Back up guns.

[mavracer]

is that one gun is enough

If you could tell me when and where and how many BG there are gonna be,then I'd know exactly what gun(guns) to bring.and the answer is none.because I'm not gonnna be there then.
Its a matter of to each their own.If you feel the need for two guns go for it. if not pack one and be glad you live where your rights are not infringed.

 

[Bart Noir]

230RN

I'm guessing as in "230 grain Round Nose" but that is not my reason for posting.

A steak knife for defense from a cougar

From my personal experiences with the common household "putty tat" I will say that I never want to get within steak knive range of an angry cougar!

Bart Noir

 

[Rexster]

I agree with the idea of "second" gun more than "backup" gun. It's not unusual for me to carry as many as three when on my own time, though two is more common. (On duty, my patrol car is a rolling arsenal.) In a way, my SP101 snubbies are more like primary for me, because one or more of them are on me virtually all the time, while the bigger weapons, from my duty SIG to my 4" .357 sixguns, are not always there, or are carried off-body much of the time. As for a knife for dealing with big kitties, remember that they go for an ambush from behind, and it just might make more sense in some situations to carve the cat off of you than shoot it.

 

[peacemaker45]

On driving days, I carry one 1911 on my hip, and a P32 in my pocket. Often (read: nasty areas) I'll add a second 1911 in a crossdraw rig, or in the zippered compartment of my computer bag, nearby on the floor.

