Do You Carry Back-Up?

[CAPTAIN MIKE]

Like many CCW holders who have gone through training, in addition to my daily carry full-size sidearm, I carry a folding knife.

My question is "Do you carry a back-up firearm?".

As for me, I normally do not. However, in some instances where I'm going someplace unfamiliar or perhaps containing a higher 'threat' profile, I make use of an ankle holster with a Colt .380 Mustang.

 

[Rickstir]

If I am in my truck I have a .357 snubby as backup. If I am anywhere else, just the 92FS.

 

[TallPine]

Well, when I think I might need a "back-up", I grab a rifle and then my regular carry revolver becomes the back-up.

 

[TheFederalistWeasel]

Off duty no, on duty yes.

 

[Black Snowman]

I can't CCW legally outside my home but every day I carry two 4 inch folding kinves, a flashlight, my Leatherman Wave, and my cell phone everywhere I go.

Because I'm in that high-risk "desk jockey" field of IT helpdesk. Never know when some Quake ]|[ junky might go postal

Seriously though, I feel better knowing I'm equiped and when I'm carrying a firearm I don't use it as an excuse to ditch any of the existing gear. If I'm somewhere I can CCW legally, I normally carry my CZ 85 Compact and if I have my coat on (making hard and slow to reach the 85) I'll have my RAMI in one if it's pockets and spare mags on the oposite side to balence it out.

 

[P95Carry]

Occasionally. Not in a very high risk area ... so regular is just SP-101 and spare speedloader ... sometimes can been BHP and one mag.

When going somewhere as perceived higher risk then these days .... R9 (Rohrbaugh) is in Uncle Mike's pocket rig or, on ankle in Pro-Tech rig.

 

[Preacherman]

Most of the time I'll have a backup gun in a pocket holster, or sometimes in an ankle holster.

 

[nhhillbilly]

ON Duty yes. Off Duty no unless we are traveling out of state and the wife can not carry. I will carry two and therefo she has access to one if it is needed.

 

[mmike87]

I never do. My preparedness is based on my perceived threat, which is generally not too bad. It's unlikely that I will ever need my CCW gun, and even less likely I'd need the backup. My precautions are commensurate with my perceived threat. If I were a LEO that would certainly change my mind, as LEO's have a much higher exposure to threats.

That said - people should carry what they are comfortable with. If you truly feel the need, I'd say carry one. I personally do not want CCW to become a time consuming and difficult process - if my wife has to wait around for me to "holster up" when we leave the house, she may get frustrated and start giving me a hard time about it ... I'd rather get mugged!

 

[Standing Wolf]

Nope. If I lived in the big city, I would, but out here in the country, I can't imagine it would ever be necessary.

 

[Ryder]

Only when I travel. If my normal carry piece isn't enough gun to get the job done I reach for a bigger hammer.

 

[Model520Fan]

Usually.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Only if the 24/7 guns in my cars can be considered back-up.

Because of my life style I'm usually not far from my cars or truck, which usually house at least a rifle and a couple pistols.

 

[Okiecruffler]

Usually the wife is my back up

But sometimes, like going downtown if we're going to be out late, my old Rosssi 38 rides along on my left hip.

 

[Ivy Mike]

Not a back-up firearm.

I always have a knife of some sort on me. Usually my CRKT M16-00K.

 

[38SnubFan]

No. For me, my gun, a reload, and a knife is all I should need. If I can't stop a threat to my life in 12 shots; then I @#$%ed myself beforehand by not paying attention to what's going on around me and allowing myself to get into such a situation.

Even if I was paying attention and the situation developed to that level, I truly don't think I would be able to deploy a second gun in time.

Proper training, technique, and tactics are FAR more important than what you carry. The only weapon that is going to save your life in a SHTF scenario is your BRAIN - the gun, the knife, etc. are only tools.

-38SnubFan

 

[jojo]

With me it really depends on the time of year, what I'm doing, etc.. For the most part, it's no.
Like many others I always have my knife, a Benchmade 735, or Cold Steel Gunsite, but usually only have one firearm a Walther PPK.

jojo

 

[Series 70]

I carry a 1911 IWB as my main firearm.

Ever try to get at an IWB firearm quickly while seated? How about while seat-belted? While wearing a winter coat?

I carry a j-frame in an ankle holster for quicker access in those situations.

Ever get that feeling while walking through a parking ramp? Ever want to have your hand on the butt of a pistol without it looking like you have your hand on the butt of a pistol?

A pocket pistol is perfect for those situations, so I carry a P3AT in my left-front pocket.

It's not a matter of thinking you need more than one firearm, or New York reloads, or whatever. It's a matter of being able to access a firearm quickly, in whatever situation you might find yourself.

 

[The Rabbi]

Smith Model 19 or 1917 in holster and Smith Bodyguard in left pant pocket. If its a short trip or something then just the Bodyguard. I figure it is just a fast speed loader. Also I can grip the gun and have it ready to fire without anyone seeing it, even up close.

 

[Double Maduro]

Since my primary protection is my brain, I guess my backup is my CCW.

Sometimes I carry more than one. It is the quickest reload you know.

DM

 

[wheelgunner100]

Always. That way there's one for the wife even if I don't need it.

 

[SapperLeader]

I carry a backup and a primary all the time unless I’m running or walking around the house. I like the fact that I can have a full-size gun that I can shoot well IWB, and a gun in the pocket to drop my hand on in uncomfortable situations. It’s so easy to carry a j-frame or p32 in the front pocket that I see no reason not too.

Another good reason is that in reading gunfights and talking to older friends and military/police veterans, it seems that a lot of guns get shot in gunfights, putting them out of commission. There seems to be a trend to aim at the gun rather than the person holding the gun in the fight, almost a sort of tunnel vision.

I don’t know if that’s true or not, but it makes sense to me, so I carry the backup as an extra sense of security. Odds are Ill never need my handguns but Id rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

 

[W Turner]

Usually I will carry either a Kel-Tec P3AT in my left front pocket or a LW snubbie on my ankle. The primary reason is for my wife. She carries a snubbie in her purse, but I can draw mine and give it to her faster than she can figure out which pocket it's in, unzip the pocket, fish the gun out and have it in play.


W

 

[jamz]

Heck, Cap'n Mike, your backup is my primary.



-James