Double stack all day. They have slimmed down quite a bit and capacity is king in a situation where I would need to defend my family and I's life.

 

I was a 45 ACP guy for a long time and still carry one occasionally but my typical carry is a 9MM either in a compact size single stack 1911, Wilson ULCC Nighthawk Bull Officer, or recently a Staccato C with the 15 round grips module. I also have a Sig 365XL that gets carried occasionally, if I think I might have to leave my carry pistol in the truck. I've participated in gel test of various calibers multiple times and feel 9MM is adequate for me, this is a decision that each person needs to make. I also remember back to November 11, 2002 when I swore I would never carry 40S&W again and haven't since. I still own 3 pistols chambered for it including a nice Sig 226 railgun with exactly 103 rounds through it. I think the more important thing is that everyone who can should carry something. Having retired from law enforcement 8 years ago my life has changed and any armed response I might have is more defensive than offensive. Of course my first option would be either a rifle or shotgun but they aren't convenient to carry around daily.

 

My brother was a LEO, and my two nephews are LEOs, plus half a dozen friends in the crime fighting business. Everyone tells me to carry the largest caliber I can manage. A 45 ACP hollow point will leave a 1/2" hole as it exits the body.

A friend of mine told me the first shooting he got into the bad guy was running towards him and he put 1, 2, and then 3 shots into his torso and he kept coming. Can you imagine the shock of hitting him 3 times and not stopping, talk about an "Oh sheet" moment! That was the last time he carried a 9mm handgun. I think I'll keep my 45 ACP single stack.

He kept coming because people die from loss of blood and that’s not immediate. Unless of course you get his brain or spine, that will stop him. Two to the chest one to the head. But that’s a lot easier to write than accomplish when someone’s trying to kill you.

As I said at the start this is not intended to be a cailber war thread, just curious for those who own both single and double stacks in 9 what their thought process was in choosing to carry which one.

As GCV correctly pointed out and has been told to me by countless instructors who were SF and LEO, friends who served or are/were LEO if you want / /need someone stopped NOW you shoot them in the orbital socket or you sever their spine or through the ear into the brain, nothing else will turn off their lights immediately. If you shoot center mass and hit them in the heart they will bleed out in approximately one minute, whether they choose too keep coming at you or shooting at you for that minute or just drop to the ground depends on how amped up on drugs / alcohol they are, how angry or determined they are.

9 or 45 or any other pistol caliber you can pump round after round center mass and someone will die eventually if they dont see a doctor when they bleed out but it will take time and again what they do with that time depends greatly on them and their mindset.

Pressburg in his class last week was talking about a criminal who decided he didnt want to go back to jail so he ran, he got shot and dropped to the ground, realized he wasnt dead and still didnt want to go to jail so he got up and ran some more, he got shot 27 times I believe by pistol and didnt stop. He took one round from an AR and then decided he would rather go to the hospital and jail then keep going, all of this was relayed by him to a LEO as the LEO took him from the hospital to prison afterwards.

 

Ultimately comes down to attire more than the other stuff, but it all can potentially be a factor at some point. 90% of the time I carry a full size 2011. Mostly because I like it, my regular holster/belt setup can accommodate it with my clothes and body type, and I feel prepared with it.

The other 10% of the time I carry a 4” Shield Plus and that’s usually dependent on clothing.

 

All four voting choices actually come in to play. Weather dictates your attire, threat assessment probably should be number one. I don't live in a war zone or a high risk area ,yet. Never know what the government will fly in. I usually carry my old model 39 S&W loaded with black talons.

 

The one I carry most often is the Atlas Artemis in AIWB and an additional 20rd magazine.

 

I'm a 9mm guy these days for most my autos, but for 1911s .45 single stack all day long.

 

Most of my 1911s are single stack (.45, 10mm, .38 Super). Always will be.
The beauty of the 1911 is the ergonomics and shootability. Widen the grip and that destroys the ergonomics and shootability for me.

 

I felt like this at one point in time. As I had opportunities to shoot 2011s more my opinion changed and now I own both. I blame @stlgecko for this 😆.

 

I’ve thought about this more and changed my mind. I often have to carry while in a suit, and I typically carry a Glock when in a suit and tie, but I wouldn’t mind carrying a single-stack 1911 CCO. I’ll give up capacity for more concealability. A CCO in a good leather pancake holster with a suit. *Chef’s kiss *

 

Over the past 5 weeks I have carried and shot my Staccato C. While it is a great pistol I have come to realize that I actually prefer single stack 1911's over the 2011. In the past I have played around with other Staccatos, EDC X9's and even a couple of double stack Nighthawks. While they make great range toys I find the compact 1911 is my best option. Todays carry is the NH Warhawk Officer.

 

I’m coming from a USPc and G19.

both setup for 15+1.

My daily is a prime carry 9mm, 10+1.

 

I went with Attire mostly due to the area I live in. I would point out that a subsection of threat assessment should be how many spare mags. That Murphy fella sometimes shows up. As a civilian I always carry a spare whether single or double. I feel more comfortable throwing on a 9 single or double in the summer heat. Not all Double stacks are 2011's. Of course my mood changes at times, carrying a 45 gives me a confident feeling. We all know about feelings. I shoot both calibers proficiently well. With cooler weather approaching I will be carrying more 45. The threat assessment process for me. What is going on in the area? Do i need more rounds?(Rarely considered) What is my daily activity? How am I dressing for the day? The 9 single vs. double...IDK if it matters. What does matters to me, is under stress can I place shots to stop the threat.

 

Single stack in summer, double stack in winter. 99 percent of the EDC game is simply always being able to carry something easily. As far as capacity….

Police and security guards are targets because (1) they are known to be armed so someone might shoot them on sight from a distance; and (2) they have a duty to run to danger, within reason. When they get in shootouts it’s a group of cops shooting at a group of criminals, not one cop firing 48 rounds at 6 bad guys.

EDC is not about preparing for a shootout, and no pistol caliber has both stopping power and firepower - that’s what rifles are for. It’s about surprise - being armed with a gun when others are armed with a knife, or pulling a gun stealthily when another one has already been pulled on you from close quarters. I think that Duty and home defense guns are much more demanding than an EDC.

 

I carried a steel Ed Brown KC for a long time. Last year I I bought a Staccato CS and have never looked back. I live in FL where it is always hot, however I switched to appendix carry and have no issues with the CS. Love it.

 

I need to find a good AIWB rig for my new 2011.

 

Dave at Ronin Leather is your guy. Email him with your phone # - he likes to talk to you first to get a better idea on your needs. I have his AIWB & very happy with it - done in a rigid finish that he'll explain. He's very reasonably priced, great delivery times and - he's a Vet.

Ronin Leather Holsters LLC :: Ronin Leather Holsters LLC

Ronin Leather Holsters, LLC, formerly Little Bear Custom Holsters, where I hope to set a new bar with high quality, service grade leather gear and customer service.

roninleatherholstersllc.com

 

2011 is a battle belt or range belt setup for me.

So single stack for carry.

 

Same reason you might carry a subcompact glock vs. a 19 or 17: Realistically hiding it. That said the Staccato P goes with me regardless of what I'm wearing. I've got a long torso, though, and were I to ever be asked what that is under my shirt should it not conceal well, I expect "My colostomy bag" will be the end of that.