A few months ago, when my wife decided she was going to get her concealed carry permit (sometimes called an SDA permit in Oklahoma, for Self Defense Act), she declared that she needed a gun to go with it. I decided it might be time to review my carry choices as well.
I had been carrying a Kimber Pro Carry .45, either in a Smart Carry belly-band-type rig, or in a Milt Sparks Watch Six IWB. What’s not to like about the Kimber? It’s a 1911-pattern gun shooting a big, fat, slow bullet. Good stuff. Loved the gun, loved the Watch Six, and appreciated the flexibility the Smart Carry gives me. But given that I spend a lot of time sitting, the beavertail on the Kimber tends to dig into my belly, and it’s not comfortable.
I also had it in my mind to consider a nine millimeter. Dear Wife had fired a .40 on a couple of occasions, and while she didn’t hate it, she wasn’t thrilled with the recoil. I also knew that because of her size, she wasn’t going to be carrying a full-sized gun. When I read some of the coverage of the FBI’s switch back to nine mil, I realized that nine millimeter had matured as a self-defense caliber, so I pointed her in that direction, and knew I would probably end up with a new gun as well.
I have to say that our experience at the Tulsa Bass Pro was great. Mike took excellent care of us. DW and I went in together, and told him we were there to size some guns for her. He was very professional and patient throughout the next half-hour as DW tried out half a dozen guns. She ended up selecting a Ruger LC9s Pro, the striker-fired version of the pistol. It fits her hand well, points naturally for her, and it’s easy for her to operate, all key selection criteria for anyone choosing a self-defense firearm.
I ended up leaving with a Beretta PX-4C Storm. 
It’s a polymer and steel compact pistol, about the same size as the Kimber, but carrying fifteen rounds instead of the eight in the Kimber. I had been researching my own choices for a while, and liked the reviews I had read for the Beretta, and it fit my criteria: compact, 10+ rounds, and an external hammer.
That last stipulation ruled out a lot of the current slate of guns, since so many companies in my price range are only making striker-fired guns. Why do I want an external hammer? I’m not really sure. It might go back to my early shooting days. The first handgun I shot was a Colt 1911, then a .357 revolver, so my early experiences all involved external hammers. I’m not anti-striker – remember that DW ended with a striker gun. I just prefer having that hammer there.
If you get a new carry gun, you have to have a way to carry it, so that was next up on our list. DW spent several hours over at The Well-Armed Woman and selected the Pistol Wear Under Arm Holster, which looks to be very versatile. I can’t recommend The Well-Armed Woman enough, by the way. If you’re a woman looking to carry a defensive firearm, spend some time there. The site is well done by and for women.
I went with an IWB Kydex holster from 2A Holsters in Georgia, based on his reviews, as well as his availability via Facebook, emails, and forums. I was really torn about the leather vs. Kydex decision, and did a lot of research before I chose Kydex. I was concerned about increased holster wear, but when I talked to some local folks via the OK Shooter’s Forum, they pointed out the differences between the two materials. Dirt can get embedded in the surface of the leather, which can cause scratches on the firearm. If Kydex gets dirty, just rinse the thing off and dry it well.
I added the black velvet on my holster. Tom glues a section of the material on the body side of the holster. My big complaint about my Watch Six was how much it seems to slide up and down on my body. I haven’t seen that at all on the 2A holster.
I have to give Tom a shout-out for his excellent customer service, too. I bought the holster and a single vertical magazine carrier. He goofed and sized it for the wrong magazine. Accidents happen. I wasn’t concerned about that. But not only did he send me a new one, he also sent me a horizontal carrier, as well as a vertical single-mag carrier for my Kimber. Now that’s service.
I’ve been carrying the Beretta in both the Kydex and Smart Carry for about six weeks now, and love how it carries in both rigs. Because the Smart Carry is basically a loose pouch, I can use the same rig for both the Kimber and the Beretta. I just need to stuff a bit of fabric in the bottom of the pouch when I carry the Beretta, since its barrel is about an inch shorter. The really nice thing about the Beretta is the rounded (and adjustable!) backstrap. No more beavertail digging into my belly.
I’ve still got the Kimber, and will hold on to it for a while, despite a friend’s attempt to convince me I don’t need it. I think the kids would go nuts if I sold it.
Share your thoughts!