Perception is often reality for the gun guy. For the riflemen among us, a classic Winchester 1895 lever-action speaks to the traditional, old-school nature of its owner, while the new generation tactical operator works, say, with a Bushmaster ACR.
Every gun you purchase tells other shooters in some way who you are, what you do and how you choose to defend your life. But, let’s face it, no gun reflects its owner more than the carry gun.
You should love your carry gun. It’s an extension of your personality that you should be happy to brag about at the range, and as such, be quick to defend. Bottom line: every time you holster your piece, it speaks to your reputation.
So, in service to our loyal readers, we examined shooting’s most popular sidearms and what they say about you….with a little help from some iconic movie images.
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Dirty Larry
Dirty Larry, you carry the Smith & Wesson Model 29.
We get it. You’re a big fan of Dirty Harry, and there is nothing more impressive than carrying “the most powerful handgun in the world” (at the times). Unlike polyester, dry feathered hair, slick leather jackets, parachute pants and bitchin’ Camaros, some things never go out of style. For that we salute the Model 29. Sure it is big, bulky, heavy and only holds six rounds, but with these 240-grain pills, you can control any situation, from a burglary to a crazy truck driver with a hilarious orangutan--wait, wrong Eastwood movie. We would have named you "Dirty Harry," but let's face it, nobody but Mr. Eastwood has ever earned that title. Dirty Larry, it is.
The Marshall
Marshall, you carry the Ruger Vaquero -- or really any SAA variant.
As you walk down the street, you make fake jangling spur noises. As your buddy leaves the bar, you fight the urge to scream, “Shane! Come back!” Your ringtone is the theme from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. While we question your sanity when you decided to join SASS and went by the alias "Dry Gulch Feinstein," we have to admit
that packing a single action, while cumbersome, ain’t a bad idear, pardner. John Wayne as U.S. Marshal Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn seen here with the Single Action Army.
Mr. Alpha
Mr. Alpha, you carry the Desert Eagle .50AE.
This is for the guy that wants the world to know that he thinks the S&W 29 is for sissies and Dirty Harry doesn’t have any hair on his--well, you get the idea. If you carry a .50AE, it is only because they don’t make a .51AE. We will concede that it does make a fair carry gun for dangerous game guides, citizens of Barrow, Alaska, and of course, Pamela Anderson. If you don’t fit into any of these categories, please consider using it only when necessary. While you may think it makes you look like a rap star, it doesn’t, because we all now you're carrying the Desert Eagle for one reason....compensation.
Seen here in "The Matrix."
The Tactical Operator
Tactical Operator, you carry a SIG Sauer P226.
You wear 5.11 pants with a rapelling buckle everywhere -- work, church and weddings -- because you never know when you may be required to escape. It's not enough you carry the SIG in a highly-equipped bug-out bag
(Go Bag to all your tactical buddies) in case you have to fend off a sleeper
cell of terrorists, but you have a bug-out bag in the car, another at home and another at an undisclosed bunker. When (not if) the world turns into a complete disaster, you can rest assured you have every season of 24 on DVD and can relax in complete gas-generator powered comfort, watching Jack Bauer live
the life you wished you had. Seen here used by Denzel Washington in "The Siege."
Mr. Reliable
Mr. Reliable, you carry the Glock 19.
You are the kind of guy who puts the trash out the night before pickup day. You organize your socks in your dresser from darkest to lightest. You are never late to a meeting. You don’t like surprises. You always carry a pocketknife. You are a grown-up Boy Scout of sorts. Most think you are handy to have around, but not the life of the party. Your ex-girlfriend would sum you up in one word -- "boring" -- but extremely reliable, just like your choice in sidearm. Seen here carried in "Righteous Kill" by Robert De Niro.
Mr. Untouchable
Mr. Untouchable, you carry the Smith & Wesson Model 10.
You will spend all day at the gun range practicing for an upcoming bulls-eye match (slow-fire, one-handed at 25 yards). The most
wicked load you have ever stuffed in that .38 is a full wad cutter, handloaded backwards. You have a tendency to loiter around the range coffee pot telling everyone you encounter how the double-action revolver is the epitome of perfection and everything else is purely crap. If you resemble any of these remarks, please apply to Guns & Ammo when
executive editor Payton Miller retires; come prepared with your Model 10, as you will have big shoes to fill.Seen here in "The Untouchables."
The Gun Guy
Gun guy, you carry the Colt 1911.
If you carry a 1911 of any size, of any make, of any type -- from a
bone-stock GI reproduction to a tricked out, highly engraved BBQ gun -- it tells the world one thing: You have the art of carry guns down to a science. Seen here in "The Big Lebowski."
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What Your Carry Gun Says About You
