What to carry? glock19/ruger sp101

[drake2410]

Hey guys. New guy here. I have both ruger sp101 and glock 19. I like both very much. Ive been carrying the ruger but wanted to get some input on what anyone else thought. Glock 19 or ruger sp101 in 357.

 

[justxboxin]

Whatever you like . I prefer a revolver and the revolver carry

 

[bmwruss]

First, do you prefer an auto or a revolver? As far as revolvers, I have a S&W 642, J-frame. Hammerless design, which I really like. As far as the Glock 19. I used to own one. It's a fine gun, but I found it a bit large to carry. I sold it and bought a Ruger LC9. It all boils down to personal tastes. Likes and dislikes.

 

[rdp357]

Sitting here this morning and was thinking the same thing the OP mentioned. I've got both Glock 19 and a Ruger Sp101 357 3", I started out carrying a Taurus 605 and traded it in for the Glock 19, then I had to have another revolver, took 6 months to find my Ruger in a 3" barrel, now the Glock sits in my desk draw, Always grab my revolver when I head out the door. Went to the range a couple days ago and actually enjoyed shooting the SP 101 more then I did the Glock "Plus" I was more accurate with the revolver. I grew up with revolvers and have always loved them, I believe my Glock will have to find a new home to make room for another revolver. Maybe a Ruger GP100 3" barrel. Its like having two beautiful women and can't figure out which one to keep. :fie:

 

[SGB]

I'd carry the G19 and I'm not a glock guy.

 

[Bozz]

Like they said... its personal preference. If you can carry and shoot them both well, then I would say it boils down to one thing.... capacity! 16 rds. vs. 6 rds.

 

[Duke of Advil]

Like they said... its personal preference. If you can carry and shoot them both well, then I would say it boils down to one thing.... capacity! 16 rds. vs. 6 rds.

5 rounds........

 

[Superglide]

glock 23

I carry a glock 23 .40 caliber. I love it. I carry it using a pancake holster and you dont even know it's there

 

[Superglide]

what to carry

I know some people prefer to carry a revolver for reliability but i carry a Glock 23 and have never had a jam. Its a very reliable gun

 

[justxboxin]

Like they said... its personal preference. If you can carry and shoot them both well, then I would say it boils down to one thing.... capacity! 16 rds. vs. 6 rds.

5 rounds........

I am sorry but if we need more then five rounds you might be done anyway . I feel like that many rounds your walking around looking to kill . 5 rounds plus a speed loader of five is enough

 

[Duke of Advil]

I am sorry but if we need more then five rounds you might be done anyway . I feel like that many rounds your walking around looking to kill . 5 rounds plus a speed loader of five is enough

Not against 5, i actually own a sp 101 .357 with a 2 inch barrel. It will not be my primary but i would feel safe with 5.

 

[SGB]

I am sorry but if we need more then five rounds you might be done anyway . I feel like that many rounds your walking around looking to kill . 5 rounds plus a speed loader of five is enough

Another My gunfight syndrome victim speaks. No one who's ever been in a gunfight ever wished for a smaller gun and or less ammunition. To say "I feel like that many rounds your walking around looking to kill" is the kind of thoughtless and juvenile comment expected to come from a untrained adolescent. There's a reason one should engage the brain before the mouth or in this case the keyboard.

"Thinking outside your box"
"...Assumptions are awesome when they're actually right, but they sure can hurt when you're wrong......"
by Larry Correia
I've been a concealed carry instructor for five years, I hang out with a bunch of gun nuts, and I've been around self-defense buffs for most of my adult life. In that time I've seen a recurring theme, and unfortunately it can be a dangerous one. Many of us have something in common.

I call it My Gunfight. We've imagined a scene, a violent encounter, in our head. And in this scene, we take decisive action and we prevail and save the day. Many of us have a mental fabrication of what My Gunfight is going to be like.

Most people who chose to carry a gun have done this. I have myself. It isn't anything to be ashamed of. In fact, it really helps develop a proper mindset to be able to realistically assess what kind of terrible things can happen to you and start laying some groundwork about how we want to respond.

The problem comes in when we make assumptions about My Gunfight.
Assumptions are awesome when they're actually right, but they sure can hurt when you're wrong.

I have had students tell me that they never practice at anything past conversational distance, because the average gunfight takes place at only seven feet. See, in Their Gunfight, the bad guy will be conveniently placed at a distance that they can actually hit stuff.

Sadly, there's no such thing as an average gunfight. The only thing they have in common is that they all suck. If you only prepare for a gunfight inside an elevator, it will be a bummer when the crazy guy starts shooting at you across the mall. I've had students tell me that if the assailant is that far away, then they wouldn't be justified in shooting. That's also a mistake. There are hundreds of reasons why you might need to shoot somebody out past conversational distance. And if you find yourself in a situation where you need to, you dang well better have practiced.

Another assumption I get from many students is that they will have plenty of time to draw their gun and get it into action. Oftentimes these folks want to carry with an empty chamber. There is a misconception that this is somehow safer, and besides in Their Gunfight, they'll have plenty of time, and both hands available, to get their pistol into action.

In real life, the bad guys may not be as compliant as the ones in Your Gunfight. In real life, the violence may occur so quickly that you do not have time to rack the slide. Or you may have one hand occupied holding the bad guy back from stabbing you in the head with a screwdriver. The point is, you won't know until it happens. Even best case scenario you've added a significant amount of time to your draw stroke (and if you've been in a fight to the death, you know that even a second is a significant amount of time), and one more chance to fumble and screw up.