On days that I'm not primarily driving, I'll often carry two 1911s, one on each hip. If I'm dressed to hide the one, the other is no extra effort to hide, and balances out the load.

~~~Mat

 

[BikerRN]

The odds of needing to USE any carry piece is VERY, VERY, VERY, slim. The odds of needing a 'New York Reload' ( BUG) are slim to nonexistant.

Very slim? I've been in two, for polite society, "Armed Encounters", one before I was an LEO. Are you sure about those odds?

If you are carrying a gun as a "security blanket" then go ahead and carry however you want to. I on the other hand have seen the fecal matter hit the rotating thingie and want to be prepared to deal with it if I see it again.

You cannot guarantee what hand will be able to draw a weapon when a situation unfolds. Therefore I have a gun accessable to either hand, sometimes a third, but always two.

Biker

 

[BigBlock]

If I ever feel the need to carry more than one gun, that's the day I decide to move. One gun is more than most people will ever need in their lifetime. I can see the usefullness of a second gun for a police officer or someone else knowingly going into a dangerous situation, but personally I think the average citizen in an average neighborhood or city is absurd to carry more than one gun on their person, and most people would view that as being extremely paranoid.

 

[BikerRN]

I don't "knowingly go in to dangerous situations" if it can be avoided. Also, if you read my previous post you will see where I said that one of my encounters was prior to being an LEO.

Too many people carry a gun like it's a "Good Luck Charm", I know better. As far as the moving statement, you may one day learn what I learned at an early age, "There is no safe place." When I'm dead and in my coffin is when I will finally be safe. I'm not going to do anything to speed that up and hope to die of natural causes and old age. That is why I carry at least two guns.

Biker

 

[NCHornet]

I agree with Biker RN, as usual, you tell me where the safe areas are and that's where we will all move. The fact I live in Mayberry RFD, seriously I really do, and if I have had to draw my weapon in these parts it can happen anywhere and you never know what the scenario is going to be or how many there are going to be, you call it Paranoid I call it PREPARED.

 

[mavracer]

and most people would view that as being extremely paranoid.

and I'll tell them I have two guns what do I have to fear.

 

[Rexster]

It may sound funny, but one reason I carry more than one when off-duty is outright laziness and convenience. I can put on and wear a snubby SP101, and grab my Safepacker, containing a GP100 and spare ammo for both guns, quicker than I can put on a holster and mag pouch for one of my autoloaders or larger sixguns. The snubby's hip holster is small, and quick to position, regardless of belt loop configuration. In a sudden "go to" situation, the snubby clears leather faster, and has almost as much power, as a service-sized weapon. Life is good.

 

[1911 guy]

No BUG, but a BUW

Back-Up Weapon
I don't carry a second handgun, but I do carry a fixed blade knife on my off side, just in case my pistol is inacessable for some reason. I'm more worried about proximity than malfunction.

 

[Geronimo45]

Don't carry one... mainly because it broke. After getting the part to repair it, it broke again.
Once it's running again, I'll probably only carry it when I've got deep pockets (literally, not figuratively).
For the moment, a 6-shot .357 Magnum is all I carry. It's a back-up to fast-moving feet.

 

[10-Ring]

Because of where I live, the people I surround myself with & the situations I usually have myself in, carrying a single CCW is sufficient. Now, bakc when the SHTF during the LA riots, I had my primary, an extra mag and my 12 ga in the trunk.

 

[Alaskapopo]

I carry a back up at work but not off duty. Nothing against it just don't have room for it. I do know one guy who simply carries two pistols and no spare ammo.
Pat

 

[shooting on a shoestring]

Seems like Autos need more backup

Just scanning the thread and noticed most folks using or carrying bugs are using an auto for a primary. I'm a revolver CCW, .357 SP101, exercise it often, don't see a need for a number 2. I also believe if I can't settle a gunfight in 4 shots or less, I'm the looser.

I do keep a 7.5" .45 Colt Blackhawk under my pickup seat loaded with 250 gr HPs at 1250 fps for long distance situations such as the Tyler Texas courthouse shooting a couple of years ago. So, in a sense that is a bug. I used to use a 30/30 for that when I drove a van and could stash it handily on the door post.

 

[NCHornet]

I don't believe it has anything to do with us being "auto guys". As a matter of fact if I carried a wheeler you bet I would have a secondary pocket pistol because in a SD situation you will loose fine motor skills and it would be much quicker to draw a second weapon than reload. You think you can end a situation in 5 or 6 shots you are over estimating your skills. My best friend was a LA County Deputy = very intense training, he was militay prior to this, he knows how to use a firearm and is dead on at a range. However when he had to shoot in a real SD situation only one of his 6 rounds out of his 357 ( this was about 14 years ago when they could carry 357 guns but only with 38 +p rounds) actually hit the bad guy. You can knock him all you want, until you have had a BG point a gun at you and you hear the bullets flying by your head you don't know how accurate you are going to be. This is greatly multiplied if there is more than one BG. Sorry I carry a high capacity auto because of it's round count, and carrying a secondary gun {not a BUG) has nothing to do with my primary weapon.

 

[BikerRN]

Just scanning the thread and noticed most folks using or carrying bugs are using an auto for a primary. I'm a revolver CCW, .357 SP101, exercise it often, don't see a need for a number 2. I also believe if I can't settle a gunfight in 4 shots or less, I'm the looser.

I hate to say this, but with that outlook YOU ALREADY LOST!

If I am ever in an "armed encounter" again I will be fighting and taking the fight to the assailant, like I did in the past. Now, don't misunderstand me, taking the fight to the assailant could very well, and most likely does mean, getting behind cover. I carry revolvers because I like them, but because I have two of them I have almost as much firepower as someone with an autoloader.

