When it comes to handguns and self defense, for some, one is none and two is one. What’s meant is that you should always have a primary handgun and a backup handgun — because, as we all know, or as Murphy’s law suggests, whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. And so, the thinking goes, your primary handgun could fail or be dropped/lost or who knows what. If you only have one handgun and then it’s not available to you, you now have none. Hence the need for a backup handgun.
Some may argue this applies more to police officers or other law enforcement officers who are far more likely to encounter a situation where a backup gun may actually be needed. To each his or her own, but backup handguns — usually smaller, lighter weight, and less capacity — do have their place. And many backup handgun styles and variants abound.
The classic backup handgun is a snub-nosed revolver — usually a five-shot, .357 Magnum or .38 Special that weighs less than 15 ounces and requires nothing more than a squeeze of the trigger to fire. Snubbies have been around for dozens of years and are still being produced by modern manufacturers. Accessories such as holsters and stocks and reloading gear abound.
Example 1: Smith & Wesson Model 642 Airweight
The 642 has been a popular handgun for years. Chambered in .38 Special and carrying five rounds, this particular model weighs in at only 14.4 ounces. At 4.3 inches in height and 6.31 inches in length, it’s relatively small. A key feature is the hammerless design, which is a bit of a misnomer because the gun does have a hammer — it’s just contained inside the frame and unseen, making it snag-free and therefore easier to draw.
The modern backup handgun, if not a snub-nosed revolver, is usually a sub-compact or even smaller autoloading pistol. Years ago, Glock’s Model 26 arrived on the scene, offering a 10-round 9mm in a very compact design that many thought would be the end of the snub-nosed revolver. That, of course, didn’t happen, but many other firearm manufacturers, including Glock, starting making autoloading pistols that were even lighter and smaller and in various calibers. Today’s modern backup handgun may be chambered in 9mm or .380 (or other calibers), carrying around 10 rounds in a single magazine, and offering excellent reliability and accuracy along with better sights and a skinnier profile.
Example 2: Ruger LCP Model 3701
Ruger’s Light Compact Pistol, or LCP, has been around for a long time. Chambered in .380 Auto and carrying 6+1 rounds, this particular model weighs a mere 9.6 ounces. At 3.6 inches in height and 5.16 inches in length, it is relatively small. Additionally, this handgun is only .86 inches wide, which can make it difficult for some shooters to grasp and shoot well. Its key feature is its diminutive size, as it is able to be carried/concealed just about anywhere on a person with the right holster.
Sometimes those who carry backup handguns choose the same type of gun, just in a smaller form. This keeps the feel and functionality mostly the same and may even allow the larger pistol’s magazines to be used in the smaller pistol. Some, however, go for a backup gun quite smaller and lighter than the primary gun. The backup gun may also be in a different caliber, usually one that is not as powerful. At this point, it’s all about having a second firearm with just enough firepower but in as small a form factor as possible so it’s easier to hide/carry.
Example 3: Glock Model 43
Glock’s Model 43 is chambered in 9mm and carries six rounds in a magazine. It weighs in at 17.99 ounces and measures 4.25 inches in height and 6.26 inches in length. Although it is one of the smallest guns in Glock’s lineup, it’s larger and heavier than the Smith & Wesson 642 and the Ruger LCP. But it’s also a 9mm.
Example 4: Citadel M1911 .380
Customers who carry a 1911 and want a smaller version as a BUG can consider Citadel’s M1911 chambered in .380. The mag holds seven rounds, and the gun has a crisp trigger and an aluminum-frame steel barrel (3.75-inch). The weight is just over 23 ounces, with a total length of 6.375 inches.
In the self-defense world, carrying a “New York reload” means carrying a second gun, and stories abound where a backup gun saved a life or stopped a terrible situation from getting any worse. Those who may choose to carry a second or backup gun have several considerations to make when choosing whether to carry one, and, if so, what type of gun to carry. These considerations include the possibility that the person carrying becomes injured or incapacitated in some way. If that happens, what type of handgun would be a better choice? And where on a person should it be carried? Of course it’s impossible to play out and prepare for all the contingencies, but likely the ease of using a snub-nosed revolver has contributed to its popularity not only as a backup handgun but also as a primary handgun for civilian concealed carry. Lately, however, manufacturers of autoloading pistols have significantly increased reliability and shootability, giving the snubbie a run for its money. As a result, we have a handgun market filled with very good options able to accommodate a variety of shooters.
Deep Concealment Options
Carrying a handgun concealed can occur with inside- or outside-the-waistband holsters. These of course keep a handgun at the waistband where it is in easy reach of the hand and thus quickly drawn and presented. If deeper concealment is needed, other options abound, including around the torso in a bellyband, affixed to a lower leg with an ankle holster, or stored in a pocket in a pocket holster. While these concealed carry locations are of course a compromise sacrificing speed of access for deeper cover or concealment, they each have other pros and cons to be considered.
With a belly band, the wearer can hide a concealed handgun at several locations on his or her torso, from right under the armpits to down around the waist. A belly band is exactly that: a band that wraps around the belly or torso and usually affixes with hook-and-loop closure or snaps for easy on and off. The tightness of a belly band is important — it needs to be tight enough to safely and securely hold a handgun in place but not so tight that it is uncomfortable or difficult to breathe. Many modern belly bands are made from a soft and stretchy nylon or neoprene, a great improvement over the scratchy, unforgiving ballistic nylon that used to be popular. A bellyband also allows a wearer to put a handgun in the most comfortable or accessible location on his or her body as well — weak side, strong side, whatever works best.
With an ankle holster, the wearer can hide a concealed handgun near his or her ankle, under a pair of pants. This makes pants style an important consideration since baggy-bottomed pants are not as popular these days as straight-legged or more form-fitting pants. In any case, an ankle holster also is an exercise in compromise as hardly anyone would ever look at the lower parts of anyone’s pants to see if a concealed handgun were stored there. But accessing a handgun stored in an ankle holster requires getting a hand near an ankle — usually requiring kneeling or bending down significantly, which takes longer to access and clear. Ankle holsters usually use a stretchy hook-and-loop fabric to wrap around the ankle and require a relatively lightweight or small gun. Try carrying anything too large and it’ll be difficult to run or even walk with a steady gait.
With a pocket holster, the wearer hides a concealed handgun in his or her pants or shorts or jacket pocket. This, too, has some limitations based on current styles, weather, and other factors, but the key advantage is being able to put a hand on the stocks of a handgun without anyone really noticing it. Access is pretty fast but the draw may be hindered by the type of pocket, whether a person is standing or seated, or other factors. Handguns carried /concealed in a pocket should always be in a pocket holster and nothing else should be in the pocket; it needs to be a dedicated carry location. Pocket holsters should safety and securely stand a handgun up in a pocket, providing the stock is in a place where it can be easily grasped for a draw.
