Which guns for 'Back Ups'?

[Biscuit Brown]

Hi all.

We don't have 'back up' guns as such in UK. Mostly, if you're armed, you'll have a Glock and an Mp5, or a Glock on its own, or a Glock and a Taser.
What pistols do you all generally carry? Do you have revolvers, compacts, or try and keep identical calibres to share ammunition? What are the best concealed positions? Do you have to pay for them or does your depy issue you them?
Regards,
John

[Blizzination]

I don't think you'll get too much feedback on locations for backup carry, but I'll comment on the other stuff.

My primary is a .40 Glock 23 with Blackhawk Xiphos light
http://www.planetairsoft.net/archives/Pictures/02-2006-NEWS/xiphos1-sml.jpg

I carry a backup S&W Airweight .38http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson/upload/images/firearms/163050_thumb.jpg

I also carry a Taser X26. http://resistir.info/franca/imagens/taser_x26.jpg

Some departments have standardized weapons, other departments have standardized calibers (only 9mm, or only .40, .45.) other departments don't care, and let you carry whatever you want. My department is the latter.

And then, my other OTHER backup..
http://www.mreguns.com/image/6227207.gif

[Highwaylaw]

Greetings from the Colonies...:)

My dept issues us our 9mm, we have to purchase our own back-up if we wish to carry one. Mine is a Keltec .380. We also are beginning to cary tasers.

[Highwaylaw]

Blizz, nice AR...who do you purchase from?

[BeachFive-0]

Our dept. issues a Glock 23 .40 cal s&w. We are only permitted to carry a bug on certian occasions but when I do, it's a Kahr Arms model P40 also in a .40 cal s&w round. Carries 7+1 and I keep a spare mag for that. It stays on me off duty anytime I leave the house. Also carry the X-26 Taser on the duty belt. Have the max penetration cartridges because I've had some bad luck with the standard probes.

[GA_Sheepdog]

My department authorizes BUGs, but we have to purchase them.

The department issues a Glock model 22 (.40 cal) and two 15 round mags. I am allowed to choose any handgun (up to .45 cal) as a backup so long as I can qualify with it. I carry a Glock 23 as a BUG, with an extra 13 round mag. My logic in choosing the G23 was that, in the event that the G22 goes out of commission, the G23 will accept the magazines from the G22, allowing me to use all three extra mags with the G23.

So, while on duty, I have two handguns, loaded with a total of 40 rounds, and 43 extra rounds of ammo on my person.

Shotgun is in the car as has been deployed in appropriate circumstances.

[Highwaylaw]

My logic in choosing the G23 was that, in the event that the G22 goes out of commission, the G23 will accept the magazines from the G22, allowing me to use all three extra mags with the G23.

Thats an excellent tactical train of thought. I chose the Keltec for its concealability, the 23 while smaller than the issued weapon is still just as broad and didnt suit my main purpose as a bug, which is surprise.
I refer to the Keltec as my Hail Mary gun. If its deployed I've already said one and its do or die. ;)

[Blizzination]

I bought the RRA from one of our county deputies who was getting out of the business...only put maybe..200 rounds through it. It's beaaaautiful!

[ArkLawman]

Issued Glock 17 (9mm) carry a Glock 26 (9mm) as a back up. Also issued a taser and baton. I carry a knife on my weak side also.

[Biscuit Brown]

Nice. How many rounds do you all carry? I don't think we carry enough... and what are your weapon shoots/tests consist of?

[5031OKC]

Our department issues the Glock 22 (full size .40). I carried a Glock 27 (sub-compact .40) in a boot holster. My reason for carrying the 27 is because the mags for the 22 will work in it.

I carry a .40 Smith & Wesson M&P now. If I went back to patrol there's a good chance I would try and buy a sub-compact .40 M&P.

[5031OKC]

Our department issues the Glock 22 (full size .40). I carried a Glock 27 (sub-compact .40) in a boot holster. My reason for carrying the 27 is because the mags for the 22 will work in it.

I carry a .40 Smith & Wesson M&P now. If I went back to patrol there's a good chance I would try and buy a sub-compact .40 M&P.

[5031OKC]

Our department issues the Glock 22 (full size .40). I carried a Glock 27 (sub-compact .40) in a boot holster. My reason for carrying the 27 is because the mags for the 22 will work in it.

I carry a .40 Smith & Wesson M&P now. If I went back to patrol there's a good chance I would try and buy a sub-compact .40 M&P.

[Alex00]

Hi all.

