Carrying 2 guns?

[norfdet]

I am looking specifically for an opinion from Mr. Rauch and Mr. Bane, but I also value the opinions of others. As an LEO I have grown accustomed to carrying a back-up gun when I am working and for almost all of my career it has been a S&W j-frame of some sort. Currently it is a 638-3 with CT LG-405 grips. This gun is also my primary carry when I am off duty. However for about the past year when I am off I am finding myself wanting to back up the 638 with a 637, usually in an ankle holster.

My question is this;

Do the majority of people carry 2 guns when they are either off-duty (LEO's) or just about town (CCW's)? For me it has become a hard habit to break.

I like the advantage of ankle carry in being able to access a gun while seated, I also like to pocket carry because it is more accessible for all the other times when you are not seated and an ankle holster is slower. Call it a New York reload or whatever, I am just interested in what other are doing, if anything. I have always liked a wheel gun for their simplicity and reliability and since I cut my teeth on wheel guns, I have always stuck with them for the most part. I particularly enjoyed the DR TV clips on wheel guns, especially the one done by Mr. Rauch and as a Firearms Instructor with my department, I plan on showing that clip to new officers that are being cheated out of an education since now the state does not mandate revolver training anymore.

[m25operator]

well, you've thought this out and I think you have a good plan. I assume when you are off duty, you are shirt and slacks kind of person. Clothing mandates your options for concealment. Where I live it is legal to carry a pistol or long gun in your vehicle without a license. In my vehicle I carry a glock 21 and 2 spare mags, in an easy to reach place. Out of my vehicle I carry S&W 940 in front pocket holster and 2 moon clips in the off side pocket. I am the only driver in my vehicle and do not have children to worry about finding my pistol in my absence. For the reasons you stated, an ankle holster for access in the car is a decent plan, drawing from the pocket while seated is definitely an ordeal, but practice it anyway. I don't know if Bianchi speed strips are still available, but with practice you can load a revolver pretty well with them, and they don't print in your pocket. Mine are 20 years old, but still work. I too look forward to Mr. Rauch anf Mr. Banes comments.

[norfdet]

Call it overkill but I usually have the 2 J's and at least a speed strip (mine too are almost 20 years old) and/or a speed loader.

While on the subject of ankle holsters, I can not say enough good things about my cozy partner from Renegade. I bought this ankle holster about 8 years ago from Renegade. The body (the part that wraps around the ankle) is made from surgical nylon and is the most comfortable forgiving material I have ever seen in an ankle holster. The holster itself is leather with an elastic strap that snaps over the back of the trigger guard allowing the gun to be drawn straight from the holster without having to unsnap anything. I prefer this because this holster will fit ALL types of j-frames hammer and hammerless. The back of the holster is padded with what appears to be some type of wool or fur (for lack of a better term). They are reasonably priced at over 50.00 and well worth the money at more than that. The elastic of the ankle band lends the holster to being able to be used both on the leg and over a duty boot and still retain itself and remain comfortable. I am in the process of ordering another one to just have "on hand". I have owned several ankle holsters over the years and while I still have some of them they are all collecting dust in a box somewhere because I just can't part with this one.

[IDPAshooter]

As a civilian and a CCW license holder, I almost always only carry one gun.  I do not run many of the additional risks that a LEO has on a daily basis, such as recognition or the additional training necessitating action.  I personally feel that moving myself and family to safety is my first line of defense with the firearm being my offensive move in those situations where a well planned offense IS the best defense.  Although on special occasions such as longer road trips or times where I know I will be traveling in the not so great parts of town I will carry an additional and primary firearm leaving my daily carry as a backup option.  I hope this helps! 

I am interested to see what others are doing, I carry a semi-auto and have been considering a J-frame as an additional carry option.  Depending how this goes maybe it would be an additional carry rather than an additional option.  Thanks for the good question!

