What's your minimum BUG?

M

_Muad'dib_

New member
What caliber/platform is your minimum requirement? .22/.380/.38/bigger?

Just a curious question for anyone that's interested in replying.

I like the idea of a .22 mag NAA revolver but I'm not sure how realistic of a backup gun that is. Maybe an LCP type gun would be better. For me I would want it to be very comfortable since it's such a longshot that you would need it. Double .44's on each hip doesn't sound that appealing(comfort wise anyways :p )
 
Back-up calibers, mouse guns...

As noted gunwriter, sworn LEO Massad Ayoob says; "Friends don't let friends carry mouse-guns." :)
Really, small handgun calibers may be required for a # of valid reasons but for most shooters, the lowest or smallest I'd pick for a BUG is the .380acp or a .38spl +P. Recoil, muzzle flash, etc are not bad.
A few years ago, a off-duty Las Vegas Metro police officer walked into a armed robbery with multiple subjects. The brave cop was wounded but returned fire with his small caliber pistol. He was able to live through the event and the subjects were busted. The police officer was named NRA LE Officer of the Year for his actions. ;)
When he returned to work he started to carry a full size, .40 pistol with 2 full pistol magazines on & off duty.
 
A few years ago, a off-duty Las Vegas Metro police officer walked into a armed robbery with multiple subjects.
Click to expand...

Armed robbers hit a bar, in North L.V., if I recall, where off duty cops from LV Metro had a band and were enjoying themselves. Only one was armed---well, almost.:D

The bad guys may have known who they were robbing.

At least that's the incident that comes to mind. Maybe yours is a different one.

When they make Airweight and Airlights that are easy to carry and are reasonably effective, I don't think it's necessary to go below .38 Special.

I don't.:cool:
 
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Caliber aside, I don't think the NAA mini revolver is a very practical choice for a gun one would carry for self defense. They don't lend themselves to fast shooting, or accurate shooting. If one goes with a small caliber handgun, I think they should at least go with a gun that allows fast, accurate shot placement.
 
I remember something about the only effective weapon being the one at hand when you need it. Depending on your needs and concealment options (if that is what you are going for) your BUG may HAVE to be an NAA mini or a .22 mag derringer. I personally would try my best to dress so I can carry the full sized service pistol but if you plan to walk the beach (not getting wet) you might have to compromise.

In terms of the OP's question I think I would pefer to keep my caliber larger than .32 ACP (but if it was all I had I would take it).
 
My personal recomendation is... If possible carry a second gun in the same caliber as your primary gun. And/Or the same configuration as your primary. If you carry an autloader I believe you would be best served carrying an autoloader as a backup. Same with revolvers.

If thats not possible.. go with what you have and, what you can shoot. In a bad situation any second gun is better than no second gun at all.

Of course this is all just my own opinion.


Glenn Dee
 
Not to get into ANOTHER caliber arguement ,, since there are so many smaller firearms on the market now, a small 9mm , in MY opinion, would be ideal.
 
My usual BUG is a S&W 432PD Airweight in .32 H&R Magnum. Its light, accurate, and reliable. Also, being a six-shot its much easier to qualify with since all the courses of fire are based on six round strings. As soon as S&W or Ruger comes out with a lightweight 6-shot 2" .327 Federal I'll be switching to that as I would much rather have a 115 grain bullet at 1300 fps than a 100 grain bullet at 950 fps for my BUG, but I'm also confidant that the .32 H&R can do its job if I do mine.
 
I would feel comfortable with a NAA .22 mag as a bug to a service sized pistol or revolver. They are very small, lightweight concealable and reliable.
 
Years ago, I would sometimes carry a Beretta 950 in .25 caliber. This was before the current trend of small .380s. Today, the smallest is a Ruger LCP or Sig P238.
 
The question was about a BUG! If that's the case, it's just a Back Up Gun, not the primary self defense gun. I carry a 380 for a BUG!

EarlFH
 
I think this would make a pretty classy Primary/BUG combination... combined age of 186 years!

DSC01546.jpg
 
I'll play... I carry an XD in .45 Auto on my strongside hip, and an LCP in my weakside back pocket.

The question was about backups. My minimum for this purpose is .380 auto. I like my .45 for primary, and I would also carry 9mm, but my backup is a .380. I'm 5'6" at 155ish lbs, and my size seriously dictates my ability to conceal my guns. If I could conceal my 870 somewhere on my person, I would do that, with no less than a Super Redhawk .44 as a backup. This is obviously not an option.

I don't argue for the .380 as an ideal carry pistol, but for me, it is the ideal seconday. It conceals well in my back pocket, and it is on my weak side, still giving me some type of firearm option in the event of injury to my strong side, or anything else that would disrupt use of my right arm or access to my right hip. I dont care how little that thing is, it hits harder than my fist. I also carry my LCP in my right front pocket when clothing absolutely eliminates the option to carry my XD on my hip. If I didn't have a cell-phone-sized backup gun for these occasions, I would not be able to carry any gun at all.

So my BUG does everything I need it to do, and with 7 rounds of Hornady Critical Defense, it's enough in a pinch. It goes with the saying that "More is better than some, and some is better than none".
 
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