Why I, and you, should carry a BUG.

[G.A. Heath]

The following is a short summary of my feelings on having a BUG:

A BUG, or Back Up Gun, is an essential item for a CHL holder. A BUG is as essential as extra magazines for a Semi-Auto or a speed loader for a revolver. There are two primary reasons for this with the first being equipment failure or loss. The second reason one should have a BUG is in case you find your self needing to equip someone else. My BUG is a double action revolver chambered in .38 special. The reason I choose such a weapon as a backup is because it is as reliable as they come and is simple to operate. If I find myself needing to equip someone else I would like to explain the gun operates "like a computer mouse, point and click." The double action trigger is stiff and is not prone to accidental discharges caused by a less experienced shooter and the recoil of a .38 special is not too much for a novice to handle. I do not like a small or compact semi-auto as a BUG because firing the gun from unconventional positions, weak handed, while injured, ect. can cause failures (regardless of brand, tuning, and skill) and an inexperienced shooter that I equip may limp wrist it causing a failure.

So there is the logic of why I carry a BUG and why I choose the weapon I did as a BUG. Do you agree, disagree, undecided? Let me know. If the thought processes seem unclear please understand I have been up nearly 22 hours when I posted this.

[TexasComputerDude]

I had never thought about firing weak hand causing failures in the semi auto's. Shows I have a lot to learn.

I'm currently looking to buy an LCP for a bug but may have to reconsider and get that cheap rossi 38 I saw at academy.

currently if I carry a bug its my fullsize 1911 stuffed in my backpack. I guess it loosely fits the def. of backup gun lol.

[G.A. Heath]

Firing weak handed alone should not cause failures, but combined with unconventional positions, an injury, or a hasty draw it can contribute.

[AEA]

So there is the logic of why I carry a BUG and why I choose the weapon I did as a BUG. Do you agree, disagree, undecided? Let me know. If the thought processes seem unclear please understand I have been up nearly 22 hours when I posted this.

I agree completely and carry the same BUG as you.

[HighVelocity]

I carry a small 1911 as a BUG. As for equipping another person, I'm not going to do that unless it's my wife. If I tried to hand her a revolver, she'd give it back and take my 1911.

[DMG]

HV: She obviously knows how well you shoot your revolver. DMG.

[Purplehood]

I will admit to not even considering a BUG. I have a difficult enough time concealing whatever I am carrying without considering a second weapon...

[chewy555]

I am for carrying a bug, and I do myself sometimes. Now as for carrying it so that I can hand it off to someone else and letting that decide what I carry as the bug. I am not for that. I agree with HV, I am only going to hand off to my wife.

[Abraham]

If you equip someone with your BUG and they kill an innocent bystander where does that leave you?

[The Annoyed Man]

Agreed. The only persons I would hand a BUG to would be my wife or son, both of whom are good shots and clear headed thinkers.

I take that back... I might hand one to Excaliber, but he shoots better than I do.

[NcongruNt]

If you equip someone with your BUG and they kill an innocent bystander where does that leave you?

That's quite a vague and open-ended question. Generally, I would say whoever did the shooting bears responsibility for the bullets, unless you provided the weapon to a felon or other prohibited person. Defense of necessity could probably be used for providing a firearm to prohibited person, I would think. That would be in a criminal trial.

As far as a civil suit is concerned, I could see someone suing you for providing a firearm to someone who shot an innocent.

I'm not a lawyer, so perhaps someone more experienced in these kinds of things could provide better commentary.

[Jeremae]

Well If I was hanging around SRVA, COMPVEST, JBirds or any of several others I know, I would draw my primary and....


when they ran out of ammo hand it to them....

[NcongruNt]

Well If I was hanging around SRVA, COMPVEST, JBirds or any of several others I know, I would draw my primary and....


when they ran out of ammo hand it to them....

Too bad I carry a Hi-Power. Then again, with that kind of company, it would have to be a really sticky situation to go through through 46 rounds of ammo (15+1 and 2 reloads) and need more. Then again, I'd have the BUG to give me a chance at 13 more shots.

[LCP_Dogg]

So what you're saying is I should get another Ruger LCP and matching DeSantis Super Fly holster for my other pocket?





I agree, though: 2 > 1




ps. would an ankle-mounted 2-shot Derringer count as a BUG?

[LCP_Dogg]

it would have to be a really sticky situation to go through through 46 rounds of ammo (15+1 and 2 reloads) and need more.

I had a dream the other night that me and my wife were in some rubble/ruins and sneaking around with the AR and semi-auto. It was nice knowing I had two guns and two types of guns. I vividly recall dreaming about how I was going back and forth between guns while moving around. Then I remember blowing through a full mag in my AR and not even hitting the lurking bad guys we were trying to escape from, all because I didn't have a scope and couldn't relax enough to hit them from ~100 yds.. and also how I thought he was gonna come get us as soon as we were just about to run out of ammo.. then I woke up kind of scared.. need to get a scope and practice practice practice!!