to test models, and prioritize comfort and reliability. Always check local laws and invest in training.

Reminder, never point a firearm at anything you don't mean to shoot.