Are back up guns needed?
- Thread starter howwie
- Start date
Become? I've always been, and it has served me well on occasion. If your not at least just a little bit, maybe you shouldnt be carrying a gun.
I always have at least one, with a double reload, and usually two. If you carry an auto, you HAVE to at least carry one reload, and that has absolutely nothing to do with ammo capacity. Its a malfunction thing. The second is for the capacity thing. If you think you wont have a malfunction, your not paranoid enough.
The back up is also nice to have along if you should want to give it to the old lady since she thinks your "paranoid" and wont bring her's along due to fashion or luggage issues.
Microgunner
New member
Yes. And I keep a spare tire in my trunk as well.
Carry one almost always. Usually in left vest upper side pocket, but am starting to like the week side holster more and more. I'ts a Milt Sparks with 1 3/4" slots for 1 1/2" belt. Sooo much easier sliding on and off and it still stays put--for 640 or 642.
So far, I haven't "needed" my BUG, primary weapon, parachute, home fire extinguisher, Israeli Battle Dressing, Air bags, safe room, x-tra stored food and water, life insurance, a living will or CPR training.
BUG's are for such emergencies as no longer having a working primary weapon, needing a NY reload, arming a competent individual in an emergency, etc.
A spare mag. for the Glock 19 should be a common practice, but doesn't take the place of the BUG. The spare mag. backs up the G19 only as long as it's available and working, and only if there's time to reload.
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Kreyzhorse
New member
I don't have a problem with carrying a backup, but I just don't feel that I need one. LEO, sure, I can see it but during every day CCW, I just don't feel I need one.
Don't have a problem with people who do carry a back up. To each his own.
Don't have a problem with people who do carry a back up. To each his own.
imthegrumpyone
New member
Ya ! have a spare tire in the trunk, and with my luck it'll set there and dry rot before it's ever used. Let's see on this car 5 years of setting in the trunk. So now you know what I think of a BUG, if you can't rely on your carry piece or it can't handle the job, I guess you need one. 
Shadi Khalil
New member
It's hard enough to lugg around my EDC, I couldnt imagine carrying a second.
Microgunner
New member
Or if you lose your primary weapon in the struggle.
vranasaurus
New member
Do you also carry an extra alternator, starter, belts, fuel filter, and head gasket around in your car too?
Because you are just as likely to need those as you would a back up gun.
Because you are just as likely to need those as you would a back up gun.
Grummpybutt opines:
Microgunner replies:
Nnobby45 chimes in:
Being disarmed of primary is one reason. There are others that have been mentioned, like NY reload or arming someone else. So far I haven't seen running out of ammo as a possibility--especially from those who carry neither a reload nor a BUG.
For trips to the dentist or doctor and a lot of other places, where one needs to take off outer garments (and primary IWB at 4:00 may not be appropriate), the 642 in vest pocket is either on me or real close-- no matter where I go (with a few legal exceptions)-- while primary is in car lock-box.
What it's really all about for myself:
Once I didn't feel right being unarmed. Now I don't feel right without a BUG--and one extra speedloader. For those who are ok with one or the other or neither, I can live with that.
What we're compfy with may not be directly correlated to the actual risk we assume-- whether we over or under estimate said risk.
Interesting that those who carry three on their person at all times do so for lessons they've learned in various capacities (maybe professional), where lessons come hard. Some such folks are still so armed ever after.
Many of us who carry a mere one or two, haven't had to learn the hard way, and with a little luck we won't.
My thoughts on the matter, didn't mean to be long winded.
Microgunner replies:
Nnobby45 chimes in:
Being disarmed of primary is one reason. There are others that have been mentioned, like NY reload or arming someone else. So far I haven't seen running out of ammo as a possibility--especially from those who carry neither a reload nor a BUG.
For trips to the dentist or doctor and a lot of other places, where one needs to take off outer garments (and primary IWB at 4:00 may not be appropriate), the 642 in vest pocket is either on me or real close-- no matter where I go (with a few legal exceptions)-- while primary is in car lock-box.
What it's really all about for myself:
Once I didn't feel right being unarmed. Now I don't feel right without a BUG--and one extra speedloader. For those who are ok with one or the other or neither, I can live with that.
What we're compfy with may not be directly correlated to the actual risk we assume-- whether we over or under estimate said risk.
Interesting that those who carry three on their person at all times do so for lessons they've learned in various capacities (maybe professional), where lessons come hard. Some such folks are still so armed ever after.
