Do you carry a Backup Gun? If so, where?

[Girodin]

a man wearing/carrying a small bag is seen as more "European" than gay.

As someone who has lived in Europe on various occasions I'm not sure which is worse

 

[Rexster]

True enough, but if concealment is the main idea, being mistaken for a European means I have succeeded. If I was single, I could certainly pick up chicks; they seem to like Europeans. Better to be hit on by gals than the alternative.

 

[Girodin]

If I was single, I could certainly pick up chicks; they seem to like Europeans.

Until they see their teeth. J/K I love my Euro friends. BTW there the chicks really like Americans.

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

I carry two primary guns. The first primary is a 3 inch RB S&W Model 13 with Bianchi Lightning Grips carried either in a Don Hume JIT strongside or a Don Hume H715M No. 1 1/2 crossdraw. The second primary is a Taurus 85SSUL carried in a Safety Speed Crossdraw or a Don Hume JIT strongside. (It depends on how long my cover garment is.) In the winter, if I'm going to be outside for long periods, one of these is replaced by a 4 inch SB S&W Model 681 in a Bianchi Model 7 either strongside or crossdraw.

I also carry a BUG, a KelTec P32 in a Blackhawk pocket holster, usually in my hip pocket.

As for reloads, lets just say I better not fall into water over my head.

ECS

 

[azyogi]

naa .22wmr in jeans watch pocket [open carry] though it often gets overlooked
holster is from naa came with my BP companion
also carry five rounds in a small leather pouch that came with some 'Wild Turkey' cuff links sometimes carry on beltbuckle also from naa

 

[David E]

You guys ever see how long it takes to draw your BUG ?

 

[Rexster]

If you mean with a timer, no. I have practiced to attain smoothness and efficiency.

If deploying the weapon preemptively, and they are equal weapons, I will start with the second/alternate gun in-hand, so that the one on my hip, in the "primary" holster, becomes the back-up.

If walking through a "bad" area, I may have my hand on a pocketed second/alternate gun, for the fastest draw.

One time, in a shooting class in which our primary and alternate guns were kept loaded, a.k.a. the "hot range" concept, I drew a pocketed SP101 right quickly to finish a sequence of fire, when my Glunck choked.

 

[harmon rabb]

if i'm carrying a BUG, it's my LCP in my pocket, with a larger gun (usually bersa thunder or cz-82) in an IWB holster.

 

[CZ223]

Yes

My primary, either a Glock 23 or Kimber Tactical pro II, is carried IWB on my right sight while my BUG, a Ruger LCP, is carried in my left front pocket. Even if I am not carrying my primary it stays in the left front pocket. I shoot it one handed just like I would, should it need to be used in a real fight. If my primary were to go down I doubt I would waste time trying to reholster so it would be in my right hand.

Since I also carry at least one spare mag I have been thinking about having a rig made that would carry a spare mag for my primary and also carry the BUG. It would be OWB on my left side with the mag in the front and the BUG in the rear.

 

[BlisteringSilence]

When I do carry a BUG, it's either a 642 or a Glock 27. Actually, the only time the G27 is a BUG is if I'm out with the sheriff's office. Galco ankle holster, left leg.

You guys ever see how long it takes to draw your BUG ?

Like, with a stopwatch? Nope. Never seen the point. I live in Arkansas, not Beirut. If things are dire enough that I'm pulling out the BUG, time will seem to have stopped anyway.

 

[David E]

Like, with a stopwatch? Nope. Never seen the point.

The point would be to see how long it takes you. Could you reload your primary faster? Seems like that's a good thing to know.

I live in Arkansas, not Beirut.

Yet, you feel compelled to carry not only one gun, but a SECOND gun.....

If things are dire enough that I'm pulling out the BUG, time will seem to have stopped anyway.

For YOU maybe, but not for the badguy(s). He/They are the reason you're having to draw your BUG in the first place............

 

[essayons21]

Drawing a BUG to me is not a timed event. I'm not going to be playing quickdraw with a bad guy. The BUG is for situations where the shooting has already started, and the primary is somehow disabled. At that point I won't be standing squared off at high noon, but hiding behind the best cover available. Also the BUGs carried by most people are not guns to be used in a shootout, but for point blank self defense.

To answer the OP, I carry a P3AT in my weakside (left) front pocket, and a 1911 at 4 o'clock. When it gets hot outside the Kel-tec become my primary and only CC, but stays in the weakside pocket, because that's the position I practice drawing and firing from.

 

[Jonah71]

When wearing a jacket or coat I carry a S&W 4" .38 spec. in a shoulder holster with a compact 9mm or .380 IWB. In warmer weather I keep one of the IWB and a small pocket gun, but not always. Being in a small "Mayberry RFD" type town has kinda changed my habits and maybe made me a bit complacent, which probably isn't good. But I do get in a lot of range time. The biggest danger I face around here is popping over a hill too fast and takng out an Amish horse & buggy.

 

[azyogi]

Try drawing while seated behind the wheel with your seat belt fastened. thats how I found out the arm rest blocked my primary [left handed] naa mini from watch pocket or belt buckle is much faster.

 

[Warhawk83]

I found that out yesterday yogi, I'm gonna have to keep a BUG in my glove compartment. I have an LCP but I haven't gotten my cc license yet.

 

[David E]

Drawing a BUG to me is not a timed event. I'm not going to be playing quickdraw with a bad guy.

Maybe not, but getting the gun out as fast as possible might very well be your ONLY option. Who knows how your deadly encounter will unfold?

The BUG is for situations where the shooting has already started, and the primary is somehow disabled. At that point I won't be standing squared off at high noon, but hiding behind the best cover available.

WHAT cover? Unless you wheel your own personal cover around with you, you can't guarantee there will be adequate cover or that you could reach it in time.

