What backup gun do you carry /favor

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Well i have done it. i purchased a Mk40 stainless with night sites. it can use the same mags as my K40 for reloads and is the same caliber and format.
it also is a weapon i would trust as a primary. for truly if you ever need a backup the $hit has already hit the fan and why would you want to draw a weapon that you would not trust to defend your life on its own.
it fills all the principals we have discussed for a true backup or ready gun except it is a little heavy for the job. that is, i think, the tradeoff for shooting a major caliber in a pocket gun and still being able to write or type the next day.
i had, in my holster box, a pocket holster made for an AMT .400 Cor@bon. it fits the MK40 well and i have carried it in my back pocket, wallet style all day and i find it more comfortable than i thought it would be.
time will tell just how i will carry it for the long run but for now i am happy.
the only thing to do now is to wring it out at the firing range to bring it to the "trusted" stage and find what loads it likes.
thanks for the input and the sounding board during this process.

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Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what is for lunch.
Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the outcome of the vote.
Let he that hath no sword sell his garment and buy one. Luke 22-36
They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night. Song of Solomon 3-8
The man that can keep his head and aims carefully when the situation has gone bad and lead is flying usually wins the fight.
 
So am I wrong for taking a "back up rifle" on hunting trips? Granted its not on my person, but I know where it is.. just wondering about the validity of staying "flexible" ie damn... its gonna be 100 degrees in there.. I should take off my overshirt.. shoot that will show my gun.. hmmmm... maybe I'll leave it in the lockbox in the car and take my BUG (back-up gun) instead.

I agree somewhat that carrying 2 guns seems like you are looking for trouble, but I won't say you shouldn't or can't.

Dr.Rob
 
Buzz_knox: I'm glad I'm not the only one having freak malfunctions. Haven't had the empty brass spin around 180 in my handguns, but I have seen it in one of my semi-auto rifles. :eek:

A couple extreme examples of multiple guns in action:

Someone (Ayoob?) pointed out once that almost every backup gun by both sides was used in the famous Miami '86 FBI shootout. No, not everyone was carrying a backup, but some probably wished they were.

Some jewelry store owner (in California?) had like a half dozen handguns spaced out under the counter through the store, and in some very violent holdup attempts, he apparently disdained reloads for grabbing other guns. I think at one point he's talking on the phone calmly to 911 while he's popping away at bad guys. Obviously, it would be tough to do a conventional reload while you're talking on the phone.

I grant that backup guns will probably be very rarely used. I mean, most of the time, the bad guys flee once they see you're armed. Obviously we cannot count on that.

Edmund
 
Well, I bet that some people could justify three or four firearms on their person at any one time... I guess it just matters what you feel comfortable with. Most of the times, I feel safe walking the streets of Phoenix at night (around 44th st and Van Buren)with a folder and some size.


BTW, riddleofsteel, congrats on your purchase.

-Erik
 
It all depends on the situation but I have carried everything from a 1911 Gov't model to Beretta model 21 (22lr) as backup to my primary handgun. Usually I don't carry a backup.
 
All this worrying about failure of the primary weapon makes me wonder why people don't consider revolvers for their primary carry gun. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I've never had a revolver fail on me. Yes, it's possible that a revolver could fail and perhaps people here have even experienced a revolver failure, but, more than any auto, revolvers just plain work. Personally, I'd worry more about being hit by lightning or going down in a plane (two unlikely events) than I do about my Sp 101 carried with two speed strips failing.
 
The reliability aspect is only part of it, not much of an issue with a good Semi Auto. Primarys can be dropped, knocked out of hand, etc.
 
I'm partial to my Caspian Officer's ACP. Small, but 8 rounds of Golden Saber will make them at least think about pressing on their attack...

acpleft.JPG
 
Well with that nice but huge picture instead of a link to a picture, this thread just hit over 400K. Time for part 2...
 
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