Going back to carrying a BUG

General Firearms Handguns - Revolvers
1

I started carrying a 642 years ago as a BUG on my vest, then stopped. Then carried a G43 on my vest, and again stopped.

Now, I have the itch again, but to try ankle carry this time as I just did not like vest carry.

I am looking at either the LCR or 442.

I found this 442 PC on GB…can this low price for a PC gun be legit?
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/798966205

What ankle carry holsters do you recommend?

2

Ha! That my LGS! They’re legit. They get a lot of good deals and as far as I know all their auctions start at a penny. The owner buys in bulk and then sells cheap(er). They had FN 509s for $380ish just before the holidays

Just wanted to add that I’m in no way affiliated with them. I’ve been buying from them for over a decade. The owner is a good guy, although not really a gun guy, he doesn’t play games or screw people over. During the panics he never raised prices, typically gives good trade in value and fair prices overall

https://m.facebook.com/TannersSportCenter/

3

I agree with Arik…Tanner’s is legit. They are about 45 minutes from me and I have found many great deals there. As far as an ankle holster, I have tried many and now only buy the Galco Ankle Glove.

4

I try pretty hard to always carry a BUG but will admit I often don’t. Just hard some days to strap on the full Batman Belt O’ EDC Crap…

5

Thanks for posting this. I was looking at the same gun somewhere else online, price varies from $379 to $399 every week or two on that site.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

6

The Galco ankle glove is a nice piece.

7

Whatever ankle rig you go with, make sure you spend the extra money and get one with nice padding on the backside. I used to ankle carry for a long time, and it can cause damage to the leg if you don’t get one with the proper padding between your leg and the gun.

8

I used the ankle glove on patrol for a year or so before going inside. The Velcro held up fine, and it never felt like it was going to come loose. The padding was also good, and the whole package is still going strong. Couple things to keep in mind, though:

  • I didn’t have a lot of fights or foot chases in my time wearing it, then I went inside and ultimately got promoted out of the possibility of working the street anymore, so it went relatively untested. I did wear it religiously for 2 years while working inside in a class a uniform; few other carry options work in this regard.
  • I wore it over socks with shoes or low boots most of the time. If you wear boots any higher than ankle height, it might ride funny, or require you to wear it at more of a calf height, which might not be good for access. If you wear it over a boot, you might be pushing the Velcro. If high/ thick boots are a possibility (if like me, you work in snow), then a holster that pairs with your boot via the laces might be a good winter option
  • Consider how the ankle carry method would work in a ground fighting/ defense situation. Maybe or maybe not depending on your training or options. Personally, I’m very comfortable fighting off of my back, and an ankle holster can potentially put the gun closer to my attacker than to my grip. Problem was, there are very few j frame holsters that work with my external vest, so it was ankle or nothing.

Good on you for carrying a BUG.

9

I have always been a fan of the Alessi. It’s expensive, and an investment. But it’s also the one that never gives me any issues.

https://www.alessigunholsters.com/alessi-holsters-ankle-holster-for-smith-wesson-guns/

I carry a 340PD on the left ankle when I wear an ankle gun, but usually have a 342 in the left front pocket as a BUG.

If you decide you want to resell the Alessi, you will almost certainly get your money back on the secondary market. That’s a plus, and an indicator of the quality.

10

What is a BUG please?

11

Back Up Gun

I keep everything above the waist.

12

Ken Null puts out a good one.
http://www.klnullholsters.com/default.htm

13

premium: Alessi
mass produced, good function and value: Desantis Apache

Worn both extensively with an assortment of subcompacts.

14

Been using a Wilderness Renegade for 25+ years. Before being made by Wilderness they were made by a one man shop. The design was so popular that when he retired Wilderness picked it up…and I for one am glad they did.

Only issue I have had to date is that I need to put a piece of tape along the bottom edge of the male side of the Velcro where it rests near or on my boot top to keep it from eating the nylon or soft leather boot tops. Price is right and very comfortable. I have rigs from other companies and I always come back to the Renegade.

https://www.thewilderness.com/ankle-rigs/wilderness-renegade-ankle-holster-for-revolvers-xhd-elastic/

15

I really like the Alessi, but the 3+ month wait time is killing me. If it wasn’t for that, I’d buy one off of your recommendation alone.

I will certainly look into it. Seems to be good reviews on it.

Thanks. I ended up buying it from them!

16

That Wildnerness rig has the right price for me. How is the retention with a revolver without the strap? I am probably in 8-12 chases a year, not a whole lot, but enough to warrant needing solid retention.

Good to know. Again, I really like the Alessi, just dont want to wait til summer to get one.

17

See what Ken Null can do for you time wise, he is one of the old school world class leather artisans just like Lou Alessi was and his ankle rig is the same style as the Alessi.

Do you wear boots on duty? If so check out C. Rusty Sherrick’s Joes 11-7, Rusty first got into custom leather through Ken Null, he makes holsters for LA SIS and makes one of the only leather light bearing holster I’ve seen.

18

And if I could offer one teensy bit of advice?

Try very hard to keep the weight of the pistol under a pound. I remember having a conversation with Chuck Haggard. He said that he was pretty sure some of his knee problems were due to carrying a heavier BUG on his left ankle for years. He switched to an Airweight revolver (14 ounces), and that helped a great deal.

I’ll double-check with him, but that’s how I recall the conversation. And Chuck is definitely someone who’s word on wheelguns I take as gospel.

Hope that helps.

19

I use this one

https://bugbiteholsters.com/the-bugbite-holster/

I know it looks like something from Uncle Mike’s $11 holster on Amazon but it actually works great. Goes on like a sock, then has a zipper on the bottom half and a velcro strap on top. Once it’s on it stays on. Doesn’t twist, sag or come loose and it’s breathable

20

We’re considering a second pistol carrying concealed?

I think for law enforcement this is a serious consideration. They, unlike us, have to be able to close in and handle violent people and arrest them. A back up pistol is good nowadays not for a New York reload, because of the vastly increased capacity of modern guns, but in case their primary gets snatched. Then they may need the backup desperately.

Us ordinary packin’ folk have no reasonable likelihood of that happening. If we have to reach for a back up pistol, we should have carried another magazine.