We don't have 'back up' guns as such in UK. Mostly, if you're armed, you'll have a Glock and an Mp5, or a Glock on its own, or a Glock and a Taser.
What pistols do you all generally carry? Do you have revolvers, compacts, or try and keep identical calibres to share ammunition? What are the best concealed positions? Do you have to pay for them or does your depy issue you them?
Regards,
John

Our Department issues us the Sig Sauer P226 in .40 cal, and a Taser. Most are still using the old M26 Taser, but a few of us have the newer X26. We are allowed to carry our personally owned Sig Sauer, as long as it is 9mm, .40 or .45 cal. We are not allowed any other duty weapons. We can carry a Bug as long as we qualify and it is approved. Short answer is any S&W J frame or Sig Sauer compact. The Department issues rifles to Patrol, and no personal rifles are authorized.

Nice. How many rounds do you all carry? I don't think we carry enough... and what are your weapon shoots/tests consist of?

With the P226, I carry 37 rounds of duty ammo, in 3 magazines. Our duty quals are pretty straight forward, 50 rounds from 25 yards on in. The BUG qual is designed around a 5 shot revolver, which is a recent change. We used to qual the same course as our duty weapon which was designed around 6 shots before a mag change. It made quals with a 5 shot difficult, to say the least.

[Biscuit Brown]

Cheers folks. Revolvers? I'm quite surprised. I didn't think any police used revolvers any more.... There are none issued over here, and haven't been for years. Do many forces/officers use them as a duty weapon?

[Blizzination]

I thought I saw a recruiting flyer not too long ago that Riverside Sheriff's still issue revolvers, but give you money to purchase your own semi-auto. Could be wrong...I'm sure one of the RSO Dep's will correct me if so.

I couldn't imagine using a revolver for regular duty carry. They're pretty common as back-ups.

[Alex00]

Biscuit,

To be clear, in my Department, revolvers are only autorized for Back Up Guns. We carry semi-autos for our duty guns.

[Nightshift va]

I carry a J frame as a backup. I want a Kahr MK40 or PM40 for warmer weather as I sold the Kahr I had. I might just sell a couple of safe queens to get the MK40. I just dont like 380acp for some reason and if I could get a semi the same size in a 40sw like Kahr offers it's hard to beat. If i did go with a .380acp I think I'd go with a CZ 83 or Beretta Cheetah so atleast i'd have ten plus rounds.

[Biscuit Brown]

Very interesting! I can't remember the last time i fired a revolver.

And which is the best/most used calibre over there? And can you choose your own brand/type of calibre? Are there restrictions on what civilians have? Can civilians own body armour?

[JKralC104]

.40 M&P duty gun and I have a Smith 642 CrimsonTrace Airweight hammerless and a Sig P232(maybe 239, its a .380) I can carry as backup or off duty. As you can tell the 642 is my baby. The sig is reserved for my girlfriend to tote in most cases

[7th District]

I'm issued a Smith & Wesson Model 640 as a back up. I couldn't be happier with the way it shoots through our course of fire.

http://www.gunshopfinder.com/smithandwesson/model640.jpg

[The Axolotl]

I carry a Glock 23 (.40 cal) for my duty weapon. I carry a Glock 27 (.40 cal) for my backup weapon. Our officer's have to pay for all firearms.

Each shift our officers sign out a Taser X26.

~

[Slave2Midnights]

Do all peace officers in the UK now carry firearms?

[Sgt_Who?]

I carry a Glock 22 (40) and a 27 for off duty/backup. Both weapons are issued lasermax laser sights which our dept purchased in bulk totally out of the blue. The use of a firearm with the same action and caliber for duty and off duty seems like a good idea also.

I have a stainless mini-14 and a standard Remington 870 .12ga. in a mount inside the vehicle. We also have single shot 40mm launchers with bean bag type projectiles. (The bean bag launcher is our version of the Taser because our medical examiner announced that Tasers are not safe!!!)

So whats that 5 weapons? I only have 2 hands so Im hopeful I dont need to utilize this entire arsenal at the same time....

[Biscuit Brown]

Do all peace officers in the UK now carry firearms?

No. About 10% of my force is overtly armed, which is probably the biggest in England.This is mainly CO19 (formerly called SO19 which is tactical), Diplomatic Protection Group, Royalty Protection, SO18 Airports and some squads. All these are Metropolitan Police. The Police Service of Northern Ireland are all routinely armed, and take them home after work, whereas we don't.

[WC145]

The town I work for doesn't issue weapons, I have to buy my own. My primary is a Beretta Mini Cougar 9mm, my BUG is a custom S&W Model 360 in 9mm, and I have 9mm Kel-tec SUB-2000 folding carbine that stays in my gear bag. Off duty I carry either the 360 or a Kahr CW9. Obviously I have all 9's for ammo compatibility, I have to buy that as well although they do reimburse for it. I't just alot easier to only have one caliber. My long guns are a Bushmaster C15M4 and a Mossberg 590A1.