However, with warmer weather I only wear T-shirt and jeans (no need for a coat anymore) leaving me with no way to sufficiently hide the midsized frame of the P229. Sure, the un-tucked T-shirt can cover the pistol, but it would "print" too obviously. When I carry, I conceal. Concealed means not just covered from view. A person looking at me should not be able to "tell" or "figure out" that I am carrying a weapon. So, from the late spring to early Autumn, I switch to a small deep concealment handgun.
Enter the Smith & Wesson SW99 COMPACT. This gun is much lighter thanks to its plastic frame (made by Walther) and is much more narrow due to its being chambered in 9mm. If this gun was any smaller it would be in the sub-compact category. The magazine has a pinky finger "grip extension" built into the floor plate, so I can still get a full grip on this little shooter.
I was not sure about carrying the SW99 after I brought it to the range for the first time (back in 2002). I realized that I was not as accurate with it as I was with the P229. At that point I was still a new shooter anyway, having only a couple years under my belt. But after sufficient practice (over a few range sessions) I became better and was confident enough to carry it as a defensive weapon and did so for the remainder of the warm season that year. I kept up my skill with the little plastic wonder with frequent visits to the range. Anyone who carries a gun should go to the range and specifically shoot their carry gun on a regular basis.
Of course, when the chill returned to New England that year, a warm coat covered my back and my preferred carry piece, the Sig P229. I was in for a surprize: the first time I went to the range to practice I realized I was better with the SW99 than I was with the P229. The only gun I had been shooting all summer was the SW99. I should have known! Well, still fairly new to shooting, I realized that sometimes that which should be obvious can be so easily overlooked. I was able to correct my fire in that same range session, but I left the range a wiser shooter too.
Since then I still change my carry guns seasonally. But when the seasonal changes come, I practice with the gun I will be changing to at least once BEFORE committing to carrying it for the new season. And if I ever decide to change my carry gun for any reason, I will fire it at the range FIRST.
