[DMK]

Do you carry a backup gun to your primary CCW?

If so, what and how?

[Ala Dan]

NAA "Mini" .22 magnum with 1-1/8" barrel.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[10-Ring]

Sometimes & it's usually a S&W mod 60 or a Beretta Jetfire.

[WhoKnowsWho]

Sometimes my BUG is my only firearm. P32. But my Para Carry is getting more and more usage time. And when I carry it, I don't carry the BUG.

[aquapong]

I voted never. In my every day affairs I have no reason to expect violence from anyone. If I did have a specific threat I was worried about, I might add a bug to my "kit."

[HogRider]

Sometimes. NAA .380 Guardian

[Pappy John]

Nah....rarely even carry a reload.:uhoh:

[MikeJ]

I never carry a BUG. My two carry guns are a S&W 640 .357 and a NAA Guardian .32 depending on my mode of dress and what I am doing. Mike

[cool45auto]

No.

[Kentucky Rifle]

Around my house or anywhere close to my neighborhood, I only carry one pistol and one knife. On the other hand, if I have to go downtown, I might be carrying three. (Or even four, if I have the pockets for it. I'd feel better carrying my AR-15 when I go to my gunsmith's place.) I have some pretty nice pocket holsters and "several" :) pocket pistols to choose from. ~I like my thin little Seecamp in a RJ Hedley "Front Pocket LE" very much. I also enjoy an Airlite Ti, .32 H&R Mag snub in a Galco "Ankle Glove". The ankle glove has turned out to be WAY better than I expected.

Will

[cidirkona]

Firestorm .380 -- that I'll sometimes carry as my primary if the .45's getting to heavy...

-Colin

[Preacherman]

Sometimes - usually a .38 snubby or (recently) a Kel-Tec P3-AT.

[cordex]

Sometimes.
S&W mod 60 and/or Beretta 21a

If I carry all three, am I carrying a BUG and a BUBUG?

[Mastrogiacomo]

If I could carry -- it'd the an auto with the revolver as the back up. Probably a Ruger GP100 3" or SP101 snubbie...depending on what I'm wearing.

[happyguy]

At work I carry an AMT Backup .45 in a body armor holster as a backup to my H&K USP .45f.

Off duty I just carry my NRM Colt 1991A1 Government Model.

Regards,
Happyguy:D

[Texas Bob]

Always, P-32 on my weak side or j-frame on my strong side complement my primary. I believe "Murphy's Law" is ever present. Why do we feel "naked" driving without a "spare tire." Sorry, in the last 30+ years, I've seen to many machines break not to have back-up. Anyone old enough to remember the "onion field?" One single BUG could have changed the ending of that story.

[Okiecruffler]

Occasionally, like any late night downtown outings, I'll carry a Rossi M88 on my weak side hip. Figure it would be quicker than trying to reload my primary.

[Kcustom45]

I very rarely carry a BUG, but if I do it is usually a Colt Mustang in .380 or a S&W 60.

[RCL]

Only if my sidearm is considered as a backup to my truck gun, when I have one behind the seat (my .30-30 or 12 ga.).

[krept]

I voted "never" but wish I had a "not yet" option... just don't have the money for a new piece. gotta get good with what I've got.

cheers

[Skunkabilly]

Sometimes drop the P7M8 in left-butt pocket if I'm wearing my Royal Robbins. This is only once or twice a year. Balancing lifestyle, convenience and firepower, a gun with two reloads should be more than enough.

[Hot brass]

Never, the only small gun I am lic to carry is a 2 shot, no.

[PCRCCW]

MOST of the time! My PCR is my EDC and my KT P11 or Makarov in my left front pocket 95% of the time as my BUGs.

Shoot well.

[enfield]

NAA .380 Guardian in a pocket holster.

[SapperLeader]

I carry a bug everytime I leave the house. I carry a s&w 642 in a front weak side pocket holster in addition to my main sidearm in a strongside iwb holster. I believe in redundancy, and I dont want a firearm breaking when I need it most.

[MyRoad]

Yes, only because at the office between 9 and 5 the back-up becomes the primary, since there is no way to conceal a full-size gun in my work cloths.

[Snowdog]

Amazing....

I was expecting to be among the minority in my vote for "never carry a back-up gun". Seems other don't either.

