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Back to the regularly scheduled BUG conversation. In an LEO type situation would you not want something like a J-Frame or even a good fixed blade knife/karambit/punch blade etc. since chances are if you are going for your backup you are very likely in the rolling on the ground kicking the shit out of each other phase of the "gunfight" so wouldn't something less likely to be pushed out of battery make the most sense?

That is definitely part of my thought process in going with a 642 in the left pocket. I also wanted something easily accessible from left left side in case my right had is unavailable or injured.

As Rogue said above, the J-frame has a lot of disadvantages compared to a micro-9 semi-auto when it comes to shooting it. My personal though process behind my choice is that I carry this thing 100% of the time, yet there's maybe a 0.000001% chance that I ever have to use it. It's a gun that I'm stuffing into a pants pocket, and I'm pretty much guaranteed to get into a number of fights or struggles while it's there, without it even coming into play. It would really suck to have a gun go off during one of those situations when you weren't even trying to access it. I just feel a lot safer with a long, heavy DA revolver trigger protected by a good holster in that role that a striker-fired pistol.

I carry a knife at work, but it's a tool for cutting stuff, not a weapon. I have no training in knife fighting and have no expectation that I would prevail in one. Knife fighting is nasty business, usually everybody loses, and I'd much rather have a tool that I can use to create space with and then still employ at a distance if necessary. It's also hard for a bad guy to fish that revolver out of my pocket than it would be to grab a knife from behind my belt.

"Only carry a Bug on duty. Always on my left ankle. Tried inside the vest for a while years ago but didn't work for me. Currently it's a G43 but used to be a J frame of some type."

Personally I preferred my J frame as my back up but they are no longer allowed by my agency.

My rationale and use for the BUG could actually be said for it to be the primary gun. It is for a situation that doesn't quite feel right but can't be avoided. There's no need to antagonize needlessly -yet - by showing or putting my hand on the belt gun. In such cases I would slip my hand into my pocket and grip the gun without appearing threatening or "telegraphing". People instinctively look at faces for visual cues, which is why police have to have "watch their hands" drummed into them. If things do get ugly I already have my hand on the gun. A "little gun to fight my way to the big gun", if you will. Eleven rounds of .380 ACP (Ruger LCP Max) at near-contact distance should do the job.

On the rare occasion big Gun on hip, back up in pocket.

I carry a 229 .40 in a VersaPack, with 37 rounds, and a 938 in the front right pocket with 7 rounds.

I recall Angus Hobdell of CZ mentioning carrying an NAA revolver (22 wmr) as his primary in his front pocket, and a backup on his hip. I tend to do the same but circumstances might determine what is primary and backup.

On duty, I carry a Smith and Wesson M&P metal frame with a TLR-1HL and Aimpoint ACRO P2 in a Safariland duty holster on my belt in the 3:30 position, just slightly behind the midpoint of my hip. Triple magazine pouch front right of the duty belt. BUG is a Smith and Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 in a desantis ankle holster on the inside of my left leg. I wear 6" boots and order my pants an inch long to give them some extra material at the bottom.

In previous years, my duty gun was a P226 paired with either a Bodyguard 1.0 or SIG P238 carried in the same configuration. Both worked well.

There was a year that I qualified to carry my P365 as a BUG. A week after qualification, I got into a LONG foot pursuit through deep snow with a robbery suspect. The p365 was spinning around on my ankle as I ran. That little bit of extra weight really made a BIG difference. Dumped the P365 and went back to the P238 until the BG 2.0 came around a few years later.

My primary is carried in an OWB at 3 o’clock (I’m right handed); when I carry a BUG it’s a Taurus Model 85 in an ankle holster on my left inside ankle. Easier to get to if I have to kneel down or if my strong side arm gets injured. I haven’t carried a BUG in several years, though.

During the pandemic riot in Kenosha, I carried a BUG. It was Scandian J-frame .38 +P pocket.

An unintended benefit of a pocket carry, you can put you hand on it without appearing to be threatening.

As young police officer I usually carried a backup. A J-frame in a quality leather holster. I can't recall where I bought it or who made it, and this was way before the Internet made shopping so easy. The holster was on the inside of my left ankle, and the revolver was so secure that it needed no safety strap. My Model 19 Smith was on my right hip. The BUG was accessible to me with either hand, though a bit slower with my left.

We did a fair amount of shooting with the off hand and qualification required us to shoot with the off hand at either 7 or 15 yards, but I don't recall which-maybe both.

These days I still believe in a BUG and the S&W Bodyguard 2.0 is in my right (sometimes the left) front pocket and a P365 or Glock 43X is at the AIWB position.

Bob