Need Advice on "Least Threatening" Gun

Status
Not open for further replies.
My husband has an old model Ruger Bearcat and it is pretty. The new ones are nice too!

My Ruger Bisley in 22LR, my Ruger Super Single Six and my Ruger Blackhawk in 45Colt are BEAUTIFUL. Grin. Mine are new model ones and bought from May 1998 and on.

Catherine
 
1. Trust me, I'm not pleased that I'm having to resort to trying not to scare the woman who may be in a position to help me. That said, I'd rather win a small battle than lose a larger one. My concern at the moment is my own safety. Perhaps in a year or two I can go to her and say "See? I haven't had the gun go off negligently and I haven't pulled it one someone because I disagreed with them. Please consider this when you consider future requests."

2. Small is non-threatening, but I feel like too-small guns bring to mind cardsharks from old Westerns who have derringers tucked away. I'm looking for something that says "upright citizen" but which I can reasonably say won't be seen by other students and cause a distraction.

I do appreciate all the suggestions and thoughts so far.
 
Tribal said:
What I'd like to do is talk with her and request an exception; I'm prepared to try and "bargain" down to something like Condition Three Only or even "must be carried with magazine separate." I know that's not ideal, but it's better than nothing and I doubt I can get everything I want. I intend to show her what I'll have. What I'd like to know is your opinion on the "least threatening" handgun, as in one which is small but says "responsible gun owner." I was thinking something like a Beretta Cheetah, but I'd like to know what others think. It's crucial that I win her over on this, as legal challenges to the university's policy would take too long and I have good reason to believe that I would be "academically disciplined" if I were to be found carrying without permission.
Click to expand...

Interesting approach, let us know how it goes.
 
What about one of those P7's in your Sig line? Small, without screaming "Saturday Night Special", no "scary cocked hammers", plus it's a really nice pistol.
 
Is there any chance that she'll give you fairly broad permission? You know, show her one pistol, carry another. Or do you think she's likely to write in make, model, and serial number?
 
Non threatening fire arm is an oxymoron in my opinion, yet caliber may determine this. Also, there are non lethal rounds. I vote for a revolver, S&W airweights have been mentioned, nothing larger than a .38.
If you want an auto, maybe a Seacamp, or NAA in .380.
 
Revolvers are the most non-threatening, but since you said you had to keep the bullets out of the gun, this might not be an option for you. hmm
maybe a ruger LCP, they are .380 and are made to be self defense weapons. hmm, it doesnt have a wooden grip but i think wood grips make guns look less threatening, but thats my opinion. beretta cheetah pistols look like they are out to cause trouble in my opinion. i like that look, but its probably not what your dean will like. the cheetah is the only one i can think of that will have wood grips though. sorry i couldnt be more help with that. despite my objection to the somewhat aggressive look of the cheetah, i cant think of anything else that might fit the bill. take a look at some rugers, the beretta cheetah, some of the Kahr arms small handguns, and maybe the walther ppk because i never thought those were threatening looking.
hope i helped some...
 
Anything made by Jennings or Lorcin, cuz there's probably less than a 50/50 chance that it'll actually fire when the trigger is pulled.
 
Well, in the modern anti-gun perception of firearms, black = evil. Heck, now that I think of it, that's not even modern firearms perception. Black = evil goes all the way back to silent westerns. Get a stainless weapon.

Also, semi-auto = military to the anti-gun. Get a revolver.

Long barrel revolver = Dirty Harry 'blow your head clean off' weapon. I'd say a 2" barrel would be ideal, but no longer than a 4" in any circumstance. The 2" barrel ones would be easier to conceal, but if your impression was that it would strike them too much as a 'card shark holdout pistol', the 4" would be fine.

Magnum = Dirty Harry 'blow your head clean off' weapon also. Do not show any weapon that has 'magnum' printed on the side off the barrel, not even .22 magnum. .38spl would be my choice to give a good impression.

Smith & Wesson also has the Dirty Harry image attached to it. Taurus might be a better choice.

Do not have it engraved, decorated, or any way cosmetically modified. 'Bling' has certain connotations that would not help your cause any. Keep it simple and professional looking.



After a while, you can consider upgrading to an auto (if you prefer one! If you're comfortable with the revolver, by all means continue with it) once the Dean has gotten used to the fact you carry. A good argument to use is that 'you've become uncomfortable with how the revolver doesn't have a safety'.
 
least threatening? how about a cap gun or an airsoft? Ok Just kidding.

