Back up guns!?!? what did you carry
form 2000-2009 it was S&W model 36 just like this 1...too bad i sold it like a DAM fool....

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Scott from Canton Ohio

My back up depends on what main gun I an carrying.

They are S&W 442 38sp, Detonics Mini Gun 45acp, AMT backup 45acp or Colt Commander 45acp.

I am not a LEO so I do not feel the need to carry a BUG. If I were "on the job" or did feel the need to, I would carry a model 60-7 loaded with Buffalo Bore +P 158 grain (heavy) LSWCHP ammo. I have chrongraphed this ammo out of my 60-7 at 1040 fps which is nothing short of amazing!

chief38

My BUG is a custom 9mm 360J snubby, my duty gun is a S&W 1911 9mm Pro Series.

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

Started with a 2" blue Detective Special. Went to a 2" nickel Model 37 Airweight. Then a 2" Agent. Now, back to steel with this:

I never felt the need for a backup gun, having much rather have a backup human with a gun.

Somehow, I am compelled to ask if, as a civilian or LEO, if you ever required a backup gun. From my personal experience and that of the over 300 LEOs I have worked with over the years, I cannot recall any of them needing a backup gun and only a handful of times requiring a reload.

In the event of a situation like the Miama shootout, I can see that but the potential for so many other things is way more likiely.

I used a 442 for several years, but now a Glock 33. The 442 was good in a jacket pocket, something I can't do with the 33. But it's not often that cold here in AZ, so the 33 is it for backup....

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Tom
"Panem et Circenses"

As a LEO in rural Wyoming 40 years ago, my back up gun was a rifle.
The old saying "Your sidearm is what you use to get you back to a rifle" was very true.

Most of us would prefer a good partner.....However most of the time backup is a long time coming, at least for Deputies. I've seen two videos where the bad guys get the Officer's gun. In one the Officer is killed, out of view of his dash camera. In the other the Officer gets his backup gun out and stops the bad guy. I don't want to be the only guy without a gun when things get that bad. Same reason I wear a seatbelt and carry a fire extinguisher and spare tire.

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Tom
"Panem et Circenses"

My first backup was a S&W 640. After that I carried a Glock 27 for several years. For the last five years or so it's been a S&W 642. Probably won't change again.

I am probably the single greatest proponent of the wisdom of carrying a back up gun. I designed a double holster specifically for that purpose. It's name is the NEW YORK RELOAD, which has become a common reference to a BUG. It's origin is from the practice of NYC cops carrying a second revolver in a pocket holster.


In uniform I carried my off duty revolver, a pre model 36 in my weakside pocket, or in winter in the weakside coat pocket. In plainclothes during the warmer months, 2 Chief Specials or a Colt DS and a Chief. In the cooler months, my service revolver and the Colt DS. That was back in the day when hi cap autos were not typical, and auto loaders in general were not authorized for use except for "special units" of the agency I worked for. Very few of the men and women I worked with carried just 1 piece, but some did. Today with hi cap autos being the standard, it may be less of an issue, but if your packin' a wheelgun in particular it still makes sense to me.

Cheers;
Lefty

Until just recently it was a 442, weak side IWB or pocket holster. Now, it's a Kahr P380 mostly IWB.

This thing is just sooo thin and light, and the 2 extra rounds with another 6 in the reload is tough to beat.

If I felt the situation called for a back-up gun, my regular handgun would be my back-up.

My primary would be a rifle, shotgun, or subgun.....

Mine was an airweight Bodyguard model 38 loaded w/ the Dept. ammo, 158 grain +P HP. Issued weapon was the 4" model 15.

I carried a model 49 J frame in an ankle holster. I could access it nicely while sitting in a scout car without telegraphing.

A Model 36 until about 1995, then a Glock 27.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

You can't always have your druthers and a back up piece is easy insurance. I've never needed mine but that doesn't mean the day won't come that I do. Carrying it doesn't require any extra effort on my part and I believe it's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

A M36 'Chief' I purchased for $75.00 NIB. WWWWWWWay back in 1972. Like an idiot, it was traded away decades ago.

For awhile, I carried a Colt DS that I had armoloyed, and then a Walther PP .380 that was also armoloyed. Finally went to a Sig .380 Model 232 SS. Sadly I sold all of them before retiring.

I've carried a Charter arms .38 for a year or so in the early 90, but since about 93 I carry a PPK .380 stainless. Bond, James Bond

Back in the day my backup was a S&W Chiefs Special. Now I'm quite a bit older and carry a lighter S&W 340ct. I still have the old Chief's Special - bought it in 1952.

I carried assorted back ups over the years. A 49 then 649 in an ankle holster was used during the revolver years (70's & 80's), sometimes with a Bauer .25 auto in a second cuff case on the right side back, a Model 10 in the duty holster. The real cuffs were in the cuff case on the left side back. In the winter I sometimes wore a shoulder holster under my duty coat with the flavor of the day, mostly 1911's.

