Do you feel under armed with the pup?

[renrew]

I never really carried much until I got the pup.  I had the Kel Tec P3AT in .380 that I carried in the car and I did feel a bit under armed with.  I also have a couple of Sig's in .40, but even the smaller p239 in single stack is pretty heavy.

I have found the pup to find it's way on most of my trips out the door and don't feel like I am lugging around a heavy gun, but if I ever need it I don't really feel under armed.

[backupr9]

Appropriate armament depends on the circumstance I would think.  There are circumstances where I feel adequately armed if I carry a compact .45; others when a Seecamp .32 seems to be enough.  Who was it (?Connor) who said "the reason I carry a pistol is to give me time to get to my rifle"? 

Anyhow, my usual and almost daily carry is the R9 as truly the best compromise for power/weight ratio in most civilized and "safe" circumstances.  When traveling, it is on my belt or in my pocket, but there is always something larger and hi-cap in the car beside my seat by the center console in a leather bible case with extra mags in the side pocket....paranoid?...no!  I am 70 and no longer walk or move like a young man.  My wife walks with a cane or a walker after spinal surgery...this gives us the appearance of natural prey whether in downtown Jacksonville or in a Walmart parking lot in Appalachia. Perhaps we are, perhaps not.

[Richard S]

* * * ...this gives us the appearance of natural prey whether in downtown Jacksonville or in a Walmart parking lot in Appalachia. Perhaps we are, perhaps not.

I pity the poor fool who makes the wrong assumption.   

[jayson]

A pocket pistol is fine for me on my person however I agree that at home or in a vehicle you would be better served with a full size pistol at the least if not a shotgun.  I tend to favor my hk p30. Handles great and has good capacity. 15 RDS.

[backupr9]

Good choice Jason...my pistol for long trips in the SUV is an HK USPC .40 with 13 rounds.  It is smooth, accurate, never has an FTF and has good night sights...fun to shoot on the range as well.  Also has a rail to carry a streamlight/strobe when I wish.  Wife won't let me carry the shotgun in the car darn it!
John

[Richard S]

John:

See if this would pass muster.     All it takes is a Class 3 stamp. And it's made right here in Franklin, Tennessee.

http://www.useltonarmsinc.com/Shorty_Home_Protection_Shotgun/

[jayson]

That's really neat. I'm in Florida where the serbu shorties are made so I've seen a couple of those.  That's the ultimate defense pistol! 

[backupr9]

Looks like a great self-defense weapon Richard, but not for someone with my arthritic wrists...dang thing would cripple me.  I do have an inexpensive but very effective Stevens 12 ga. pump with ghost sights behind the headboard, but need the full stock to brace the recoil.

[Richard S]

Looks like a great self-defense weapon Richard, but not for someone with my arthritic wrists...dang thing would cripple me.  I do have an inexpensive but very effective Stevens 12 ga. pump with ghost sights behind the headboard, but need the full stock to brace the recoil.

The web site says it will accept 3" shells. I once shot 3" Mags through my Winchester 1300 using the pistol grip with the stock folded. The operative word in the preceding sentence is "once."   

[tracker]

I like the short "mini home protection shells" shown on their gun photo. That sounds like a very civilized and effective defense round, albeit at a shorter range. However, they have to prove to cycle reliably before using for self defense purposes.

[C0untZer0]

I think feeling under armed is relative.  Some people aren't going to feel safe unless they're behind a Browning 50 cal Machine Gun with a full belt of ammo and 10 ammo boxes in reserve.

I think most things can be described with a bell curve.  Self-defense situations can be described with a bell curve too.  Are there situations outside of my home where I could find myself facing multiple assailants and 7 rounds before reload won't be enough?  Possible but highly unlikely.  There are people who live in constant fear that the equivalent of zombie-ocalypse is going to break out any second.  And they carry something like a 46 ounce high-capacity 10mm hand cannon with 2 spare magazines, and a pocket BUG, and a 38 snub nose in an ankle holster.  And usually when those people make comments on a forum disparaging the 9mm, or the R9, it's because even with all their stuff, they feel unsure and "under-gunned" and feel compelled to comment on anyone who holds a different view.

The R9 is accurate for most self-defense situations.  There are very good 9mm bullet designs out there , rounds that will punch a 14" deep, .65" diameter whole in an attacker.  It's all I need for the bulk of the bell curve describing most self-defense situations.

I have an HK P7M8 and I love it.   It is my nightstand gun, and when we get concealed carry in Illinois I will probably carry the P7M8 quite a bit, but the R9 just slips in a pocket so it will be with me too, and for those situations where the P7M8 would make my shorts fall down without wearing a big belt - I'll probably take the R9.

Incidentally - the small size ends up being useful in all sorts of unexpected ways.  I do a lot of bicycling.  My R9 in the Nemesis holster fits my Schwinn Bike Bento / Accessory Bag (sits in front of the seat)  I don't really have a good solution for taking my P7M8 biking with me.



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[Richard S]

That is a thoughtful and insightful post, Count.