[Blain]

Ahhhh, got to love the slow economy. Just curious, does anyone know any good firearms related jobs that they could recommend for a brother? Things like gunshop work armed guards, etc. Something involving carrying or being around firearms. working at a gunshops would be neat, but most of them can't afford to hire new employees, and who they have is who they plan to keep.

I have heard of some type of sweet job where one was paid to "guard" rich peoples houses. Can't get much nicer than that.

Now that's the type of job I'm looking for. How one obtains a job like that, though, beats the heck out of me. I know a couple of armed security jobs that have open positions (AMSA, Pinkerton, etc) but they are not paying near what I would like to make.


Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

[Bravo11]

Competitive shooter for a major handgun manufacturer.

[Blain]

I see, now how does one get a job like that?

[Correia]

Blain, you have to be very very very very very very very very very good. Rob Leatham has a million dollar contract to shoot for Springfield.

[cratz2]

Yeah... I think it goes something like this.

Pick up a handgun you've never fired in your life, generally point it at a target 15 yards away, empty the gun shooting about 3 times per second.

Go look at the target.

If the shots are in a group larger than 2", resume looking for another 'Average Joe' job cause you ain't cut out for top level competitive shooting. :p

Lots of guys think they would ever have a snowballs chance in hell of shooting like Leatham or Koenig or Miculek... Not likely. These guys can draw and empty their gun accurately into a moving target 10 yards away in about the same time most reasonably-experienced shooters can draw a 1911 and take the safety off.

[Bravo11]

If its like the fishing circuits like BASS.
You start out in small tournaments, paying your own way, and win alot. After a while maybe a big company will see you and give you a contract.
Would be a great job though.

[Matt G]

My dad's old college buddy and fellow local LEO that moved west and made sheriff of his county took to writing firearms write-ups that he submitted to major magazines. He got a few published, and finally got a contract. With that leverage, he moved on to another magazine with more articles, a collumn, and a better contract. He quit sheriff'n' altogether, 'cuz it got in the way of his gunwriting gig. Jim's got a pretty sweet deal, now-- gun manufacturers want him to evaluate their guns and ammo manufacturers want him to evaluate their ammo. Often the best way to do this is to go on guided hunts that are provided for him.

What with the gun shows, conventions, shoots, hunts, and meetings with reps, he's on the road a lot.

Still, it must be a heckuva life. :)

[kalibear45]

Gunsmith?

[Soap]

My personal strategy is to make a truckload of cash and then have fun on the weekends or on vacation time. IMHO if you're unemployed now, you can't be too picky about where you work or how much you make. If you are employed and you just want a career that is gun related, I would suggest contacting the major firearms manufacturers for a position. What area do you specialize in?

[pittspilot]

"Gunsmith?"

He has a point. Good available gunsmiths are hard to find. The ones in my area are backed up for months. I am sure they could take on an apprentice.

[Tommy Gunn]

I have heard of some type of sweet job where one was paid to "guard" rich peoples houses. Can't get much nicer than that.

Those jobs generally go to retired cops.

My advise is to get into college. Join the army national guard to become an armorer.

[M1911]

I have heard of some type of sweet job where one was paid to "guard" rich peoples houses. Can't get much nicer than that. Executive protection is not an easy job. Best way to get in is to get training in executive protection. Some folks get this while serving as a police officer assigned to a protection detail. Others are ex secret-service. Some go to private schools. Some of them seem to hang out here: http://www.tacticalforums.com/ so you might want to ask the question there.

But don't think this is an easy, piece of cake job.

[huaco]

If the industry in which I work doesn't pick up soon I might be looking for a source of income soon too. Over in Louisiana the nutria are destroying the wetlands and the state is paying a bounty of $4/tail and the hunter can sell the hides and meat elsewhere if he can find buyers. I wouldn't mind cruising around plinkin' at those ugly critters for money for awhile. I don't know if most nutria hunters use guns or traps or if it has become territorial yet but it's something I've thought about. Sixty or so a day should cover fuel and bullets and still leave a decent daily income.

[Powderman]

Make me the gun tester at a major firearms company.

Just pay me to shoot YOUR ammo. Please?!?

[rebbryan]

obviously a job in law enforcement, or an hunting guide. you could carry around a pistol for a sidearm and lug rifles out into the field. i'm takin the law enforcement route, it'd be fun to be on the swat team and play with the guns :uhoh:

[OEF_VET]

Executive Protection (EP) isn't always as glamourous as it seems on TV. A lot of times it involves sitting outside in the dead of winter, keeping idiots from bothering your principal. Several of the clients I've worked for were just women who had filed for divorce from abusive husbands and were concerned about their safety. So, you stand in the line of fire in case the old man decides he'd rather kill the wife and himself than lose her and the kids. (Been in that situation, thankfully his friends were able to keep him away.)

