Personal weapons and duplicates

[kamagong]

They don't have to be exact duplicates per se, but how many of you guys have backups for your personal weapons? I don't have many firearms, but I have a wish list about a mile long. Before I start on the "wants" I thought it would be a good idea to get the "need" guns first. A .22lr pistol and rifle for training purposes. And backups for my primary weapons, the AR and 1911. The backups aren't twins of the primaries, but because they are the same platforms they have the same manuals of arms. I know the chances of me ever needing to resort to using one of the backups is close to nil, but I like the comfort of having them.

And because I know threads are always better with pictures, here's a picture of my gear with the obligatory khukuri content.

Please share pictures of your setups.

- Christian

 

[Cpl Punishment]

Yes, I have backups (no real pics, though).

I decided to do away with the "collection" paradigm, and pick out what I really had a use for and to get copies. Rather than have a bunch of items, just a few done up the way I really wanted, and an identical spare.

 

[mobileninja]

I keep a pistol and a carbine that use the same ammo. I consider the two backups for each other although they are far from dupes. I also keep a 22lr pistol and semi auto rifle for practice, plinking and for the ladies in my life to use and practice with. You can say those act as backups for each other since they too share the same ammo. The sharing of the ammo between multiple firearms is a preference as is the caliber I chose since it is very easy to find and is cheap. In my view, just necessities. I'd take pictures but it would make my wife uneasy if I pull out the firearms and start taking pictures of them in the middle of the night. I also keep an unused vg10 folder as backup to my normal day to day pocket knife.

Now khuks on the other hand...

I have several khuks so they all backup each other although I prefer the YCS which I do have two of now. This is a fun topic. It would go along well with go bags and what khuks we keep sleeping in them till they are ready to be used.

 

[Howard Wallace]

Remember the videos of the tsunami in Japan? If a guy with all sorts of weapons and backups escaped death in the water he is likely to have lost everything he owned.

Possessions and backup possessions have to take a backseat to flexibility in the face of changing circumstances.

 

[kamagong]

I decided to do away with the "collection" paradigm, and pick out what I really had a use for and to get copies. Rather than have a bunch of items, just a few done up the way I really wanted, and an identical spare.

I don't really collect either. I've found that I enjoy most those things that I actually use.

Remember the videos of the tsunami in Japan? If a guy with all sorts of weapons and backups escaped death in the water he is likely to have lost everything he owned.

Possessions and backup possessions have to take a backseat to flexibility in the face of changing circumstances.

Thanks for pointing that out. Things should make life easier, not weigh us down (either literally or figuratively).

Still, I think it's always better to have options. I can always choose to leave things behind, but I'd hate to need something and not have it.

- Christian

 

[mobileninja]

Remember the videos of the tsunami in Japan? If a guy with all sorts of weapons and backups escaped death in the water he is likely to have lost everything he owned.

Possessions and backup possessions have to take a backseat to flexibility in the face of changing circumstances.

I 100% agree with your comment. The very worst can happen and has for many around the world. If faced with a situation like japan's earthquakes and tsunami no possession regardless of how useful, important or sentimental would outweigh the need to ensure my family is safe and out of harms way. Any decisions made based on having backups of weapons or even go bags would be purely situational and not meant as an end all solution to any unfortunate circumstance. Although if the situation does occur where any preparations are made use of, score one for the pre-planning . I get your point though. Thank you for the perspective.

 

[Cpl Punishment]

Remember the videos of the tsunami in Japan? If a guy with all sorts of weapons and backups escaped death in the water he is likely to have lost everything he owned.

Possessions and backup possessions have to take a backseat to flexibility in the face of changing circumstances.

To make counterpoint:

It's not about having a collection to carry, it's about skill, practice and having something proven, yet near new to start something off with. Since we are discussing weapons, let's just mention rifles. I'm one of those crazy guys who cleans them, puts a case of ammo through it and its associates magazines in a single day (as well as zero the sights). Now, I have one I shoot the hell out of, the other gets shot twice a year and cleaned to confirm zero and do routine maintenance. It's proven, but still relatively new. If it comes to running from something, the new one goes with, the other left behind. I've seen enough emergencies the world over, including here, to know the value of having good weapons at the time.

 

[IRON HEAD]

I have a handgun/shotgun combo but no back ups, yet. I have a fondness for a bowie/khukuri combo and I have back ups.