Where I live, it is extremely unlikely to run into any problems that a Kahr K9, a cell phone and competency can't handle. I'd imagine most are in the same boat.


If the items in this picture can't help me, I doubt a bug would change the outcome:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid95/pfa68b9d58020570bbbd6596c7d19df6d/fa2daba6.jpg

[Richard]

I very seldom carry a BUG and when I do it is my Kel-Tec P32. I figure I can get the job done with my main carry piece; I normally carry a Kahr K40. Regards, Richard:D

[LoneWulf]

If one is good, then two is better.

[Matt G]

You need a "Usually Carry A BUG" choice. That'd be mine. Without such a choice, I clicked on "Sometimes."

While on duty, or to and from work (LEO), I've always got a BUG. Just running to the store for a gallon of milk or dropping my girl off at school, it's usually just a single .355 or .357 bore pocket pistol, tucked, oddly enough, in my pocket. :)

[Border]

Has anyone even HEARD of a private citizen needing to resort to a back-up or even needing a reload?! Personally I am more worried about the mental state of a guy in a low crime area who will never leave the house without 3 guns strapped on, or who feels the need to have a hidden gun in the toilet tank than I am about anything I will likely encounter out there! :uhoh: Why not carry a shot of Benadryl just in case you encounter a substance you are allergic to? Statistically speaking, a food poisoning is more likely than ever needing that third magazine! Just trying to follow the "in case" logic here.

[SapperLeader]

Border, Actually I do carry Benadryl in a pocket first aid kit, just in case I do find something I or someone with me is allergic to. Preparedness comes into play in all aspects of life, and I consider myself a very mentally stable individual, who plans for the what if scenario.

I must admit that some of the responses in this thread confuse me. Why is it okay for a leo to carry a backup 24/7, but its odd for a private citizen too? Most of my friends dont carry backups except under a rare set of circumstances, and some of them dont even carry spare mags, but none of them wonder why I do. The only reason most dont, is they are not willing to take a hit on the comfort level. I dont carry a bug and extra magazines for my priamry because I believe that a squad of ninja assassins are out to get me, I carry it as another tool in my toolbox, and for the extreme case scenario.

[Brigrat]

I also have benadryl in my vehicles first aid kit, and my fanny pack. What's wrong with that??? I will probably never need a lot of things I have around, but I am glad I have them. It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

[MyRoad]

Personally I am more worried about the mental state of a guy in a low crime area who will never leave the house without 3 guns strapped on...
Border -
Does a happy-go-lucky person who carries three guns when he can, but would leave the house without any if need be, worry you? My point is that some people (and I've been accused of this) are simply "belt and suspenders" kinds of folks. We glue and screw wood together, we check our tires and all the fluids in the car before a trip, we have the proper smoke detectors and fire extinguishers... well, you get the picture. And, if it's possible without getting in the way of living, maybe we carry more than one gun. I don't think that choosing to carry a BUG and being afraid to leave your house without multiple guns are the same issue. But that may be a whole other topic. ;)

[Black Snowman]

I can't CCW legally yet and don't but I can carry tools where I am. I used to only be armed with a cell phone. Now my EDC is my cell, a Streamlight TwinTask, a Leatherman Wave, a Cold Steel Recon 1 and a Cold Steel Ti-Lite (xytel). I regularly use all of them now that I have them and can't figure out for the life of me why I didn't carry them all before.

WHEN KS get's CCW I'll carry a handgun and at least one spare mag, probably two. Help ballence out my belt and as stated, better to have and not need. I probably won't have a BUG as that duty will most likely be covered by my knives, each carried on a differant side in case I can't get to one. Handy both when openning packages and when strugling for your life.

I've never had to defend myself outside my home but that doesn't mean I won't need to. Plus, if I have to go offensive to save someone, I want enough to do the job. So for me, the advantages of a BUG don't outweigh the convinience of not carrying one but the advantages of carrying do outweigh the inconvenience. I'm already more prepared than the majority of the population, but it's hard to be TOO prepared.

I have a few psychological issues, as does everyone, but they don't relate to paranoia and I don't think anyone on here is acting beyond the bounds of their experiance (which is something that would indicate the POSIBILITY of paranoia). What we have here are the people that the criminal element should fear and make them think twice about their chosen source of income.

