Backup Weapon

i basically agree with what most people said. i agree you should have a knife. and that your backup should be similar to your primary sidearm. if you carry a glock get a mini-glock.

i also feel that there is NO reason to carry a mouse gun. your minimum should be a .38/9mm. with all these good sub-compact guns being made today you don't need a .32 or .380 because you can carry a 9mm or .40 the same size.

its hard to beat a good 2" .38spl in an ankle holster. if you use good ammo they are better than all mouse calibers. also its important to have a very reliable gun if you carry in an ankle holster. you might get all kinds of dust and stuff in the holster and the gun has to work when its drawn.

thats why a revolver is good but there are also some good pistols. glock sub-compacts are great. i would suggest the 26 or 33. i say that because i think since the gun is small and so is the barrel you will lose alot of velocity. the .40 really needs ever fps it can get and that short barrel takes too much away. if you carry a 9mm or .357sig they will still have pleanty of velocity left even only from a short barrel.

kahrs are also good, reliable guns.
 
I'll weigh in again:

I too advocate a knife. If you're not into knives, visit bladeforums.com and you will be
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Its TFL's sister site, and every bit as good at what it does as TFL is.

I myself carry a REKAT Carnivour in talonite and a Spyderco Rescue on duty. I'm also looking at adding more to that count, but not for a little while. Funds, funds.
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As to backups being mouseguns or not, I myself decided quite a while ago that if I was gonna be pulling my backup, I was in a world of s*** and I would want to send the largest piece of lead at the BG at the highest possible velocity. .357 magnum pocket cannon it is. Its small enough to be concealable in anything but a g-string, and completely non-complex. It has the disadvantage of only having 5 shots, but you have the famed revolver one-finger misfire drill and if you get in a tussle you don't have to worry about the slide hanging up on something (like the BG's hand). It IS succeptible to a weapons stall (if he grabs the cylinder so hard you can't pull the trigger), but if you get it free you're back in business by just pulling the trigger again.

Placement? Decide where you like it, and practice. I settled on the ankle holster since I cannot think of any other place on my body where I could stick a gun that I could actually GET to without having to undress. Is it ideal? no...but honestly, for every scenario where I could not get to my ankle holster, I can think of one where I couldn't get to it if it were placed someplace else. And, one bonus of the ankle holster: if you get caught in your cruiser, you might not be able to get at your duty weapon easily (try it, its harder than you think)...but the ankle holster is easily accessible.

Mike


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"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert Heinlein
 
If your duty pistol is 9mm, then Glock 26 or Kahr MK9. If a .40S&W then a Glock 27 or Kahr MK40.

You are fortunate that your department gives you a choice, let alone lets you carry a backup.
 
Cold Steel Defender One in the top of my left boot.

North American Arms Black Widow .22Mag either inside my hat, or inside my waistband at the small of my back.

LawDog
 
*inside your HAT???*

Wow. Never thought of putting one there. On the plus side it *is* easily accessible. On the down side...ever left your lid anywhere? Ever gotten in a tussle and had your lid knocked off?

Hmmm...IMHO the downside outweighs the up. Though, like I said, I never thought about it before.

Mike


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"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert Heinlein
 
My department allows (& encourages) us to carry a backup handgun. Usually, the rangemaster approves anything with which we qualify (70% or better). We have officers carrying .22LR & Mag, .25ACP, .32ACP, .380Auto, 9mmP, .38Spl & .357Mag, .40S&W and .45ACP (& possibly others about which I do not know). Serial number is recorded on data sheet which is signed by officer and rangemaster after qualification. Honestly don't know a single officer who carries a "throw down" piece.
 
Castle, I want to simply say 'be careful out there', and stay true to your principles as you begin this new career. Thank you for your service to our country.

Also, please consider buying and reading 'The Proper Role of Law Enforcement' by Sheriff Richard Mack - you should be able to buy it through Gun Owners of America. Excellent book, and a quick read. You'll be an even better LEO after consider Sheriff Mack's perspectives.

