What would you carry? High risk job.

[22-rimfire]

In a store setting, open carry is the way to go. They are faster to deploy generally. Ever wonder why police carry their visible gun in a holster on their belt? Speed... Retention is very good with the right holster.

But I would have a backup tucked somewhere handy.

 

[2wheels]

Open carry is not only letting a perp see your next move,you are allowing him to see your weapon AND disarm you.

Unless your a "quick draw artist" ,and would draw against a draw and loaded weapon POINTED AT YOU or a loved one/employee ?.

With CCW you have the option to leave it be or draw when YOU have the possibility of surprise.

OC takes that away from you.

AND although we all know that all who OC are totally prepared to stop a gun grab ==== that actually is a possibility and one that you might not live to regret.

I am sure that all who OC are high speed ,low drag operators and train at least 3 days a week for hours in weapon retention.

If not,think about taking a class where the instructor takes away your weapon.

Then rethink the OC theory.

IMHO this argument applies more to the lone guy carrying on the street than it does to someone who spends most of their time behind a counter (in most pawn shops I've been to, employees tend to stay behind the counter). If I'm behind a counter, a gun grab attempt just got a lot harder. And what's more, since I'm probably not the only employee in the store, grabbing my gun has only disarmed one of several potential threats.

Every gun store I've ever been to has openly armed employees, and I've never heard of it being a problem. Employees OCing is a very visible deterrent, and as 230therapy noted it may compell many would be robbers to simply try the pawn shop down the street instead of yours.

 

[Samari Jack]

Can the backside of the counter be designed to stop a pistol round? I'd hate to get shot through my own display case.

 

[Big_Irish]

http://www.para-usa.com/new/product_pistol.php?id=69

 

[chieftain]

Which handgun you carry is one issue (The answer is what ever you are trained for and shoot best). The shotguns that should be stashed around the shop and the other handguns stashed around the shop are a tertiary issue. In your situation, one gun is not an adequate answer.

Much more important is how much training do you now have, and have scheduled for? After your training, decide what and where you need your weapons. Practice with them, maintain them, and of course more training.

Good luck.

Fred

 

[FMF Doc]

I am assuming that by no restrictions on clothes that means you can open carry on the belt in plain view. If this is true, then it is an advantage. I would put the biggest shineyest thing you can tolerate carrying around all day and make sure the world sees it. That in its self is a great way to disuade many. And, if you do have to use it, a large gun, so long as you can control it, is usually easier to shoot, more accurate due to its longer sight radius, and often softer in the recoild, from its size. I would go with a 4-5" barrel S&W 686p...7shots of .357Mag...A MAN'S GUN!!!

 

[zorro45]

* X shotgun
*
*
*
*
Sallyport----->
*
*
entry^

if I had a pawnshop, gunshop, etc., I would build a little addition in the back
corner with a view of the door as shown. Reinforced concrete, concrete-filled
cinderblock, maybe some Kevlar panels or even 1/4 steel plate inside. Small 1" thick
polycarbonate window, Sally port. Outside camera on the parking area immediately
in front of the store. If something bad started going down at least one of my guys
could scoot inside and control the situation from a hardened fighting position.
Might be hard to fit it in with the decor though! Nice deterrent effect.

 

[jad0110]

Right now I carry a Glock 32 in 357 sig, loaded with Federal Premium hp's.

If that is the gun you are most capable with, and it is reliable, then go with it.

For me, that means my 4" S&W Model 28. But to each his own.

 

[X-Rap]

I think you are on the right track with your present choice. Don't know your neighborhood but your profession usually deals with folks on the edge of desperation and a good sum of cash.
Take a good look at your store layout, does it offer little cover to an assault and good fields of fire from behind the counter? Arrange your isles and shelves so there are few places to hide and then try to harden up your counters.
I would keep a couple shotguns behind the counter out of sight and maybe use magnetic locks that operate with a garage door style opener.
Your training need not be extensive for defending your particular store just set it up so the scales are overwhelmingly in your favor.
Personally I would expect more than 2 so I wouldn't have anything with less than 15 rds and keep a couple reloads handy. The old cliche of not needing over 5 or 6 rds to get the job done is for the birds.

 

[alaskanativeson]

What would you carry? High risk job.

I say carry Chuck Norris.

Okay, to be more reasonable, carry the largest thing you are comfortable, reliable, and accurate enough with to feel you can trust your life to it. If you're comfortable with the Glock (like I was for almost 15 years until I discovered three of the greatest letters in the world, USP) then by all means, continue. Practice enough that you're beyond comfortable with it. If possible, find training facilities within a reasonable distance and get some formal familiarization and training. As the late Col. Cooper was so fond of saying, mindset is more important. Full Metal Jacket's Gunnery Sgt, Hartman also said it well: "You rifle is only a tool. It is a hard heart that kills."

A note about ammo choice. I'd recommend talking with your local law enforcement agency and finding out if they have a standard issue duty ammo brand. In the unlikely and unfortunate event that you have to use it, some fleabag lawyer may try to paste you as using "deadly, killer, dum-dum,anti-personnel rounds." You can point to the fact that you use the same rounds to defend your life as the police do to protect and serve the public. If you do change ammo for ANY reason, be sure to practice with it enough that you are comfortable with its reliability.

 

[Ben86]

Right now I carry a Glock 32 in 357 sig, loaded with Federal Premium hp's.

That sounds good to me. You might want to also consider some long guns out of sight and a small back up gun in a front pocket holster.