After the auto transition (5906) I still used the 649 then a 3913.

My fondest memories are still the early days assigned to uniform patrol and yes I am still active L/E with 38 years in. I am too lazy to work and too nervous to steal and the only other option is the fire service but I cant play pool or ping pong.

Glock 22 on the belt; Glock 27 on the ankle, later replaced by a Kel-Tec .380 in the pocket (I know, apples to watermelons but it was lighter).

870 in reach in the truck; also sometimes a .22 or SKS, an AR15 for a short while just before I retired.

We worked alone a big percentage of the time, but I felt pretty safe with all that.

BUGs were prohibited by my agency through most of my time there.
I did, over the years violate policy by carrying :
first, a Hi Standard .22 mag. derringer
later, a S&W M36 .38 spl. 2"
later, a Grendel Arms .380 auto
and last - a Kahr PM9 9mm

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

My backup for nearly 16 years has been a Walther PPKS.

Our department allows the use of a backup gun as long as you can qualify with it using the same criteria as our primary duty weapon. My qualification scores with the PPKS are nearly as good as with my G23, not sure I could even qualify with some of the smaller pocket pistols so popular today.

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- Change it back -

Model 49, on duty or off

Haven't been a LEO in a long time. But when I was I carried a 2 1/2 inch model 66 in a Roy Baker pancake holster strapped to my body armor as a backup. Not a one of my partners ever knew it was there.

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Expect no quarter.

My main carry weapon is a Les Baer SRP in .45 acp. My backup gun is my S&W 340. The Baer is open carried, the S&W is in a Mika pocket holster.

M- 60 with Federal 147Gr +P+. Never came close to needing it, thank God. Yet it was nice to know it was there if I ever did.

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Always Stay Strong!

I often tuck an AMT Backup .45acp or, in summer, perhaps the P3AT .380. I'm usually wearing the Kobra or the Commander, so I guess they count as backups.

My time in law enforcement was a long time ago, but I carried a Model 40 in my right hand jacket pocket and always had it in my hand pointed at whoever I had to deal with at the given time until I deamed the offending party safe. I then would release my grip and pull my hand out of the jacket pocket and deal with what ever problem I needed to. I also used either a 12 bore Remington pump or an M2 Carbine as a "backup" when I needed a gun or more often just relied on my combat trained partner to back me up.

I agree. Opinions are many. But I can't believe that any LEO, retired or not would advocate against carrying a BUG.

What a disservice to up and coming officers. Off the top of my head I can think of 4 or 5 officers that were killed here locally with thier own guns in the last 8-10 years.

A BUG beats a reload anyday.

I carry a 642 as a bug. In the jacket pocket it can quickly become the primary.

I carried a number of different BUGs over the years: a Jennings .22 LR, a S&W 4" M34, a 3" M36, a Glock 19 (in an ankle holster, no yet!), a NAA .22 Magnum, a Colt PPS cut to 2" w/o a front sight, and the best of all, a 2" nickel Colt Cobra. The Cobra was issued to me and I tried my damnest to buy it when I retired, but no luck.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Model 60 for years, then to a 37 with a bobbed hammer for a little bit, then to a 442, and finally the current 342Ti. I sold the 442 and the factory bobbed 37 like a fool.

I admit to have carried the Glock 27 a little, but I am old school and like my j frames!

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"NON TIMEO SED CAVEO"

After geting my first job as a Public Safety Officer(fancy name for city cop) I bought a 2" Charter Arms Undercover .38. It served me as a BUG and off duty weapon for about 6 years. In winter, while wearing a heavy jacket I somtimes carried a satin nickel Colt Combat Commander .45 in a shoulder holster. I also had a Colt 2" nickel Lawman and carried it under a coat in a Bianchi upside down shoulder holster(9R I believe) off duty and as a BUG while working patrol. When I had the Combat Commander I considered it the primary and the issued M10 as a BUG...I also used the Charter snub as a pocket gun when dealing with a person and I wanted to have a gun in hand. One of the officers in the dept. I worked for was taken hostage during a traffic stop and later executed by the subject with the officer's issued M10. I would rather have it and not need it than the reverse!

S&W model 60! Still have it, still carry it around the yard! Il. Has no CCW yet.
It backed up my SIG 226 and M-4 in Afganistan.

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"Long live the S&W 3rd. Gen.!"

3913NL in a cheap nylon ankle rig in the non snow months and a Ruger P90DC in a shoulder holster when a coat was called for and the snow was deep, when i started.

went to a 640 .357 in a descent ankle rig because i foolishly sold my 3913NL in a financial bind (that i never seem to get out of).

currently carrying a Glock 26 in a descent ankle rig.

