Choosing a "back up" gun

[chubbs]

Kahr cm9 is a great choice. I also liked my bodyguard 380, but the trigger wasn't the best and the laser was a joke. It would shut off from recoil

 

[wally05]

I've heard RAVE reviews for the size/shootability of the M&P shield series. We issue glocks at my dept, but I'm considering a .40 Shield as a vest backup... good deal thinner and supposedly shoots like a full size pistol. They are MSRPed cheap too. Wait for the prices to drop and you'll get one for cheap.

Carry however you're comfortable carrying. The opinion BS can be left out of it from most. Look for size and your ability to put rounds on target with that size. ALWAYS... for the love of God, ALWAYS have a spare magazine for ANY weapon you carry. The reason has already been said in the 9 pages of this thread (could have been settled in 2 pages probably). It's a hell of a lot easier to drop a mag and clear a malf and then load back up with another mag for a lot of different malfunctions.

Revolvers: + Size, + Reliability for close contact shots, - capacity, - reload time for MANY (need practice to be proficient)
Auto: + capacity, + reload time, - reliability for contact shots (tend to jam), - hard to find small size with decent capacity for role, but they are out there.

I think S&W j-frames are great for the role and to each their own. I've just spent a lot more time with autos, so I tend to stick with them.

 

[Justin727]

Good choice. Tough to go wrong with a lightweight .38. Put some quality +P rounds it in for carry, and enjoy.

Side note, get you a decent pocket holster. They are cheap and they'll save your pants from getting a hole warn in them as the front sight will eventually eat through your pants if you pocket carry without one. I use a Blackhawk Size 1. It covers the barrel and stays in the pocket when you draw, plus keeps it upright and easy to grasp without adding a bunch of bulk. In fact, it breaks up the outline a bit when you're sitting down and it looks more like a wallet and less like, well, a revolver.

Thanks for the advice! so far ive been carrying it in my pocket. No holster. Ill definately look into the blackhawk!

 

[Justin727]

I love my Smith 642 AirWeight. I have played with several holster options and here are a few that work for me. 1) pocket holster- I went with the Mika. 2) belly band as silly as it sounds. 3) strong side belt- I went with an IWB but even OWB with an untucked shirt will work.

If it is a new Smith I would also recommend a competent gun smith do a trigger job on the gun. Some of the new guns have decent triggers when others are not good at all.

Personally, this will never be a weapon I'd carry on my side. Ive never had a belly band so I cant say how I feel about that but I know I love having this particular firearm in my front pocket so I will more than likely look into a pocket holster.

 

[Justin727]

I've heard RAVE reviews for the size/shootability of the M&P shield series. We issue glocks at my dept, but I'm considering a .40 Shield as a vest backup... good deal thinner and supposedly shoots like a full size pistol. They are MSRPed cheap too. Wait for the prices to drop and you'll get one for cheap.

Carry however you're comfortable carrying. The opinion BS can be left out of it from most. Look for size and your ability to put rounds on target with that size. ALWAYS... for the love of God, ALWAYS have a spare magazine for ANY weapon you carry. The reason has already been said in the 9 pages of this thread (could have been settled in 2 pages probably). It's a hell of a lot easier to drop a mag and clear a malf and then load back up with another mag for a lot of different malfunctions.

Revolvers: + Size, + Reliability for close contact shots, - capacity, - reload time for MANY (need practice to be proficient)
Auto: + capacity, + reload time, - reliability for contact shots (tend to jam), - hard to find small size with decent capacity for role, but they are out there.

I think S&W j-frames are great for the role and to each their own. I've just spent a lot more time with autos, so I tend to stick with them.

I've been shopping for a new primary CCW! Been debating between the Shield in 9mm and the Glock 26. (both similar in price with the Glock Blue Label discount). Just can't make up my mind!

 

[Tactical Studmuffin]

I highly recommend the Kel-Tec PF9 with +1 extension!

 

[armiker]

CM-9 Kahr wheres the popcorn

 

[Avar]

I know Taurus is not a Ruger, but the TCP is nice and it's $100 less. The guns are almost identical.

