Can we discuss NY reload and carrying 2 revolvers?

[shouldazagged]

I've pocket-carried a .38 Special J-frame for a good many years, as my only gun. I'm old and in declining health and don't get our a great deal. Recently, however, as the area around where I live gets rougher and the homicide rate in my city goes up, I've considered a backup.

I would keep the J-frame, a 640 I trust implicitly; but I would perhaps carry a Ruger LCP IWB. Not ideal, but unobtrusive and easy to carry.

 

[Lt JL]

*After more than half of my life as a copper carrying two guns, I still can't stop.
I carry a sig 228 in an El Paso snapoff rig OTB, and a model 40, an honest steel pistol, in my weak hand back pocket. I also still carry two spare mags on my weak side in a Don Hume spring held mag pouch. The model 40 isn't going to be reloaded; it's for if the Sig takes a dump. The model 40 is also to be shot weak-handed from that back pocket draw.

 

[colt_saa]

It is rare that only one firearm is with me

If a NY reload is two guns, what do you call three?

Not always enough

John Bianchi

This is a man that can conceal
I have always loved this old photo spread.

Any guess what brand of holsters this man is using?

I have carried the NY Reload holster and like it very much. The weight of two Smith and Wesson 640s is about the same as the loaded Goverment model that was the first gun I carried concealed.

One of the great things about this holster is that you can draw one at a time or both together with little trouble also you have a crossdraw while you are driving.

For as long as I can remember, there has been at least one J-frame with me every day of my adult life. I have also kept one or more spare firearm in the passenger compartment of the vehicle I drive. This is usually within easy reach while seated

This is more than I have ever needed. Hopefully it will stay that way for all of us.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Al that I can find is New Mexico is the only state that says you can only carry one gun. I would like to know what others find.

In the Great State of Texas, as long as they meet the definition of a legal hand gun, you can carry as many or as few handguns as you want.

Regards,

Dave

 

[jimmyj]

NY Reload

It is rare that only one firearm is with me

Not always enough

John Bianchi

This is a man that can conceal
I have always loved this old photo spread.

Any guess what brand of holsters this man is using?

I have carried the NY Reload holster and like it very much. The weight of two Smith and Wesson 640s is about the same as the loaded Goverment model that was the first gun I carried concealed.

One of the great things about this holster is that you can draw one at a time or both together with little trouble also you have a crossdraw while you are driving.

For as long as I can remember, there has been at least one J-frame with me every day of my adult life. I have also kept one or more spare firearm in the passenger compartment of the vehicle I drive. This is usually within easy reach while seated

This is more than I have ever needed. Hopefully it will stay that way for all of us.

This Gentleman in a white dinner jacket is not a fan of reloading

 

[ladder13]

Before my NYPD retirement I started a wholesale woman's clothing business where I needed to go into the old loft buildings in Manhattan's garment center away from the bright light of 7th Ave.

I developed a habit of putting my Colt DS in my coat pocket and kept my hand on it whenever possible.when out and about.

On evening in late fall I entered a very small 2-3 passenger elevator in a run down turn of the century loft building heading to the 7th floor.

The elevator stopped on the second floor and as the door opened a man steeped in and quickly sliced the front of my coat open clear to my undershirt.Without thinking I emptied the 6 rounds from the DS into the assailants chest and then had an empty gun and would have been dead meat had there been an accomplice.

Reloading or getting a 2nd gun out of an ankle holster in that confined space would have near impossible to do quickly enough.

I had no idea I had fired all 6 until until the smoke had cleared.

I put the gun back in my pocket and waited for uniforms to arrive and see me in civilian clothes with only my shield in my hands.Friendly fire at me was in my thoughts.

No cell phones in those days.A UPS guy called 911 and was glad it wasn't him in the elevator.

On stake outs I had my model 10 holstered on my right hip,a pre 70 1911 government model in a Seven Trees shoulder holster and my DS on my left side.An Ithica M37 12ga was at my side.On stake outs we wore a uniform hat,again to avoid friendly fire.

When I was a kid I had a summer job working for a trucking company on 35th St. Conboy, maybe?????? I forgot the name.
I went from garment maker to garment maker picking up packages with a hand truck and bringing them back to the trucking company.
Seeing all the beautiful women walking the streets in Manhattan was a bonus. I loved the job

We may have even crossed paths.

