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Utility of a Double Gun Rig?

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Cosmoline

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I've fiddled around with my box of holster parts and come up with a working double gun rig using the Galco shoulder straps and a R and L hand holster. I can house the Speed Six in one and the short barreled Security six in the other. Conceals fine under a jacket.

But how practical is this? Does anyone use them in this century? The advantage I can see is I have a "New York reload" available and no longer need to carry or fuss with speedloaders. Also, I can draw from either side though I'm not sure how useful that is. And of course the Galco now balances properly instead of riding to the left or needing to tie off on the belt.

Maybe I'm overlooking something though. Is this just a novelty, or is it worth pursuing?
 
My brother had a double Galco Miami classic rig and carried two HK P7s in it.

It was neat.

If you're going to do it, i highly suggest you use 2 identical guns.
 
What do you mean "what's the utility of it?" It's boss, isn't that enough? If you like carrying two guns under your armpits (which is a pretty comfortable way of doing it), why not do it?
 
Not just for the "New York reload," but if one of your hands becomes disabled, you've still got an easy draw available.
 
Well, I'd say you have two guns. That can be useful.

If I carry more than one, though, I like to use different methods.
 
You have the advantage of having two guns available to either hand and balancing your carry load at the same time. be sure to adjust them for a very high carry, otherwise they be flapping like wings when you move about.

the only downside to the carry is that it takes two hands to reholster either gun
 
the only downside to the carry is that it takes two hands to reholster either gun
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Very good point, at least with the horizontal/thumb-break carry rigs.

If you have a gun in each hand, how, exactly, does one holster the FIRST gun?



I've always preferred a holster that allowed reholstering with one hand.
 
If you have a gun in each hand, how, exactly, does one holster the FIRST gun?
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As amusing as it sounds I've actually seen this on an episode of the TV series Police Story. Ron Glass (of the Barney Miller and Firefly series) carried two 2.5" M-19s in a double shoulder rig.

he holstered them by first putting one inside the front of his pants while he buckled the other into it's holster
 
If you have a gun in each hand, how, exactly, does one holster the FIRST gun?
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If you use a tie down from the holster to your belt it's actually pretty easy to reholster one handed, as long as the holster is stiff and retains its shape.

I carry a 1911 in a Galco shoulder rig some in the winter and I can reholster with the draw hand only no problem. I suppose it would work for 2 guns.

As for the weight counterbalance that's actually not a bad idea. I carry 2 full mags on the opposite side with mine and that helps some, but there is still a very obvious "lopsided" feeling when wearing the whole getup.

Ron Glass (of the Barney Miller and Firefly series) carried two 2.5" M-19s in a double shoulder rig.
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Good grief I just realized that's the same guy :eek:
 
As far as holstering two guns, when do you really think you'll have both guns out and in both hands? Dual wielding is fun in video games, but entirely impractical in real life. I can see one drawing with the support hand if their strong arm is disabled, or maybe drawing the second gun if the first is empty or jammed. But I can't really think of a real life scenario where you would end up with a gun in each hand, so the question of how to reholster like that is somewhat irrelevant.
 
Great Scott, I never knew that, wow, loved both shows.
There are a lot of people who have survived multiple gunfights who preach the two gun/BUG practice. I do when I can. If you have a good setup that you like, go for it, but I still reccomend a speed strip or two in your pockets. :)

Too bad we never learned the secret behind Shepherd Books identity...
 
As a general matter, the big advantage of dual-wielding is the "immediate reload"--shift focus to the other and immediately resume fire without the delay of dealing with a mag or speedloader.

Some of us have quirks that make it somewhat more useful, but that's something that's inherently biological and can't be trained, taught or conditioned.
 
I've always wanted a double upside down rig from Andy Arratoonian of Horseshoe Leather (I have his single side version) for Smith J Centennials.

I fact, every time I watch Bullett, with Steve McQueen, I wished he had a double rig for his M19 snub (and then got a second gun!)

Packing two guns of the same kind have advantages, like a New York reload, common mags/speed loaders and ammo, plus complete familiarity with the second gun.

The down sides include such as, well they can be HEAVY. And hard to conceal both not to mention expensive (you know how much a pair of Wilson Combat .45s would cost?

Still it would be cool to pack a pair!

Deaf
 
The balance issue is an important one to me and is worth considering in a double shoulder rig. I recently made a complete shoulder rig for a P-32, on a double MercHarness. Wanting to balance the two sides, I weighed my options (pun intended) and settled on a spare mag, a spare light, and an extra fixed blade knife opposite the pistol.

The weights are just about equal, and the rig balances very well. I actually consider this double rig easier to carry than the P-32 on a regular MercHarness.

As opposed to a typical double gun rig, this is what I think of as an "urban E&E setup." If everything goes to heck and I'm separated from my regular carry gear, the deeply-concealed shoulder rig should still be with me. I occasionally think of the beginning of the novel The Postman, in which the protagonist is driven away from his camp with only the items he has on him.

The pistol is the only part of the rig that I would plan on accessing in a hurry. With a snap replacing a shirt button, or an open button or two, it's fairly quick. I like it as a driving holster.

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Regards,
Dirty Bob
 
As far as holstering two guns, when do you really think you'll have both guns out and in both hands?
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That was my thought. I'm not prepared to blast away with two magnums LOL. The No. 2 would be more of an instant reload. I would literally drop No. 1 when empty and get No. 2. Or maybe throw No. 1 at the foe :p
 
I can't really think of a real life scenario where you would end up with a gun in each hand, so the question of how to reholster like that is somewhat irrelevant.
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Obviously, but interesting nonetheless.
 
'another loaded gun is better than a reload'
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This is not a hard and fast rule.

What is the first gun? Where is the reload? What type of reload is it? (magazine, speedloader, speedstrips or loose cartridges in a pocket?)

Where is the second gun? Are you moving? Are you crouched behind cover?

The answers to these questions can mean the first gun is faster to reload. Then again, maybe drawing the second gun is faster. It depends.
 
I tried dual wielding my nearly identical FNX 40 and FNP 45. I couldn't hit anything with either one, and I felt like a real mall ninja. I suppose, with practice, it could be pretty cool.

I am ambidextrous and shoot just as poorly with either hand.

Az
 
The only type of dual wielding I've ever had any luck at was cowboy-style single action alternating fire. That's not something I'd do with double action snubs let alone outside the range.

On the other hand, the second Ruger would be at least as quick as a reload without the chance of the speed loader getting gummed up because of shaking hands.
 
Carrying two guns does not mean you have to shoot them at the same time. (One is hard enough. ;)) Rather, you should think in terms of transitioning to the other gun when you've shot the first one dry (or it malfunctions). There is still the question of what to do with it. The time needed to reholster the first gun could be spent reloading instead.
 
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