Back-up carry gun

[Snejdarek]

My country's laws provide for the possibility of carrying "up to two firearms" concealed for self defense. I don't really plan to carry two guns, but I was just thinking: what would be a good back-up carry gun to a compact 9mil pistol (14+1 rds)? Would it be something in the direction of a .38 subcompact revolver or 6.38 browning pistol?

Do YOU carry a back up gun? (LEOs' answer don't count )

 

[Hypnogator]

I would go with a Ruger LCP in .380 ACP (9mm Kurz). Substantially less weight and bulk than a .38 snub. One resides in my right rear pocket in a wallet holster as I write this.

 

[Resist Evil]

I do not know about your life's circumstances in the C.R. as to the relative safety of your town/city/village and the areas you usually frequent. As a result, it is difficult to relate directly to your question.

I have lived in the east and west of the US in small towns and dangerous cities. I only wear a back-up handgun when I am going to go into areas that are completely unknown to me, or involve long trips, or areas suspected to be dangerous. For example, a relative lives nearly 700 miles away and we visit her as often as we can. On those trips, I usually have two handguns on me. Of course, it involves only crossing Free State lines and not national borders.

My BUGs have been semiautos in .32acp, .380, and 9x19. My revolver BUG is in .38spl. It is this little Smith & Wesson revolver that I use as my BUG of choice most of the time.

Since you are using a 9x19 caliber handgun as your primary, you might consider a smalle and lighter pistol in the same caliber.

 

[Snejdarek]

Well CR is safe enough that most people don't feel the need to carry. I also don't but made it my habit nevertheless. As I said, I don't plan and won't carry second firearm, just the possibility got me thinking.

 

[bikerdoc]

I consider my wife armed with a 38 revolver my back up gun.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

If I ever actually felt the need to carry a second gun (and I don't), because I was that concerned over my safety, then I would carry a second copy of my primary gun. You chose your primary for a reason. If things are bad enough that you think you may actually need a second gun for some reason, why compromise with a smaller sized gun?

JMO, but totally not something I'm concerned with.

 

[CZ223]

there are enough small nines out there

that you ought to be able to find one that works for you. My LC-9 is a great gun but my daughter now has it. Sig makes an excellent 9mm called the 938, it is basically a small 1911 without the grip safety. Because of where you live, I doubt it would be hard to come up with a Makarov in 9x18 for a decent price.

 

[CZ223]

you should also remember

carrying a spare gun has many advantages like being able to hand it off to someone who is with you but unarmed. In the unlikely event that you use your 14 plus 1 rounds a "New York Reload" is pretty fast. Third, and most likely to me, is that your strong side hand might be hurt or busy fending off an attacker. In that case, having a second gun on your weak hand side could be very handy. Whenever I carry a BUG it is always on my left,weak, side. While I usually use two hands with my strong hand gun, I shoot my left hand gun one handed all of the time. If I am using it is because my primary is out of service or my right hand is.

 

[Deaf Smith]

I very rarely carry a second gun.

If I did, my P32 would be it.

Deaf

 

[Snejdarek]

uh! I wasn't familiar with New York reload! And the weak arm argument makes a lot of sense! I love how much one can learn on this web.

I actually carry concealed on the front, a bit to the right. I guess I should practice reaching it with left hand too.

The wife having a gun being better than any BUG is also an excellent argument. That is where my GF is headed in the near future too.

 

[Red Wind]

If I ever did carry a BUG, it would be my S&W 340PD .38/357, 18 oz. loaded,2" barrel. In that case my principal gun would be the Smith 686P .357 Magnum, 2.5" barrel.

I believe New Mexico is the only state that does not allow the concealed carry of 2 guns simultaneously. Can't swear to that absolutely though.

 

[Snejdarek]

Are there restrictions on type of firearm in the states? We can legally carry concealed basically anything, as long as we are technically able to effectively conceal it.

 

[JERRY]

LWS32 in pocket, more substantial gun on hip.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Are there restrictions on type of firearm in the states? We can legally carry concealed basically anything, as long as we are technically able to effectively conceal it.

Yes. Carry laws can varry quite a bit from state to state over here. The laws can be contradictory and a real pain to stay up to date on. Certain states like New Jersey, New York, California, and Illinois are quite restrictive on what you can carry, how large a magazine your concealed carry gun can have, what type of safety mechanisms it has, and all states (I believe) have restriction on places you may not carry. All federal buildings are off limits too.

I live in a free state where people are polite and leave each other alone. I'm grateful for that.

 

[herrwalther]

Newly acquired Taurus 738.

When I lived closer to the city, I carried two firearms and reloads for both on a daily basis. Not much need for it now however.

 

[JohnBiltz]

I think if I was going to carry two guns I think it would be something like a pair of Shields or my regular carry and a small pocket gun in my left front pocket.

 

[bannockburn]

My choice for a back-up gun would be something like a SIG P238 semi-auto or a S&W Model 638 revolver.

 

[farm23]

I always carry a 2nd gun. It is not so much for back-up but for varmints in the field. There are times when I don't want to use expensive ammo on a rabbit, squirrel, ect. The 2nd gun is a NAA 2" Black Widow and I guess it serves as back-up since it goes every where.

 

[MedWheeler]

When I do, it's a Kel-Tec P32.

I would think .32ACP (7.65mm Browning) ammo would be readily-available in your country, and probably more affordable than it is here as well.

 

[MCgunner]

I carry, usually, a .357 revolver and back it up with a .38, can load either from a Bianchi speed strip with .38 special loads. I like that.

I carry my .45ACP sometimes and back it up with either a 11 shot 14 ounce Kel Tec P11 (9x19 mm double stack) in my pocket or an older out of production 12 round 12 ounce Grendel P12 (.380ACP/9mm Kurz/Browning aka 9x17). I don't worry about a reload for a high capacity back up and carry one magazine for my .45 when I go this way.

Usually, it's my revolvers, though. I very much like revolvers for carry and shooting. But, I'm an old Texan.

 

[Onward Allusion]

Backup can be either NAA Mini or P3AT. Primary can be: Taurus 608 or 617, Kel Tec P11, or Sig P250 in 9mm

 

[Haywood]

I always carry Two guns. The LCR357 and 442 are my back up guns. The 617 Taurus 7 shooter and SP101 are main carries.

 

[C0untZer0]

Why carry 2 calibers?

Micro-nines make great backups to compact nines.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

I am curious what gun availability you have in the Czech Republic. Recommending a Ruger LC9 is no good if you can't get it there, or if it's a bazillion dollars.

What American brands are in Czech gun stores, and what kind of prices are you looking at?

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Why carry 2 calibers?

Micro-nines make great backups to compact nines.

That's good logic.