The company I work for also does security for a large, gated community that is the residence for several pro athletes (NFL and NBA), retired and current corporate executves, and a supermodel (dang, she's as hot in real life as in the pics). These people have fans (which IS short for FANATICS), stalkers, and paparazzi that you have to keep out of their hair. Especially the supermodel, she has at least two stalkers that the FBI has warned us of. Most of the time, this detail involves stopping people as they enter the community, inquiring as to the nature of their business, and taking the appropriate action.

One plus side of the job is I that last Friday I got to do the security detail for the Jeff Fisher (TN Titans head coach) Charity Softball Game. I was able to meet many of the Titans, Kenny Chesney (nice guy), and several other celebrities.

There are several ways too get into EP work. The most popular and preferred ways are with a LE and/or military background. It is possible to get into without experience, but you'll generally not end up working many of the choicest gigs.

Frank

[Lone_Gunman]

The best firearms related job is probably to study really hard in college, go into a career where you will make good money, then take your money and spend it on your hobby.... shooting.

I've been poor, and I've been, well, not quite so poor... Seems like I have cooler toys now

[Ladybug]

Join the army?

[chaim]

You want a gun related job and you don't want to be poor? I don't think there are that many options

Gunshops? Seem to pay minimum wage usually.

Security? Unless you are ex-military or a cop it seems you usually have to start in unarmed security (lets see, you are looking for trouble, wearing some kind of uniform and if you are lucky you are carrying a flashlight and pepper spray- no thank you). You may be able to get armored car guard without experience but that seems to be pretty backbreaking work, and not a lot of money. It also seems that most of these jobs don't pay that well (maybe low $20s with some experience).

Military? How old are you? What is your physical condition? Most aren't much different from civilian jobs, though you may get to qualify w/ a pistol and/or rifle once in a while and occasionally go out and play w/ one. Or you can go MP, infantry, armorer, etc to deal w/ guns more often. Money? With a college degree (and if you are young enough) you can become an officer and money isn't bad. Enlisted, you don't make much but many of the benefits can make up for that (GI bill, if you have student loans already sign up for 3 or 4 years and the Army will pay $60K of your loans, VA loans, etc). You could also use this background to get better paying jobs and better jobs generally in security.

Become a gunsmith. Well, there are few good ones, but there are tons of smiths out there. Once you take the training courses you will need to build a reputation and that may take a while. Most smiths seem to do it on the side, and there is a reason for that.

Work for a gunmaker. Well, they are companies with the needs of any other company. So you can do marketing, sales, PR, accounting, etc. for a gunmaker and at least be in the industry. But will you really have any more contact with guns than if you did the same thing for Ford?

For a comfortable paycheck, and living and working around firearms directly the best option I see is police work. Around here starting salary for most localities is upper $30s and even $40K+. With some experience you can do various specialties that may make the job more interesting or give you even more guns to use (SWAT for instance). With a degree and experience you may even be inclined to go into federal work (Secret Service, FBI) which really does seem to pay pretty well. You could also go into various security jobs on the side or after leaving and do it in a better job and for more money than most others going into security.

[chaim]

Almost forgot one more job that could involve a gun:

Late night shift at a convenience store or gas station. While pay may only be $9-10/hr you will almost certainly need to carry a gun at work. Similarly, for a little more money but a similar situation you could do pizza delivery after dark.
:evil:
:neener:

[Ryder]

I used to shoot Nutria when I was a youngster. Never got more than two of them before the rest of the herd would stampede into the brush. :D

Traps might work if you can figure out a good bait, but that's time consuming and somewhat expensive.

Maybe some train some ferrocious fetching dogs? That'd probably involve the least amount of sweat. You might even be able to cook the nutria as dog food (cause lord knows I wouldn't be eating any).

I haven't shot one in 30 years and I can still smell them :barf: Can't imagine what a large pile of those stinking critters would be like to have laying around. :barf: :barf:

[Ed Ely]

How about Fish and Wildlife Resources Management.
Game Warden in most areas. Around here, they carry
side arms, are trained to do so, have arrest powers
(even traffic citations), good vehicle, pretty good pay and
nearly come and go as they please. Of course they have
the uniform and badge.

[VaughnT]

Armored Car work is definitely a good way to go. I've been doing it for four years and love going to work in the morning. Pay is what you make of it and some regions pay better than others, though this is usually because there is a higher risk and/or unions.

Honestly, the work is physical but I'm 350#, mostly blubber, and I can jump the heaviest route in good time. You just have to have the right mindset.

The biggest plus is that jobs are relatively easy to come by and it gives you an excuse to buy that new gun or whatever. Shooting is your hobby now, but when you have to carry for your safety on the job, it becomes "work-related".