Many of us who carry a mere one or two, haven't had to learn the hard way, and with a little luck we won't.
My thoughts on the matter, didn't mean to be long winded.
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Beauhooligan
Moderator
When I was an LEO I carried a J frame .38 S&W as back up to my S&W Model 19 .357 Mag, not because I expected the Model 19 to break or fail, but because I had seen officers lose their primary while fighting hand to hand. Later, working as a Bond agent I carried the J frame .38 as back up to my Colt 1911, because it was just my partner and I; we could not expect further back up quickly, and we never knew what was going to happen. My neighborhood is as rough as any in town, and now I can't afford to sell and move. I bought the SA XD40 SC because I was no longer confident in just carrying my Taurus Model 85, but don't want to lug a 1911 or my Glock 20 around. It's a bad situation, but what can I do?
vranasaurus:
Actually, you are more likely to need those other auto part supplies, sooner or later, than you are a back up gun..
I was just being a smart butt, so I apologize for that..
In truth my PRIMARY cc weapon of choice is the the LWS380 stoked with 6+1 of the lowly 9MM Kurz rounds and most folks don't even think that round is sufficient for personal protection, but it works for me.
Best Wishes,
Jesse
Actually, you are more likely to need those other auto part supplies, sooner or later, than you are a back up gun..
I was just being a smart butt, so I apologize for that..
In truth my PRIMARY cc weapon of choice is the the LWS380 stoked with 6+1 of the lowly 9MM Kurz rounds and most folks don't even think that round is sufficient for personal protection, but it works for me.
Best Wishes,
Jesse
I don't go to or live in "bad areas", nor I'm I out late at night, not carrying a bunch of money either. I don't think I need a back-up gun. However.....
When I can (not always possible) I carry a 2nd gun. In theory it's not really a 2nd gun in terms of backup, because I don't think my primary pistol will fail.
and I don't think I'm going to need it 
.
I like having something like a LCP, 442, or Kahr PM in my front pocket.
I can see this being most useful if loading stuff into vehicle in a parking lot and you see someone approaching, or in a business and a suspicous looking person(s) enter. Hand discretely goes into pocket, now we are ready if needed; if not needed there is no unnecessary negative attention.
I do not view those pistols (LCP, 442) as a "good" primary weapon although they are for many people, and have been sometimes for me.
When I can (not always possible) I carry a 2nd gun. In theory it's not really a 2nd gun in terms of backup, because I don't think my primary pistol will fail.
and I don't think I'm going to need it . I like having something like a LCP, 442, or Kahr PM in my front pocket.
I can see this being most useful if loading stuff into vehicle in a parking lot and you see someone approaching, or in a business and a suspicous looking person(s) enter. Hand discretely goes into pocket, now we are ready if needed; if not needed there is no unnecessary negative attention.
I do not view those pistols (LCP, 442) as a "good" primary weapon although they are for many people, and have been sometimes for me.
I understand your point, It's better not to put yourself in a situation or place where there is the potential for violence or an attack, but Crime doesn't only happen in bad areas or late at night. I have never bought into the idea that I am safe in my own home, or safe in a public place. Just because you don't go out at night, or venture into a bad area doesn't mean you won't ever be victimized.
So, for me whether I'm going out with my family, or just running down to the grocery store, I'll carry a back up. It seems to me that a civilian should be the prime candidate to carry a back up weapon, simply because if anything was to ever happen, we're on our own. I can't radio for back up. Or what if your weapon fails somehow? If something happens, at that very moment, I am probably the only chance that my family has, so why not take all and any extra measures you can to be as prepared as you can?
To be fair, it isn't the "same logic" as carrying a spare tire in your trunk.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't have trunk like space in my pants with which to hide multiple extra guns. Do those of you that equate a back up gun to a spare tire carry multiple spare tires in your trunk? You have 4 tires, the other 3 are just as likely to go flat as the first one.
Statistically, it is extremely unlikely that I will ever need a back up gun (or any gun, for that matter). It is an individual choice if you are comfortable with those odds, there is no "one size fits all" answer.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't have trunk like space in my pants with which to hide multiple extra guns. Do those of you that equate a back up gun to a spare tire carry multiple spare tires in your trunk? You have 4 tires, the other 3 are just as likely to go flat as the first one.
Statistically, it is extremely unlikely that I will ever need a back up gun (or any gun, for that matter). It is an individual choice if you are comfortable with those odds, there is no "one size fits all" answer.