The Mindset of Gun Ownership?

[GardoneVT]

After a disastrous experiment in owning a Springfield XDm , I sold it for an M&P .And it shoots just as well in my hands as my Beretta,and slightly faster from the holster at 25 ft.

Yet,I cannot mentally make the leap to carrying it.On paper I do just as well with either gun,and the Smith is lighter.But I KNOW my 92FS so well and it's a beautiful gun.Plus I can hide it well ,so we're back to personal mindset-and I ,illogically,prefer the Beretta.

So, we come to the bottom line :are you able to divorce sentiment from fact? Do you carry your gun based strictly on its range performance, or does personal preference on style and model come into play which mitigates the performance aspect?

[JV_]

idon'tthinkyou'llfindmanypeopleonthissitethatmakec arrydecisionsbasedon'feel'ratherthanon-range-performance.

[Tamara]

I own at least a dozen handguns I'd rather be carrying than the one I actually am at the moment.

[Corlissimo]

idon'tthinkyou'llfindmanypeopleonthissitethatmakec arrydecisionsbasedon'feel'ratherthanon-range-performance.

icwatudidthere. :)

[/silly]

[MDS]

They're both good guns, no bad choice there, personal preference doesn't have to be totally rational.

I don't know if this is about mindset as much as navel-gazing, though? As in, the thread title seems a little bit more broad than thread content? So if you're hinting at something broader, like making poor gun-related choices based on irrational motives, that's a different thread. And one I probably would stay away from. :eek:

[GardoneVT]

I own at least a dozen handguns I'd rather be carrying than the one I actually am at the moment.

Details?

[ToddG]

All else being equal:

Between two guns of disparate range performance, choose the one you shoot best.
Between two guns of similar range performance, choose the one you'll be motivated to practice with the most.

When I say disparate I don't mean a difference of 0.04 seconds on your draw. I don't mean one lets you shoot 100-7x while the other is a 99-3x.

In the end it boils down to confidence. Carry the one that instils the most confidence in you when you need it.

[hufnagel]

In the end it boils down to confidence. Carry the one that instils the most confidence in you when you need it.

That, is the gold nugget in the pan.

[Casual Friday]

After a disastrous experiment in owning a Springfield XDm , I sold it for an M&P .And it shoots just as well in my hands as my Beretta,and slightly faster from the holster at 25 ft.

Yet,I cannot mentally make the leap to carrying it.On paper I do just as well with either gun,and the Smith is lighter.But I KNOW my 92FS so well and it's a beautiful gun.Plus I can hide it well ,so we're back to personal mindset-and I ,illogically,prefer the Beretta.

So, we come to the bottom line :are you able to divorce sentiment from fact? Do you carry your gun based strictly on its range performance, or does personal preference on style and model come into play which mitigates the performance aspect?

Curious, how old are you?

[GardoneVT]

Curious, how old are you?

Didntmypoorlypunctuatedpostgiveitaway?

;)

[YVK]

...strictly on its range performance, or does personal preference on style and model come into play which mitigates the performance aspect?

My last two carry gun changes were made with expectation that my performance would drop for some time, and it did. I am evaluating a third such change right now. Nothing really "mitigates" a performance aspect, but if your reasons make sense to you as to why you do what you do, then rock on. A bonus point: if your reasons make sense to other people, then rockonrockonrockon.

[Dagga Boy]

I am a bit different than most here (if it wasn't painfully obvious). I carry the pistol I "run" the best. I carry the pistol that meets my handling needs the best. Some of the things that make specific pistols great on range performance may not be what I am looking for in regards to daily carry and the best tool for handling the most likely job. I do not always "shoot" my P30 great on the range (although things improve everytime I go to the range), but I run it far better than anything else and the ergonomics and function are near perfect for me and my needs.

[Casual Friday]

My carry gun was decided upon based on several factors.

1. Reliability. If it doesn't run, nothing else matters.

2. Carryability/Shootability. Made up words, I know, but I look for a gun that is small enough to conceal carry and large enough to fight with. I also look for a gun that I can make head shots on an IDPA target at 25 yards. For me that is a 4" or larger barreled 9mm semi auto with a capacity of 15+1 or greater. For years that was a Glock 19. Now it's a Smith & Wesson SD9. Yes, I choose to carry a SD9 over a Glock 19. Hits on target don't lie, I'm simply better with the SD9. I should add that I have the Apex Tactical spring kit and their newly released AET trigger in my SD9 which turned it into a completely different gun.

3. Aftermarket support. Holster and sight options are important to me. I'm very picky about both. Being able to use holsters and sights for the M&P with my SD9 was a major factor in me deciding to purchase one and put it through the paces over the last year.