Look into what you can do to create some cover, or other tactical advantages from would be robbers. Don't get too caught up with hardware. Think strategy instead.

 

[wlewisiii]

Whatever I'm used to carrying.

For me, that's a Glock 19 in a shoulder rig.

You? Whatever you want.

Nuff said.

 

[hiram2005]

Glock 17 with a good +P hollow point and an LCP for backup.

 

[scaatylobo]

@ 230Therapy

This mentality is part of the problem. It reflects a failure to plan and consider the situation. In this case, the location is a store that can have any policy and defenses.

Openly carried firearms act as a first line deterrent. Surprise is not necessary in the case of an armed robbery of a store--immediate response is required. The robbers know you're either going to comply or fight. If they can see the guns, they know they'll likely have a fight on their hands. Why bother when they can go to many other stores with anti-rights policies?

If you see the gun, the first action is to move off the line of force toward cover and draw while doing so. This is why training is so important.
:banghead::banghead::banghead:.
SORRY but using your theory that means none would attempt a robbery of an armored car/truck.

That is done often enough to see that OC is not about to stop a determined and dangerous armed perp.

AND if a perp enters your store with others and all are armed and about to take control of the store,OC is not going to help at all.

And as I was being sarcastic as to all who OC having trained in weapon retention = its obvious that all you need do is get close to the OC person and take their weapon.

Using OC as a means to scare off a perp is just plain asking for open confrontation .

 

[Zaydok Allen]

FNP-45 on the hip, and a Remington 870 behind the counter.

 

[gearhead]

I'd carry a Five-seveN with the hottest aftermarket ammo I could get. It will defeat a vest, it has a nice long sight radius, and it will carry 21 (or 31, with an approximately 1.25" extended mag) in a lightweight package.

 

[Geronimo45]

Any full size handgun with a shotgun/AR15 close at hand. I'd go with a Sig 226, as my USP holster hasn't arrived yet.

 

[Psa1m144]

Your glock is a great choice. Just practice practice practice

 

[Ala Dan]

West German SIG-SAUER P220A .45 ACP, stoked with 165 grain COR-BON'S~!

 

[easyrider604]

I'd carry a Glock 22 and a New York Reload of another Glock 22, with an extra mag for each pistol.

 

[Ben86]

I think it's obvious most people would carry their choice defensive firearm. As long as that Glock is working for you there is no need to change that.

 

[heyjoe]

in addition to what you carry, i would carry a BUG in my weak hand side front pocket.

 

[razorback2003]

Glock 32 is a good reliable handgun. A small 380 or 38 snub would be a good one to hide on your person in addition to your Glock.

 

[theicemanmpls]

I say carry Chuck Norris.

Okay, to be more reasonable, carry the largest thing you are comfortable, reliable, and accurate enough with to feel you can trust your life to it. If you're comfortable with the Glock (like I was for almost 15 years until I discovered three of the greatest letters in the world, USP) then by all means, continue. Practice enough that you're beyond comfortable with it. If possible, find training facilities within a reasonable distance and get some formal familiarization and training. As the late Col. Cooper was so fond of saying, mindset is more important. Full Metal Jacket's Gunnery Sgt, Hartman also said it well: "You rifle is only a tool. It is a hard heart that kills."

.

"A note about ammo choice. I'd recommend talking with your local law enforcement agency and finding out if they have a standard issue duty ammo brand. In the unlikely and unfortunate event that you have to use it, some fleabag lawyer may try to paste you as using "deadly, killer, dum-dum,anti-personnel rounds." You can point to the fact that you use the same rounds to defend your life as the police do to protect and serve the public. If you do change ammo for ANY reason, be sure to practice with it enough that you are comfortable with its reliability.

Alaskan,
This has been debated before. It does not matter what ammo you carry in your weapon of choice. If the criteria for use of deadly force has been met, it does not mater what the victim uses to defend himself. Howitzer, tomahawk, bowie knife, or .500 mag loaded with hunting rounds. It does not matter.

Load what ever you want.

The .357 Sig the OP carries more then enough firepower to take down any perps. Using your logic, a perp who is 5' 2" and 120 pounds, the law enforcement rounds would be over kill. Maybe carry two magazines? One for big perps, and one for little perps?

 

[Panzercat]

Glock 18c. Accept no substitutes

But seriously, also consider placing multiple firearms for your access around the store. In back rooms. Etc. Keep your glock, but buy a few hi-points and stash them. I only say this because you as the owner are at a tactical deficit-- You must assume the good will of the people who enter your store until they prove otherwise*. By the time they do so, you may already have a gun in your face and not have the luxury of reaching for your primary sidearm; concealed or otherwise. You may even find yourself quickly disarmed depending on how competent the aggressors are.

In short, have a multi-layered plan. A gun on the hip is great. Maybe you'll outgun the threat when it becomes apparent, maybe you won't even get the chance. Maybe you'll get an opportunity later through a lapse in the aggressor's attention to engage him. Maybe he's vigilant and/or disarmed you. Have a few backups lying around. Stack the deck. You might not be able to get to that single shotgun, but that cheap $150 hipoint around the corner to the supply room he plans on locking you up might be the last opportunity you get.

Paranoia? Heck yeah, but this is the high risk job thread, right? Be paranoid.



*Lets not split hairs here. While he can profile customers, he can't reasonably draw on everybody who walks through the door. The aggressor will more than likely have the initiative in most scenarios that don't involve the owners spidey sense tingling.