Concealed Carry Corner: Pros and Cons of a Backup Gun

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we talked about the perfect handgun size when it comes to carrying concealed. If you happened to miss that article and want to catch up on reading it, be sure to click the link here to check out that article. This week, I want to talk about the concept of backup guns and why they’ve become popular over the last few decades. Many have argued it’s the preferred way of carrying but is it really true? Let’s take a closer look at some of the pros and cons of a backup gun.

The Idea Of A Backup Gun

The concept of having a main firearm with a backup gun available as well is not new by any means. For decades, officers would carry their main duty pistol as well as a small concealable backup gun just to offer a second option if their main firearm goes down or they find themselves in a difficult situation where drawing their main firearm just isn’t possible. Smith & Wesson originally released the J-Frame line of revolvers in the 1950s and it’s the classic choice for a backup gun.

For decades, police officers carried either a small J-Frame or Colt Detective as their backup gun until the 21st Century. Now most departments and agencies either use the Glock 43 or 43X as their backup gun while a few agencies also use the SIG P365. For law enforcement officers, carrying a backup gun makes total sense in terms of a last-ditch effort if something happens where they don’t have access to their main firearm. But what does it mean for the average person who carries a concealed firearm?

Backup Guns For Concealed Carriers

When it comes to law enforcement officers, having a backup gun on your body makes a lot of sense but for a regular citizen, it starts to fall apart a bit. If you take the responsibility to carry a loaded firearm, there’s an obligation to only use your firearm as a last resort. I’ve heard countless people talk about how two handguns are one and one is none. This idea of thinking occurs because people get into their carry loadouts and lose sight of the true belief when it comes to carrying. Carrying a handgun is for self-defense when there are no other options available at the time.

Once someone becomes acclimated to carrying a handgun on a daily basis, there can sometimes be a focus on carry gear rather than carrying for self-defense. In other articles, I talked about how conflict avoidance and getting away from a situation is roughly 90% of what counts in a stressful situation. The probability you’ll have to draw your main gun in a self-defense situation is incredibly low, but having a situation where your main handgun fails and you need a backup gun is almost statistically impossible. Now if you’re looking for different carry methods and want to switch to a smaller gun while carrying what you typically would carry, I completely understand that and there are a number of small pistols that do a fantastic job of allowing protection without being bulky or cumbersome.

Great Options For A Backup Gun

When it comes to backup guns, one of the main questions I get is what the best kind of handgun is for a backup gun. There are two ways of thinking and it really comes down to preference. I would say roughly half go with a smaller J-Frame or Colt Detective revolver. Many younger carriers prefer a smaller semi-auto and some of the most popular choices are the Glock 43 and SIG P365. Now don't get me wrong, there are countless choices like the Kahr Arms PM9 or the smaller 380 pocket pistols that are plentiful in the carry market.

If I had to recommend something, I would say either the Glock or SIG that I spoke of earlier just for the fact they have some of the most options for aftermarket support. Whether it's a small pocket holster or ankle rig setup, choosing the more popular mainstream options will allow you to have more options with a backup gun setup than if you decided to carry something more obscure. Backup guns are traditionally smaller pocket pistols that can easily be concealed and carried without much weight. There are a number of options and I always tell people to carry what they are most comfortable with.

Overall Thoughts

If you are a law enforcement officer, it makes complete sense to have a backup option when on duty. There have been a handful of reports where officers have drawn their backup pistols when getting into a traffic stop confrontation. When it comes to everyday conceal carriers though, the chances you will be in a life or death situation are incredibly rare to the point where you probably won't ever find yourself in a situation where you need a backup gun. If you find yourself in a spot where you want to carry a backup gun, my best advice is to grab something with a ton of aftermarket support.

What do you guys think about carrying a backup gun? Is it a good option or overkill for someone who is a concealed carrier? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. If you have questions about backup guns or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you in the next edition of Concealed Carry Corner.

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