Do you carry a back up gun?

Do you carry a "Back Up Gun" on a regular basis?

  • Yes I do carry a BUG and I am safer for it.

    Votes: 23 13.6%

  • No I do not carry a BUG; I am not that paranoid.

    Votes: 37 21.9%

  • I do not carry a BUG, but I do carry at least one spare magazine for my primary carry weapon.

    Votes: 57 33.7%

  • I am proud to say that I carry a primary weapon, a BUG, and a spare magazine for each of them.

    Votes: 21 12.4%

  • I just carry a small semi-auto or J-frame; no spare ammo. Odds are I will only need 1-2 rounds.

    Votes: 31 18.3%
  • Total voters
    169
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H

heavyshooter

Member
Joined
Aug 23, 2008
Messages
599
Location
Denver Metro Area
My primary carry weapon holds 9+1 rounds of 40 S&W. I have been considering whether or not I would carry a spare magazine, but I realized that I can pocket carry a back up gun just as easily. My wife thinks that is crazy!!! "Do you really need two guns?" she asks. "Who is after you?" The whole thing got me thinking. How many of you actually carry a BUG on a regular basis (for the sake of this poll let's assume that "regular basis" is at least 75% of the time). I am wondering if I am crazy!;)

Heavy
 
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Crazy?

Heavy, tell us a little about yourself.

How long you been carrying?

How long you been shooting?

How long you been married?

Does your wife shoot?

Now, I might be able to compile all this information by studying your old posts, but that's more time that I can allocate to the task.

Give us a little background.

It will help screen out the silly responses, you know, the "just show her who's boss" answers.

With a little context, the rest of us can give advice that might be not entirely absurd.

 
I carry a BUG 90% of the time, and 100% of the time that I can get away with it.

Its not a matter of NEEDING two guns, its a matter of NEEDING one gun and being able to access at least one regardless of the situation.

Ex. 1 - When I'm driving, I wear my seatbelt. When I wear my seatbelt, I can't draw a gun that is on my hip.

Ex. 2 - When its cold outside I wear 3-4 layers. When I wear 3-4 layers I can't quickly, consistently, and reliably access a gun that is on my hip. A snubbie in a coat pocket or in a pants pocket can be carried with my hand already on it if I want, and it can be out in almost no time. If "almost" isn't fast enough, I could even shoot through my coat.

I'm convinced that successfully defending yourself with a gun has little to do with caliber and capacity. It has more to do with having a gun out and ready ASAP. Milliseconds count more than millimeters.

On that note, I've taken to carrying my 1911 as a "BUG" while the snubbie or Kahr is carried in my pants pocket or on my ankle during long stints in the car. That way the smaller gun can be used first since its easier to get out. If I'm ever in a self-defense shooting (unlikely) that requires more than five or seven rounds (even more unlikely), I'll just drop the little guy and go to my BUG (the 1911).

Better yet, I could just throw it at the fella once its empty. ;)
 
Dunno -

I carry a 9mm with two spare mags.

It has always seemed enough to me.

After all, once you have burned through

The first 14 rounds, if it ever even gets there,

What purpose does a backup gun serve?


isher
 
i carry a glock 20 IWB @ 4 o'clock & glock 26 on the ankle. i usually just carry the two with no spare mags, but if the weather or cargo pockets permit, i will.
 
Yes, I carry a BUG. Anything mechanical can and will fail, and if it fails at the worst time, I will want something else to cover the "gap". Read Evan Marshalls stuff on BUG and BBUG.
 
I carry a bug because of the off chance I can't access my primary, it has nothing to do with my trust in my primary's ability to function reliably.

Massad Ayoob brought this idea to me and it truly makes sense. What if you are in a struggle and your strong arm or your gun hip are pinned up against something, making the primary weapon inaccessible?
 
A BUG is the fastest reload, in addition to being an alternative as mentioned by previous posters. I carry a 1911 commander with a variety of small revovers serving as BUG.
 
My real issue in answering your poll is that the questions did not address my situation. My life does not allow me to carry a back up gun or for that matter a gun at all sometimes. Not regulations or rules, but situations. It's virtually impossible to keep a weapon concealed when you're going to have to crawl upside down under someones dishwasher or fridge while they're making small talk, and watching you. And, since I don't want a freaked out customer on my hands I leave my weapon in the truck when going into a customer's house. I do however almost always have an extra mag when I carry, and often a BUG somewhere in close proximity like in the truck or office.
 
I carry one gun if its my glock 17 it has 2 extra mags at 17 rounds so thats 53 rounds I dont think i will every need more then that plus that always in a sholder holster so it evens out the weight. My M&P 9c only has 12 rounds I have one extra clip I carry my glock 26 also with this.
 
Sometimes. When I work the range I always have a small .38spc I carry in my back pocket. On some occasions I'll stick it in my back pocket when I have to travel in the less desirable parts of the city. But most of the time I just carry my XD40 sub.
 
