Should You Carry a Backup Gun and Have One at Home?
The popularity of the AR-15 platform for home defense continues to increase, particularly with the inclusion of a .300 AAC Blackout upper.
However, a less widely adopted position in the firearms community is
whether or not you should have a backup gun (BUG) when out of the home.
There are groups within the community who assert that it’s unnecessary.
The thinking goes that there’s not much chance that you’ll ever find
yourself in a position where using one gun will be necessary, much less
have to draw a BUG. On the other side are those who insist that there is
indeed a practical reason to carry backup.
They point out that if you’re going to carry, the point is effective self-defense for you and defense of your loved ones. If that’s a choice you’re going to make, ensuring that your defense strategy comes with a failsafe simply makes sense. Both sides have some valid arguments. And those on both sides generally concede that there are benefits and drawbacks both to carrying a BUG and not doing so. It comes down to your choice but there are certainly some considerations that call help clarify the decision.
Good Reasons to Carry a BUG
Whether carrying openly or concealed, virtually everyone who has that 1911 with a mag-full of hollow point .45 ACP ammo feels a little more secure knowing that they have protection. The problem is, even the venerable 1911 (or whatever your EDC is) isn’t perfect. They’re mechanisms that can fail, run out of ammunition, be dropped, be wrestled away from you, etc. Struggles, particularly of the life and death variety, are virtually guaranteed to be chaotic, meaning there are several variables that could result in your primary weapon being out of commission. This reasoning makes having a BUG a nice failsafe that could bring comfort to many.
Good Reasons to Not Carry a BUG
So, considering the above, why would any responsible gun owner or carrier not wear a BUG with a mag-full of hollow point .380 ACP ammo (or whatever caliber you choose for backup)? Well, there are some practical concerns. An obvious one is price. Handguns aren’t the most expensive things on the planet but they’re not exactly the least expensive either. Unless you have a very good friend who knows of a great deal, you’re looking at a few hundred dollars. There are also comfort issues as wearing firearms can be uncomfortable when sitting, bending over, driving, etc. And if you’re conceal carrying, that’s one more gun to conceal.
Having a BUG at Home
There is less controversy and more consensus, however, on whether someone should have a BUG at home. The conclusion that’s generally reached is that while carrying a long gun around as your primary carry day to day is virtually never feasible—unless you have a very exciting job—that’s not the case at home. In the home is one of the few places where that 1911 can serve as a backup, while an AR-15 chambered for .300 AAC Blackout or a shotgun with slugs or buckshot is often the first choice as a primary. However, as is the case out in the world, a life-and-death confrontation in a home is going to be chaotic, confusing, and unpredictable. So keeping your options open is always a sound strategy.
About Ammunition Depot
Ammunition Depot is widely regarded as the best online source for ammunition, guns, gear, and any shooting accessory you’d need. Whether you’re looking for a gun or the best ammo to feed it, Ammunition Depot has your back. They offer everything from a box of 6.5 Creed moor to 1,000 rounds of top-quality .22 LR ammo, as well as .300 AAC Blackout for sale, bulk .223 5.56 ammo, and just about everything else you’re looking for. The folks at Ammunition Depot are proud to support the Constitution and shooting rights. They also donate to charities for law enforcement and the troops, and promote vet-forward job opportunities in their home state of Florida.
Lock and load with the best arms and ammunition shipped to you super-quick by Ammunition Depot, at Ammunitiondepot.com
They point out that if you’re going to carry, the point is effective self-defense for you and defense of your loved ones. If that’s a choice you’re going to make, ensuring that your defense strategy comes with a failsafe simply makes sense. Both sides have some valid arguments. And those on both sides generally concede that there are benefits and drawbacks both to carrying a BUG and not doing so. It comes down to your choice but there are certainly some considerations that call help clarify the decision.
Good Reasons to Carry a BUG
Whether carrying openly or concealed, virtually everyone who has that 1911 with a mag-full of hollow point .45 ACP ammo feels a little more secure knowing that they have protection. The problem is, even the venerable 1911 (or whatever your EDC is) isn’t perfect. They’re mechanisms that can fail, run out of ammunition, be dropped, be wrestled away from you, etc. Struggles, particularly of the life and death variety, are virtually guaranteed to be chaotic, meaning there are several variables that could result in your primary weapon being out of commission. This reasoning makes having a BUG a nice failsafe that could bring comfort to many.
Good Reasons to Not Carry a BUG
So, considering the above, why would any responsible gun owner or carrier not wear a BUG with a mag-full of hollow point .380 ACP ammo (or whatever caliber you choose for backup)? Well, there are some practical concerns. An obvious one is price. Handguns aren’t the most expensive things on the planet but they’re not exactly the least expensive either. Unless you have a very good friend who knows of a great deal, you’re looking at a few hundred dollars. There are also comfort issues as wearing firearms can be uncomfortable when sitting, bending over, driving, etc. And if you’re conceal carrying, that’s one more gun to conceal.
Having a BUG at Home
There is less controversy and more consensus, however, on whether someone should have a BUG at home. The conclusion that’s generally reached is that while carrying a long gun around as your primary carry day to day is virtually never feasible—unless you have a very exciting job—that’s not the case at home. In the home is one of the few places where that 1911 can serve as a backup, while an AR-15 chambered for .300 AAC Blackout or a shotgun with slugs or buckshot is often the first choice as a primary. However, as is the case out in the world, a life-and-death confrontation in a home is going to be chaotic, confusing, and unpredictable. So keeping your options open is always a sound strategy.
About Ammunition Depot
Ammunition Depot is widely regarded as the best online source for ammunition, guns, gear, and any shooting accessory you’d need. Whether you’re looking for a gun or the best ammo to feed it, Ammunition Depot has your back. They offer everything from a box of 6.5 Creed moor to 1,000 rounds of top-quality .22 LR ammo, as well as .300 AAC Blackout for sale, bulk .223 5.56 ammo, and just about everything else you’re looking for. The folks at Ammunition Depot are proud to support the Constitution and shooting rights. They also donate to charities for law enforcement and the troops, and promote vet-forward job opportunities in their home state of Florida.
Lock and load with the best arms and ammunition shipped to you super-quick by Ammunition Depot, at Ammunitiondepot.com
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