Also the BUGs carried by most people are not guns to be used in a shootout, but for point blank self defense.

If it gets to exchanging bullets, much less having to use your BUG, it's a "Run what ya brung" affair. That means using whatever gun or BUG you've chosen, at whatever distance it may be.

It makes sense to me to at least address such situations.

 

[essayons21]

I guess it's a matter of tactics. If I were inside practical shooting distance with BUG, and there was no where to run or hide, I would be closing distance to go hand-to-hand before trying to draw a BUG. I'm more confident that I can close 7 yards and take an opponent down faster than I can draw a BUG, no matter how much I practice. Any further than that, I'm running until I can find some cover.

I'm a pretty quick and athletic guy, with a fair amount of training in practical combatives. I can see if you are not as mobile or confident with hand-to-hand, draw speed might be an issue, but there is really no practical way to outdraw even an unarmed opponent that is within the effective range of most BUGs.

 

[David E]

How fast are you when you're holding your 3 yr old daughter?

How about when there are multiple badguys? While holding your daughter?

And the "effective range of most BUGS" is far more than most people think.

The reason one is defaulting to the BUG in the first place is that the primary is out of action and that the encounter may still be engaged. Getting the BUG out quickly seems like a reasonable thing to do.

We can get into endless "what if" scenarios, but it seems shortsighted to presume one will have all the time they want to casually draw their gun, or that cover is always a step away, or that it's possible and/or wise to rush the assailant(s).

 

[essayons21]

You miss the point. I can get my BUG out quickly, I most likely practice more drawing and firing my BUG more than most shooters practice with their primary, including shooting special IDPA BUG matches.

For me, as I have prefaced all of my posts, it is not an important issue. I don't have a 3 year old daughter. If I did I would rethink MY tactics. I'm not advocating anyone else follow MY tactics. What I am saying, is that it is impossible to draw and fire a BUG fast enough to make a difference within its effective range. To do so, or to advocate that others attempt to do so, is irresponsible. As proven time and again, an unarmed attacker can close 7 yards and cause mortal harm before most people can even react to pull the trigger on a drawn firearm. Attempting to play quickdraw with a bad guy within 7 or more yards (the effective range of most BUGs), with a pocket pistol, is reckless and should not be encouraged.

Sure, you should practice getting your BUG into use quickly, but if your combat mindset involves the use of a BUG for anything other than a last ditch, last gasp effort at self defense, you are doing it wrong.

 

[27hand]

BUG

I carry a BUG in a Lou Alessi ankle rig. It's a Kahr P9Covert with Trijicon NS's.

Nice little pistol. I've shot some IDPA with it (not out of the ankle rig though).

A lot of people don't realize what the actual range of these BUG's are.

I like to shoot distance just for ****s and giggles and have made pepper popper hits with my primary Glock32 and my Kahr out to 100 yds. Front sight focus and trigger press.

This ankle rig is good for driving as I can raise my pantleg and have easy access to the weapon as opposed to trying to draw the Glock from behind my right hip.

I don't look at it as a fast draw pistol although I can present the pistol pretty darn quickly after practicing a while.

I apologize for not reading through the entire thread but you get pretty much the same responses no matter what website you are on regarding anything firearms related.

Just my 2 cents

27hand

 

[moga]

Yes, but only when its the time of year for outer wear. Hi capacity auto on belt, OWB strong side, spare mag weak side, and a j frame 38 in my RH pocket. One 38 speed strip in left outer pocket of coat/jacket. I use a Don Hume SOOT IWB for pocket revolver carry. Each bottom feeder has a different holster.

Drawing the BUG is as easy as removing my hand from my coat pocket. Like Rexster stated, the small gun becomes the primary as it is the easiest to get to, and the auto loader in effect becomes the backup. The latter is usually a 1911 or a striker fired auto.

 

[David E]

What I am saying, is that it is impossible to draw and fire a BUG fast enough to make a difference within its effective range.

You miss the point. For example, a .38 snubby can make killing hits at 25 yds EASY. Of course, you should have some time to make that draw, but one shouldn't dally, regardless.

to advocate that others attempt to do so, is irresponsible.

Suggesting that getting the BUG out quickly is a good idea is hardly irresponsible.

As proven time and again, an unarmed attacker can close 7 yards and cause mortal harm before most people can even react to pull the trigger on a drawn firearm. Attempting to play quickdraw with a bad guy within 7 or more yards (the effective range of most BUGs), with a pocket pistol, is reckless and should not be encouraged.

What's with this 7 yd stuff? You're the only one saying that this part of the encounter is taking place at 7 yds. And as I've aleady said, the effective range of most BUGS is further than most people think. (I made hits on a 50 yd IPSC target with a .25 acp, so I know the gun is capable)

Sure, you should practice getting your BUG into use quickly,

This was one of my primary points. Glad we agree here.

but if your combat mindset involves the use of a BUG for anything other than a last ditch, last gasp effort at self defense, you are doing it wrong.

Or the parameters and/or definitions are different. When I was a cop, my BUG was a 9mm. It's not hard to envision a situation where a cop might be disarmed. It's also not hard to envision that same cop wanting to get his gun out and on target as fast as possible to take care of the problem. This is hardly a "last gasp effort at self defense." In a shooting my Dept had, one of the cops involved had a serious gun jam. If he had a BUG, he could've gotten back into the fight sooner. Again, hardly a "last ditch effort," but instead a better, quicker option than getting his primary back up and running.

Some people think a BUG is a sightless .380 or smaller, but it can also be 9mm or larger.

 

[LeontheProfessional]

Within 7 yards is the range at which most gun take place.

 

[David E]

But not all

 

[LeontheProfessional]

But not all

Very true, but that is where the 7 yards keeps coming from.