Go somewhere that rents handguns and shoot a few, see what fits you best and is most comfortable to you.

Get something that is vetted and considered reliable:

Glock
HK (p30 is really nice)
Smith & Wesson M&P line
Sig
etc...

Because a weapon without a chambered round is nothing more then an expensive striking weapon.

As stated, a grown man can cover 7 yards in under 3 seconds. If you really think you can draw, chamber a round, and achieve good hits sufficient to stop the threat in that time without being stabbed, shot, hit with a brick, etc....

New toy...

Glock 17 Gen 4, front sight is an AmeriGlo ProGlo (orange "LumiNova Glo" dot with green Tritium insert)

Shoots great, really digging the texture on the grip. Would love to try a more aggressive texture at sometime...

http://www.msprotege.com/members/tur...cksidefull.jpg

http://www.msprotege.com/members/tur.../glockgrip.jpg

http://www.msprotege.com/members/tur...ock%20side.jpg

http://www.msprotege.com/members/tur...topofslide.jpg

http://www.msprotege.com/members/tur...k/sightpic.jpg

the point of carrying with one in the chamber is that in the time it takes you to recognize the threat, draw your weapon, chamber a round, grip properly, aim (or at least point), and fire enough shots to stop the threat... you'll already be dead.

how exactly do you envision self defense shootings happening? slow.. planned.. comfortable.. just like at the range? if you pull the trigger under those circumstances it's not called self defense, it's called murder. not that i've ever had any personal experience (thank god), but real SD shootings are fast and ugly. the only time you ever draw your weapon, it will be under some condition where you are attacked by someone with a weapon of their own, or a time where you wholeheartedly believe that you are otherwise in grave danger. it's "i shoot this person NOW or i'm dead." THAT is self defense, and in a SD shooting, you will not have time to chamber a round. period.

study and practice the Tueller Drill. it takes what the other guys have already said about the average human needing only 3 seconds or less to cover 21 feet and puts it into real world practice. not to mention, without a doubt the majority of SD shootings happen well below the 21 foot distance. simply put, if you shoot someone any further away, you could have easily evaded the threat and therefore will NOT be considered SD. you go to jail. my point is just that in the real world you'll never have enough time to chamber a round.

here's a few examples:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQKqg-zcte4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWqQZ...eature=related

^Point taken.

So instead of that dinky little Stealth clip, how about this for a carry holster? I will feel much more comfortable carrying with a round in the chamber with this...


http://www.gunnersalley.com/product/H715


Or this one...

http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/tenness...d-holster.html

Its a little pricey, but I figure I spent money on a good gun so I might as well shell out some extra bucks for a quality holster.

This holster has gotten nothing but great reviews. It conceals well, and is supposed to be super comfortable. I'm waiting for mine as we speak:

Crossbreed SuperTuck Deluxe

neither of them look too bad. Don Hume is a good name in leather holsters. at the moment i carry my M&P40C in a cheapo Blackhawk nylon IWB holster ($15) with a single clip. i'm still waiting to order my MTAC until my friend is ready to get his. the Blackhawk nylon holster isn't nearly as bad as i thought it was going to be, but it's definitely not a permanent setup. it moves around like crazy, no matter how much i tighten my belt. i prefer to carry at about the 3 to 4 o'clock position with a lot of forward cant. getting a single clip zero cant holster to do that and stay where i put it is nearly impossible. i can only imagine the two that you linked to would do the exact same thing. then again, it's all about how you prefer to carry. i tried on a friend's MTAC one time and was sold instantly... no movement and very comfortable. i can't want until i get mine.

http://www.comp-tac.com/catalog/prod...products_id=95

the crossbreed supertuck mentioned above is the only competition to the MTAC. i've heard the MTAC is a little bit nicer of a product overall, but both are said to be incredible holsters.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup::thumbup: :thumbup::thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup::thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...TACHolster.jpg

X10 its like trying to stab someone with a sheath on your knife! IIRC my ex-military roommate told me if there are two threats coming at you (one with a knife and one with a gun), you neutralize the one with the knife first... reason being: knifes don't jam, knifes generally dont miss, and knifes dont need to be reloaded)

not that that is really even on topic, but if you dont have a round chambered and a threat is moving fast enough you will be SOL unless you do have one loaded.

very nice! i'm not too fond of full size guns in general, but my dad's G17 was a nice gun to shoot. if only it was as easy to install night sights on my M&P as it is on your glock i'd have a nice set of Trijicons already!

also forgot to mention i was at CP for a few hours today, put 3 or 400 rounds through the two glock 19's and the baretta 9mm. my roomate also purchased ANOTHER ar (yes he now has 3 or 4 of them) we really need to set up a day when we can all meet up and shoot!

Yeah I keep hearing about this holster but tbh, its is too large for me and wayyy too expensive.

Maybe when I'm not a full time student I could afford something like that.. haha

WTF??? :mad:

Thank you. I don't have a problem concealing a full-size, and wanted to try one of the new Gen 4 Glocks (my first Glock) and they don't as of yet make a Glock 19 Gen 4. I think I am going to pick up a 26 eventually too.

M&P was the other pistol on my list. Like yours?

wait.... did someone actually say they don't leave one in the pipe when they carry?

where's that picture of the lol wut pear when I need it

On one hand, I can see why a first time guy may be a little intimidated carrying with a round chambered, but that is what WE are for. Once we bully him into the right method, he will realize that it is the right thing to do. :)

Concealed carrying unloaded for self defense is silly. The only thing an unloaded gun might do is be a visual deterrent if you were open carrying. Save money for a good holster. :) Cheap, crappy holsters are as pointless as the unloaded gun you'd be carrying :wink:

I suppose I should thank you then.

haha

Look into Kholster. They make knockoffs of the crossbreed for about 1/2 the price.
www.kholster.com

They have a sale for $39/shipped.

LOL @ Crossbread :-p

Listen to Julz! She has absolutely no experience with what she speaks. :bigeek: :roll: :rofl: