How many carry a BUG?

[Retired Smokeybear]

The latest Back Up Gun thread got me to thinking.
I can understand a LEO carrying a back up gun. After all, their job is to go looking for trouble. It makes perfect sense for them to be prepared for the worst case scenario.
But does the average citizen really need a BUG? Yeah, I know, poop happens and it tends to happen at the worst possible time. For most of us, that's why we carry a gun in the first place. A little paranoia can be a good thing. It can keep you alert and prepared. But how much is too much?
Personally, I have never felt the need to carry a BUG. In fact, my goal is to never have to use the one gun I have. Situational awareness and avoidance are my top priorities.
But from the fairly regular appearance of BUG threads, its pretty obvious that some folks consider a BUG necessary.

So, just out of curiousity, how many of our non-LEO members carry a bug?

As a retired LEO with 32 yrs on the job, while in uniform and plain clothes, I always carried a BUG in an ankle holster. Now, I enjoy my everyday uniform of shorts and T-shirts, so a BUG is really impractical for me! My everyday carry is a S&W M&P full size 40 cal., with two mags near by. I no longer go looking for trouble, but if trouble finds me, I'm prepared with a total of 46 rounds! After that, it's in God's hands!!

 

[tulsamal]

It depends on the weather and my clothes. If it is strictly shorts and t shirt weather, one has to do. But if I can wear a vest, jacket, or coat I carry a BUG. Granted it is a very light and last ditch BUG but it is there. North American Arms Mini Master. Four inch barrel for much better velocity in .22 WMRF. Tucks into a front inside pocket on my vest. In a little kydex holster.

 

[crstrode]

. . . All I can say is I've CC'd almost ten years and have never had to draw my weapon in anger, much less seen the need for a second gun . . .

You're lucky.

I've never drawn my gun in anger either - ever - and most likely will not in the future. I have, however, drawn my gun when a bad situation scared the beejeezus outta me!

Feeling sorry that I had a BUG is an unlikely scenario.

 

[charlie sherrill]

While on the job I carried a S&W mod 38 with reverse wadcutters for a bug. I also had an extra "pen" in my shirt pocket that was actually a small very sharp knife, plus another knife in my boot. Now days I usually carry a Ruger LCR in my pocket with a G20 and extra mags in my vehicle and occassionally a shotgun in the trunk or behind the seat of my truck.

 

[Cal-MI]

one in eight

Never have...including 30.5 years of crime fighting.

Never had any need for one whatsoever, either.

Cannot imagine any situation in which I would need one in the future.

Be safe.

I have read that only one in eight CC's ever has to use his gun in a bad situation. That's the odds, folks.
But I know one CC instructor that advises simply to not go in dangerous places, like parking garages or certain neighborhoods, late at night. Good advice. I try to follow that. And then I can only carry when hunting or am otherwise away from civilization.

 

[wizard.mk18]

My backup gun is attached to my backup shooter (my wife) and is a Ruger 9mm SP101 3" loaded with Hornady 115gr Critical Defence loads.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

My backup gun is attached to my backup shooter (my wife) and is a Ruger 9mm SP101 3" loaded with Hornady 115gr Critical Defence loads.

My wife's gun is HER gun, and, if I were to ask for it in the middle of a "social situation," it would still be her gun, a 4" S&W Model 681 with Crimson Trace grips!

Sent from my XT1565 using Tapatalk

 

[Packard]

I carry two guns, but no back-up gun.

I carry one on my belt which gives me access when I am standing, but no access when seated, especially when belted in the car.

And I carry one on my ankle, which gives me access when seated, but very poor access when standing.

So, in effect I have access to one gun at any given time. Which means I don't carry a backup gun, but I do carry two guns.

 

[Mikerbike]

I carry a BUG in cold weather when bulky clothing might prevent me from reaching my primary, which is usually a 1911. A small 9mm fits in my coat pocket and gives me a comforting feeling. In pleasant weather, I don't bother.

 

[Big E3]

In general, sometimes it is hard to always have one gun with me. Years ago I have made the decision to always have one gun with me no matter how uncomfortable. I believe that if I needed to carry two guns, it would be too tempting to leave them home because of how uncomfortable two would be.
Back when I first began to carry, I use to think one gun may not be enough. But after years of carrying and not needing any gun I've began to feel that just one gun should be sufficient.
As a civilian, if I ever put myself in a fire fight where one gun and an extra mag isn't enough firepower to get out of there, I will be forced to deal what comes next.

 

[grayelky]

Back up gun? Do you really need a primary gun? The stats say no. The overwhelming majority of the population will never NEED a gun to stay alive. Yet, most who post on here carry at least one firearm. Why? It's the numbers that do need a gun that bother us, me included. So, the question is not, "Should you carry a gun?" as I think most on here will agree it is appropriate to carry. If that is the correct question, then the next question should be, "How many guns should a person carry?" In my mind, it is a simple answer: One more than you think you will need. In my career, that has, at times, been one. At times it has been 4, not counting the 12 ga in the trunk. Currently, it is not rare for me to have 2. Which 2 depends on the day and task at hand. I own a small gun shop, and will carry 3, in part to show my clientele how easy it is to carry more than one, and how easy it can be to conceal more than one gun. Why do I feel the need for "one more than I need". Easy. Ever had a gun fail? I have, 2 different guns, 2 different occasions. One was a S&W 66, the other was S&W 686. Both were department owned, and maintained. Both had to go to the armorer before I could go on duty.

For what it may be worth, the ones who have posted about the North American Arms, these fall into the "if I have a pocket, I have one" category. Rarely is it my primary, though.

Don't think there is a need for a back up? Don't carry one. Don't condemn those that see the need. If we as a group cannot come to a common ground on an issue this simple, how long will it take for those who see no need for a gun of any kind, (other than those carried by their bodyguards) to push for common sense gun laws, where they proclaim, "Even the gun nuts only see the need for one gun, so let's allow people to have one." You know where it will go from there. The next logical step would be, "Why one?"

 

[PatAz]

I don't, but when I go out my wife has her firearm with her too.
So I guess that counts.

 

[TAC]

I don't, but when I go out my wife has her firearm with her too.
So I guess that counts.

Unless she's mad at you!

 

[A2 Stippling]

I carry one - the type being dependent on weather and task on hand. Like carrying OC, it's a personal choice to just carry one.

However, when I travel by vehicle, I will always bring along a spare - but I won't carry it on the body.

My back-up gun is my AR...that's my goal - fight to the rifle.

 

[digiroc]

One is Good, Two is Better ...

My minimum carry is my 360PD AirLite carried AISW. It's always on me as it's one pound loaded weight is unnoticed.

When clothing allows the 4040PD becomes primary but the 360 often goes along either AISW or in ankle holster.

digiroc

 

[TonySoprano9VE]

I carry my SD9VE and a PT738 backup

 

[Redhawk500]

I too have a spare tire in my truck and a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.

 

[bcarroll]

Myself, I carry a full size M&P pro, spare mags. And a colt agent revolver in a ankle holster (to arm some one else if need be). But only going out of town. At home a spare load and snubby in the front pocket does fine.