Today on I Carry we have a SCCY CPX-2 pistol chambered in 9mm, carried in a Blade-Tech holster and teamed up with a ThruNite flashlight.
SCCY CPX-2 Pistol (MSRP $309.99)
Unless you’ve been living inside of a bank vault full of gold coins, you’ve probably noticed that a dollar just doesn’t go as far as it used to. In addition to this, violent crime is an increasing concern, which leaves people wanting some way to protect what matters the most to them without spending a lot of their hard-earned money.
This is where a pistol like the SCCY CPX-2 comes in. It has an MSRP that’s half of the price of other bestselling brands, yet it still carries easily in a pocket or on your waistband and, as the icing on the cake, has a 10 round double stack 9mm magazine as well.
The SCCY is a hammer-fired, double-action only (DAO) pistol with a long trigger pull and a trigger weight of over 9 pounds. That trigger does take some getting used to, but once you master it, the gun shoots as accurately as any of its higher-priced competitors. On top of the stainless steel slide you’ll find three dot sights, just like many competing guns, and because it’s hammer-fired, you don’t have to pull the trigger to take it apart for cleaning.
What are you giving up when you buy a SCCY? For starters, there is no option for adjustable backstraps, which are quite common on polymer-framed pistols these days, and you’ll need to spend about $100 more if you want something that is compatible with a red dot sight. However, when it comes to inexpensive guns, the elephant in the room is always reliability, which is of utmost importance in a defensive firearm. I’ve owned a SCCY pistol for over 15 years now, and in my experience, the reliability of any given SCCY depends more on the magazine than it does the gun itself. I’ve had SCCY pistols that have gone over a thousand rounds in between hiccups, and I’ve had SCCY pistols which gave me more feeding problems than a strong-willed three year old at dinner time. The pistols that gave me issues, however, were soon set right when SCCY swapped out the magazines that came with the gun for other magazines fresh from the factory. If you’re having issues with your SCCY, take advantage of their excellent customer service and see what happens.
Blade-Tech Klipt IWB Holster (MSRP $19.99)
Blade-Tech is one the most-trusted brands out there and has all the features I require, at a price tag that’s one-third of other inside the waistband holsters. For starters, it covers and protects the trigger, which helps prevent negligent discharges. It holds the gun securely, yet releases it quickly on the draw. Most importantly, it stays open after you draw your gun, allowing smooth re-holstering without the need to create an unsafe situation by holding the holster open with your other hand.
What are you giving up with this holster? Well, for starters, the polymer of the Klipt seems a little thin compared to other holsters, which makes me question its long-term viability. However, you could buy, use and then throw away your initial holster and two more holsters, and it’ll still cost you less than most kydex holsters. In addition to this, the Klipt is set up for a 1 ½ inch wide belt, the most-common belt size out there. If you have a belt that’s uncommonly wide or skinny, this isn’t the holster for you. Lastly, the Klipt can only ride straight up on your belt, which isn’t all that comfortable for me. However, as I said, the Klipt does check all the boxes you need to check for a safe and usable concealed carry holster, so if you don’t want to take out a home equity loan in order to carry your gun, this is the holster for you.
ThruNite Archer 2A V3 Flashlight (MSRP $29.99)
Over the last 30 years, there have been a lot of changes to my everyday carry gear. I’ve changed out my concealed carry gun a number of times, and a cell phone went from being something that was nice to have with me to a thing of vital importance. One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is that I always have a bright flashlight with me wherever I go.
The ThruNite Archer 2A V3 has pretty much everything you want in an everyday carry flashlight. It’s powerful (up to 520 lumens), slim (which makes it easy to carry) and has four different brightness settings. Best of all, it runs on plain old AA batteries, which means you can buy replacement batteries for it in any gas station or convenience store on planet Earth. Yes, you’re giving up the power and long battery life of a CR123A battery, but you’re gaining the confidence of knowing that spare batteries are literally right around the corner. Other nice features of this light include a tail-located on/off switch, loops for attaching a lanyard and an IPX8 rating, which means it can handle bad weather without going south on you. Is this an über-powerful, melt-your-face tactical flashlight, just like the ones that Navy Seals use overseas? No. Is it more than enough for your everyday carry needs? Oh heck yes. Get one, and carry it with confidence, knowing that you can light up the night or light up an attacker with equal ease.