 

[ContinentalOp]

On occasion I will carry two revolvers. Generally, I use a 442 with another jframe or lcr or m85 in separate pocket holsters (one left and one right) since they all work and feel about the same. But, for the most part I just use a single jframe and a speedstrip and/or a speedloader.

Also, I thought this guy has a pretty good video on this subject Back up Guns for Concealed Carry. - YouTube

I finally got around to watching this video. There are a couple of points that he doesn't address in favor of carrying a back-up gun.

1. Offhand-side access. He demonstrates drawing his primary gun from his right side holster using his left hand. This is a valid technique. I practice it both going around the front and around the back. I use a clip IWB holster and while some people don't like them because they can shift, that ability to move does help when performing an offhand draw.

However, there is one problem with this approach: Not everybody has the mobility/flexibility to perform this draw. While I can perform this draw, I'll admit some days are more difficult than others due to soreness, joint stiffness, etc. Others may be even more restricted, whether it's due to injury, arthritis, etc. In situations like this, having a BUG available to the offhand can be beneficial.

2. This is the single biggest omission as far as I'm concerned. One of the most important reasons for carrying a BUG, and the reason that most interests me, is in the event one's primary gun doesn't work. Granted, a well-maintained, good quality gun, loaded with good quality ammo, is highly unlikely to malfunction under most circumstances. But it is a possibility, and one's options are to clear the malfunction or draw a BUG. I would've liked to have seen him do a comparison between clearing a malfunction and drawing a BUG.

Revolvers are generally very reliable (as well as semi-autos), but they can malfunction. While there are malfunction clearing drills for the revolver, a better solution would be to draw a BUG. Even with a semi-auto, it may be quicker to draw a BUG than attempt to clear a malfunction, especially something like a double-feed. Plus, there are some malfunctions that can't be cleared. For example, my first 642-1 broke it's hammer stud. I'm glad I discovered it while dry firing instead of during a life-threatening situation.

Does that mean everyone who carries a gun should carry two (or more)? That's for each person to decide, based on their own situation. But I don't think it's something that should be dismissed without consideration.

And if a police officer or prosecutor decides to make an issue out of someone legally carrying more than one gun, it shouldn't be too difficult to find instances where a BUG helped someone survive a violent encounter. Massad Ayoob and his Ayoob Files would likely be a good resource on this matter. If necessary, one's attorney could probably subpoena someone from the police department, such as a firearms instructor, and find out what their policy is regarding BUGs. Not to mention instructors who advocate, or at least recommend, carrying a BUG, even for non-LE.

Final point: While I'm not an expert on the carry laws of all 50 states, the only one I'm aware of that specifically prohibits carrying more than one gun concealed is New Mexico. As always, check your local and state laws to make sure before carrying multiple guns.

 

[ABPOS]

So much good input. And I agree with you on your points. That reaching around the back with your off hand move is to me, not necessarily as easy as he made it out. He had his holster moved pretty far back, and it was OWB. I never carry owb. And I'm not usually that far back with it. I could maybe still do it, but for me it seems way slower and harder to do than an offiside pocket.

And yeah, a big argument for a BUG is if the primary goes down.

 

[StakeOut]

Most of the US has several months of varying degrees of cold weather.Where is your carry piece when you are bundled up for the cold.How quickly can you get to it and fire effectively? Where's your reload ammo at,Where's the 2nd weapon.

How quickly can you reload with gloves on.

Emptying my DS in that elevator wearing heavy winter clothing opened my eyes to something I never gave much thought to;six would be enough.

 

[one eye joe]

I AM A DISABLED VIETNAM VETERAN, WITH ONLY ONE ARM / HAND IN OPERATING CONDITION---MY LEFT. I CARRY A 2 1/2" 686+ IN A CROSSDRAW BELT HOLSTER ON MY RIGHT SIDE, AND A 642 IN A POCKET HOLSTER, ON MY LEFT SIDE.....

WITH A NEW YORK RELOAD, I HAVE 12 ROUNDS IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE. A PAIR OF BIANCHI SPEED STRIPS IN A BELT POUCH, ON MY LEFT SIDE, AFFORDS ME 12 MORE ROUNDS, FOR A COMPLETE RELOAD OF BOTH GUNS--PERHAPS, FROM A SAFER POSITION, BEHIND COVER.......

APPROACHING THE END OF THOSE 24 ROUNDS, ITS TIME FOR THIS OL' SOLDIER TO CALL FOR DUST OFF.......

 

[ABPOS]

Beautiful set up and thank you for serving Sir!!!!!