[cratz2]

Well, I consider the P32 a backup gun even when it's the only thing I'm carrying... :p So yes, I suppose I always carry it. I consider my Kahr P9 Covert my primary CCW but even though I have a tuckable holster, usually when I'm wearing a shirt tucked in, I only carry the P32.

The P32 is carried in a pocket holster. In the winter, I keep it loaded with FMJ ammo except the last two rounds which are Gold Dots. In the summer they are all Gold Dots except the last two which are FMJ.

[Series 70]

Sometimes.
S&W 442 in coat pocket, pants pocket, or ankle holster, depending.

Ankle holster at the moment.

[Kentucky Rifle]

No offense meant. (I mean that.) You speak like a person who's never been the victim of a violent crime. The pistol on my hip is for a fast draw to save my life. The revolver in my ankle holster is meant for a fast draw if I've been knocked down. The NAA Mini Revolver or Seecamp in my coat pocket is a "get off me" gun. There you go. Three guns for three situatons.

Will

[Mike Kerr]

P -32. It leaves the house when I do. It leaves the car with me every legal place I can carry it.

[Border]

Kentuckyrifle. Thanks. None taken.

I see a rationale now. I guess I was reacting to the "in case crowd" who rationalize carrying 3 guns to themselves as their NOT being part of a "I'm really a Rambo when I leave the house" mentality as they "might find themselves in a situation" and who don't have so much as a fire extinquisher in their home etc or otherwise prepare for more likely scenarios....I think that you get the idea and I think that those folks, if they brag about "what they never leave the house without", give us a bad name. I met a guy in a gun shop who wore all black (who clearly was NOT S.W.A.T./LEO) and I think a visible minortiy can form an image ("nuts") in the public's eye. But I do now see a rationale in the way you describe it. I mean that.

Steve

[Kentucky Rifle]

Thank you for that reply. So many people consider it an insult when you disagree with what they said.
I'm pretty injured at this time and it's getting worse. I'll give you the best piece of advice you'll ever hear. "DON'T *EVER* HURT YOUR BACK"! A lot of times I have to carry a lighter pistol due to my back. I started carrying another pistol when someone, who was obviously waiting for an "easy mark", saw me limping to my car in a downtown parking garage. He popped up from behind a parked car only to find himself staring at the Gold Dot in my Seecamp that was about three inches from his eye. Peed his pants. I enjoyed that little reaction.

Will

[Dorian]

I voted "never" but wish I had a "not yet" option... just don't have the money for a new piece.

Same here.....

I want a pocket autoloader in 9mm.... so that presents a second problem.

[m.i.sanders]

I carry my P32 99.9% of the time even when I'm don't carry my 1911. It's really more than my BUG, it's my always gun.

[flyfisher]

Don't always carry one, but when I do, it is a Walther PPK in .32 ACP

[Tactical]

Around my house or anywhere close to my neighborhood, I only carry one pistol and one knife. On the other hand, if I have to go downtown, I might be carrying three. (Or even four, if I have the pockets for it.


Remind me not to visit Kentucky if I need to carry as much as you are.

I never carry a bug. I doubt I'll ever need to use my primary.

[Brigrat]

My wife was reading this thread, and my posts in particular, and noted that she was not surprised I carried a BUG, since I have two spare tires for my truck. Yes, I am paranoid!

[W Turner]

When my BUG (KT P3AT) is not my primary it is so small I have a hard time justifying not carrying it. It usually backs up a full-size pistol with a reload.

Mino

[Kentucky Rifle]

I have a reason to be paranoid. My best friend was murdered by an angry drunk with a hunting knife. His throat was slit. Plus, it happened right in front of my friend's new wife. (They had been married for less than a year.) While on their first vacation, they were ran off the road and attacked near the Jonesboro, GEORGIA exit in the early (still dark) hours of the morning. I know my friend had a .38 Special Smith & Wesson. He thought he wouldn't need it on a road trip to Key West, Fla. from Richmond, Ky., so he left it at home. He was wrong. See, they were from Kentucky however, the murder took place in GEORGIA. Violence doesn't care where you're from. Still think you'll never have to "use your primary"? Complacent people walking around in condition white get killed every day in every state, my friend. I hope you're right and you never have to use your *primary.

Will