Armored trk driver has never shot his gun

[41mag]

I was just chatting with a customer.He's a driver for an armored car service(lg quantities of $$$$$$ in bags).When I asked him if that was a Taurus in his holster he looked suprised.I asked him what caliber.He stammered out 357.O.K.,how do you like it I ask?He says that he's never fired it.I asked how long he's been carrying it?A couple of years.He likes to shoot his Taurus 9mm better-you know,the one that looks like a 45.
He carrys the revolver because"it's safer"his words.He also told me that when he takes his yearly renewal he shoots his 9mm.
I just thought it was kinda odd to carry a gun that he's never shot.Ever.
I almost asked if he carried because he had to,or if he really wanted to.

 

[field70]

Well...He may be in some deep doodoo if he ever finds himself in a position that he HAS to use it.........that's just plum dumb.

 

[Treylis]

Wow.

He's going to need some serious luck if he ever has to draw that sucker. Why does he feel it's "safer"?

 

[Gixerman1000]

People amaze me sometimes, Why in the world would you carry a handgun that you have never shot, especially in a job like that????????

 

[Third_Rail]

This is something I've heard before. In my experience, a lot of cops and guards "play dumb" when asked about their sidearm. Why tell a possible robber/criminal/whatever how good or bad you are with a gun, why tell them even the caliber?

More police than you'd think actually do just this.

It may just be my state, though. MA is pretty weird.

 

[Lone Star]

I hate to say it, but I work in the security field, and have for many years. I've spoken to a number of cops, too. Most really ARE uninterested in guns.

I've watched armored car guards (from where I was doing unrelated security work) and been constantly astounded at how casual they are in surveying their surroundings. It's surprising that more aren't robbed and/or killed.

In Texas, a security officer who carries a state commission to go armed is supposed to be qualified with the weapon he carries. But if one qualifies with an auto, he can carry either revolver or auto. I believe the same applies to citizens qualifying for CCW permits.

In my license renewal classes, I have seldom seen an officer who knew anything about guns until they took their security job. Most come from the lower economic strata, and tend to not read anything they don't have to. All too many today come from cultures in which guns are seen almost exclusively as instruments of crime, including gang violence.

These aren't educated, well-off people who've got a background in recreational shooting. A lot are even just plain bleeping STUPID!

Lone Star

 

[Standing Wolf]

Why in the world would you carry a handgun that you have never shot, especially in a job like that?

Because he's got his application in to be an assistant management trainee at McDonald's.

 

[Treylis]

This is something I've heard before. In my experience, a lot of cops and guards "play dumb" when asked about their sidearm. Why tell a possible robber/criminal/whatever how good or bad you are with a gun, why tell them even the caliber?

Why not tell them that you're a crack shot and quickdraw expert? Wouldn't that serve as a deterrent instead of making it look like you can't handle your gun and effectively defend yourself with it?

 

[Plinkerton]

Why not tell them that you're a crack shot and quickdraw expert? Wouldn't that serve as a deterrent instead of making it look like you can't handle your gun and effectively defend yourself with it?

That makes perfect sense to me. I think it's a HORRIBLE thing to lie about, if you actually are profficient with your weapon.

Does he want to get robbed, just so he can have the chance for some excitement in his boring job?!

Personally, I would rather not get shot at, at all, than have the "fun" of a little gunfight at work...

 

[VaughnT]

Welcome to my world, hoss. The overwhelming majority of armed workers in any state are completely incompetent with their sidearms and don't care to get better because the company/state doesn't pay for the training.

I have coworkers that literally cannot accurately fire their pistols. I have some that are so bad, they honestly plow the ground ten and fifteen feet in front of the target when we've gone out to plink. And don't even think about drawing fast or engaging multiple targets!

The problem is that you cannot make someone want to learn if it's something they aren't interested in.

Why take a job where you have to carry a gun? Because it's a paycheck. The money isn't great, certainly not better than what you can find in other fields, but it's an easy job to get.

Sometimes I hate my life.

 

[41mag]

Maybe a little background on this guy is in order.I've known him as a customer for about 3-4 years.He's late forties & retired.The proverbial stuffed mattress.He spent about 2 years bumming around & got bored.
So now,for whatever reason,he's an armored car man(don't know if drives or not).
Maybe he's after a thrill.I can't fault him for wanting some excitement but he should be better prepared-thats for sure.

 

[critter]

He's either blowing smoke or retarded! I would not be surprised at the latter.

Several of us were shooting at an indoor range (50' pistol) one night when two of the local city's 'finest' showed up. After watching one of our better pistol shots (a regular competitor in bullseye matches) for a while, one got to ragging the other to 'show his expertise' as he had just come back from the academy where he qualified 'expert' or some such. After much harassment, he finally pulled his revolver, busted off all rounds.

Now our targets were official 50' handgun bullseye targets stapled to huge hanging sheets of cardboard. His BEST shot was about 3' (yes FEET!) from the nearest target (NOT the bullseye)!!!!! He humbly reholstered his 'barny fife gun' WITHOUT reloading and rode off into the night.

