What improvised weapons are handy at Wal-Mart or your local grocery store?

What the best section of the store to head to?

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The exit. (they have several)

the iron horse said:

So, you're in a store (no firearm),

*something happens (a madman with a gun for example)

What the best section of the store to head to?

What weapons can you improvise in a typical store???

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Depends on where you're at in the store.

But like zespectre said - the exit.

I think the option of escape would be out by the tone of the question.

Lawn and garden, of course. Barring that, head to the butchers and grab knives. In a quickie mart, hot coffee. You can't block hot coffee, but you'd better have the element of suprise because you can dodge it.

Here's the first thing I'd do:

Head to the gun counter,
grab a Remington 710,
remove the stock,
use the glue bedding to make a big man-size fly trap.

the iron horse said:

So, you're in a store (no firearm)

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I can't think of any reason I would be in this situation.

Okay, you want a different answer?

I'd head to the cosmetics or first aid sections. There are more things in those sections that can produce an area effect (burning chemicals and such) than almost anywhere else.

Raid insect spray and a lighter (if you don't fumble it)

dump grease and oil all over the floor

etc. etc.

(hammers, screwdrivers, and such from the hardware section)

(Me, I'm STILL headin' for the exit or exits)

Grocery Store:

Closest Grocery Store I frequent, standing at entrance looking in:

Exits:
-Straight back left and right plus loading area. (3 )
-Left side, in line with head of check out lanes is Pharmacy, with an Exit, and Drive-Thru Window [wanna bet I cannot get out a window? (2)
-Right side, opposite of Pharmacy, Snack Bar, an Exit (1)
Add the entrance and I have 7 Exits.

So I cannot use an Exit.

Meat Dept, Left side, about 1/2 up is Butchers and Edged weapons from knives to cleavers to saws to gimme a part of a side of beef since a Jawbone of an Ass worked, side of beef gotta...

Produce Dept, Right side, toward the back, again Produce Knife and other edged weapons.

Back has Fire Axe, near Extinguishers and alarm pull.
<thinks> Yes off the top of my mind pic 6 other Fire Extinguishers placed in store.

Mops, Brooms, Buckets , pallet jacks, dollies, Stocking carts, Grocery buggies, Rope from overhang displays, 40oz Beer bottles, Wine Bottles, Wire display racks, Bleach in eyes, ...

Hey, I am over 50, but BGs start pulling something, I can move, scoot, crawl, sneak , get behind cover/concealment, run, impede them and make life difficult with knocking over end aisle displays, shoving shopping carts to block and aisle/impede.
Block their butts in and I am liable to start throwing whatever I can into that aisle to make life difficult and give me, and anyone some distance to hit an exit.

If all have is wire potato chip rack, well, run what you brung and hope like hell Lady Luck shows up.

Think, Act, Survive.

Hey, I am over 50, but BGs start pulling something, I can move, scoot, crawl, sneak

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Reminds me of Biker's famous comment about proving an old guy can belly crawl under an ant if the right motivation presents itself <grin>.

run what you brung

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Timeless wisdom, worth repeating.

Remember, you're not maculay culkin, and they're not joe pesci and that other guy I forget his name. You're not taking them down, you're taking you out the door and down the street in the time it takes them to get the cash.

That said, I recall an utterly terrible thread about a man stopping a robbery with frozen (canned?) peas..

Cans make a handy fistload, bottles too. Drop gravy or sauces in breakable containers to hinder a pursuer in your final desperate sprint. If half a potato's good for extracting broken lightbulbs from their sockets, a sack full of 'em is worthy if you've gotta go against a knife. Anything in a plastic bag (produce) when thrown forcibly will at least distract temporarily.

I have to disclaimer and say that if I'm in the grocery store without my gun that means that my gun has been taken from me, or I have been denied it. Thus, hero time goes out the window and I'm just another rat on that sinking ship.

I only shop at Nunchuks'R'Us so I would bust out a pair Bruce Lee style

Everywhere one goes, one should simply read people, places and things.

sports and out doors.

Baseball bat or Machette


anywhere else.
Fire Exstinguisher
anything long, strong and heavy... ( minds outta the gutter guys)

ZeSpectre

Raid insect spray and a lighter (if you don't fumble it)

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That Hotshot wasp & hornet stuff projects almost like foam and is good for about 20 feet I think. I had to use some awhile back and impressed by the stream of (whatever it is) chemicals that it projected.

Brake clean is also good for 15-20 feet. Ever get just ONE prop in your eyes? You are done!

Brake clean is also good for 15-20 feet. Ever get just ONE drop in your eyes? You are done!

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Yeah, let alone if you've ever inhaled some of that stuff... ugh!

first off, head for the hills.

but, if you had to stay and play... find a phone and call the cavalry. then:

don't forget sporting goods. at least at meijer or wally world around here, that's where you'll get any sort of firearms.

i might go for a pellet gun if too hard to get a rifle, whatever.
then there's golf clubs, bats, camping axes, etc.

Exits for me too.

If I can find the master power switch, I'm hitting that on my way out.

Don't think there is time to run around like McGyver and create a personal nuke with 3-4 household materials, the best bet is to skedaddle.

Grab the next fire exinguisher.
It has a rood range, and seeing/breathing sucks if you are on the receiving end.
It also has enough "ammo".

My wife actually had a dream about this very recently. Zombies were attacking while she was in Wal-Mart and there was no guns section. She went to the sporting goods and found an ax with a flashlight mounted on the top. Apparently that worked real well.

I was also talking about this with a guy at the sports store the other day, since CCW isn't allowed in MD. He recommended hair spray. It has alcohol, so it burns like the devil, and you can just tell the cop you were straightening your hair at the time, so reduces the odds of charges.

I honestly can't think of one single place in either a grocery store or in a department store where an improvised weapon isn't potentially nearby except maybe in the dead/clear zones where nothing is within reach. Have you ever really looked at how the clothing racks are assembled? How the grocery store shelves are assembled? Even a bag of powdered sugar can become a defensive tool.

Wasp spray, 20'+ range but for me I'm looking for the egress, If I happen to see one I might pull a fire alram as i go out the door.
It ain't my store, it ain't my stuff and so long as my life or the life of a loved one is not threatend, its gonna be "exit stage left" if possible.

So, you're in a store (no firearm),

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I don't understand that line ... is that even in English?


Seriously though I think one would do best to focus on escape, not combat.

Who would go to Wally world without a gun? Not me. No gun? Sports counter has guns and ammo. But if in a pinch the wal-mart greeter has a smiley face button.

1) Steal button from wal-mart greeter
2)Open up button and expose the pin.
3) perform a front roll and plant with your lead leg
4) Ninja toss the button at the assailant's neck
5) Say "Hiyahhhh!!!" as the pin tears open the assailant's carotid artery
6) Grab a role of paper towels from the on sale rack
7)Use paper towels to protect your new Wal-Mart duds from arterial spray
8)Complete transaction and buy Pepsi and boxer shorts.

Wow, this might be the ultimate mall ninja scenario. Why would you even think about engaging when you are way outgunned?

Given that; the cleaning section, bucket, bleach. Bucket, amonia. Dump both on floor near bad guy, run for the hills while he is dealing with improvised chemical weapon. While running call lawyer on cell phone to prepare for the blitz litigation from all the bystanders and/or their estates, you just gassed.