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I'm only allowed 30 characters

Several over the years but overall the longest would be a combination of Glock compact versions, first a Model 23 (40 caliber), and now the Model 32 (357 Sig) with an additional 40 caliber barrel.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

Not a LEO, never was. I was a slumlord. I got in the habit of carrying a J frame in my front pants pocket. First one was a 337, later it was a Model 60, and still later it was a succession of 36s, a 442, 637, 638, a 2" rb 12-3 in a homemade holster (made from a box of Sponge Bob Cheez Its) and then a Glock 27.

Some days when many rents were paid in cash and the neighborhoods were quite bad, I got in the habit of sticking another revolver under my left arm attached to the panel carrier of my body armor. Carried the Glock that way too.

Soon I found that you could tuck most anything comfortably in that positions, thus sometimes my nominal Bug was a Model 58, a full size steel 1911, etc.

Years earlier, in the winters, I'd carry one 1911 (a full size) on my hip and then carried a spare (Kimber commander sized CDP) under my left armor in a Miami classic rig. I'd still keep a .38 in my pocket.

I'd been attacked by bums once, and they'd circled me and it being winter, hadn't been able to get to the Kimber which was then on my hip, but managed to get to some OC and the .38 that were in pockets.

After that I started carrying a spare where I could reach it sitting down or through a paritally undone coat.

After I had someone grab my right arm, hold on to it and start punching me, I went through a phase where I'd keep a gun so that I could get to it left handed.

That was reasonably sound thinking, researching the subject, turns out that gun hands/arms are often injured in shootings and that I was far from the first to notice that people will try to grab your hand or arm.

Prior to that people must have been less observant since they'd try to grab my left. I'm right handed but wear my watch on that arm as do most lefties.

Also went through experimenting with a Kel Tec P32, Sig P232, and an NAA Mini among other things. The little ones were handy.

It got to where I'd carry a spare whenever possible, even it just meant taking the Kel Tec along with the .38 in my pocket to be "casual".

When I had a neat French leather jacket, I tried keeping a snub Ruger Six series .357 mag in the pocket. That actually worked pretty well. It had another hidden pistol pocket in it that would fit the KelTec.

Since those glory days, I've also experimented with an ankle holster, but the two "best" ways I've found for a BUG are on the armor and in the pocket. Well maybe not "best", versatile and useful for me, yeah that works.

I did make sure to obtain a matched set of a G34 and G26 in 9mm on the theory that I could use the same G17 or 18 mag in either in a pinch, but I've actually never carried those two together at the same time. Odd.

When I worked for a living:

G27 on the ankle or body armor to back up the G22.

Since being an office pogue:

642 in weak side front pocket.

BUG: S&W Model 638

Guys:
How do you carry a Mini-Glock on your ankle?

For you "Senior" LEOs: lets not discuss "Throw Downs"!

Retired LEO, but my BUG was a S&W Model 640 38 Spl, and it still is. That 640 is an old and trusted friend.

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195th Session FBINA

Waaaay back when: High Standard .22 Magnum; Colt Cobra; 1911; Walther P-38; Model 60; Colt 1903 .32 ACP; S&W Regulation Police .32;in addition to my issue Colt OP when I was in uniform. Depended on what I was doing in the back alleys of the East Coast.

Today and retired: Everything is a BUG. Kimber .45; S&W NY1 64; S&W 442; Kimber 9mm and my S&W Model 39-2.

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Term limits!

I carried a 640 for a few years then switched to a 3914.

After I had a trigger return spring pop in my SIG 220 during a combat course I never went out w/o a back-up.

Galco Ankle Glove. I've carried a G27 that way and I currently have one for my M&P40c. It's more of a pain than a J frame in the front pocket, but it's do-able. I did it everyday when I was working nights.

S&W model 37 weak side front pocket

In the early 70's, I carried a Rohm Gmbh .38 as a back up. They were of German manufacture and were commonly known as RGs as in RG32 or RG38. They shaved lead badly but were better than nothing, I think.

They were economical to say the very least. The best advantage was that if one happened to lose it at the scene of an incident, it was not a large financial loss.

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... a little behind in my work

Now, Mr. Jimmy none of us would have any idea of what you are talking about, now would we?

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Always Stay Strong!

i carry my G26 on my ankle in a DeSantis model 44 rig, all leather with a thumb snap.

i tried the elastic band version and didnt feel comfortable with the way it moved around on my ankle when i ran. the all leather version i use has a reverse pull strap that snugs up good and cant stretch out the way the spandex strap one can.

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I'm only allowed 30 characters

Issue duty gun: Glock 21
Issue BUG: S&W 642 (pocket holster ankle holster, or ballistic vest holster-tried all three, ankle was the best [for me!] for uniform carry)