Need an AR15? No, you don't use them at work, but you might one day if crime gets bad.

Need a customized revolver? No, but you might decide to switch over to a revolver in the future...for reliablity's sake.

Need a .22 pistol? You can't carry that at work, but it helps with trigger control and sight picture development.

It's amazing what you can justify when your job and maybe even your life will depend on it. :D

[Mastrogiacomo]

There are none -- no jobs anywhere, armed or unarmed. Trust me, I've been looking. Why do think I'm trying to move?:fire: :banghead:

[Ed Ely]

someplace that matches your skills.

Here are a few sites to begin with:

http://www.bostonjobs.com/index.cfm
http://bostonworks.boston.com/
http://www.bostonsearch.com/
http://seeker.dice.com/seeker.epl?rel_code=35&op=1
http://www.bostonhire.com/
http://boston.preferredjobs.com/
http://boston.employmentguide.com/site/index.html

http://www.massachusetts-job.com/
http://www.jobsinma.com/home/home.asp
http://www.careers.org/reg/crusa-ma.html
http://www.massachusetts.localopenings.com/
http://www.jobsbystate.info/sma.shtml
http://www.allmassjobs.com/jobs.htm
http://www.employmentspot.com/state/ma.htm
http://www.massjwj.net/
http://www.massachusetts.jobs-employment.net/

Hope this helps some.

[Powderman]

There are none -- no jobs anywhere, armed or unarmed. Trust me, I've been looking. Why do think I'm trying to move?

If you can, come on out West. The State of Washington awaits you, and there are jobs out here.

[Black_Talon]

If you can, come on out West. The State of Washington awaits you, and there are jobs out here.

What kind of jobs?

I was just reading an article yesterday that said that Washington State has the 6th highest unemployment rate in the nation. All the Boeing and Dotcom folks pounding the pavement looking for jobs.

[M1911]

There are none -- no jobs anywhere, armed or unarmed. Trust me, I've been looking. Why do think I'm trying to move?Now that's just nonsense. I'm in Boston. Is the job market bad? Yes. But there are jobs. Maybe not great jobs. But there are jobs. If you want a job, you can find one. It might be in the local bagel shop, the pay will suck and there will be no benefits, but you can find a job.

[Ed Ely]

I repost, perhaps the meaning was lost in
the translation. What is posted below does
not require one to even get off their a*s to
find a job.....if they want a job.

someplace that matches your skills.

Here are a few sites to begin with:

http://www.bostonjobs.com/index.cfm
http://bostonworks.boston.com/
http://www.bostonsearch.com/
http://seeker.dice.com/seeker.epl?rel_code=35&op=1
http://www.bostonhire.com/
http://boston.preferredjobs.com/
http://boston.employmentguide.com/site/index.html

http://www.massachusetts-job.com/
http://www.jobsinma.com/home/home.asp
http://www.careers.org/reg/crusa-ma.html
http://www.massachusetts.localopenings.com/
http://www.jobsbystate.info/sma.shtml
http://www.allmassjobs.com/jobs.htm
http://www.employmentspot.com/state/ma.htm
http://www.massjwj.net/
http://www.massachusetts.jobs-employment.net/

Hope this helps some.

[carp killer]

Gunsmith is a good line to get into if you are good at it. My gunsmith is backed up regularly for at least a month. But you will need to buy some expensive tools. Like a lathe, mill, press, and some hand tools.
I always thought I might like to work in a pawn shop or gun store after I retire. I will not need the money and I would get a shot at some cool toy that walks in the door.
Or maybe do the weekend gunshow thing. Set up a table or two and sell Assault Weapons and Hi-cap magazines. You will make money.

[Soap]

I've managed to find 2 jobs for the summer "break". I work as a banker full time and for a Wall Street based investment firm (in the Indy office though of course). Find out what you do well, what you're qualified for, what you have experience in, and seek thyself a job. If anyone REALLY needs help finding one, PM me. I can probably give some tips on some of the most recent job finding skills that I have learned in class.

[El Tejon]

Or, you can do what this country is alleged to be about--MAKE YOUR OWN JOB!!!:D

You just have to share it with the Welfare State.:fire:

[Combat-wombat]

Well, you wouldn't be actually shooting or handling guns, but you can get a job with the NRA.
NRA Careers (http://www.mynra.org/frame.cfm?url=http://www.nrahq.org/careers/default.asp)
Check out the openings. They've got some pretty good ones.

[Joe Demko]

Just thought I'd interject that the desire to carry a gun is the worst reason I've ever heard for someone to join LE. If your brother wants to carry a gun, why doesn't he just get a permit and carry one?
Those who already mentioned the best solution is to get education/training, make a lot of money, and spend it on shooting were absolutely right.

