When choosing a carry gun, most people have a number of factors they consider before taking the plunge. However something I feel needs to be addressed is what to do when you change your carry piece. In this video I run down a few ideas and considerations that seems pretty logical.

Transcript …

– [Voiceover] Changing your carry gun is a big deal.

For many people around the world, your carry pistol is a last resort to stopping a threat that poses a danger to you or your loved ones.

For this reason, it is absolutely essential that the gun you choose is the best option for you personally.

There are so many choices out there, that a first time buyer may be overwhelmed by the amount of offerings on the market.

And some people may be restricted by law by what they can legally carry.

For example, in Mexico, if you obtain a license to carry, you’re limited by caliber.

In Italy, cartridges like nine millimeter are banned outright, but in, say, the Czech Republic, if you have a Category E license, you’re pretty free to carry a wide variety of firearms.

In the USA, there’s a huge difference in laws across the states, and they can get very confusing.

This, I suppose, highlights the difference between a Federal and Unitary government, but I am veering off course a little.

Essentially, the law and familiarity determine what a person can carry, but for the purpose of this video, I’m going to leave all options on the table.

So say you have a license to carry a gun, or live in a place where a license is not required.

Back in the day, your options were either the time tested, and much loved revolver, or a smattering of new automatics, mostly designed by a gentleman from Utah named John.

Americans stuck by their wheel guns largely until the 1980’s, preferring absolute reliability, and magnum cartridges to a few extra rounds in a magazine.

Europeans did use revolvers, but they were also happy to adopt small.32 ACP self loaders like this lovely Mauser, which is actually a Weimar Royal Constabulary gun.

So in the early days, the revolver versus the automatic for personal protection was a more serious debate.

Today, however, autos are much more dominant for concealed carry in the USA, and new autos are being introduced at a much faster rate than wheel guns.

The anomalies include the Chiappa Rhino, which our own James Reeves reviewed and loved, and the new Kimber K6S, which looks quite nice.

That said, look at the buzz that surrounded the Glock 42 and 43.

These things are killing it in sales, and I think that is indicative of what most people are looking for in a concealed carry gun.

So there are a bunch of choices, and if you’re watching this video, then you may well have a carry gun.

Never forget that this is a gun you should trust your life to, because, well, you essentially are.

It should be as reliable as possible, and I would never recommend carrying something that you do not have at least 500 rounds through to make sure it won’t let you down.

It should be accurate, and it should be comfortable.

So I catch a little flack from time to time because my go to piece is a P7, and not most recently released polymer subcompact number 587.

But you know why I carry that gun? Well, I have so many rounds through it, that I wouldn’t even know how to tally them up, and it has yet to malfunction, ever.

It shoots incredibly accurately, as anybody who has ever shot one will tell you.

And I can comfortably carry it in a holster that I really like.

I’ve also been carrying it and shooting it for five years, so suffice it to say I’m used to it.

There’s value in carrying something you are familiar with.

I would say more than a lot of people realize.

But say you want to make a change for some reason.

Nothing wrong with this, but I advise most people take a few steps.

I’ve seen too many people, a shocking amount really, buy a brand new, shiny carry gun, holster, and ammo all at once without shooting the gun, or even trying the holster, mind you.

In my opinion, this is about the worst thing you can do.

New guns get recalled all the time for all sorts of problems, including safety and reliability issues.

And not just small, or less than reputable outfits.

Remember that Glock recalled almost all Gen Fours.

And the new 17M has just been recalled as well.

But say your new carry gun is good to go.

Like I said above, fire it a lot.

Preferably, find the type of ammo you’re going to carry, and run it with that.

I know this will be pricey, but again, the stakes of a gun you’re trusting your life to are higher than one that will spend most of it’s life in a safe.

This is an investment in your safety, and possible your family’s.

So the price of a few boxes of expensive hollow points to make sure your gun works right with them is justifiable.

Too many people have bought a gun, had it work fine with ball, and then discovered it didn’t run with defense ammo on a one off range trip, and then looked at the mags reserved for carry filled with the hollow points with some fear in their eyes.

Don’t let that happen to you.

So in my humble opinion, be wary of changing your carry gun.

In a few short words, try a rental gun first to make sure it works for you, read or watch as many reviews as possible.

Do the same with holster reviews.

And when you buy a carry gun, shoot it as much as you can.

Special thank you to Ventura Munitions for making our videos possible, and a special thank you to you for watching.