My current lifestyle is such that I feel quite comfortable carrying only one gun, whatever that gun may be. When I was in LE whenever possible I always carried two, a primary and a BUG, and at times even a third gun depending on weather or assignment.
"PLAN FOR YOUR TRAINING TO BE A REFLECTION OF REAL LIFE INSTEAD OF HOPING THAT REAL LIFE WILL BE A REFLECTION OF YOUR TRAINING!"
More than 0 and less than 4.
I always have an M&P and a reload.
If I'm leaving Albuquerque by car, I'll usually bring my carbine, in which case I'll put 4 carbine reloads into my pack, which may or may not have another M&P in it.
I don't carry a BUG on my person however.
Nobody is impressed by what you can't do. -THJ
I have been thinking about this a lot too after reading P-T & P-F and those threads.
I don't carry a BUG but, have been giving some serious consideration to picking one up after reading on here. I haven't yet bought one as I have been focusing now on getting better with the gun I carry and trying to find a holster belt clothing combo that works with my M&P9. After I work that I will likely start looking at BUG options as I would like to have that flexibility in an active shooter, or worst case scenario.
For me, it’s backup guns FTW.
The reasons are numerous:
Primary firearm rendered inoperable (an actual jam, broken part or damaged gun.) I have personally experienced a pistol precipitously stop working in the training context, as I’m sure many others here have.
Primary firearm inaccessible or less accessible than backup due to injury to the dominant hand or limb.
Positioning may preclude the accessibility of the primary pistol, but not the backup.
Ability to arm another person who is competent but cannot legally carry a gun.
The primary firearm was dropped or knocked away.
The primary firearm is itself the object of attack (gun grab.)
A backup gun carried in a pocket can be accessed while feigning compliance/retrieval of valuables, and when used in that way, can help one dig out of a deep reaction time hole.
It may, depending on a person’s individual skills and the carry method of the backup, be faster to draw a backup pistol than to reload or fix a stoppage in the primary.
No, I don’t think any of those eventualities are likely, but I also cannot satisfy myself that they cannot or will not happen.
I came from a ‘two is one, one is none, three is even better’ school and backup guns were encouraged in my early training.
I personally very much agree with those who have said (paraphrasing): “If you are carrying a gun, you are already preparing for an unlikely, outlying event, so why not go a little further?” I also personally do not find it any burden at all to add the G26, so I do.
When I carry a gun, I always always always carry another one. Before I switched to AIWB, I used to carry mirror image G17s IWB strong and support side. Before that, they were G21s. And don’t forget the pocket or ankle gun either. Reloads common to all guns carried are a great bonus too.
Before you laugh (or after you laugh), carrying three guns while speeding on the way to an LFI class got me a very funny look from the cop who pulled me over, and subsequently a pleasant and courteous interaction and a warning instead of what I’m sure would have been a very large ticket.
Once I switched to AIWB, I moved away from the ‘tactical guy uniform’ (5.11s and a vest – not a shoot me first vest, but a ‘great northwest’ type of vest) and changed the way I dress to a much more nondescript modality of jeans and a tee or polo shirt and maybe a light sweatshirt. Along with the clothing change, I ‘cut down’ to just the AIWB primary – previously a G17, now a G34 – and a G26 on the ankle. I couldn’t be happier now. I lightened up a lot, dress more attractively for my woman, have many less ‘concealed carry’ tells inherent to my mode of dress, and spurred by the draw speed gains of AIWB, became incredibly excited about practicing a lot and becoming as skillful as I can, which has been hugely positive.
As a civilian CCW'er, I don't feel the need to carry a BUG. It's so far down the list of something I'm likely to need in life that I don't bother.
The only time I've carried a BUG is if I'm bringing it to the range with me to begin with, or for the reason DocGKR mentioned about supplying a weapon to a friend. Specific to that, the only time I carried a gun for someone else (he was still waiting on his permit), it was a 5" steel framed 1911 on a Crossbreed at 4 O Clock. I carried my P2000 AIWB. That was a true demonstration of how a good quality gun belt (not just a gun belt, but a good quality one) can really make a difference, and the demonstration was part of the reason I offered to take his piece.
Where I'm going and the time of year dictates as many as three for me. Most winters in OH are cold and we plan to move way up into the U.P. of MI where we can get real winters again....
Primary EDC is a G19 with a G17 magazine for a reload. First backup is a G26, usually carried SOB but sometimes on my ankle. Second backup is a 642 that usually rides on my ankle but in the winter when I'm wearing a large coat it sits in a Nemesis in my pocket. My thought process is if it's cold out I look normal with my hands in my coat pockets and the snubby is literally at my fingertips and can be fired from inside the pocket even if TSHTF right in front of me. The winter coat slows down the draw from IWB considerably unless the hackles are raised and I can open up the coat.
Probably 80% of the time it's usually just the 19 with a reload and the snubby on my ankle. With recent forays into AIWB carry everything might very well evolve here.
~Matt
www.volundgearworks.com
I carry a BUG for many of the reasons outlined in OrigamiAK's post.
For me, the two primary reasons for carrying a BUG are:
1. Accessible to my weak hand. If my strong hand is engaged with something (grappling, holding onto my wife or kid, opening a door, wounded/disabled, etc), I can still reach a weapon.
2. Accessible without appearing to be reaching for a weapon. I can casually stand with my hands in my pockets, looking nonthreatening and still be able to draw or just fire through my pocket. This is a role in which I feel the J-frame excels, despite its weaknesses.
One of the other items that sealed the deal, so to speak, was the discovery that I could get back in the game about four seconds faster by drawing a BUG than by clearing some malfunctions (i.e. the kind that aren't fixed by a TRB). Five rounds may not be much, but it might be enough to create enough space/time to address my primary's issues.
I've heard of the notion of carrying a BUG to supply a friend, but all of my friends who can shoot also carry, so unless both their primary and backup guns go dead, I don't see myself handing my J-frame to anyone. That said, I have been places where others could carry, but I couldn't (i.e. traveling with LEO friends where my CCW permit is not recognized), and the plan has been to use a friend's BUG should the need arise.
Does one generally have to get the jframe out of it's pocket holster before one can fire it in from inside the pocket?
“Remember, being healthy is basically just dying as slowly as possible,” Ricky Gervais
Ever since being released to solo patrol I have carried a BUG while on duty. Every. Single. Day.
I have gone through a few different BUGs, carrying guns as large as a S&W 6906, Glock 27 or 26, Detective Specials, as ankle guns. My left knee has arthritis bad now so I had to go from the G26 on my ankle back to a 642. With a change in uniforms I can now carry a 642 on the ankle and another in a weak side pocket, so I do.
Off duty I am almost always carrying a G19 and a 642 now, except when I am working out or running and I have the G19 in a fanny pack as my only gun.
I have responded to active-shooter situations twice in my town over the past 20 years, so my mindset goes towards the more extreme events. I figure I have the training and the skills to work the problem, best to also have the tools available.
In the past I have twice had to arm other LEOs who were unarmed when something went bad. Due to HR218 I can also carry when other very competent people often can't. Say I am at lunch with a friend who is a retired SEAL, I am armed, he isn't due to the law on such things being retarded as hell. My plan is to toss a gun to the guy that likely shoots better than I do, more help is better I says.
Ever since my oldest daughter has been old enough to learn to drive she was also taught how to run my carry guns. In an emergency I can pass my BUG and the extra set of car keys to her so that she and her little sister can get to the car while I cover their escape. It would be an extreme Beslan/Mumbai scenario for this to go down, best to have that plan worked out ahead of time.
Yes, generally.Originally Posted by JHC
Reply With Quote