[Blain]

Wow! Thanks all for your very helpful and interesting advice! You mention some things that I have never thought of.


"You may be able to get armored car guard without experience but that seems to be pretty backbreaking work, and not a lot of money."


That's what I have been looking at as of late, actually. They claim to start at $9.50 an hour, but I will try to negotiate higher and see where that goes.

M1911 is right, though I don't exactly live "in" Boston, but fairly close to it. I can get a job at a bagel shop, grocery store, or dunkin doughnuts most likely. Which, though they pay minimum wage, may not be a bad idea to do while I look for a better one. Though I don't exactly relish the idea.


.....I still like the idea of executive protection. :D

[M1911]

Blain:

If you really want to get a job at executive protection, you need training. There are a number of reputable schools. Here's a review of some of them:
http://64.177.53.248/ubb/Forum51/HTML/000077.html
The guys who hang out there say that using a gun is a very, very small part of EP.

Don't think you that because you shoot guns as a hobby that you are now qualified to work in executive protection.

M1911

[Tommy Gunn]

My advise is to be an infantryman or armorer in the National Guard.

[CZ-100]

Well, you wouldn't be actually shooting or handling guns, but you can get a job with the NRA.
NRA Careers
Check out the openings. They've got some pretty good ones. Hey they are looking for a President. :D

[chaim]

Well, you wouldn't be actually shooting or handling guns, but you can get a job with the NRA. I'd talk to Mike Irwin about that first. He worked there for a while and could probably let us know how they are to work for.

[Blain]

Don't think you that because you shoot guns as a hobby that you are now qualified to work in executive protection.

But that's what I was thinking! :D :cool: :neener:

[Mike Irwin]

I worked for NRA 10 years ago, for American Rifleman magazine.

Got shoot some, which was very cool.

Simply put, at that time, NRA was a HORRIBLE place to work. Upper management treated the lower level employees like ????, it seemed they did everything possible to kill moral instead of bolster it, and it was felt that La Pierre and the rest of them simply couldn't be trusted.

I haven't talked to anyone there recently.

Hopefully the situation has changed for the better, but I do know that NRA's salaries don't resemble anything even remotely related to a livable wage for the Northern Virginia area.

As I've said before, though, when you work for NRA, you don't do it for the salary. You do it because you believe in the organization and it's goals.

After working their for nearly 4 years, it took me a LONG time before I could believe in the organization again.

[VaughnT]

Blain, Brinks is a very good company to work for as they are very diversified. All of the people that I've met in that company seem like really good folks.

Armored Transport Systems is the second or third largest in the country and does great by me.

Loomis Fargo always seems to be getting robbed, but I don't have a lot of interaction with their people. I would caution, however, that of all the reports we get in our office, the majority of them are of LF trucks being robbed. I don't know why, but AT and Brinks are far behind them in that regard.

The worst outfits seem to be those local outfits that are trying to become big outfits. With little income from their customers, they literally hang on the balance and one lost contract can mean layoffs. Often, they are staffed by retirees and have little in the way of gear and equipment or benefits. I would strongly urge you to steer clear of them.

Pay generally starts you off at $9.50, regardless of the company. There might be some fluctuations, but that's rare. The good news is that you can move up rather quickly. Don't bank on being able to negotiate a higher rate, regardless of your resume. AT policy is simple: All new-hires start out at the bottom grade and move up accordingly. Acquiring various licenses and qualifications, and seniority, will see you earning more....just like any other job.

Frustration is you biggest hurdle to get over. You'll most likely be working with a bunch of Barney Fife's and that can be frustrating. We see a lot of turnover with the younger guys because they wanted/expected it to be more of a SWAT operation with every man a ground-pounding meateater. That's not the reality of it and you need to learn how to simply let it go.

The question isn't how your coworkers make you look, but how you make yourself look. How do you carry yourself? How do you deal with customers? How do you dress? How do you move? How do you shoot? If you're satisfied with the answers to those questions, don't worry about what others might think. You know where you stand and that's all that matters. Believe me, the higher ups will see your performance and demeanor and react accordingly.

[ElToro]

go to college and get an engineering degree and get a job with a manufacturer in R&D, or in physics and get a job with an ammo company... or gunsmithing, all gunsmiths in the bay area are backed up

[Soap]

That's what I have been looking at as of late, actually. They claim to start at $9.50 an hour, but I will try to negotiate higher and see where that goes.

Be careful trying to do that.

[TechBrute]

Be a Marine.

Oh yeah, and the NRA isn't a great place to work, either.

[Hot brass]

L. E. O. Carry a gun, protect the inocent, good pay, career move.