Heavy, tell us a little about yourself.

How long you been carrying?

How long you been shooting?

How long you been married?

Does your wife shoot?

Now, I might be able to compile all this information by studying your old posts, but that's more time that I can allocate to the task.

Give us a little background.

It will help screen out the silly responses, you know, the "just show her who's boss" answers.

With a little context, the rest of us can give advice that might be not entirely absurd.
Click to expand...

This is a good idea ArfinGreebly,

1. I have been carrying for about 4 years. The BUG conversation came up because when we moved to Colorado from Texas I did not apply for my Colorado CCW right away. Because of the back log it took almost 7 months to finally get it (it came last week). Because of that I have not been carrying for almost a year. A year is long enough to break a routine and it has resulted in me having to rediscover my most effective carry system. Because of that the question is, "to BUG, or not to BUG." :)

2. I have been shooting for about 25 years. My father was an avid shooter and her started us young.

3. I have been married for 5 years.

4. My wife is a capable shooter (quite impressive in fact) but she is not an avid shooter. She views it a a necessary tool, not a pleasure. She had never fired a weapon until she married me. She wanted a gun that she could shoot (none of mine suited her) because we experienced a home intrusion. She desires a gun for home protection and she keeps her firearm on her side of the bed. Of her own initiative, she goes to the range with me once or twice a year so she can preserve a skillful use of her weopon. But she does not carry. She is cool with me carrying, but sher does not want to.

The thing that got me into trouble was the fact that we were at a restaurant and my pocket knife fell to the floor. For about a half second she thought it was my gun, and she was embarrased. So when I considered carrying a Back-UP gun her immediate question to me was, "Is there something I should know? Are you a spy?" :D ;)

I hope this helps,
Heavy
 
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I've never been married, so bear with me:

Wife: "Why do you want to carry two guns?"
You: "If we're being attacked, what are you going to do? Be my cheerleader? Maybe if you carried one, I wouldn't have to do it for you."

I'll probably never get married. :eek: :D
 
never, i just don't see the need. i carry 1 that i train with a lot. i also carry 1 spare mag. i figure 28 rnds of .40S&W is more then enough for me to get the hell out of dodge if im in that deep.

i don't get paid to run towards gunfire so i think i carry enough to get away from it.
 
Acclimated

Well, Heavy, at least she's knowledgeable and on your side regarding being armed.

I've given a little thought to the BUG idea. My duties don't expose me to any greater hazard than any other ordinary schmoe, so it's not like I feel chronically at risk.

If my daily activities brought me unavoidably into situations where the risk of "encounters" was higher, I might actually take steps to be extra equipped.

Things being what they are, however, I probably won't any time soon.

I do, however, keep a rifle in the truck. No extra effort to carry it. No daily struggle with clothing and rigging. If things get truly stupid, and I can get to the truck, then my "back up" is a long gun with four loaded magazines and plenty of spare ammo.

In order for things to be "truly stupid" though, I'd have to burn through sixteen rounds of 9mm.

If you can pocket-carry a BUG, and that level of preparedness seems appropriate to you, then knock yourself out. If you feel you need to explain it to your wife, just let her know you're "trying it out" to see how much extra trouble it is. Words to that effect.

She doesn't think you're crazy.

She just senses that you may have a little bit of "hobby OCD" and wants to make sure you're not launching into a fantasy land.

Keep it light. No point in being too serious about it.

It might even make some sense for her to practice some with whatever you choose to carry as a BUG. Heck, if you ever have to hand it off to her to deal with something unexpected, it sure wouldn't hurt to have her already know how to run it.

 
Kind of Blued said:
I carry a BUG 90% of the time, and 100% of the time that I can get away with it.

Its not a matter of NEEDING two guns, its a matter of NEEDING one gun and being able to access at least one regardless of the situation.

Ex. 1 - When I'm driving, I wear my seatbelt. When I wear my seatbelt, I can't draw a gun that is on my hip.

Ex. 2 - When its cold outside I wear 3-4 layers. When I wear 3-4 layers I can't quickly, consistently, and reliably access a gun that is on my hip. A snubbie in a coat pocket or in a pants pocket can be carried with my hand already on it if I want, and it can be out in almost no time. If "almost" isn't fast enough, I could even shoot through my coat.

I'm convinced that successfully defending yourself with a gun has little to do with caliber and capacity. It has more to do with having a gun out and ready ASAP. Milliseconds count more than millimeters.

On that note, I've taken to carrying my 1911 as a "BUG" while the snubbie or Kahr is carried in my pants pocket or on my ankle during long stints in the car. That way the smaller gun can be used first since its easier to get out. If I'm ever in a self-defense shooting (unlikely) that requires more than five or seven rounds (even more unlikely), I'll just drop the little guy and go to my BUG (the 1911).

Better yet, I could just throw it at the fella once its empty. ;)
Click to expand...
Likewise. Couldn't have said better myself.
 
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