When I am fighting because I am in fear of my life I get very MAD! That is what I mean by "taking the fight to the assailant". How dare they try to harm me! As far as being "Dead Eye Dick" don't count on it. If it happens, great. Chances are you will miss more than you hit, just a "statistical" fact.

As far as one gun for carry goes, ask yourself what you would do if your arm was otherwise occupied? Your Primary hand/arm is busy deflecting a knife. Now what are you going to do to stop the threat? Your SP101 is a great weapon, but a little on the small side for my taste. I carry a 4" N-Frame because if the SHTF again I want every advantage I can get. My BUG is a little J-Frame.

The revolver is not an advantage, IMHO, I just like them and I'm vain enough to think they are "cool", also, I do shoot them better by a small margin.

Biker

 

[mavracer]

My best friend was a LA County Deputy = very intense training, he was militay prior to this, he knows how to use a firearm and is dead on at a range. However when he had to shoot in a real SD situation only one of his 6 rounds out of his 357 ( this was about 14 years ago when they could carry 357 guns but only with 38 +p rounds) actually hit the bad guy. You can knock him all you want, until you have had a BG point a gun at you and you hear the bullets flying by your head you don't know how accurate you are going to be.

when the SHTF you are reduced to your level of training.you have obviously given in to the fact that you don't think you'll be able to hit the BG on demand so you are going to spray and pray.no matter what your shooting where your shooting the absolute fastest way to get 2 hits is with 2 shots.train yourself to aim.

 

[RandyB]

Sometimes your BUG may not be needed by you, but by someone else. I was deer hunting (with a bow) at a friends and stopped by his house to say howdy, when all H*ll breaks loose just doen wht county road form his house. He had a problem with poachers and went to investigate. I went with him and he promptly produced his backup, a 4 inch .357, pointed out where the extra ammo was and said "Your backing me up right?" It was nice being able to back him up with something a bit better than a compound bow.

 

[meef]

I finally just quit carrying my back up gun.

That annoying and incessant beeping whenever I was using it just got to be too much to put up with.

 

[Inner Monkey]

I carry a back-up gun or second gun 99% of the time.

 

[Erik]

I do not believe people need to carry a BUG to be reasonably prepared for every day carry.

That said I don't raise my eyebrows at folks who choose to do so.

That's for "a" BUG; my eyebrows begin to go up at three guns for most people in most circumstances.

 

[NCHornet]

Quote:
My best friend was a LA County Deputy = very intense training, he was militay prior to this, he knows how to use a firearm and is dead on at a range. However when he had to shoot in a real SD situation only one of his 6 rounds out of his 357 ( this was about 14 years ago when they could carry 357 guns but only with 38 +p rounds) actually hit the bad guy. You can knock him all you want, until you have had a BG point a gun at you and you hear the bullets flying by your head you don't know how accurate you are going to be.

when the SHTF you are reduced to your level of training.you have obviously given in to the fact that you don't think you'll be able to hit the BG on demand so you are going to spray and pray.no matter what your shooting where your shooting the absolute fastest way to get 2 hits is with 2 shots.train yourself to aim.
__________________

You obviously missed the point of my post. Let me make it very clear I don't believe in spray and pray type shooting. Sounds to me that you believe shooting a BG in a real SD situation will be just like shooting Bin Ladan on your paper targets, guess what? It ain't even close to the same, so unless you want to practice with somebody shooting back at you, you can never fully prepare yourself for a SD situation.I have had to use my sidearm to defend my life and it is very hard to explain what transpired in those few seconds that seemed like hours, your peripheral version is gone, everything moves in slow motion, sound perception is totally lost, and your hearing is muted, all this combined with a huge dump of adrenaline. I have never obtained this while target shooting, have you? My point was that practice is very important and you can be the best bullseye shooter in the west, but under a real SD situation you may not be able to hit a pie plate a 7 yards. Again I can't even come close to the way it really feels. I believe that practicing is important, especially drawing the weapon and reloads, these actions need to be comitted to muscle memory, as there is no time in a SD situation to think about what you are doing, and doing so could cost you some serious pain. I hope others didn't read what you did into my post, and I doubt they did as nobody else replied in such a ridiculous manner.

 

[mavracer]

You obviously missed the point of my post.

I don't think so.

Sounds to me that you believe shooting a BG in a real SD situation will be just like shooting Bin Ladan on your paper targets, guess what?

actually I belive if you practice drawing and firing aimed shots with a timer (like the ones used in IDPA/IPSC) enough thats exactly what it will be.

My point was that practice is very important

I reread your first post twice I did not see a reference to practice.you said

As a matter of fact if I carried a wheeler you bet I would have a secondary pocket pistol because in a SD situation you will loose fine motor skills and it would be much quicker to draw a second weapon than reload. You think you can end a situation in 5 or 6 shots you are over estimating your skills.

My point is your also not going to end any situation if your first 5 or 6 shots miss.the majority of confrontations are less than 6 rounds.

Sorry I carry a high capacity auto because of it's round count,

and I am also sorry,because I would still rather see you say "I carry a high capacity auto because I shoot it well"

 

[koja48]

Strong-side & weak-side & I shoot equally well from both sides . . . color me alive & to-date, unharmed . . . I intend to stay that way. I prefer to have more options than a BG does.