SAME CITY: Two local cops had a very drunk guy whoop out his artillery (an old .25 auto) on them one night. BOTH hit the pavement, put BOTH hands on their guns and emptied them on the perp----from 20 feet. Result-ONE grazing wound near the collerbone! One sold his Colt with a 'bent barrel' cause I bought it! CHEAP! First 6 I shot from it at 50' show fire put 5 in the 10-ring and one in the 9 (which was my fault).

No, guys who wear guns for a living DO NOT ALWAYS perform at the expert level with them!

 

[mondocomputerman]

That's horrible!!! And why is it that 90% of the security guards and armored car guards that I see use REVOLVERS?

 

[Plinkerton]

Cause revolvers are pimp, that's why.

 

[Realleycat]

That's horrible!!! And why is it that 90% of the security guards and armored car guards that I see use REVOLVERS?

Nothing wrong with a revolver if it's handled correctly and of the right calibre. It is pretty much fool proof to operate. When I carry, it is usually a 2" Taurus 85 or a Glock 27.

 

[Red_SC]

Welcome to my world, hoss. The overwhelming majority of armed workers in any state are completely incompetent with their sidearms and don't care to get better because the company/state doesn't pay for the training.

It's more than that. I did the armed security thing for about six months, carrying AR15's with ACOG's and Beretta 92's. Our company not only bought the best equipment for us, but provided volunteer practice days. They would bring the guns and ammo, all you had to do was show up. Of around 15 people on my shift, TWO showed up, including me. The training officer had brought a case of ammo and didn't want to take any back, so we got half a case each. And, every year, someone fails to qualify.:banghead: Even when the company will pay for training, most people just don't care unless it's required.

 

[Lone Star]

Revolvers usually cost less than autos, and are more easily handled by the relatively inept.

This is not a slam at revolvers, only at why these people seem to favor them. I usually carry revolvers, myself, but for their good qualities.

Lone Star

 

[Realleycat]

My Brother-in-law was a security guard on an Armored Truck. The furnished gun was a 38 special, that was pretty well beat up. His only qualification was going out in a field and shooting 6 rounds!!!! Pretty scary.

 

[Cold_B]

Lone Star

You are correct. When taking the Texas CHL course, if you take the shooting test with a revolver, you are restricted to just being able to carry a revolver, but if you take the shooting test with a semi-automatic, you can legally carry either type of hangun.

 

[Iggy]

A blast from the past

I went to work for a City PD about 40 years ago.

We had to buy our own sidearms.
Our firearms training consisted of firing 12 rounds at the city dump.

I was working the desk on the midnite shift one night and one of the old timers came in.. I was cleaning my revolver and he asked if I wanted to clean his..

I had to drive the bullets out of the cylinder. I asked when he had fired it.

He said he never had fired it and he joined the PD in 1946.

He had carried and never fired it in 20 years. He had the old style belt slide with 12 extra rounds. They were green and molded into the slide..

Ah for the good ol days!!

 

[Dr.Rob]

I've only known two armored car guys. One carried a nickel plated SW model 10 .38, with drop pouches. The other guy, who usually drove packed a BHP 9mm with adjustable sights in a high-ride holster.

I wouldn't want either one of them shooting at me. These two took their jobs seriously.

 

[Mildot]

I have a nephew that briefly drove for one of the armored car companies. They carried an old blue 4" Smith model 10 that looked like it had been ran over by a truck and their ammo was lead semi wadcutters that looked just as old and corroded. He said they never let them qualify or shoot them and when he asked if he could bring his own gun to carry they said no. He said they had to drop their rounds in a coffee can each night and put the revolvers in a drawer, they wouldn't even let them take them home to clean or shoot them. The next day they would fish the rounds out of the can and reload before their route.

I am glad he gave that line of work up.

Mike

 

[BluesBear]

41mag, you forgot to ask him in which pocket he carries his bullet.
:banghead:

 

[Tom Servo]

I deal with Brinks on a daily basis. Their drivers start at $9.00/hr. You get what you pay for.

At a convenience-store I frequent, someone tried to rob them once. He waited right in front of the store with a .38 snubby, and when the guard rolled the deposit out, the BG walked up behind him casually, put his gun to the back of the guard's head and pulled the trigger. Luck would have it that the barrel lightly brushed the back of the guard's head, and thinking a bug had landed there, the guard swatted at it, and the bullet took him in the shoulder. After a ten-second delay, the other guard in the truck opened fire with his rifle directly in front of a crowded store.

Thankfully, only the BG went down.

They recently switched from revolvers to (I think) S&W 1911s of some sort, but NONE of the guards I've spoken with can tell me exactly what model other than ".45." Yow.

 

[Treylis]

I was working the desk on the midnite shift one night and one of the old timers came in.. I was cleaning my revolver and he asked if I wanted to clean his..

I had to drive the bullets out of the cylinder. I asked when he had fired it.

He said he never had fired it and he joined the PD in 1946.

He had carried and never fired it in 20 years. He had the old style belt slide with 12 extra rounds. They were green and molded into the slide..

Holy cow, he'd never even done yearly or twice-yearly qualification with his weapon?