Well, yes, if your primary firearm fails or is taken or otherwise lost.
IOW, "there are plenty of sound arguments for having a back up that don't necessitate weak hand usage".
Yep.
Back-Up Gun?
- Thread starter Kleanbore
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IOW, "there are plenty of sound arguments for having a back up that don't necessitate weak hand usage".
Pudge
Member
So, I'm probably limited to a revolver for weak hand, and that's marginal at best, should I accommodate that limitation, or plan for strong hand backup?
Howland937
Member
You're not alone. My weak hand shooting could be described as "marginal" too. Strong hand, I've shot with both eyes open for years...but weak hand is also non-dominant eye for me. It's been a chore learning to shoot weak hand, both eyes open without cross-eyeing (I'm sure that's not the right term) the sights.
I have decent dexterity with weak hand. Played sports, work on cars, no injuries/arthritis/etc... But it still requires work. If you can operate and fire your revolver weak-handed, you can learn to hit stuff of reasonable size at reasonable distances if you work at it. But if your strong hand is available, you can certainly still use it!
ArchAngelCD
Member.
My son carries a Springfield XD service model most times. When he needs a BUG or a smaller gun he carries the Subcompact XD because all the controls and grip angle are the same.
Personally I would carry a J frame if I didn't already carry one every day lol.
Personally I would carry a J frame if I didn't already carry one every day lol.
ReggiesFree
Member
Jim Cirillo's, Tales of the Stakeout Squad book must be one hell of a good read. I've been trying to locate it off & on for about 2 yrs now...all efforts have proven futile!
ReggiesFree
Member
Yep, Jack Mahoney was a wretched beast indeed!
ReggiesFree
Member
I've been musing over the Ruger LCR Six-Shot 327 Federal Magnum as BUG...this Lil rascal can shoot four other different rounds!
You can shoot .32 ACP, .32 Long, .32 Short, and .32 H&R Mag!
You can shoot .32 ACP, .32 Long, .32 Short, and .32 H&R Mag!
ArchAngelCD
Member.
That Ruger is a good looking revolver. I didn't know they made a .32 Fed. Mag 6 shot revolver.
The Last Outlaw
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Wow, 250 bucks on Amazon for a paperback, must be a helluva read!
Got Sig 365 to replace Kahr PM9 as my "backup" and it did, even fits same holster.
Sig 365 is quicker & easier to draw from pocket and shoot one hand weak hand (my left).
Sights were well regulated as received, POI matching my POA wonderfully.
Sig 365 "backup" is carried in weak hand front pocket, affords hand on gun without revealing I'm carrying and/or quick access with weak hand.
Had been carrying Glock 32 AIWB but in the spirit of quicker decided to switch to Glock 19 which offers slightly quicker follow up shots.
My carry 9mm combo
Combo easily concealed under a continuously untucked shirt.
I know shorts are wrinkled, happens after they are worn for hours walking dogs, going to range, errands, ...
Sig 365 is quicker & easier to draw from pocket and shoot one hand weak hand (my left).
Sights were well regulated as received, POI matching my POA wonderfully.
Sig 365 "backup" is carried in weak hand front pocket, affords hand on gun without revealing I'm carrying and/or quick access with weak hand.
Had been carrying Glock 32 AIWB but in the spirit of quicker decided to switch to Glock 19 which offers slightly quicker follow up shots.
My carry 9mm combo
Combo easily concealed under a continuously untucked shirt.
I know shorts are wrinkled, happens after they are worn for hours walking dogs, going to range, errands, ...
Shivahasagun
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- 922
Get one if you can find one. They are current production. Probably in batches.
Available with or without hammer spur. I prefer LCR's without.
I cant imagine ever selling mine.
The idea of "backup" isn't limited to another gun. It can be an edged or blunt trauma weapon, too. Their technical development precedes the handgun and they were banned earlier in history as hoodlums and thugs demostrated their effectiveness. They were the reason that gentlemen carried short swords and canes into the 20th century which increased reach and kept them at bay. Many carried a 4" clasp knife as an eating and utility knife, more formally, a fixed 5-7" dagger in the waistband of their beltless pants.
Firearms are actually the most recent introducion of technology as edged and blunt trauma weapons predate them by tens of thousands of years. They are definitely included in the Right to Keep and Bear ARMS, which when originally penned was not limited to the newfangled single fire dueling pistols or muskets seen stacked at the back of church. The 2A is not the Right to Keep and Bear GUNS exclusively, and keeping them in mind allows a diversity of approach to self defense. One notable statistic that still outnumbers all other weapons reported in use, the rock leads the list, even today. We can do better than that with some cogent thought on the subject, however, at times it does fall readily to hand.
I for one already spent enough money on guns at $100's each, and I don't want to be burdened with a backup just mowing the grass. A wider variety of response also allows other tasks to be performed, a knife does a good job as an EDC tool and better than a gun at cutting birthday cake, too.
