[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Backup Guns (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 2/29/2008 2:38:41 AM EDT
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Alright, I'm in the market for BUG and wanted to hear what you guys carry. Right now I'm looking at standard ankle holser and a Glock 33. Also, any opinions/experience on the 33 as a BUG? Our BUG course is pretty straight forward and I'm not too worried about more than a 15 yard shot. Let 'em rip! EDIT: wrong number, fixed it |
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I have a Kahr PM40, but I'm thinking about going to a subcompact 3" XD9 or XD40 for more round capacity. I love the size and weight of the PM40 but I'm not sure I can get things done in six rounds before needing a reload. 9 vs 40  I just am not sure what a want yet. Bucky145 |
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I carry a S&W .38 airweight and love it. I refer to it as my "Give me my gun back gun" since I figure someone will have taken my Glock 22 for me to need it. I used to carry a Glock 27 and found it to be bulky and heavy. I did like the 27 for the ability to use the 22 mags but the day in and day out comfort level won the battle. I don't even know the S&W is there. I carry in a vest holster because I don't like cuffing people proned out and putting a gun right in front of them that they can access. Also, my partner was in a ground fight and his BUG came out, sliding across the ground. Luckily an arriving officer was able to get to it before the bad guy. There are pros and cons to every carry method. I know my access to a vest gun is slower than an ankle gun. I just prefer the vest vs. ankle. |
| Does anyone have any feedback about the Kel-Tec pocket pistols? I have been looking into getting another BUG, right now carry a G27 in my off-hand cargo pocket and its wearing me out. I want an airlite S&W, but I have had several other officers suggest the Keltec .380....What are yor thoughts? |
I'm not a fan of ankle carry. If you're in a struggle with a bad guy who's trying to get your primary weapon (standing up), he's not going to let you call a time out to reach down for your gun on your ankle.  The only time ankle carry become easy to access is when you are sitting down in the car or when you're rolling around with a suspect on the ground and can bring your leg up. YMMV. I would advise pocket carry of one of the MK series Kahrs, one of the Kel-Tecs, or an SW airweight. If not pocket carry, then in a BUG pouch in the vest. (One of the subcompact glocks in a BUG pouch in the vest works well). Or you can also carry your bug on the weak side of your belt in a Mufti holster. See the link below. Bug pouch for duty belt |
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I'll vote for a revolver in either the front or rear support side pocket. A semi auto's slide can be pushed out of battery if pressed into the bad guys body while fighting for your life. Also, to clear a malfunction in a wheel gun, you just pull the trigger again. Speer has some sweet rounds designed for use in a 2". I used to carry a semi auto so that I could use duty mags in both. I also like the idea of being able to make good hits at 15+ yards. Then I came to the realization that if a suspect does get my gun, he's going to try to kill me with it right there, not from a distance. A contact shot is most likely the only time I'll be using my back-up. |
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I carry a Glock 19 in an ankle rig for 6 years and have never had a problem with running or jumping or anything else. I'm 5'10 195lbs, and I wear it in a holster designed to go OVER my boots so it's very secure. I like the ability to interchange mags with my carry gun, a G17, and once I got used to it, it wasn't that bad compared to a 5 shot revolver for me to get rid of the extra 11 rounds. In wintertime when wearing a jacket all the time, I will sometimes still throw my 642 airweight into the front pocket. |
I can barely conceal a G19 on my waist! I'm going through this same debate right now. I have a G22 as my issue, and I own a G26. I need to go ahead and figure out some good ways to carry it and start carrying it. I've got my wallet set on a airweight 340 too 
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| I've carried a G27 in a Uncle Mike's nylon ankle holster for the past 7 years & don't even know it's there. It's not noticeable under my cuff & fastens over my boot. I had them let them out a little longer & it works just fine. I like that it takes the same mags as my G22 & if I need to give it to another offficer (which has happened) they know how to use it. |