I might try a j-frame size in 32 or 38 spl
 
The revolver suggestions are good, and in many cases they'd be much less threatening than an autoloader.

However, when I talked to the dean before, the term "Wild West" came up at one point. For that reason, I'm avoiding revolvers.

The P7 might be a good idea except that it's black and, therefore, evil. Stainless (or matte chromed) with wood grips seems like the best idea. Small-but-not-too-small is another factor. I'd also like to have an external safety (and something like a magazine disconnect would be good, too). The PPK would be a good choice, but I don't want her to associate it with James Bond. I think I'm down to a stainless Cheetah or a chromed P232, but I could easily be missing something.

Negotiating from a position of weakness is never good, but she seems reasonable and she told me that in college she went shooting with her ROTC friends once (and claims to have shot a machine gun). I don't think she'd limit me to a specific gun so much as a specific method of carry, but I'm willing to initially trade anything necessary to be permitted to have both a gun and ammunition. Once my foot's in the door and she can see that guns can be carried responsibly, maybe I can press for more.

Please keep any suggestions and thoughts coming, whether on type of gun, how to present things, and so on. If this doesn't work my next thought is to talk to the university president: he's not authorized to allow exceptions to the Code of Conduct, but he is the one who decides whether, and how strictly, violators are disciplined. If I can get him to agree that no sanctions will occur, that's another step in the right direction.
 
Most human beings tend to fear things they don't understand and hate the things they fear.

This person is obviously intelligent. That is a huge plus. They are also willing to learn as is demonstrated by their profession.

Consider a compact 1911. Few handguns have more 'good guy' history associated with them and a little history lesson might go a long way to fostering understanding. A quick field strip to explain the mechanics, while mentioning that the safties on the pistol were dictated by the US Army so relatively inexperienced people could be taught to handle and use them in a safe manor. You might even mention that the US Calvary (way back when) even had a say in the final design of the gun, as they didn't want it to inadvertently discharge when carried by a rider on a disturbed horse. The relatively low muzzle velocity (compared to an 'assault rifle' or a 9mm) could be a plus as well.

Many law enforcement agencies use the 1911 in 45 acp. Mentioning the availability of LE ammo (allegedly safer because of the reduced chance of over penetration) might also be a plus.

Familiarity doesn't breed contempt in this case. I work with some 'antis', yet they are familiar with the 1911 because of its historical impact in the 20th century. The good guys carried it to defeat the bad guys and it helped to keep us free. The 'antis' I know, seem to see the 1911 as more a historical piece than a deadly weapon, and that's fine with me (I carry a Kimber Ultra and it doesn't make them nervous).

Above all, do not underestimate this person's intelligence and their ability to learn. Demonstrating that you not only know your weapon but the history and intent of design, takes out of the 'nut' category and places you in the 'expert' category. This can go a long way to fostering confidence and trust.

Remember, you aren't looking for permission. You are seeking this person's confidence and trust. If you can gain those things, permission will follow as a matter of course.

Bill.
 
Last edited:
What I think I'd really do in this situation, is show the Dean a firearm you're already comfortable with carrying to see what she thinks. Talk with her about that firearm first, rather than buying something first and showing that later.

The P7 is black, but it's also not commonly seen on TV or movies anymore, so it doesn't have much of a reputation for its appearance, and the short barrel compared to long grip makes it look less menacing than a full size 1911, for instance (the ratio of the barrel length to the length of the grip is actually important on the intimidation factor).

If this Dean is intelligent and willing to listen, you should explain why you chose the P7, for instance (how its squeeze cock mechanism improves its safety, etc. Make it clear to her how you personally approach firearms and self defense as a personal responsibility. And if she still objects to the weapon's appearance AFTERWARDS, then you should ask her what she thinks might be more appropriate.
 
I'd no sweat the 'wild west' comment, unless you plan on wearing a 10 gallon hat and spurs to accentuate the point.

I'd stay away from any revolver using the term magnum as well. I'd also stay away from a snubnose, even the highest quality snubnose still says 'saturday night special' to many folks. 3 inch or 4 inch seems to be the best. Get to 5 and 6 and it starts looking dirty harry.
 
The Sig P232 looks really nice and is reasonably small. Same with the Walther PPK. The Bersa .380 is in the same category. If you get the Nickel one, it doesn't look threatening at all.
 
