I pulled old Indiana carry permit out of my wallet today, which despite having moved to another state is still valid – God bless Indiana’s CCW laws. It was issued in December of 2006, which was coincidentally the same month and year I started Gun Nuts, albeit under a completely different name. Looking at that permit got me thinking about then vs. now, and how I ended up where I am. Not in terms of writing, but rather in terms of my opinions on guns. I’ve had a carry permit since 2004 when I lived in Virginia, and the list of guns and holsters that I’ve used is neither auspicious or distinguished.
8 years is a long time, but I’ll do my best and try to list the guns that I’ve used as carry guns and the belts and holsters I used with them. Belts and holsters are incredibly important because that is what’s actually doing the work of making the gun easy to carry and conceal.
2004
- Belt: always some terrible leather belt that was not designed to be a gun belt.
- Holster: always some terrible Uncle Mike’s floppy nylon IWB holster
- Guns: Walther P22, Ruger SP101, Ruger GP100
2005
- Belt: Terrible leather belt
- Holster: Terrible Uncle Mike’s floppy nylon IWB
- Guns: Walther P22, Ruger GP100
2006
- Belt and holster: Same
- Guns: Walther P22, Taurus PT92
2007
- Belt: Same
- Holster: Floppy Uncle Mikes AND a pretty decent Galco Summer Comfort, my first good holster
- Guns: Taurus PT92, Beretta 92D
2008
- Belt: Blackhawk Rigger’s Belt, my first good belt.
- Holster: Galco Summer Comfort, occasionally Blackhawk SERPA
- Guns: Beretta 92D, ParaUSA LTC 9mm, ParaUSA P16-40
2008 was also when I started getting in to competition shooting seriously, and it opened my eyes to the value of quality gear.
2009
- Belt: Blackhawk Rigger’s Belt
- Holster: Blackhawk CQC non-SERPA, Galco Summer Comfort
- Guns: ParaUSA LTC 9mm, Para Tac-5, Springfield XDm 9mm, S&W Model 60
2009 was the watershed moment for me. After 2009, I focused as much energy as I could on competition shooting and developing my skills as a shooter.
2010
- Belt: Comp-Tac reinforced belt – still the best gunbelt I’ve ever owned
- Holster: Comp-Tac CTAC, Galco Summer Comfort
- Guns: Ruger SR9c, S&W Model 60
2011
- Belt: Comp-Tac reinforced belt
- Holster: Comp-Tac CTAC
- Gun: Ruger SR9c
In 2011, I carried a lot of different guns, usually because I was reviewing that particular gun for magazine X. The gun that I’d always carry if I wasn’t being paid to review it was my SR9c.
I’m not listing data for 2012, because we’re less than halfway in on the year, but right now it’s shaping up that my primary carry is going to be an M&P Shield for most of the year. It’s the first gun I’ve owned in a while that’s easier to carry than the SR9c while still being relatively shootable. But the point to all of this isn’t just to list the terrible guns I’ve owned and carried, but rather to talk about the journey. We all start somewhere, and I started in a place that now, 8 years later looks so far away that it’s hard for me to understand what I was thinking at the time. Looking at old blog posts, or pictures of me with a Tauretta or whatnot it’s surprising that I made it here at all.
The driving force that changed me was a desire to not just be “good enough to defend myself” or “good enough” at all. I was fortunate to have access to some great instructors and great experiences that opened doors for me and fed my desire to be better. We’ve all been there. Just because you’re carrying a Bersa .380 in a terrible universal fit holster right now doesn’t mean you need to stay that way. Seek out good, qualified instructors. Take difficult classes with your current gear, and you’ll quickly find out what works and what doesn’t. Shoot matches with your gear, and find out what works and what doesn’t.
If you want to be more than just “good enough”, there are plenty of opportunities out there, go chase them down.
(Note: I did not include guns I’ve shot in competition on this list, as it would made an already long and annoying list even longer and more annoying – Caleb)
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