Saturday I went and took my concealed weapons class so i can get my carry permit here in Tennessee. My class was an NRA Basic Pistol class and a TN Carry class combined. I passed both written tests of the classes (4 wrong between two tests) and I also scored a perfect score at the range on my permit shooting test. (granted i hedged my bets and used my 4 inch barreled Taurus Model 94 .22 LR)
Here's the picture of my target. I couldn't keep it as they needed it for their records.

In your state, what does your permit allow you to carry? I mean, what are the limitations on the firearms you're authorized to carry. Also, how long is your permit valid for?

What??

No Head shots? Ooops forgot it was the civilian version

Just kidding, congrats on that, this is the first day of the rest of your life, which everyday, but now you have an advantage.

Cudo's to you

Blitz

Good grouping BTW

I haven't gotten my permit yet to carry concealed so I can not carry yet. But the permit is good for four years, I can carry any handgun i want to and i can carry as many as i like.

With my income tax return I am leaning towards a Seecamp 380, or a hunting rifle as all my rifles are .22. I could have taken the class with my Springfield Armory 1911A1 or any of my other handguns but figured the .22 was cheaper for ammo and nicer to shoot.

If I could be so bold........ DO NOT invest in a .380. It's a cap gun. A good .22LR would be heads and shoulders above the defensive stopping power of a .380. And this is to make no mention of accuracy.......

Were I to recommend a round (or two), I would say no smaller than a .38 and you won;t need anything larger than a .40 (no offense to the .45 crowd...it's fine too, but the .40 will do). A .357 is, in my opinion, out of the question. I say that ONLY because you chose to test with a .22. Good target, but it's a telling tale.

Good for you redddog. I'm in big favor of people with guns. And I agree with what a friend of mine said several years ago when the airlines started confiscating nail clippers, "What? What's wrong with knives? I think every passenger, when they sit down in their assigned seat, ought to be wrapping their mitts around a 9" bowie handle, sticking straight up out of every armrest on the plane!!!"

Good shooting. But I've gotta ask, do you plan on carrying a .22, or something with a tad more power? And if that is the case, can you shoot it as well as the .22???

With todays modern factory loads a .380 is NOT a cap gun. Bare bones minimum IMHO, but still capable of disabling an opponent with proper shot placement. The seecamp is a fine pistol, although the north american arms .380 guardian might be a better deal for you. Cheaper, readily available (seecamps are notorously back orderd, limited production and small batches) and roughly the same size. A word to the wise, firing a .380, also known as a 9mm kurtz (short) in a pistol that small is quite the handfull but seeing as how pistols this size are designed/intended to be used at arms length the "healthy" muzzle flip shouldn't be too bad a problem as far as getting back on target. I have one and am very pleased with it.
BigDaddyTX I am a "plastic fanatic" so I fully endorce the glock choice, but I also have a beretta 92F. The beretta has the smoothest slide action I have ever had the pleasure to manipulate both are fine guns.

-Bill Liptak

Reddog,

Congratulations on the permit. As a rule you will want two handguns one refered to as a backup gun or BUG, I recoment that you get this one first. There is nothing wrong with a .380 an they are concidered the minimum for self defense. As for a .22 being better check out http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot26.htm
which tests .22LR, .32ACP, .380ACP, 9x18(Makarov), and .38 special against a box filled with gallon jugs of water. A bullet will go through about twice the depth in water than it will in ballistic gelatin. The only rounds to get the recomended 12" of penetration (FBI protocol) were the .380, and the .38 special.

The reason I recomend getting a BUG first is people tend to get a small gun that they will acually carry. They also tend to get the most bang for their buck if you will as they get .380's or snubbie .38 specials.

I used to have a Seecamp .32 when that was all they made. It was almost reliable. It would shoot the first magazine empty without jams if it was cleaned and lubed at least weekly. I sold and never regretted getting rid of it. I currently have a Kel-Tec P3AT which works great. A friend has one of the new 9mms from Kel-Tec which is a little bigger than the .380. I like the .380 as it's small enough to carry in my front pants pocket and not be noticed by me or anyone else. The 9mm is just a little too big for my taste, however if I was going to only get one I would concider it.

I've carried snub nosed revolvers for years and they can't be beat, except they are wide and unless you get the light weight versions which kick like a mule, heavy enough to be an irritant. I had a steel S&W bodyguard (649) that with +P loads was the most abusive handgun I have ever fired, it was also one of the most accurate.

