I tend to carry one larger primary auto loader, a reload for it, and a small auto as a bug. My reasons are as follows:
It so easy to carry why not? (this is probably the #1 reason)
One can often access a gun in one's pocket (particularly a jacket pocket) more discretely than one on the belt under a shirt. If one's spiddy sense goes off you can go hand on gun with out freaking anyone out. In reactive situations though a pocket gun is often much slower (for me at least) to present and start putting rounds on target. So two guns offers the advantages of each mode of carry.
I like having a gun on each side lest some crazy thing happens that makes if impossible to access my primary.
If there is an unlikely but serious breakage or something that takes my primary permanently out of the fight of the first gun you still have something.
In an active shooter type situation (which as rare as they are happen and I was at the scene of one only hours before it occurred) I have second gun that might be used by another person.
It depends on the type of malfunction. Yes if something vital decides to go belly up at the most inopportune of time a second gun is probably the only thing to get you back in the fight. I have seen a few stoppages/mechanical problems that would qualify for this in training. For the more typical stoppages immediate action drills may be faster than going to a second gun. It likely depends on where the second gun is and a number of other factors.
I tend to carry a BUG simply because it is so easy to that I figure why not. I tend to pocket carry a small auto. For a typical malfunction or running dry I can get back in the fight faster by going to a mag on me belt than the second gun. Obviously which is better depends on the exact scenario and a number of factors. I like running through various drills with a shot timer to see what works best and when.
You don't have a long gun you are openly carrying with a number or reloads. You don't have a dozen buddies with you who are also armed, nor air support.
Drawing with your support hand might be somewhat slower, but it is a basic skill, handgun 101 if you will. That said some mode's of carry make it much more difficult (IME). I tend to not like those modes of carry for a primary.
I've never really felt the need or desire to carry 3 guns. I think after two you have really reached the point of diminishing returns for most of my reasons for carrying a bug. Only in the serious situation where arming others is of benefit (and those are pretty rare). I would at that point rather just have additional reloads.
It so easy to carry why not? (this is probably the #1 reason)
One can often access a gun in one's pocket (particularly a jacket pocket) more discretely than one on the belt under a shirt. If one's spiddy sense goes off you can go hand on gun with out freaking anyone out. In reactive situations though a pocket gun is often much slower (for me at least) to present and start putting rounds on target. So two guns offers the advantages of each mode of carry.
I like having a gun on each side lest some crazy thing happens that makes if impossible to access my primary.
If there is an unlikely but serious breakage or something that takes my primary permanently out of the fight of the first gun you still have something.
In an active shooter type situation (which as rare as they are happen and I was at the scene of one only hours before it occurred) I have second gun that might be used by another person.
I prefer a second weapon to a reload. If the primary has a mechanical failure (bad mag, broken firing pin, guide rod, etc.) , then the NY reload is a better option to me.
It depends on the type of malfunction. Yes if something vital decides to go belly up at the most inopportune of time a second gun is probably the only thing to get you back in the fight. I have seen a few stoppages/mechanical problems that would qualify for this in training. For the more typical stoppages immediate action drills may be faster than going to a second gun. It likely depends on where the second gun is and a number of other factors.
I tend to carry a BUG simply because it is so easy to that I figure why not. I tend to pocket carry a small auto. For a typical malfunction or running dry I can get back in the fight faster by going to a mag on me belt than the second gun. Obviously which is better depends on the exact scenario and a number of factors. I like running through various drills with a shot timer to see what works best and when.
I only carried one weapon in the Marines in combat so why more now??
You don't have a long gun you are openly carrying with a number or reloads. You don't have a dozen buddies with you who are also armed, nor air support.
What if my strong side hand or arm becomes disabled?
Drawing with your support hand might be somewhat slower, but it is a basic skill, handgun 101 if you will. That said some mode's of carry make it much more difficult (IME). I tend to not like those modes of carry for a primary.
I've never really felt the need or desire to carry 3 guns. I think after two you have really reached the point of diminishing returns for most of my reasons for carrying a bug. Only in the serious situation where arming others is of benefit (and those are pretty rare). I would at that point rather just have additional reloads.