 

[ABPOS]

Most of the US has several months of varying degrees of cold weather.Where is your carry piece when you are bundled up for the cold.How quickly can you get to it and fire effectively? Where's your reload ammo at,Where's the 2nd weapon.

How quickly can you reload with gloves on.

Emptying my DS in that elevator wearing heavy winter clothing opened my eyes to something I never gave much thought to;six would be enough.

My only issue with carrying in my coat pocket is: What do you do when you take your coat off indoors? Doesn't seem like a good idea to leave it in the coat. And pulling a gun out of your coat pocket in the church foyer might not be ideal. And you'd have to have a second place to put it.

 

[StakeOut]

My question was how do you get at it quickly if needed while wearing heavy winter apparel;a 3/4 length parka for example if it's inside your pants pocket or waist band and where's the extra ammo located?

It's usually boils down to doing what you can with what you have.

I never felt the need to carry 2 guns while off duty but I did carry most of the time with the exceptions of in bed or in the shower.

After Cirillo was attacked while taking out the garbage while pocket carrying his cobra(dead bad guy),I carried at home and took better care of the DS.

Jimmy was like a magnet attacting dirtbags.

 

[ABPOS]

I was just reading some blogs from DeBetthencourt and he said for winter he cuts the pocket out on the overjacket so he can draw without unbuttoning. Pretty slick.

And he said he typically carries AIWB and one in an ankle holster. Sounds like when he's training he just does OWB strong side.

SnubTraining.com – What to carry and where – Part 1 – snubtraining.com

 

[Lee's Landing Billy]

Can those of you on this post who have ever been in an armed encounter, tell me that after it was over, you ever thought you had too many guns or too much ammo?

Thanks to jimmyj and StakeOut for giving this info.

 

[GF]

Poster cadmike said, "For me, I would carry one hicap semiauto before I'd carry 2 revolvers."

And that was what I was going to say. I went from a Mod 60 to a Beretta Nano with an extra magazine and more than doubled my round count.

IMHO a semi-auto & extra mag is the here and now of CCW.

(I will probably get Banned and thrown out of the SWCA for that statement!)

GF

 

[haywood]

Poster cadmike said, "For me, I would carry one hicap semiauto before I'd carry 2 revolvers."

And that was what I was going to say. I went from a Mod 60 to a Beretta Nano with an extra magazine and more than doubled my round count.

IMHO a semi-auto & extra mag is the here and now of CCW.

(I will probably get Banned and thrown out of the SWCA for that statement!)

GF

As long as everything runs perfect and you never have a problem and you don't have to arm someone els, your good to go.

 

[blues7]

As long as everything runs perfect and you never have a problem and you don't have to arm someone els, your good to go.

Revolvers, as much as I enjoy them, have lots of parts and are not immune from malfunctions deriving from those parts or issues deriving from ammunition which can cause a round not to go bang or prevent the cylinder from turning.

An extra mag for a semi goes a long way toward resolving many more common issues but nothing is perfect, especially nothing mechanical and so we train and hope for the best by practicing with and maintaining our firearms.

I trust my S&W revolvers as I do my Glocks but realize that Mr. Murphy can visit at any time and often will.

 

[haywood]

Revolvers, as much as I enjoy them, have lots of parts and are not immune from malfunctions deriving from those parts or issues deriving from ammunition which can cause a round not to go bang or prevent the cylinder from turning.

An extra mag for a semi goes a long way toward resolving many more common issues but nothing is perfect, especially nothing mechanical and so we train and hope for the best by practicing with and maintaining our firearms.

I trust my S&W revolvers as I do my Glocks but realize that Mr. Murphy can visit at any time and often will.

That's why we carry a back up.

 

[blues7]

That's why we carry a back up.

I often did on the job. I rarely do now. But I'd never tell anyone not to carry a backup or that it was overkill because you just never know. Each person will have to decide for themselves where the threshold lies.

When I carry a semi-auto I carry a spare mag.

When I carry my revolver I carry a speed strip.

Maybe it's being retired and living outside of a small town in a semi-rural environment. (That said, I'm not lazy nor do I fail to scan for potential threats. Low crime is not the same as no crime.)

Around home and walking distances I'm perfectly fine with my 642. Or sometimes my 686+ during periods when I feel a little more firepower might be called for. (Critter related for the most part in our forested environment.)

When I go up to NYC to visit family, a G26 and a spare mag will be my walking around firearm though I'll probably have the 642 in my pocket for the ride up.