Today Beretta's Model 92 gets all the attention, but the company has not forgotten its roots and still offers a number of blowback-operated, sub-compact pistols. The .32 ACP Beretta Tomcat is an extremely small concealed carry pistol that some officers use for backup and off-duty carry.
March 21, 2013
Smith & Wesson's M&P9 Shield is a subcompact pistol suitable for "deep cover" carry by undercover and off-duty police officers. The Shield is available in either 9mm or .40 S&W.
July 24, 2012
It's likely that many American shooters have never heard of the Argentine firearms manufacturer Bersa, but I believe that is about to change. And with good reason.
April 19, 2012
While Ruger's LCP proved popular with both civilians and law enforcement officers, there were those who felt that its .380 cartridge was a lower end choice for defensive purposes. To answer this criticism, Ruger developed the Light Compact 9 (LC9).
March 15, 2012
Kahr Arms' CM9 is a no-frills compact pistol. It's not as pretty as some of Kahr's other handguns, but it's a practical, inexpensive, quality gun.
October 10, 2011
While at first the P290 appears to be a downsized version of the company's P250 Modular pistol, it is in fact a completely new and simpler design intended for one purpose alone: concealed carry. Accordingly SIG has reduced its dimensions to what might be considered the barest minimum for the 9mm Parabellum cartridge.
July 14, 2011
Because of the tough economic times most agencies issue only a duty sidearm, and the officer wishing to carry a backup can purchase one from a department-approved list. Let's take a look at some of the characteristics you should look for in a BUG.
October 7, 2010
I am an avowed fan of the revolver in general and short-barreled revolvers in particular. So I was prepared to like the LCR. And I'm happy to tell you it did not disappoint me.
October 7, 2010
As its name indicates, the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380 was designed from the ground up for use by police officers and licensed civilians who needed a small, lightweight, concealable, and easy to use pistol. I believe it would be safe to say that S&W's engineers have delivered just that.
September 16, 2010
Besides its trim dimensions and extreme light weight, the DB380 also boasts a number of other refinements that make it ideal for backup or undercover carry.
June 17, 2010
In addition to being used for backup, the SIG Sauer P238 would be very practical for plainclothes officers who need a "deep cover" weapon or as an off-duty gun.
February 28, 2010
At this year's SHOT Show, Ruger wowed the attendees when it unveiled one of the most radically new handguns that has been seen in decades, the Light Compact Revolver (LCR).
July 31, 2009
The latest Kahr model, the CW9, is an excellent example of a reliable, compact semi-auto, and it makes an excellent backup or off-duty weapon.
October 1, 2006
Life is full of compromises. This has been especially true for those that have faced the perplexing problem of selecting an off-duty, undercover, or backup gun.
June 1, 2006
Last June POLICE magazine published an editorial that asked readers to let us know if their agencies had policies that prohibited officers from carrying backup guns. We promised to contact these agencies and ask the reasons for the policies. Calls were made and the following is our agency-by-agency report.
June 1, 2004
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