When some gun shop cowboy tells you you need to get "X" gun or caliber, ask them to see theirs. Don't give them time to go the the car and get it, and don't let them make excuses. If it's too much gun for them to carry, you most likely won't carry it either. You can look for a full sized pistol later once the pressure is off, and make a better decision.

A mouse gun in the hand beats a howitzer in the night stand every time.

Take Care and Stay Safe.

"...steel S&W bodyguard (649) that with +P loads was the most abusive handgun I have ever fired..."

You should try one with the old 110gr +p+ "Treasury, Load." Quite a kicker.

I currently carry a Kahr MK40, often in a de Santas pocker holster in my right front pocket. No one has spotted it yet. Kahr also makes a "plastic" frame that would be much lighter to carry, but probably bucks a tad more...

In response to all of your questions.

I already own a 380 S&W sigma so buying another 380 is why i am looking at the Seecamp. I got to fire one of the instructors Seecamps that was a .32 but as i have a .380 pistol already i figure another one couldn't hurt especially as how small the Seecamp is. Yes this would be my bare minimum carry and most times my backup gun.

As far as me taking the test with a .22 LR. Yes i can handle a .45 ACP in fact i do own one and that will most likely be my primary carry gun. I am large enough to carry it and conceal a full size 1911. I can shoot close groups with mine. The last time i shot it from 25 yards I placed all three mags on target and could cover the group with one hand.

I own a few different pistols and all of them could be carried concealed. The 22 was used as one of my coworkers just went through a concealed carry class and the instructor was not happy when he took it with a 38. The instructor at his class preferred people to use 22s. My class instructor was not of the same mind and there was 45s 357 and two people with 22 pistols.

"...The instructor at his class preferred people to use 22s..."

You're kidding, right? Please tell me that you are kidding...

I'd guess it's at least partly due to cost. IIRC our CCW permit requires a total of about 50 rounds at various ranges.

.22 LR semi-automatics like the Ruger Mark I/II or III are very popular for taking the concealed carry class in OK. The extremely short distance involved in the qualifying course and the fact that it is simply a safety/gun handling course means that you're not really going to get any meaningful practice in. The qualification requirements are such that...
1) if you qualify with a derringer; you can only carry a derringer
2) if you qualify with a revolver; you can only carry a revolver or
3) if you qualify with a semi-automatic; you can carry any handgun that is legal for concealed carry.

Soooo a cheap to shoot, semi-auto .22 LR is frequently used.

Amazing, simply amazing. That said, you can get a Florida CCW via the internet, only having to prove some type of firearms training, with no test, no nothing...

You fire 48 rounds in the course for Tennessee

12 at 3 yards or so first six are called for each shot then the next six are fire at will.

then 12 rounds from 7 yards or so 6 are called shots then six fire at will

then 12 rounds at 15 yards called shots then fire at will

the final twelve are back at the 3 yard line aand they are rapid fire for each six.

and as long as you qualify at the range you can carry any caliber or type of handgun that you want.

In OK there are restrictions on handguns eligible for concealed carry. The handgun must be less than 16 inches in overall length & no more than .45 caliber. So long barrels are out & so are .480 Ruger's, the Linebaugh's, .50 AE's, etc.

Sooo, that leaves 44 mag, 45 win mag, 45 colt and 454 casull, among others.

I guess that's okay, 44 mag is about the limits of what I can handle in a pistol anyways. My 300 grain elk loads aggravate the broken bone in my hand as is.

That means you could use a short barrel Thompson in 375 jdj as a carry gun, though I have no idea why someone would.

Silly bear

Actually OBG, here in florida you have to submit proof of competancy with firarms (a simple NRA handgun class is sufficent), a completed fingerprint card that HAS to be done by and signed off by a law enforcement officer, passport sized photo id, and your application. Along with a money order or cashiers check. I am pretty sure now they require proof of safe handling, i.e. A target or certified instructor's signature that the firearm was safely handled and discharged.

-Bill Liptak

Yet another reason for me to not bother with applying for one. After having carried legitimately with a CC permit for over 20 years, I have yet to be asked to produce one under any conditions. Besides, I have to be a resident to apply, and I am not going to give up my Colorado driver's license and resident status and end up paying a huge non-resident penalty next hunting season. Hunting as a non-resident in FL is about 1/5th the cost, and there are no elk here to hunt anyways.

If I have to shoot someone, one of the least things I am going to worry about, if at all, is if I am packing legally or not.

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