During my regular class, I integrate a role-playing session. We go through several realistic scenarios with students and actors armed with rubber weapons. All of these scenarios are based on actual cases, and like real life, most of them tend to happen quickly.

Usually after going through the role-plays, nobody is tempted to carry chamber empty anymore. A fatal assumption was pointed out in Their Gunfight, and they adjust accordingly. If you're really worried about carrying with a loaded chamber, get a good, safe holster that keeps the gun secure and protects the trigger. If you still have a mental hang up, switch to a gun that has a heavier trigger or other safety devices. Anything is faster and safer than assuming you'll be in a position to rack a slide.

These are just a few examples of assumptions caused by My Gunfight.
One of my personal favorite students of all time was hung up, not only on carrying chamber empty, but he also had a belief that he would "easily" be able to neutralize the bad guy by shooting them in the leg. No, I kid you not. He brought this up repeatedly during class, even after I pointed out that it could be just as fatal only slower, the same lethal force in the eyes of the law, and with the added benefit of not being nearly as effective at incapacitating an actual threat. What did I know? I was only the guy he was paying to teach him this stuff.

During the role-play, he was lucky enough to get a scenario that I use to demonstrate the principles of a Tueller drill. Without going into too many details, I'm playing the part of an obviously dangerous threat, interrupted in the act of committing a forcible felony on a third person, with the ability and opportunity to cause him serious bodily harm, and I just happen to start twenty-one feet away with a rubber knife.

I charged. He went for his gun. Not only did he fail to rack the slide and shoot me in the leg like he had talked about, he managed to draw the gun, fumble, and actually tossed it across the room. I stabbed him a few times, and as a happy bonus, picked his gun up before I fled the scene.

His Gunfight had not taken into account things like speed, adrenalin, or confusion. Last I checked, he was carrying a chamber loaded Glock, in a good holster, and practicing a bunch.

That was an extreme example, but I think all of us need to watch out for the decisions we make based upon our assumptions. Be smart, be realistic, and don't be afraid to keep an open mind. Just because My Gunfight makes sense to me, doesn't mean that the world cares one bit.

-Larry Correia is an author, firearms instructor, and one of the owners of Fuzzy Bunny Movie Guns in Draper, Utah. FBMG is a gun store, specializing in self-defense needs, training, and full-line smithing. His first novel, Monster Hunter International, will be released by Baen Books in June 2009. The author can be reached at [email protected]

 

[BenDibble]

Ruger SP101 in 3" is my daily carry. Got a wonderful IWB horsehide holster and never have to worry about sweat.
But again for your decision, find a holster that makes carry comfortable and easy to access. Depending on your state law, open carry vs. concealed is a big decision. But I'd say the Ruger is probably just as wide as the Glock?

 

[njsportsman]

I am sorry but if we need more then five rounds you might be done anyway . I feel like that many rounds your walking around looking to kill . 5 rounds plus a speed loader of five is enough

I would tend to agree with you but, when you go to the range and don't have a gun pointed at you should have no problem putting 5 rounds in the center. Now imagine taking fire on and now imagine trying to place them same 5 shots in the center probably not the same situation. Now your hyped, intense and probably wishing you were at home watching All In The Family re-runs. Not making fun but, just trying to prove why you may be incorrect in what you say. You maybe a LEO of some type of LE and have been in that scenario don‘t know but, not all of us have. I consider myself a pretty good shot but, was humbled when taking a training coarse one time. The drill was two guys shooting the same target one guy playing the BG and one playing the self defense role. Now when the instructor said a specific word the BG would draw and it didn't have to be exactly when he said the specific word but anytime after that. Fairly innocent test but you would be surprised at the results I was. The first guy I went against I beat he drew faster and had the first shot but he clipped my ear and I had two in his spine. Now again I am not bragging at all because that was the only time I won I got smoked the rest of the tries. He was the best shooter there by far but I guess a little cocky. Unfortunate for me that was only a practice round and my last round. I guess the moral of the story here is we all think we might be Jessie James but , the fact is we don’t know till we are put into that situation. I pray we never have to be but I want to be armed as much as I can because you never what your up against and how you will perform.

 

[rilkil23]

Sold my .38 special snubby because I sucked at accuracy and follow up shots. My Glock 19c is a much better option for me because I shoot it better than my revolver.

 

[njsportsman]

Nice read SGB. As to the question at hand I guess I got side track with the ignorance of some and never addressed drake2410‘s question. I carry a Glock 19and love the gun it is a shooter and a tough gun. I have thrown almost everything through it and it has always gone bang. It has been around forever and been through changes I have a gen 3. The best advise anyone can give you is see what feels right for you and before you strap it to yourself practice, practice and most importantly practice. Make sure you practice with the same grain and try to match your practice ammo as best as you can with your carry ammo. As I said match the best you can the only way you can get perfect is to practice with the premium ammo you carry with if you can afford it. Me I cannot I shoot Hornady TAP ammo for CCW. I cannot at $25 a box afford to shoot 1000's of rounds through it. Don't get me wrong I shoot a box or 2 here and there to made sure I am good with my carry ammo. Whatever you do choose what is best for you not what others think is best for you or be bullied into thinking you don’t have enough or it’s not a big enough caliber. If you choose a 5-shoot then so be it get good at shooting it and practice reloading with speed loaders. Good luck and I am sure that whatever you choose will be good. Hey sometimes I carry my Kel Tec PF9 7 shot and that’s all I have but I practice with it and practice tactical reloading all the time. Again good luck