"People often don't understand the critical role a second gun should play. I carried one on duty from day one but it took me a few years to realize the value of this important weapon OFF DUTY. Off duty we're rarely in uniform, without a partner, no radio, and with no easy access to a long gun.

I only had to reload once on the street during hostilities to realize I never wanted to do that again. Old friend, Jimmy Cirillo coined the term , "New York Reload" to describe the role of the second gun. The grabbing of another loaded handgun is dramatically faster than changing magazines or fumbling with a speed loader.

The second gun should be accessible to the non dominant hand and should be a caliber you're comfortable fighting with. I retired 25 years ago this month and carry the following daily; a SIG P250 in .357 SIG with a Taurus .357 snub in a pocket holster. BOTH ARE LOADED WITH Cor Bon DPX.

i never fired a second gun on the street, but on three occasions folks are trying to get my Smith .41 Magnum from my left handed duty holster when they realized a .38 snub had suddenly been shoved in their mouth. It had been carried in my right rear uniform pants pocket.

The second gun never leave home without it!"

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Of the Troops & For the Troops

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IMO.

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True words there, sir.

The SIG P250? Um, maybe, but a huge maybe.

The Taurus snub .357? Not on your life. Or mine.

The price difference between that Taurus and a similar S&W is far too small to concern oneself with. As for the SIG, good luck finding spare parts anywhere besides SIG. Glock parts are everywhere.

Otony

"The grabbing of another loaded handgun is dramatically faster than changing magazines or fumbling with a speed loader."

Ive read this a hundred times and I've even watched people try and prove it, but I'm still not a believer.

I watched one just two days ago... and yes, his horrible, painfully slow, ""tacticaool" 12 step program" reload was slower than dropping gun #1 and pulling a second full sized gun #2 from a second IWB holster positioned right behind holster #1.

Forgetting the impracticality of that whole carry setup, if you can reload even slightly well, it should be a lot faster.

I'm not arguing the usefulness of a backup/second gun, but there's no way you can convince me dropping the primary and going to what's probably a smaller, less effective (either is stopping power, capacity or just the ability to hit with it) gun, that's probably not somewhere that will allow for a speed draw, is better and/or faster than a reload. Talking service sized semi's here of course, not revolvers.

(and what happens when the snub revolver is empty? Hands and knees looking for the SIG you dropped, to reload it like you should have done the first time? )

his back up...Same case for Cirillo (As far as I recall, he just kept grabbing guns)
I too am surprised by Evan's current carry choices.I have to give him the benefit of his experience. Actually applying techniques & triumphing on the street trumps all of our theory...

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Of the Troops & For the Troops

not for betting your life on....least not for me.

He must've gotten bored with it.

...

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Of the Troops & For the Troops

I have been working on that.

Ideally you'd want two completely identical guns, but at that point for some of us smaller individuals it is rather difficult. I have no issue concealing anything up to a full size 1911, but even adding a smaller one or say instead carrying two baby Glocks you run into weight and placement issues rather quickly. Of course if you where one in a shoulder holster that takes a bit from your belt but unless you plan on wearing a vest year round not all that practical. You could go the ankle holster route, but with my skinny legs it's not all that concealed. If you don't use identical guns then that's twice as many mags and you run into an issue of the heat of the moment reaching for the wrong one to reload with as well.

It all comes down to personal preference really, I've heard this debate many times.

An NFL linebacker. With spare mags you could easily be carrying 4 - 5 pounds on your belt and then there is the bulk factor. As best I can, I try to stay out of those places where I need to go loaded for bear. I tend to carry my Airweight Smith or LCP if and when I do carry a backup gun. Actually, depending on circumstances, they might be the first gun (hand in pocket on gun) I pulled and my "backup" a 9mm or 45.

walk with my hands in my pockets anyway. And now with you xds I expect it will be common for you too

"As best I can, I try to stay out of those places where I need to go loaded for bear."

Well pilgrim That's just about everywhere today.
And I'm not kidding.

That has run dry. You can't afford to take the time to re holster it.

........

Otony

In his garden. Missed all 9 times and then threw the gun at it and killed it.

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