So, how many guns are "enough"?

[Mr_White]

What do people here think about backup guns? Do you carry one or more backup guns always, sometimes, or never?

I am inspired to start this thread for a couple reasons:

It’s a continuation of a lot of the same self-and-threat-evaluation involved in the recent ‘how many rounds are enough’ and ‘does anyone use a revolver as primary’ threads.

It’s germane to the recent temporary deadlining of the P-T.com test gun due to a unfixable-in-the-moment broken part.

Hopefully I didn't miss some really obvious thread where this was discussed...

[Shokr21]

I'll play.

I live in a domestic suburbia surrounded by millions of acres of cornfields. Seriously. From my Apt building - .6 miles eats on ramp to I-35, .62 miles east cornfields as far as the eye can see. I live on the northern end of the second largest metro in my home state, home to ~ 350k. What I'm getting at here is I'm a lot more likely to see a "browning" sticker and a .270 bolt in the back window than "hoodlums" when I drive through undesirable areas. Doesn't mean we don't have "ghettos", just trying to put things into perspective, I live in white-bread as hell Iowa, and I don't even live in the most white-bread area!

I carry a g19, sometimes with an extra mag in my pocket sometimes not. I have never felt uneasy due to my weapon choice. I don't see a point to carrying a BUG at this point in time, doesn't mean I'm not still working on my old lady to actually use her carry permit, so I can buy her a j-frame, a baby glock or a 19 of her own. I like the 1 is none 2 is one mantra, but to be honest I have never and likely will never carry a second handgun, unless I can find a smoking deal on a 642/442. When I'm out and about, i'm normally out and about with my friends who also carry, there's my 2is1 3is1 etc.

I know that situational awareness is something that has saved my life at least a couple of times, but all but one of those times I was wearing body armor full time and behind a crew-served machine gun. A clear, calm, collected and cognizant head on my shoulders is my first line of defense.

I'd never rag on someone who carries two handguns, more power to you! For me, I don't see the need.

[JAD]

Really good question. The fact that I carry a reload rather than a backup gun makes me mad. I think that, other than a on-general-principles post-fight wolves-travel-in-packs kind of thing, actually having to reload is pretty unlikely (which doesn't mean I don't carry a reload, because they're just not that hard to carry). It's also pretty unlikely that my primary will become disabled. However, a spare gun covers the function of both the reload and the primary; there's not going to be much point in reloading my pistol if it just took a bullet going the wrong way.

The rhetorical question becomes "are two j-frames superior to one .38 Super 1911 without a reload (I did that math for you)?" We could avoid rhetoric.

Spare guns are a good thing.

[JeffJ]

I've been seriously considering carrying something small in my WH side back pocket. While I appreciate the gun going down aspect of a BUG - mainly it would give me a pistol that I can access with my left hand, and it's also in the same place as a wallet - which "might" be a good thing in a situation where I'm expected to complicitly reach for my wallet.

Unfortunatley, I do not own a pocket pistol -and since my accountant recently informed me that apparently I made too much money last year and as a reward I get to write Uncle Sam a nice check, I probably won't be getting one anytime soon.

But I will be paying attention to this thread, mainly because it doesn't seem like adding a small BUG would really make my life more difficult - so why not?

[JHC]

On rare occassions I've carried two. One IWB and the other AIWB, each in FIST 1K's; using a canted one IWB and the straight drop AIWB. Or even more comfortably, OWB Atomic Dog; G19 on the hip and G26 AIWB. With a reload for either on the left side. It's amazing how comfortable and livable that is. But I just don't do it very often although as I've posted and Todd recently lived - any gun is the next trigger pull away from seizing up. But I almost never do except on a few occassions just to test the concept. The exception being on those few occassions where I actually thought something very bad was possibly going to happen. Then two pistols feels like jack sh$# and you just can't seem to carry enough kit.

[jmjames]

I too have questioned why I should prefer a spare mag over a spare gun. Some thoughts:

* Unless both guns are the same or very similar, it is probably less work to train a reload than using a second gun
* Concealment of spare mags is a lot easier
* Where you put a BUG is probably a lot less easy to draw from than a spare mag pouch
* Cost

That said, I can very, very easily see what a G17 or 19 user would prefer to have a G26 instead of a spare mag, or a P30 owner might also want a P2KSK, instead of another mag, etc.

In addition, if you train with and are used to that BUG, it gives you an option for when carrying a larger gun is less possible.

J.Ja

[JHC]

If running two guns INSTEAD of a reload, your only option is drop the gun and draw the 2nd (or reholster and draw the 2nd which doesn't sound too viable). I think a trained reload is gonna be faster all the way around. But as noted, a 2nd gun can do things a spare mag can't.

[DocGKR]

For LE duty a BUG should be mandatory.

For most civilian CCW it is less critical, but a BUG does give you the option of quickly arming another individual (spouse, friend, co-worker, etc...) in a lethal force situation like an active shooter incident.

[TCz]

In addition to my G17, I carry an LCP in my weak side pocket as a backup. It also works as a "primary" in non-permissive environments- "primary" in this case meaning "better than a sharp stick in the eye".

ETA: I also carry a spare mag, but if i had to choose between a spare mag and a BUG, I'd take the mag.

[Long tom coffin]

I carry a gun for the same reason I don't stand next to trees or play golf during lightning storms; while I am still statistically highly unlikely to get struck, I see no reason to temp fate and not take precautions. Same thing with being the victim of violent crime. Unlikely to happen, but I believe in being prepared for it in the attempt it does happen.


I live in a section of STL county that is quite safe. Still, I carry a G19 as a primary, 2 spare magazines, as well as a an LCR BUG, with a reload for that as well. I also have 2 additional reloads in my car for each. Why? Because I can safely, comfortably, and effectively carry all of it. I figure, since I'm already preparing for the unlikely event of a life or death encounter, why not prepare as much as possible?