Hi...First post as a new member after lurking/learning for a while. I'm a police officer in a small town in NC and would like ideas from others in the LE community in regards to BUG carry. I currently have a 442 that I carry off-duty and would like ideas towards using it as a BUG on-duty.

Vest mounts or ankle options are welcome...pocket type carry won't work ( uniform fits too damn snug lately ).

Thanks in advance for any input...

I always carried my Airweight® on the left side of my body armor. During winter, when I was wearing a jacket; I carried one in the inside breast pocket, and another in my left jacket pocket. (Hands on for all traffic stops.)

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David
CW3 USA (Ret) 1968-1990

There's trade-offs with any system; I carried mine in an ankle holster which was harder to get to and thought of carrying one in an inside pocket in the winter but if its easier for you to grab it's also easier for the mope that you're wrestling with to also. I never had to use a BUG so take my opinion for what its worth based on that.

Carry 2 BUGS and extra ammo. You never know what you may walk into. For every person who never needs one, there are 2 guys who ended up wishing they had one. Without one, you are malfunction away from having a really expensive paper weight to throw at the BG. JMO.

The Desantis and Galco ankle holster both work well. Uncle Mikes makes a one that attaches to body armor for gun 2.

I've used an Uncle Mikes belly band holster to carry a 640 on the vest under the left arm. For the past several years I've been using a Galco Ankle Glove w/thumb break to carry my 642. I went to ankle carry 10 years ago when we had a moron for a chief who mandated polo shirts for summertime use. Try getting to a vest holster while wearing one of those.

Ruger LCP, small enough to carry in a Cuff Case.
Didn't have any of the really small guns before I retired and I carried a Sig P230 in an ankle holster. Worked ok for about twenty three years.

Rule 303

A L. W. Seecamp .32 acp in a pocket. Pull it out and have it in my left palm under the cite book during traffic stops (I used to do this many years ago with a pre-war Colt .25 acp - until I saw how weak and inaccurate that Colt was!).

A S&W 442 or a Kahr PM 9 on the left side of my body armor for cross draw from under my shirt (unless I'm wearing a heavy jacket in really cold weather; then in the snapped left hand pocket).

I always thought ankle carry made sense, until two incidents:

1. At a classroom training session, with a officer sitting across from me at a table. As he sat, his left pants cuff pulled up enough to expose his J frame on his ankle.

2. While serving a warrant, the BG ended up on his belly with my partner kneeling on his shoulders, his crotch above the BG's head, and my partner facing toward the BG's butkis. My partner's ankle mounted small Glock was exposed and actually closer to the BG's hands than to my partners hands by almost three feet! Sent shivers down my spine!

More than once recently, my Lieutenant's ankle mounted small Glock has been noticeable while he is seated.

I will say that while seated, bending over or on your back, ankle carry is fairly easy to get at. The two incidents above though made me otherwise uncomfortable with ankle carry.

I like the idea of placing my Seecamp in a cuff case on my belt. I may do that, since I now have additional space on my duty belt - thanks to a slight increase in my "girth".

My uniform pants are the 5.11s that have two pockets sewn inside the cargo pockets. My j frame fits perfectly in the forward most inner pocket. It is well hidden and secure but still easy to access/draw. I will occasionally carry a second BUG, a Kel-tec. 380 with a pocket clip, it's thin and light enough too hide almost anywhere you can think of and the clip makes it easy to strap in/on.

I prefer a larger gun for off duty carry, usually an officers size 1911 sometimes a .357mag or. 45acp revolver. I do have to make an exception when working in the hospital. When in scrubs I wear the j frame in an ankle holster.

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

Always remember the old saying, "Two is one and one is none." Anything made by the hand of man is apt to fail and usually at an inopportune time. Depending on how you are dressed will determine the best way to carry a BUG. I know many officers that carry a BUG but would not be able to access it if needed.

I'm retired now but when on the job I carried my Model 38 in a left back pocket (I'm a lefty) of my uniform pants. Another option was a shoulder rig under my duty jacket druing winter, but then I could only remove my jacket while in HQ.

I agree w/others re: ankle rigs. Once, while wrestling a drug suspect I had a warrant for, my Model 38 came flying out of my ankle rig. It had somehow come unsnapped and fortunately another cop grabbed it before anything bad happened. I stopped using the ankle rig after that.

BUG are a smart move for anyone who works the street. My agency required that they be completly concealed, be approved by our range officer, and that we qualify w/it at least annually.

Be Safe,
Old Cop
LEO 1968 - 1997

I used to carry in an ankle rig. The gun will get very dusty from being carried so low to the ground. Now I use an Aker Leather vest holster. Threads through the vest straps and carries on the right side. No one ever notices it.

My BUG has ridden in an ankle holster since 1967. First a Bianchi now a Galco Ankle Glove. Ankle carry has worked for me.

I would wear it on my vest. Seems it would be more accessable there. I used to keep one in my car, you know for when people walked up on you while you are parked.

Glock 26 in an Uncle Mikes ankle holster. My G19 and G17 mags work in it so extra ammo is no problem.

Did you consider a IWB holster carried at 11:00 or 1:00?
Our summer uniform was optional shorts and polo shirt. I didn't choose this as with my pear shaped body and fish belly white legs I would have frighten the citizens.

What he said. But a Glock 27 BUG and a Glock 22 in the duty holster. Since the 22's magazines work in the 27, makes it an ideal set up. Extra mag in pocket.

Last time I visited my favorite little desert town, I noticed Yuma PD carry their(I assume they were issued) BUGs in a cross draw about the same position I see a lot of LEO's carrying tazers. Would an openly carried BUG be frowned upon in most departments? (I'm a criminal justice student, I go to the academy next summer or the one after)

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Just the opinion of a kid

i use an Uncle Mike's body armor holster that I feed my body armor straps through. It fits and conceals my Glock 33 easily enough (our issued weapon is the Glock 31).

Off duty, I am carrying the 33 in different ways depending on what I am wearing. OWB in a Galco Matrix or Safariland 6378. Or in a Desantis Nemesis holster if I pocket carry. I don't have an IWB holster for the 33.