I've carried a Kel-Tec .32 on my ankle for five years. The gun is so light I barely know it is there and I shot a 232 out of 240 on the full combat range last year when qualifying. Not bad for a pocket pistol. Had it been available in .380 when I bought it, I would have gone with the .380. A few guys at my department got .380's and one had feeding problems, but he sent it back and was happy with Kel-Tec's customer service with the issue. |
| I have carried a Keltec P3AT as a BUG for a couple of years and love it. The long trigger pull is that way on purpose. Most all of the small BUG have the long pull to prevent AD. It is also pretty accurate. We have to qualify out to 15 yards with back-ups and you can keep them all in the X ring. I also have a DeSanti pocket holster for off duty carry. It is so compact it looks like a wallet in your back pocket. |
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I have to say that my Keltec P3AT has held up. Going on 4 years of daily carry. I carry it in a DeSantis ankle rig and it disappears, I often forget it is there. I had some rust on the slide near the barrel, probably from sweat leaking through. I used steel wool and rust remover and got the rust off. I sprayed it with grill paint and have had zero problems since. Not pretty, but it works. The Keltec will fire all seven rounds every time I shoot it(about twice a year). The trigger pull is awful but I can hit a man size target at 15 yards. Probably just piss them off though. I figure that if I need it 7 .380's in the face beats nothing. It did need to break in though. It jammed regularly for the first 100-200 rounds and then smoothed right out. |
| Smith J frame is good. I care a Walther PPKS 380 auto with Ranger SXT. Conceals great even for us little guys! Only complaint I have about it is the double action trigger pull, man it has to be about 16 pounds. But that is my bad I just haven't gotten around to doing a trigger job on it yet. |
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I agree that the Glock is a lil fat. I used a Glock 26 as a BUG for 9 years. It was carried in a vest holster. I ended up selling the 26 when I had a cash flow problem. I chose it because it used the same magazines as my primary G-34. I had told myself that I would buy another 26 the $$$ problems were done. I used a S&W 442 while I was without the glock. The 442 was so much nicer to carry that never looked at another subcompact Glock again. My wife picked up a Kahr PM9 as her carry gun and I have carried it a few times as a BUG. If I am ever in the position to get another BUG I WILL be looking at the Kahr. But.....For now, the 442 is doing just fine. |
| I started off carrying a G27 in ankle rig and found that a bit on the heavy/bulky side for BUG duty as well as off duty, so I switched to an old square butt J frame. Couldn't hit squat with it and now I carry a Kahr PM9 as my BUG/off duty gun. I couldn't be any happier. That gun just disappears on you. Very light and comfortable. Also extremely accurate even at 50ft. |
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old LAPD trick: have a leather pocket sewn into replace front or rear left pocket...leather breaths, conceals & doesn't print...dry cleans well. Rust problems solved by Bear Coating pistol...fast service, durable and LEO discounts/priority completion www.bearcoat.com Worked for my S&W 36 for many many years ! |
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G27. When in uniform. Carry a NAA 22 mag when UC on off side and Ruger SP-101 357 tucked in waistband. Did carry a G33, but changed Depts. and primary guns. The 33 was great, but had a little more recoil due to the 357 round. I carry on my vest, I use a Galco summer comfort holster attached to my vest straps, works great and also doubles as off duty holster as well. |
Too bad my dept. doesn't allow us to send our guns out to be coated.
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I too carry a g19 in an ankle rig and love it. I tried the body armor holsters but I'm fat and my fat fatness made the gun stick out. |
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During my 20 year career, I always carried a .38 snubnose six shot Colt Cobra airweight revolver with bobbed hammer in my support side pocket. I could always look friendly and casual with my left hand on my BUG. I learned this from the Michigan State police that were stuck with cross draw holsters before they transitioned to 9mm Sigs on their stong side. They used J frame Smith's, I got a great deal on a Cobra so that's what I carried. |
| I carry a PM9. I like it because of the size, weight, and it's very slim. Someone mentioned the PM40 earlier. I have been thinking of trading for one of those, but the extra round in 9mm is nice too. If your looking for a great vest holster check out this guy: Mika's He sent me my holster before I paid for it, and said if you like it send the money, if not send it back. |