[Michael Bane]

I have carried two guns, but only on the occasion where I felt my risk factor was through the ceiling (spening time with the whackos in the paramilitary wing of the Klan for a magazine article, for example...that's a whole other story). I have found that the Sig-Tac Concealed Carry Coat makes it easy for me to carry a J-frame in and my regular SIG on the belt.

Walt can better address this than me!

Michael B

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[Scott Moore]

As someone who as carried on and off for over 25 years, as a holder of a Special Police Commission, CCW, Forensic Investigator w/ the Medical Examiner, in a major Southeastern city, depending on when/where, etc I lived and under which circumstances, I have carried two and sometimes three handguns.
Normally I carry on right hip, just behind the quarter-line belt loop, this is very rarely bypassed, because under stress we’ll all do what we train for and will reach for the same spot each time. When I deem it necessary to carry a second gun, it is generally carried in middle-of-the-back holster. Being right handed, and consider this a back-up or surprise, I like to have the gun butt facing left, in other words, I draw this gun with my left hand. In the rare cases that I would carry a third handgun (really if it is that bad, where is my 870 or .223); I have carried my trusted High Standard DM 101, .22mag in its Galco wallet holster. Unfortunately these guns are long out of production but a Beretta Mod. 21 in a similar holster

[Dakotaranger]

I have found that I carry two when I'm going for a walk at night, not that I'm more or less at danger, just is good to know that I could get either hand on a pistol in a pinch.  I carry more when I'm traveling, ie a rifle and/or shotgun

[purple88yj]

On a normal day, I carry two guns on me mainly because I don't have my primary on my person while at work. I do have a little AMT .380 carried in offside pocket, and my primary is rarely more than 30 feet away from me.

On a day off, I carry only the primary and at least one reload. Have never really felt the need for more.

Given you circumstances, and profession, I can see a relevant need to be able to access a weapon from any position. What you have described, sounds like you have thought logically about your needs. Personally, I have never been able to get used to an ankle holster. Just never liked the odd weight around my ankle.

[norfdet]

Personally, I have never been able to get used to an ankle holster. Just never liked the odd weight around my ankle.

Were it not for airweight revolvers I am not sure that I would be able to either.

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello.  Since retiring from police service, my orbits are normally most tame.  I stay pretty much in my neighborhood and around the house.  I do have to visit "trouble spots" (or as we called them with added explicatives, "hell holes"), I don't!

That does not mean that trouble couldn't come calling to be sure.  I don't think that I'm paranoid, but I do have at least one handgun and reload on me from the time I get up until I go to bed.  My "always" gun is a simple (pre-lock) S&W Model 642.


This Model 642-1 has be "religiously" carried since I first bought and tested it a few years ago. My normal mode of carry for this one is strong-side front pocket carry in a Galco pocket holster. It is normally loaded with Remington 158-gr. LSWCHP +P.

Now and again, I do carry two handguns when out and about, particularly if making a night deposit or there's just no way around having to go into a less than stellar section of my own city or others.  Very often, the belt gun is either a 9mm Hi Power lightly modified to my own tastes or a 1911-based 5" .45 ACP.  There will be at least one reload for the belt gun, but the Model 642 and its reload are simply moved from primary to backup status.

More and more I find myself carrying this combination.


More frequently these days when carrying a brace of handguns, I go with the Ruger SP101 .357 Magnum with 3 1/16" bbl and of course, the Model 642.  A nice thing is that both use the same J-frame speedloader. I normally have one speedloader and one speed strip with this setup and both are loaded with the Remington 38 Special load mentioned above. This keeps me from trying to load the 38 with 357's in a trying situation.  Initially, the SP101 is loaded with magnums but not the full-power ones.  Currently, it is loaded with Corbon's 125-gr. DPX though I've also had good luck with Remington's 125-gr. Golden Sabers.  These are mid-range or mid-power loads.  I believe that they might have a bit more potency than the 38 Special and according to the timer, I can handle them at speed w/accuracy better than the full-power magnum loads.

Understand that I emphatically am not saying that any of these choices are "best"...only that they work well for me.

Best and good shooting.