[Tamara]

I am a bit different than most here (if it wasn't painfully obvious). I carry the pistol I "run" the best. I carry the pistol that meets my handling needs the best. Some of the things that make specific pistols great on range performance may not be what I am looking for in regards to daily carry and the best tool for handling the most likely job. I do not always "shoot" my P30 great on the range (although things improve everytime I go to the range), but I run it far better than anything else and the ergonomics and function are near perfect for me and my needs.

Oh, don't feel like such an outlier.

If I carried the pistol I shot best, I'd be carrying a K-22 Target Masterpiece.

[Dagga Boy]

Oh, don't feel like such an outlier.

If I carried the pistol I shot best, I'd be carrying a K-22 Target Masterpiece.

Bomar's hurt my fat roll:p. There is also the whole "you don't want me pointing this at you with this "killer" trigger while I am scared". "It's not extended mag release.....it's more like a pillar.

[BoppaBear]

I initially choose my guns based on research, preferably first-hand, and the purchase is generally purpose driven. This said, other than shooting a couple mags, there aren't many friends or renta-a-blaster establishments that allow you to take them for a real spin before buying.

After I've made a decision to move forward, I buy.

That decision is based off of reliability, shootability, and "feel" (for me that's egos and how it carries). Somewhere between the last two, there is a subset for capacity, as I like capacity, but a self-defense weapon is no more than a blunt object if it doesn't go bang when expected or if follow-up shots are difficult to get on target.

ETA- thread title is a bit misleading

[JMS]

The title isn't off, the whole thread is off, because this isn't a "mindset" thing, it's a "validate my ability to be needlessly indecisive" thing, with bonus anthromorphization!

Title may as well be "I'm in Love With Two RealDolls, Which One Should I Marry?" The answer is 1) Ewwwwwww, and 2) stop thinking what you're doing is normal.

You probably think you're being reasonable, but you're trying to decide between carrying two guns based upon having carried/shot one...

...and by, your own admission, having only shot the other, without having carried it at all.

Put aside for the moment which one you "know" and think is "beautiful" *shudder* You can fill in the gaping logic gap, first, by committing to carrying the one for a period of time, so as to provide fodder for an ACTUAL compare/contrast. Once you've done that, whether or not you feed in your show-me-on-the-puppet vibe is up to you.

[1slow]

Egos or Ergos (ergonomics)?

[ToddG]

The title isn't off, the whole thread is off, because this isn't a "mindset" thing, it's a "validate my ability to be needlessly indecisive" thing, with bonus anthromorphization!

Officially, I'm saying please make sure this discussion doesn't turn personal.

Unofficially, LOL.

[GardoneVT]

The title isn't off, the whole thread is off, because this isn't a "mindset" thing, it's a "validate my ability to be needlessly indecisive" thing, with bonus anthromorphization!

Title may as well be "I'm in Love With Two RealDolls, Which One Should I Marry?" The answer is 1) Ewwwwwww, and 2) stop thinking what you're doing is normal.

You probably think you're being reasonable, but you're trying to decide between carrying two guns based upon having carried/shot one...

...and by, your own admission, having only shot the other, without having carried it at all.

Put aside for the moment which one you "know" and think is "beautiful" *shudder* You can fill in the gaping logic gap, first, by committing to carrying the one for a period of time, so as to provide fodder for an ACTUAL compare/contrast. Once you've done that, whether or not you feed in your show-me-on-the-puppet vibe is up to you.

I need no validation from you regarding what weapon I choose to carry.If my inquiry offends you,click the back button and reserve comment.

Have a good 'un.

[Josh Runkle]

Between two guns of disparate range performance, choose the one you shoot best.
Between two guns of similar range performance, choose the one you'll be motivated to practice with the most.

I have not made my decisions based on this reasoning. I finally shoot a glock 19 really well, but have decided to carry an HK P2000 V2 for various other reasons, the main one being the fact that I made the switch early this year to AIWB. I can shoot it with the same (or nearly the same) accuracy, but can't shoot it with speed. The LEM is getting the best of me.

[BobLoblaw]

Bedazzle it with gemstones. Then you won't want to hide your pretty new girlfriend. She'll need a name too so you might want to make another thread. Mary Poppins would be quite fitting.

[GardoneVT]

Bedazzle it with gemstones. Then you won't want to hide your pretty new girlfriend. She'll need a name too so you might want to make another thread. Mary Poppins would be quite fitting.

How's the view from the Failboat these days?

[MDS]

Guys, please don't send this thread to the grave with personal attacks and ripostes.

[GardoneVT]

Guys, please don't send this thread to the grave with personal attacks and ripostes.

I'd be in favor of locking this thread up.My inquirys been settled quite well.

Thanks for the constructive posts,folks.

[BobLoblaw]

How's the view from the Failboat these days?

I wag my fail all day. Don't worry, your Beretta won't get too jealous of MP's new makeup.

[ToddG]

http://9x19mm.com/photoalbum/albums/userpics/PF-tombstone.jpg