Carrying two pistols?

[Jimmy Dean]

I currently have my Taurus .45 mill. pro. I OC it right now, I bought it for its size/caliber combination, very conceilable. When I get my CCW, I will be concealing it. However, the thought has occured to me, what would I do if I needed to draw, and she jammed?

Now, obvioulsy, I could 'try' and clear the jam and hope I am still alive to get another shot off, however, it would seem that the best option in this scenario would actually be a second pistol, possibly a smaller caliber and/or revolver, possibly even something with less power (not tryin to start that old debate here) but more reliable or some-such.

So basically, is carrying two pistols common at all, do most of y'all only carry the one and just hope it works fine when/if needed? (I have never had a problem with mine, but I would not like to bet my life on even that slight of a risk, since it is probably your life on the line)

Of course, I have thought about when I get my CCW, carrying the .45 concealed, and getting a larger gun, possibly a .480 ruger or something (bigger is better huh? haha) an OCing it

 

[BikerRN]

Off Duty I routinely carry a minimum of two guns and three knives.

One of the knives is for "work", like actually cutting stuff, one is good for cutting seatbelts and the other is a fixed blade whose sole purpose is to "carve somebody off my gun" in the attempt of a gun grab. I also carry at least one reload per gun.

So yes, two guns is very common among the people I "hang with" but maybe not among the general population. I also carry a flashlight and a cellphone. I like having a gun accessable to either hand. It solves a lot of problems.

I like my BUG to be a J-Frame Airweight Revolver and I carry it most often in my weakside pocket.

Biker

 

[Guitargod1985]

Depending on your secondary gun's location on your body and your mode of dress, you may get to where it would be just as quick to clear your jam and fire before bringing another gun into service. This requires a lot of practice, though.

 

[Kind of Blued]

Enter the Smith & Wesson J-Frame...

Ankle holster, pocket holster, anywhere you want as long as it isn't a forehead holster.

 

[mnrivrat]

Most around me only carry one gun but they make sure it is a reliable firearm and also spend some time in clearance drills.

Auto's are very reliable these days but I have to admitt to carrying a revolver. I must be getting old huh !

 

[nelson133]

Any mechanical device can and will fail, Murphy says this will occur just when you need it. Since most of the well known gun training academies recommend backup guns, I carry 2, giving me 3 in total. I don't think gun fight rules allow time out calls.

 

[loop]

I always carry a backup gun. The idea that my primary and BUG would fail me is beyond my comprehension.

If it comes down to blades we are both going to bleed. The winner is the one who does not go into shock first.

I'd rather be shooting when I go into shock.

In event my pistol fails, I got a .32 gun in my pocket for fun and a razor in my shoe...

 

[BikerRN]

I'd rather be shooting when I go into shock.

So would I, but sometimes that's not possible. Depending on the situation and your position, you may find it easier to go to the blade in a "gun grab" situation instead of going for your BUG.

 

[Landric]

I generally carry my primary weapon strong-side IWB and my backup in my left (off-side) pocket when off-duty. Due to uniform pocket restraints on-duty, I carry my backup in an ankle holster when I'm at work.

 

[ArmedBear]

 

[dmxx9900]

I intend doing that when I get my ccw license I will carry a S&W model 10 in 4 inch and a back-up S&W model 36 in 2 inch.

 

[Trumpetman]

I think carrying two guns is the way to go. I ALWAYS carry a J-frame I my right front pants pocket. In addition, I carry a 4-inch .357 Magnum six-shooter inside-the-pants during the cold months, or a 9MM 18-shooter in the same area during the warm months. I usually leave my big guns in the car when I go in to work or church, but I ALWAYS have that J-frame on me.

Today, being the first day of spring, is the first day of 9MM carry for me. It feels almost like nothing, compared to that 2 and a half pound chunk of steel I've been carrying since last fall! My 9MM DAO pistol just weighs something over 24 ounces fully stoked.

I met a guy out at the shooting range who carries two J-frame .357's. That works too.

 

[1 old 0311]

I keep one accessible with either hand.

