How Many Carry "Bugs" As A Primary?

Do you use your "Bug" as a primary?

  • Only as a back up

    Votes: 11 10.6%
  • Yes, but only during warm months

    Votes: 32 30.8%
  • Yes, year round

    Votes: 61 58.7%

  • Total voters
    104
  • Poll closed .
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I carry my P32 quite an bit in the summer months. In the fall/winter I carry a PF9 in my coat pocket most of the time. A P32 is better than nothing or my Glock21 on the night stand at home.
 
BUG's As Primary ?

Well, as I read the poll so far, it's a 2/3 (slightly rounded upward) majority.

Please, as a note of caution, don't carry a round in the chamber of a Bauer .25 ACP. I like my little stainless steel copy of the Baby Browning, too, but it has been known to discharge when dropped, even with the safety on.
 
Easy to say when you are young and healthy.
Get back to me after you have celebrated your 60th birthday...and have three back surgeries.
I used to carry a 4" N-frame, or a steel 1911. Those days are gone for me.
Unpleasant reality tends to shatter some idealistic paradigms.

Agree.

When I was in my late 20's and 30's I could easily OWB or IWB a medium or large frame (.44) revolver or 1911 without much thought or effort.

As time and age have passed I've also adjusted my choices, both for actual (less pain) comfort, as well as convenience.

Completely understand.
 
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I also feel there's some vagueness involved regarding the definition of what sort of handgun is commonly called a "BUG", or, more plainly, becomes a "secondary" weapon.

I've seen folks choose really diminutive .22's, .25's & .32's ... or larger, but still "smallish", 5-shot snubs and .380's ... or 2 1/2" medium-framed .357 revolvers and 1911's as "secondary" handguns.
 
I voted yes, carry an XDs 45 daily.

Some would consider that a bug, know a few guys who have tried to pocket carry this model. It always ends up back on the waist from what I've seen.
 
If my primary (only) carry gun is a G26 then it isn't a 'BUG' (back up gun) because there isn't any to back up the Glock.
So far no vote.
 
Because of my lifestyle I have been carrying a Glock 43 9mm over 90% of the time since 2015. The G42 .380 and G43 9mm replaced a Kel-Tec PF9 9mm I carried since the early 2000's. The G43 9mm has a loaded weight just above the 20 ounces I think is getting too heavy for pocket carry but I have found that pocket carry can be comfortable and non-printing in some clothing and the G42 .380 is the same in most clothing. The G43 9mm for as IWB is very comfortable and non-printing. The G43 9mm is also the largest pistol I have ever found to be comfortable and non-printing in an ankle holster. The best thing about the G42 .380 and G43 9mm is that the manual of arms and specifically the trigger pull is not much different from the G22 .40cal in my nightstand and G20 10mm I carry in the desert and forest.
 
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The OP is referring to a BUG as a type/size of handgun, not as carrying a second gun.

That's been the crux of the problem. I guess the term "Bug" implies "small," as in bug, insect, to some people and got mixed up somewhere in the past with what I consider the original sense of the term as Back Up Gun, size alone being immaterial.

Basically, we're discussing two different conceptions of the term "BUG."

The Back Up Gun is usually smaller, but not necessarily so.

OP said,

I see and hear a lot about only using "Bug's" or "Mouse guns" as back ups, but also see a lot of folks on gun forums claiming to use them as primaries, either during the warm months or year round.

So some of us are talking about BUGs and the others are talking about Mouse Guns.

So my "primary" is a small pocketed fast-first-shots J-frame, and my BUG is a medium 9mm auto on my belt. (I of course retain the option of using the auto first, and on occasion, that auto might be a full-sized .45.)

And as I said, I hope I never have to use either.

Terry, 230RN
 
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In the new IDPA BUG category, I believe that an XDs qualifies.

Practically speaking, an LC9 fits pocket carry in dress clothes and LCP in jeans and other short pocket pants.

Better a BUG than nuthin’.
 
Quote:
The OP is referring to a BUG as a type/size of handgun, not as carrying a second gun.
That's been the crux of the problem. I guess the term "Bug" implies "small," as in bug, insect, to some people and got mixed up somewhere in the past with what I consider the original sense of the term as Back Up Gun, size alone being immaterial.

Basically, we're discussing two different conceptions of the term "BUG."

The Back Up Gun is usually smaller, but not necessarily so.

OP said,

Quote:
I see and hear a lot about only using "Bug's" or "Mouse guns" as back ups, but also see a lot of folks on gun forums claiming to use them as primaries, either during the warm months or year round.
So some of us are talking about BUGs and the others are talking about Mouse Guns.

So my "primary" is a small pocketed fast-first-shots J-frame, and my BUG is a medium 9mm auto on my belt. (I of course retain the option of using the auto first, and on occasion, that auto might be a full-sized .45.)

And as I said, I hope I never have to use either.

Terry, 230RN










That's a valid point. However I never thought in a million years there were folks that carried something like a LC9 as a primary and a 5" 1911 as a back up. But hey, you learn something new every day.

I feel like most who voted/responded got the jist of the topic though. Which is, carrying a "tiny" gun as your primary or only weapon.
 
I carry a "bacteria" gun (NAA-1 .22 mag) all the time, but in addition to my primary (usually a .357).

I carry the NAA-1 because we have rattle snakes and having something to spray shot at them without having to fuss with loading a special shot shell into your primary is nice.
 
I pocket-carry a Rohrbaugh R9.

The plan was to carry an R9 as primary and another R9 as a back-up, but the R9 is an expensive gun and Remington bought out Rohrbaugh Firearms.

So now the plan is to purchase a Remington RM380 as a backup. I'm hoping the price on the RM380 comes down a little bit...
 
Here in Tampa I wear shorts and T-shirt almost year round now that I'm retired. LCP in front pocket in a Stoner holster. Goes in my pocket when I get dressed in the morning.
 
Good Ol' Boy remarked,

That's a valid point. However I never thought in a million years there were folks that carried something like a LC9 as a primary and a 5" 1911 as a back up. But hey, you learn something new every day.

Well, it kind of parallels the old saying that the only proper use of a pistol is to fight your way to a rifle.

In which case, the much larger rifle is the BUG. :D

Terry :)
 
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