 

[xxkornxx56]

Running same caliber glocks together is always a pretty good idea. You can use the spare mags from your primary in your back up.

 

[hillbilly undertaker]

I own a bursa firestorm chambered in 380 7 +1 or my lcp .380 with the front site laser. Are loaded with hornaday critical defense hp. I prefer the .380 to the 9mm due to the 9mm over pen value. I know the .380 hit and stay.

 

[neuro01]

I usually have a S&W 642 on my ankle for back up. Being that my EDC is DA/SA, the heavy trigger pull doesn't bother me.

 

[Mr.Softball]

Whatever you use I think you need to practice how you are going to use it and be comfortable with it.

 

[MolonLabe7]

If you are making the concise effort to become a citizen that carries daily I don't believe you should have this mentality at all. If you want to carry a 2nd firearm as "back up" i see no issue with that but having a 2nd gun in case i don't fell like this or that is a bad idea.
Training in clearing malfunctions etc is worth more than splitting your time between 2 firearms. And if your wardrobe or something else dictates you not carrying your ccw then I would think long and hard about your commitment.

I agree with this guy. If you want to expand your gun collection that is one thing, but a duel carry is going to be a pain.

 

[seedubs1]

I don't agree at all with people saying you should only have 1 carry gun.

I have a 380 for pocket carry in the summer and a .40 for when I can iwb with jeans and a long sleeve. I can't iwb in the summer without printing really bad, and I refuse to sweat like a pig in heavy clothing or wear a button up short sleeve to conceal a bigger gun. I'm going to be wearing shorts and a tshirt in the summer, and I'd rather have a 380 on me than a 40 printing horribly.

And yes, I practice with, and am proficient with both.

I'm a normal citizen, not Rambo or a leo. If I have a lcp on me, that will likely be good. If I can comfortably carry a larger gun, I will, and that's all the better.

 

[baddyna96]

I'm really starting to like my new LC9. It's surprisingly accurate and small to boot.

 

[seedubs1]

I'm really starting to like my new LC9. It's surprisingly accurate and small to boot.

Lc9 is still too big for me to pocket carry. If I'm going to get something that big, I'd bump up to something like a pps/shield that's super thin for iwb,but still a good size.

 

[2ARIGHTSPLZ]

I'd be too worried to use a .357 mag in self defense. Way too much penetration. Don't you worry about where your bullets end up? What if there are lots of people around you?

 

[Justin727]

I don't agree at all with people saying you should only have 1 carry gun.

I have a 380 for pocket carry in the summer and a .40 for when I can iwb with jeans and a long sleeve. I can't iwb in the summer without printing really bad, and I refuse to sweat like a pig in heavy clothing or wear a button up short sleeve to conceal a bigger gun. I'm going to be wearing shorts and a tshirt in the summer, and I'd rather have a 380 on me than a 40 printing horribly.

And yes, I practice with, and am proficient with both.

I'm a normal citizen, not Rambo or a leo. If I have a lcp on me, that will likely be good. If I can comfortably carry a larger gun, I will, and that's all the better.

Well said!! I couldnt agree more. I assure you all my "level of commitment" is 100%. If I want to carry a full size or compact when I am wearing appropriate clothing that conceals that weapon (and I am proficient with that weapon) I will carry it. If I am wearing shorts and a T-shirt because it is 95 degrees outside I may choose a smaller firearm. As long as I am proficient with the firearm I carry, I dont see the issue with this philosophy. If the need arises for me to defend myself and my family I have full faith in my S&W Airweight .38 spl At this time, no, I will not wear cargo pants and a hawaiin shirt everywhere I go so I can conceal a full size firearm.

 

[undeRGRound]

Aside from some unsolicited attitude early on, GREAT TOPIC!
I have an LC9 in layaway (w/laser) and an M&P9 in house.
Hope to get an M&P9c later, the S&W is a great weapon!
This post is answering lots of my Q's about many things, I also
have 2 medium sized females to arm.

Stay on it Justin!
My brother lives in Greenwood too...

 

[Bmrdude]

Ruger LCR is my opinion as a back-up gun... carried in an ankle-holster.