.45 Springfield Armory V-10 Compact, or S & W 640 .38/.357, or Star 9mm, or etc., etc. All southpaw friendly. Don't like polymer or even alloy frames -- give me good ol' steel all around. I'll suffer with the extra weight. Works better if needed to bludgeon. Don't like decockers, or trigger safetys. Carry semis with one in the pipe, safety wiped off, and hammer first click back from the firing pin. I also handload for all with Hornady XTP bullets, weigh every powder charge and seal all primers. I don't trust ammo (have had several misfires over the years) made by the thousands per minute coming down some assembly line. I do trust my ability to reload consistently. Course I'm still at the mercy of the primer's being reliable, but I feel I've at least minimized any other ammo-related failure.
Always carry when on the bike and lately always wherever I go anywhere -- whether it's to the bank, shopping, the mall or to work. Once at work (I worked in an emergency room for 21 years now) I have to discretely transfer the weopon into my locker as I don't feel comfortable leaving it in my vehicle despite a vehicular alarm system. I would be immediately fired if my carry piece were found by the administrators at work, but I feel if I can get to it and effectively use it to save either my life or that of one of my colleagues, it's a worthwhile trade. Especially since our security are NOT allowed to even carry defensive sprays, tasers, or a baton let alone a firearm!! No metal detectors and the doors aren't even locked down at night!! I know we're 'overdue' for a situation caused by some desperate crack-head or junkie, or gang-banger. Of course I don't make it known what I do at work, nor do I broadcast the fact that I'm carrying in general. I also subscribe to the 'better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6' philosophy. Yeah, I have a CCL, but I wonder if it might just make it that much easier for the gun grabbers to know where and who to look up when the day comes to try and disarm the populace in this country.
Usually carry in a fanny pack. Not very quick to deploy but doesn't broadcast the fact that I'm packing, at least not in NE Pennsylvania. Oh yeah, I also always carry a Surefire flashlight with extra batterys. In fact, the light itself is bright enough to knock out someone's vision temporarily.
leoniru