GEE WIZ with all this restriction and road blocks why not just pick up the next guns buyers guide and take it in and ask what you can cary?
 
S&W bankers special; factory engraved, nickled, pearl or Ivory grips; Custom tooled leather. Wear the cowboy boots to match; Colt 1903 in .32 0r .380 with similar treatment? Browning Baby?
BBQ guns tend to be deceiving in that they merely appear to be ornamental. Until you take a good look at the owners; maybe she won't...
Make it a historical piece or an heirloom...
Civil war vintage Colt Navy?
Cheers, TF
 
Tribal said:
The revolver suggestions are good, and in many cases they'd be much less threatening than an autoloader.

However, when I talked to the dean before, the term "Wild West" came up at one point. For that reason, I'm avoiding revolvers.

The P7 might be a good idea except that it's black and, therefore, evil. Stainless (or matte chromed) with wood grips seems like the best idea. Small-but-not-too-small is another factor. I'd also like to have an external safety (and something like a magazine disconnect would be good, too). The PPK would be a good choice, but I don't want her to associate it with James Bond. I think I'm down to a stainless Cheetah or a chromed P232, but I could easily be missing something.
Click to expand...

The more you talk, the more it sounds like you're overanalyzing. Have you ever NOT been a gun owner, or have you ever been anti-gun? Anti-gun people don’t associated certain guns with James Bond and then say all other handguns are good. They hate all guns. Also, anti-gun people readily apply the “Wild West” concept to any gun out there, from an M16 to a Glock.

Your main goal should be to make her feel as safe as you can at all times. A revolver with the cylinder removed seems to be the best approach. Allow her to hold the gun or the cylinder, but not both at the same time. There will be no awkwardness from having to stop her from attaching the cylinder. Meanwhile, if you do that, you won't have to worry about anybody else's safety (e.g., you or others getting swept by a newbie.)

By the way, revolvers do have speed loaders available. With practice, loading a revolver can be almost as fast as loading a semi-auto.
 
Last edited:
Originally posted by Tribal:
However, when I talked to the dean before, the term "Wild West" came up at one point. For that reason, I'm avoiding revolvers.
Click to expand...

Mmm...mreh. Depends on the revolver. Some of them, maybe, but not all by any stretch.

The PPK would be a good choice, but I don't want her to associate it with James Bond. I think I'm down to a stainless Cheetah or a chromed P232, but I could easily be missing something.
Click to expand...

I don't think many non-gunnies/Bond fans are going to be able to look at a firearm and ID it as a Bond gun, IMHO.

Negotiating from a position of weakness is never good, but she seems reasonable and she told me that in college she went shooting with her ROTC friends once (and claims to have shot a machine gun). I don't think she'd limit me to a specific gun so much as a specific method of carry, but I'm willing to initially trade anything necessary to be permitted to have both a gun and ammunition. Once my foot's in the door and she can see that guns can be carried responsibly, maybe I can press for more.
Click to expand...

Even the fact that she's considering this option says something positive. Don't be *too* willing to trade off immediately. I think you're probably overthinking the gun choice. RX-178 had some decent suggestions. I'd just say to bring in whatever you feel most comfortable with handling & explaining to her. Additional safety features are always a plus, too.
 
I am going to give some iconoclastic advice here, and I hope you take it.

What you need to do is SELL the idea to her. Your mindset, determination, and--dare I say--dominance are important here.

Watch this video clip for inspiration, and I am not kidding (contains profanity):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-AXTx4PcKI&feature=related

I don't mean to say that you shouldn't memorize some facts, or be friendly and polite. Those three things are important. I just mean that you have to be determined. Like others have said, you have your "IN." She has practically already said yes!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

D
  • Locked
(IN) Mother threatens burglar with gun
Replies
6
Views
600
Standing Wolf
S
iscareliberalsandlikeit
  • Locked
Need Advice for gun selection for my daughter with disabilities.
2
Replies
30
Views
2K
berettaprofessor
berettaprofessor
chopinbloc
  • Locked
carry for foreigners in israel
Replies
4
Views
652
JJNA
J
K
  • Locked
paralized shooters I need your advice
Replies
21
Views
681
gym
G
klover
  • Locked
  • Poll
Helper stole a gun, need advice
2 3 4 5
Replies
123
Views
7K
Al Thompson
A
Back
Top