Either I'm getting less paranoid or more naive...

[holdencm9]

I was referring to another poster's statistical analysis.

I was addressing you Kleanbore on account of not carrying a spare mag OR BUG. Just trying to address the fact that it is probably not urgent to change your habit.

That being the case,it could happen at the worst possible time.

Just had to fix that. I have never heard of a permit holder's gun breaking and becoming inoperable during an engagement. I have heard of people having jams during encounters but nothing a different mag would fix.

Just sayin' we have to keep the risks in perspective. Kleanbore, I think you are fine. If you decide to change it up, between spare mag and spare gun, both have pros and cons. One is smaller and lighter, the other could be brought into the fight sooner maybe, and could fix a completely destroyed gun, and can be used to arm someone else, but is also bulkier and heavier.

Why not a BUG of the same type, AND spare mags?

 

[Kleanbore]

Posted by holdencm9: I have heard of people having jams during encounters but nothing a different mag would fix.

Every malfunction I have ever had required removing and replacing the magazine.

Dropping the magazine and putting in a new one is the quickest way to do that and the surest fix.

Kleanbore, I think you are fine.

Well, I am until the risk materializes.

If you decide to change it up, between spare mag and spare gun, both have pros and cons. One is smaller and lighter, the other could be brought into the fight sooner maybe, and could fix a completely destroyed gun, and can be used to arm someone else, but is also bulkier and heavier.

Sums it up nicely.

 

[holdencm9]

Every malfunction I have ever had required removing and replacing the magazine.

Dropping the magazine and putting in a new one is the quickest way to do that and the surest fix.

True. Or if tap-rack-bang fails, hold onto the original mag. I usually use 2 or 3 fingers and palm to hold the mag and the slide becomes a thumb and index finger thing.

Well, I am until the risk materializes.

Correct. I just think it is prudent to understand the likelihood of risks. Of course, the guy that gets struck by lightning or eaten by a shark does not care if the risk was 1 in a billion, but it should impact how we act and prepare beforehand. I.e. not stressing about or devoting too much practice time to things that are much less likely to happen.

 

[PabloJ]

Primary weapon Peppergard 10%
Secondary weapon compact pistol caliber 10x25.

 

[riceboy72]

Skribs,

I'm going to agree with those here who say you're overthinking this. There's got to be a certain level at which you stop holding yourself hostage in your city and live, albeit cautiously. Trust me when I say this, and you know what I do for a living from the time we met and talked, but Lakewood is not the wild wild west. Is it a city with problems? Yes, but so is Tacoma, and the rest of Pierce County for that matter. But people live here, and work here, and play here. It's a rough go at times, but it's not as bad as some people make it out to be.

Choose wisely when you go out. You never told me where you live in Lakewood, but if you avoid areas like Tillicum, Woodbrook, and certain pockets of South Tacoma Way after dark, you're fine. Stick to the places where people migrate -- and you know where those places are -- and just keep your head on a swivel. Go out and live, Skribs. Enjoy a beer. Take in a movie. Go eat dinner and hang out with your buddies. It's your town, so enjoy it.

As for your quandry about a BUG versus a spare mag, I say this: You must choose what works for you, and what works for me or any of the other members here isn't going to matter if it just doesn't work for you. I've tried to carry a BUG and I hate things in my pockets, so that answered that. Instead, I choose to carry OWB just about 99% of the time, with a spare mag. I train with that pistol and make sure I can draw, shoot, and reload with my gear quickly. Even if I carry a different gun, my carry method is the same way every single time. My muscle memory has been rooted to where I reach for my spare mag in the same spot every single time. Police officers place their gear on their belts and leave it there for that reason -- in the heat of the moment, there's no reaching around and feeling for what you need. It's simply reach, grab it, and go, all the while keeping your eyes on the target or the scene. It's not rocket science, and it's been working for decades, and it will continue to work for decades to come.

Find a method of carry that's comfortable and effective for you. Make sure you can draw from it easily. Make sure you can wear it in the mall and not wiggle and squirm to adjust it so not to draw attention to yourself. Make sure it provides the level of retention you require, and allows you the peace of mind to know that your gun's not going anywhere if you have to run, or climb, or duck. Learn to draw your mag quickly, and insert it into the mag well and get the gun running again. Sometimes digging a gun out of your pocket isn't going to be the easiest thing, especially if your adrenaline's kicking. Suddenly those jean pockets will seem like you're trying to jam your hand into the opening of a ketchup bottle.

Develop confidence in what you own and work with it often. Know how to clear the malfunction if it comes down to it. But ultimately only you can decide if carrying that LCP in your pocket as a BUG is going to work. Go out and live, Skribs. You'll be amazed at what's out there once you gear up and head outside for the day.