 

[PTK]

Just like 1 old 0311, I tend to keep a knife and gun accessible with either hand in different positions.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

It is pretty common for gun carriers to have a main gun and a small backup gun hidden in a less conventional location. I've done this on occasion, with a main gun in a IWB belt holster and a Kahr PM9 in a pocket holster. Or, carry a matched pair of sidearms, but you need mirror-image holsters and other gear to carry these comfortably. Most of us are not in that much danger.

 

[Cosmoline]

It's a little known fact that having two handguns multiplies their mutual capacity. So two 1911's will have about 70 rounds between them. I saw it on "Last Man Standing"

 

[CZ-100]

When I carry Two guns, it is my Taurus PT145 and my Kel-Tec P3AT

 

[harbingerm]

I've done this on occasion, with a main gun in a IWB belt holster and a Kahr PM9 in a pocket holster.

This is exactly how/what I carry. Either a G19 or Kimber 1911 IWB and pocket a PM9. Carry off side one spare mag for each firearm.

 

[Sistema1927]

I used to carry a "New York reload" until a modification to our CCW law outlawed the carrying of more than one concealed pistol. :banghead:

I always carry a concealed weapon while carrying openly.

 

[thunder173]

THE best reload,...(or the best cure for a jammed gun), in a firefght?? ANother loaded gun!!!

 

[Mad Magyar]

So basically, is carrying two pistols common at all, do most of y'all only carry the one and just hope it works fine when/if needed?

There is "no hope" involved...You have fired it repeatedly, cleaned-stripped it, know every idiosyncracy of your pistol, and have the utmost confidence it will fire over & over again. Carrying a 2nd piece because of an uncertainty of your 1st doesn't make any sense to me.
Murphy doesn't belong in the discussion if you prepared well.
Extra mag, no problem, but damn I hope that guy who says he carries 2 pistols, a razor, 5 mags, etc. doesn't come on.. I start to think about Bennet's famous line in Commando....

 

[El Tejon]

Mad, you are aware of the number of LEOs and others that have died because of malfunctioned weapons, correct? You are aware of many famous gunfights where weapons have malfunctioned?

Ever been to the range or gun school and seen all the weapons that quit functioning for a 100 different reasons? You know many of the noted gun trainers carry 2nd and 3rd guns?

Jimmy, do not know how "common" it is but the idea has merit. You should learn malfunction drills, including one-handed drills (you will be fighting, you will be hurt), of course, and if your pistol "never" malfunctions then you really need to train malfunction drills (or just take it to gun school).

I carry a bug, Kahr P9, on the belt. I dislike carrying guns in pockets (I consider it dangerous) but I know people with far more experience than I that do carry in pockets.

There is an argument for a revolver as the backup gun as the weapon will likely be used in a position of distress (e.g. on your back) and small self-loaders can be prone to malfunction with weakened grip from blood loss or wierd hand positioning while rolling on the ground and the small pistols, that are so popular with the 300 lbs. SEELS at the gun shoppe, are harder to manipulate (especially in duress as you will be if you need your bug). As well, a revolver can be pressed up against the threat and not unlock as an auto as you would use it if you are pushing a threat who has just tackled you.

 

[BamaHoosier]

I'm a wheelie-man,so I do it backwards.My back-up is a Beretta Bobcat(mod.21) in the pocket and the main one is currently a Charter Arms Off-Duty on the hip,CCW here in Hoosierland.

 

[El Tejon]

CCW here in Hoosierland.

That's LTCH in Hoosierland.

 

[Seotaji]

Or, carry a matched pair of sidearms, but you need mirror-image holsters and other gear to carry these comfortably. Most of us are not in that much danger.

Is it a bad idea to consider carrying two pistols one on your strong side and one on the weak? I figured I would carry two extra magazines between them.

I figure two is better than one and since they are the same pistol, I wouldn't be fumbling between two different trigger styles or grips.

Silly idea?

I would look kinda wider though, since the pistols and the holsters would add 3" or so to my waist. I'm not a large man, by any means.