Regards from AZ
 
I had a custom-made holster for it that was the same colour as the liner. As near as I can tell, no one ever even thought of looking for a gun inside my hat. They stomped my hat a time or two. Or three..., but never looked for a gun in it.

Plus, if you enter a house, take off your hat and hold it in front of your belt buckle, everyone comments about how polite and courteous you are. You simply don't mention that you had obnoxious Uncle Fred covered the whole time.
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LawDog
 
S&W 640 in a weak side back pocket. Pretty fast, very secure. I've seen guns fall out of ankle holsters ALOT!

The baby Glocks in a vest holster are getting popular, but slow to get to, especially one handed, and that's how it's gonna be.

Think about a small fixed blade behind your mag pouches. Very fast, and you don't have to thumb it open (a back-up back-up?)

Practice with them!
 
Based on what your dept. will allow I suggest at least one NAA mini somewhere on your person (three is better), and a S&W M38 in a back pocket is required (no ankle holsters ever, please).

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"All my ammo is factory ammo"
 
I have a lot of back up guns.
1. AMT .380 backup
2. Kel-Tec P-32 (favorite)
3. S$W 60 2"
4. Colt Cobra 2"
5. S$W 36 2" round butt
6. S$W 36 2" square butt
7. Beretta .25 Model 950
8. Beretta .22 Model 21 (2)
9. Baby Browning .25 (2)
10. Bauer .25 (2)
11. S#W Model 37 airweight
12. Rossi 2" .38 stainless
Plus others.
The Kel-Tec P-32 is the lightest and easiest to carry concealed. I sometimes carry it in the right top pocket of my uniform shirt, at other times it rides in Ken Campbell custom pocket holster, carried like a bill fold. I also carry a snub .38 in an ankle holster. Been doing that for years and have used it on occassion. The main thing is to carry a backup and to practice and qualify with it and practice, every chance that you can. Also make sure that you are covered by Dept, rules and regs, and carry a Dept. approved weapon. Theres much to be said to carrying the same type of guns as your duty weapon. But do carry a backup, most cops that I work with don't, probably less than 25 percent do.

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SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL POLICE, KEEP THEM INDEPENDENT.

[This message has been edited by 7th Fleet (edited April 23, 2000).]
 
WHY a knife on the WEAK SIDE?

Simple.
If your packing your edged weapon on your strong side - When you get into a tussle your strong side arm will be busy with weapon retention... or putting a power lock onto your adversary. This leaves your weak side to deploy that one hand opening knife.

Retention and wresling can take a lot out of you.

Do this:
Get your buddies to work with you... fill your holster with a toy gun - or a "rubber ducky" aka ASP red gun. Put a training knife dummy or toy knife on your strong side and then your weak side...
Go a few rounds both ways... See where you need your knife.


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Rome did not create a great empire by having meetings; they did it by killing all those who opposed them.
 
IF you go ankle holster, do your self a favor and talk to Lou Alessi. He's the moderator at www.gunspot.com "Holsters" board and you'll find many testimonials there about his holsters. I can't imagine that anyone's ever had their weapon pop out of one of these. Don't work for him, just very impressed with him and his work. JLee
 
Anybody ever see those neck chains for the NAA minirevolver line. I saw them once at a show. I just couldn't figure out to get it out of my shirt.

Glenn.
 
I carry a S&W md 36 38spec carried weak side in a uncle mikes vest holster attached to my body armor. Also carried is a Gerber Gaurdian boot knife.
 
A neck gun or neck knife makes a good back up. The NAA revolver is the only thing I know of that would make a neck gun.
To deploy it - pull your shirt up a bit to get your other arm up under it to access the weapon. This can be done very quickly - under a second. If the shirt is tucked - you can pull the chain up to bring the weapon out from under it's cover - then deploy it. If your wearing a buttoned shirt, or dress shirt you can easily grab the shirt like Superman and rip it open to access the weapon. (If you need to access the weapon fast - your in a life or death situation... screw the shirt. If you live - you can have a taylor sew new buttons on it.)
 
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