Firearms are actually the most recent introducion of technology as edged and blunt trauma weapons predate them by tens of thousands of years. They are definitely included in the Right to Keep and Bear ARMS, which when originally penned was not limited to the newfangled single fire dueling pistols or muskets seen stacked at the back of church. The 2A is not the Right to Keep and Bear GUNS exclusively, and keeping them in mind allows a diversity of approach to self defense. One notable statistic that still outnumbers all other weapons reported in use, the rock leads the list, even today. We can do better than that with some cogent thought on the subject, however, at times it does fall readily to hand.
I for one already spent enough money on guns at $100's each, and I don't want to be burdened with a backup just mowing the grass. A wider variety of response also allows other tasks to be performed, a knife does a good job as an EDC tool and better than a gun at cutting birthday cake, too.
I am not trained to use one effectively and lawfully as a weapon, and my physical condition mitigates against my becoming trained.
Howland937
Member
Anything you can get your hands on could be used as a weapon to some degree. Primary, back up, improvised, whatever. Problem with hand held, non-firing weapons is they're limited by distance to a greater degree than even the least accurate of "pea shooters". The same thing applies to hands and feet, even amongst the most highly skilled martial artists.
To me, the idea of a back up gun is to continue to avoid hand/feet/knife proximity as much as possible, should my primary be rendered useless to me.
To me, the idea of a back up gun is to continue to avoid hand/feet/knife proximity as much as possible, should my primary be rendered useless to me.
entropy
Member
I have carried my BodyGuard 38 (The ugly plastic one, not the older all steel one) as a BUG to my PT145, and back up to my PT1911 when hunting. I do and I don't have a 'weak hand'. Physically yes, my left hand is weaker due to a work accident, and some nerve damage later on. But my left eye is my dominant eye, so I shoot just as well one- handed from either hand. I haven't practiced two-handed left hand shooting, I usually cock my head to the side and down(Quell system) to do that.
obiwan1
Member
My agency specifically forbade BUGS and I never felt that I needed one on duty. The commute was the most dangerous part of my job even though I dealt with "interesting" people routinely. However, If I thought I needed one........
LUCKYDAWG13
Member
I just about always carry a BUG but sometimes it's my main carry like in the cooler weather were my bobed 637 is in a vest or coat pocket
Yes indeed.
I do not like the "In a little cafe just the other side of the border" strategy: "come a little bit closer".
ReggiesFree
Member
NO LIE...1 Hellava read!
Maybe they toss in a couple of hundred rds of primo ammo for good measure!
herrwalther
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I haven't carried a backup gun in years. 10 at least. My thought process behind a BUG was in a crazy situation I can have a second gun to arm my wife with or I can arm myself in a compromised situation such as laying/knocked down where I cannot reach my primary. I haven't felt the need to be that armed in awhile.
Why carry one then? Why carry one with ammo in it? The probabilities suggest that such are rarely needed. Carrying is a pain.
Once you start to carry, the analysis is that you have accepted being in a critical incident and what is the optimal and reasonable outfit for such. If you accept that you most likely will be in an economically motivated single or double opponent with no shots fired - a single J frame might be your choice. If you are concerned that you might be in a more intensive incident, then options change. BUGs have saved the day for some. It is rare. You decide the level of action risk you make the equipment criterion level.
However, the modal, statistical argument argues against carrying anything.
Once you start to carry, the analysis is that you have accepted being in a critical incident and what is the optimal and reasonable outfit for such. If you accept that you most likely will be in an economically motivated single or double opponent with no shots fired - a single J frame might be your choice. If you are concerned that you might be in a more intensive incident, then options change. BUGs have saved the day for some. It is rare. You decide the level of action risk you make the equipment criterion level.
However, the modal, statistical argument argues against carrying anything.
Evil doers do not seem to be choosing victims on the basis of profession these days, and going into what constitutes "harm's way" does not seem to depend upon vocation.
Shopping, refueling, walking, and using an ATM all take us into potential danger zones.
And so does driving. For various reasons, the crime of car-jacking have been become more frequent--exponentially. It's an international problem.
If the perp gets the car, it can be annoying, But if people are taken, it is serious.
For defense against car jackers, a firearm accessible from the driver's seat by a driver using the arm farthest from the passenger seat can provide the margin between life and death.
Should the situation arise, it will not be a matter of "needing two" firearms. It will be a matter of needing that one.
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There's a huge difference between someone who can go to great lengths to avoid trouble and law enforcement who's job it is to go out and find it. Every single cop I know has held someone at gun point more than once. Several of them have actually had to use their firearms. I don't know of a single person outside of law enforcement who's ever needed to draw their gun.
The only point I'm trying to make here is that as a private citizen I feel just fine with carrying one firearm. As a law enforcement officer that desire to have a second gun along goes up significantly.
Great. All true. It has nothing to do with the subject at hand.
That is not relevant to the previous statement.
How one may "feel" means little.
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