Revolver with small auto back up?

I do it on occasion--a P3AT backing up an M&P360. The 360 is in the right front pants pocket or a vest pocket; the P3AT is tyically in my left rear hip pocket with a spare mag.

The occasions are few, however--my general life style has an awful low threat level.

Jim H.

Carry a S&W Model 19 in the winter and a 640-1 in the summer.

Usually have a Seecamp .32 stuck away somewhere for a spare.

"How many of you revolver guys use a small semi auto for a BUG?

I was thinking of something along the lines of a j-frame backed up with an LCP..."


Never, why would I want to do that?

Keep it smiple. Same ammo for both pistols.

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I've been thinking of doing this when I get my CCL. I was thinking of a Rossi .38spl in the front pocket and a Taurus TCP or 708 in a 5 o'clok position holster on the other side. I go to Nashville and Charlotte, so I do visit some of the more crime prone citys.

Also it is a good idea to have something on your weak side. If your dominant side is injured, or somebody grabs you, there is still an available firearm.

Dear Prof,

I've been experimenting with that lately. I thought I had settled on a six-shot on the hip and a j-frame in the weak side pocket, but the used P-32 I recently picked up is just so thin and light, even compared to a 642! As soon as I get some reloading done for the P-32, I'm planning to have a weak hand shoot-off between the two, winner gets to ride in the pocket.

LBS

Keep it simple. Same ammo for both pistols.

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I'm with ColeK on this. Georgia State Patrol issues each trooper 2 Glocks in .45 GAP - the full size G37 and the compact G39. Common manual at arms, common ammo.

On an episode of Shooting Gallery that covered pocket pistols, Ed Head of Gunsite recommended carrying two identical handguns. The fastest reload could be a second gun!

My P3AT is too small not to carry virtually 24/7 but I often like to have my 2" .357 as well. I did that last night in fact to go out to eat and just general messing around.

I know quite a few old cops that routinely carried a six shot primary revolver and a small semi auto back up gun.
Everything from Sterling Arms .22s to Walther PPK .380s.
Very common practice through the 1980s.

Oh, I should say that what we call "Back up guns" now were called "throwdown" guns then,,,

As in, "You know you're in the shyt if you have to pull your throwdown!"

I could see doing it only by circumstance, as in hefting a large revolver for hunting and yet still carrying a small auto out of habit. It's not me, though it could happen.

I've got by for 68 years with one gun.

But I always lead a sheltered life, compared to some guys that carry two or three I guess.

rc

I've carried all combinations at times. Carry what you're comfortable with.

Its not a regular carry for me but I have carried a 3" S&W m64 with a two shot 38 special derringer.

I like and use big revolvers in the GP100 size range, service-sized autoloaders, namely the 1911 in the past, currently SIG P229s, small-framed snubby revolvers, and on occasion, carry a Seecamp LWS-32, so there have indeed been times when the bigger weapon was a revolver, and the smaller an autoloader.

In the 1980's, when I started wearing my badge, plenty of my colleagues carried primary duty sixguns on the belt, and concealed pocket-sized autos as secondary weapons.

As lately as 2007, when carrying a autoloader in my police duty rig, and an SP101 back-up concealed on my person, I also had a GP100 cased in the front seat area of my patrol car, and on occasion, a felon got to look up the barrel of the big sixgun, while the duty pistol was temporarily relegated to back-up status for a moment in time. I started this habit before we were allowed to carry carbines in our patrol cars, during a period when we could only use buckshot in our shotguns. The big sixgun gave me more practical reach than either a shotgun or autoloading pistol.