"Back-up" for what? What's your primary EDC handgun? Mo' info needed ...I was thinking about ideas for a backup gun and wanted some feedback.
My initial thoughts were a small revolver and an ankle holster but I'd like to hear some thoughts regarding a specific gun and location of carry.
I thought about this some time back but am now seriously considering it.
First concealed carry class I went to the instructor carried in an ankle holster. He pointed out that if you have been knocked to the ground the ankle carry may be easier than some of the more traditional, depending on how you land.Whatever you decide to carry for a backup, make sure it's accessible when the situation goes from bad to worse. Ankle holsters are discreet but not practical to draw from.
The purpose of my backup gun is in case something happens to my primary gun, broke, lost, out of ammo, etc and I need something reliable for a situation. My carry gun is a Glock 19x and I like the around 4 o'clock position. I don't wear shorts or swim trunks often.
One thing I don’t get, why would you carry a gun of a different caliber for a BUG? I carry a compact 9mm and if I wanted a backup it would be an LCR in 9mm. This way I could strip ammo from the mag on the disabled gun and reload the revolver if I absolutely needed it.
And usually carried by LEO's. Glad I do not live in a area where so much firepower is needed as posted by some. A backup is not practical for my EDC. I have never carried a backup and see no reason to. And a weight strapped around one leg all day, every day is not going to happen. Most especially some of the larger guns as posted here. Repetitive use injuries and imbalance issues are real. Count how many steps you take in a average day and they add up. Now multiply that by a month etc. A ankle holster? Not practical for myself any more than buying a shoe that weighs double, or more, than weight of my other shoe. When you buy shoes on the internet, they will list the weight of the shoe. How funny it would be to see a shoe that advertises something like left shoe 10oz, Right shoe 40oz. Which leads into the fact that maybe you need a built up shoe for the side you carry. Look at the bottom of any shoe and you can see (in most cases where a imbalance issue occurs) one shoe wearing different from the other. That is a imbalance just like tires on a vehiclea lot of people bad mouthing ankle carry. i use an ankle holster with a BG380. it's a back up gun, not main carry. another note, ankle carry is very easy to get while sitting in your car, a big plus.
Glad I do not live in a area where so much firepower is needed as posted by some.
I can see LE carrying a back up weapon. Their job sends them into the fight! But the best self defense I can think of is escape and evade. In that case if I can get out with taking out the gun, great! The only time I ever pulled a gun was here at home. Little trouble with a local drug addict. Soon as I pulled the gun he stopped advancing. Had a few more words to say and left. If I was carrying my P-89 with it's 15 round magazine I can't imagine having to go for a back up gun. Even if I did, I could reload my P-89 quicker than I could get a gun from an ankle holster. I'm 75 and I just don't bend over that well anymore! Then again if your gonna carry a back up, why not carry two or even three?And usually carried by LEO's. Glad I do not live in a area where so much firepower is needed as posted by some. A backup is not practical for my EDC. I have never carried a backup and see no reason to. And a weight strapped around one leg all day, every day is not going to happen. Most especially some of the larger guns as posted here. Repetitive use injuries and imbalance issues are real. Count how many steps you take in a average day and they add up. Now multiply that by a month etc. A ankle holster? Not practical for myself any more than buying a shoe that weighs double, or more, than weight of my other shoe. When you buy shoes on the internet, they will list the weight of the shoe. How funny it would be to see a shoe that advertises something like left shoe 10oz, Right shoe 40oz. Which leads into the fact that maybe you need a built up shoe for the side you carry. Look at the bottom of any shoe and you can see (in most cases where a imbalance issue occurs) one shoe wearing different from the other. That is a imbalance just like tires on a vehicle
If for some crazy reason, I actually needed to carry a backup in a ankle holster, I would go ahead and carry one on each leg. By the way, ankle weights are not made for walking. They are made to do exercises for building up muscle, usually for healing a injury and used just like any other weight. Think for a minute of what that extra weight will affect. Calf mucles, thigh muscles etc. All becoming tight. And those tight muscles will pull on different areas of the body from foot to neck.
I get a kick out of some of the things on the internet. Just for the heck of it, I looked up to see if they made a ankle holster for a Glock 19. And sure enough they do. I did get a good chuckle and the thought of how the guy that carries one all day, walks by the end of a week. Practical EDC? Different strokes for different folks.
Some common injuries you might be interested in to prevent Bone Spurs,Plantar Fasciitis, Policeman's heel, hip injuries, etc.
https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/plantar-fasciitis-and-bone-spurs
Funny you mention that. I was watching a movie recently and the main character was walking on a cold day with his hand in his coat pocket. A guy came out from behind a building and put a gun to the guy. Out of know where the main character pulled his gun out of his coat pocket so fast and shot the bad guy before he knew what happened. Heck, I had to replay it a couple of times.The only time I've ever considered a backup gun was in the winter when I was wearing a heavy coat. I carried a smaller gun in my pocket so I didn't have to fight my way through my parka to get to my primary.
I just can't conceive of a likely scenario in which I would need a BUG. A BUG takes up space that could be better used for things I'm actually likely to need such as OC.
Funny you mention that. I was watching a movie recently and the main character was walking on a cold day with his hand in his coat pocket. A guy came out from behind a building and put a gun to the guy. Out of know where the main character pulled his gun out of his coat pocket so fast and shot the bad guy before he knew what happened. Heck, I had to replay it a couple of times.
Many times when dark, I will walk to my car with my Pico in the palm of my hand. No one can see it. And a gun in the hand can be mighty quick.
Depends on the type of gun. It also depends on what the script writer thought would look coolestWouldn't it be even quicker to just shoot through the coat?