ltwguns.com

Pretty quiet lately in this section. Lemme stir it up if I can...

If ya'll are willing to say, what is your usual carry sidearm?

I'd appreciate your listing your reasons for your own personal preference(s) for the major options--which ever sights, length of slide, if your personal carry has a mag chute, aluminum frame, etc.

Cosmetic choices aren't nearly as important (things like French borders, top strap serrations, coating finish, etc.) At least a picture is requested on my knees. I grovel at your feet.

Thank you!

Your grovel is my command, I'll get something up later today pic-wise but it's gonna be my Colt Officers ACP. Not much to look at, too heavy sometimes, but accurate and reliable if I don't go too crazy with the ammo (like +P). I believe I can group as well with it as any 5" I have. I've used it to shoot our rifle qual out to 65 yards, 27 out of 30 is passing, I've shot a 250 that I still have the target for and I think a 270 once but that may have been a different gun. Have shot the 300 meter pop-up range with it and scored 10 out of 20, no hits at 300 though-- mostly 50 to 150. This gun is at 98.6 more than half the time and within arm's reach the rest.

For sights in has my #3 proto Shield Driver from 1986. Flat wire spring setup from EGW seems to have made all recoil-spring related issues (mostly maintenance) go away. Original Colt fire control parts, Wilson barrel (or the above-mentioned accuracy just would not be there). Asym 185 SDX because that bullet works and it works without being loaded to the ragged edge, which the Asym is not (+P brass notwithstanding). When I look for carry ammo, noise, flash and recoil are considered carefully, especially in shorter barrels. Some 185 loads are stunning in this department but not the Asym. I do not use it because Stan bought me drinks at the last SHOT Show! Here's how I rank things in ammo selection--
Reliability
Noise/flash/recoil
Accuracy / terminal effect

Thanks very much for the detailed reply, Ned. You bring up some interesting points, and I'm pleased to hear 'confirmation' on my thoughts. I carry a CCO Lwt during the summer and a steel Commander sized in the winter, but the round I use regularly is the old 185gr WW Silvertip.

I've not tried Stan's 185's simply because I had so much Silvertip ammo laying around that I field-tested my ccw with it instead. I, too, prefer a lighter round, though I usually practice with a 200 LSWC (or 230 HB in 5" guns). I've got a 5" Lwt ACP and I'm wondering if it's an ideal mate to 185 JHP's. I was considering carrying it because it's no discomfort and the longer sight radius would benefit me, but I haven't made the switch yet; field testing isn't finished. (the only reason I move up in size is for round count; size doesn't conceal worse in the winter)

For me it is (and likely always will be) a carbon steel Colt Government Model in 45ACP.




I gun lives in an IWB and has a barrel from Kart with a barrel bushing, slide stop, and grip safety from EGW. The trigger is a short length and the ignition components, extractor, and ejector are from Wilson Combat. I use a standard sized Colt thumb safety and magazine release and the front sight is .125” wide with a gold line insert and the rear sight is a reshaped Heinie Slant-Pro with a .125” wide notch. The front strap is high-cut and checkered at 30lpi with a matching mainspring housing and the mag-well has a generous bevel. I like a trigger just under 4# and use a conventional recoil system with an 18.5# recoil spring and 23# main spring.

The gun will be loaded with either 185gr Asym SDX or 185gr Speer Gold Dot and fed via Wilson 47 magazines.

_________________
Heirloom Precision
http://www.heirloomprecision.com

CHOPPER. Wife, daughter & I all carry one as our daily driver.

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CT Brian Custom
'Blending Art With Firepower'

Here we go.

The Sparks holster is new-- I've carried this gun since 1986 in a few different hoslters-- first a Sparks Summer Special, then my Nossar IWB for a long, long time and I'd still be using it but it needs a new belt strap; lately this Sparks Executive Companion. When I find something I like I stick with it and don't tend to try a lot of other things. On an IWB I need the snaps for easy on and off.

The IWB mag pouch is from Nossar and has a ten-round Tripp mag in it full of Asym 185's. I don't use any hang-out-the-bottom mags in the pistol-- that's a 6-rounder in it with a Tripp kit in it..... I prefer the added long-term reliability and less bulk in this setup.

I will probably some day replace this with a Colt Defender as I'm always looking for a way to get some weight out. That's one of the reasons I'm using 185-grain ammo, in 17 rounds it's almost 2 oz lighter.... not much but you get there ounces at a time. I've found Defenders surprisingly accurate and reliable.... now I just need to get one and find the time to do it up.

Thank you, All.

Ned, it surprised me that your '11 is set up with a stock thumb safety. I expected some sort of extended. Doesn't the 10-round mag poke you? I carry a 10-rounder, too, but I made a horizontal leather rig for it.

Jason, what belt do you use to carry the 'full' weight? Your safety is a surprise, too.

Tim, how do the women carry their guns?

Thank you.

I've always found the standard Colt-style safety adequate and I prefer it for its low profile. The 10 rounder really doesn't cause any discomfort.

Uncle Lou made them specially angled small of the back holsters some years ago.

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CT Brian Custom
'Blending Art With Firepower'

I've always used a quality leather belt from the crew at Milt Sparks, Lou Alessi, John Ralston, Matt Del Fatti, and others... all true craftsmen who have made me first quality gear that makes carrying a full-sized pistol easy.

Safeties... the standard Colt safety is low profile and useable for my hands. I've had guns with extended safeties but they never did anything "better" for me.

_________________
Heirloom Precision
http://www.heirloomprecision.com

Thanks, Gents.

I'll havta tighten my belt. I've used a Sparks or Hume, and the all steel 5" seems to drop a lot no matter the belt. It never curls the belt or holster; I guess that's an indicator that I gotta tighten up.

Wish I could use the regular thumb safety. I need a bigger one to ride the lever otherwise I've been known to throw the lever up with the back of my thumb on recoil. Maybe it's bad form but it happens so rarely I never figured it out.

I go for a very stiff detent both ways on the safety. Sometimes I'll put nearly the time into it that I do a trigger job. I look for about 7-8 pounds.

And here I thought you guys all carried museum-grade pieces..

I have to admit to committing the cardinal sin of swapping guns. Then again, since that's what I'm getting paid to do, how much of a sin could it be?

When I packed one, and only one, it was a lightly worked-over colt LWC, .45 ACP, that had been to Gunsite four times.

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http://www.rogersprecision.com

Crusty on the outside.... delicious on the inside!