What gun should I carry?

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God bless you for putting yourself and the provision for your family over an idiotic company rule. The old saying of "I'd rather be tried by 12, than carried by 6" applies. My most undetectable CCW was a Ruger LCP in a leather Don Hume IWB holster, clipped to the inside of my boot, yes slower to draw, but virtually undetectable.;)

LD
 
Because carrying a 1.5 pound gun is a lot lighter and cheaper than carrying a 200 pound bodyguard.
 
Duble Naught has a good point.

The Freedom Arms or the newer NAA mini revolver might be the way to go.

A guy I know carries his around his neck -reaches through the button up shirt for it- (you didn't specify fast draw).

He uses a light braided cord with a shortened barrel brush hanging from it. Just shoves the muzzle onto the brush so the gun hangs butt down.

He says it has never fallen off yet and that even if it did, the gun would still be in his shirt.

You asked, JT
 
I'd switch from jeans to a serious cargo pant like 24/7 and put whatever you want in the cargo pocket. Its not going to be seen because its not depending on a cover garment not slipping.
 
The cargo pants are a good idea. I wear Duluth Trading Co.'s Fire Hose jeans. They have a warranty where if you wear them out they will replace them. Great pants. They have a cargo option too.
 
I agree with the change to cargo pants, or, you could just buy some used swat pants. I doubt you have fashion police if you can wear jeans.

Your choice of pants is killing any chance of concealment. First lesson in CCW
is to tailor your clothing to the type of carry you want to do.

Your job, should you choose to accept it, is to change your attire to allow for concealing the firearm.

It's not like you have a uniform. I would also get the biggest bottle of pepper spray possible, bear spray in particular, and wear that openly on your belt.

If you persist in making it impossible to CCW by clothing choice, you might consider a mouse gun. A baby Beretta fits in a pouch for a Palm Pilot. This can be clipped inside your waist band. Another choice is the Kahr PM 9.

I have a similar situation with running up and down a basketball floor, in some REALLY dangerous areas. My solution was at first to trust the security, and ask for an escort to the car. In these areas they usually had more police then fans, so it worked.

My assignor put me in places a white guy really shouldn't be, the nicer parts of Oakland. After the last year, I decided they can learn the game from someone else.
My solution was a PM 9, but really, the only gun that isn't going to bob up and down and be visible in Thunderwear is a Beretta, baby beretta.

That said, I'll stay with being in a safer job, and, no gun, or a can of pepper spray.

If it's any comfort, I'm just waiting for a wrongful death situation where the
person dies because they were denied second amendment rights, based on a contract of adhesion. Problem is most people agree to the terms of their employment, and only if it's really a monopoly do I think the lawsuit will work.
 
Ummm..... I realize that looking for a new job in this economy is not the best of ideas, but maybe the question you should be asking is what type of job do I want, and where is that job. If your employer is sending you to terribly dangerous neighborhoods and won't let you protect yourself, they obviously don't really care about your safety. I realize job hunting is not an easy thing though, so don't think I'm criticizing you, because I'm not. I'm asking if you've thought about it.

What about carrying a key chain size can of pepper spray instead. It would be hard to tell what is in your pocket, and you are a lot less likely to get fired if you get caught with it than if you have a gun on you. I know it isn't as good as a gun, but it sounds like a better option for you. Realistically, any gun small enough for you to carry and not get caught is probably just as short of range and just as effective as pepper spray (I'm thinking of like an NAA mini revolver.) And it's way cheap. I just picked up a pocket sized one for a woman friend of mine and it cost me $12.

Just a thought.
 
Only you can make the choice to carry or not.

Putting that aside, you may want to consider the belly band/elastic should holsters that are out there that ride up high on your chest. I'm sure that with a heavy shirt and a smaller auto or revolver, you could conceal it 100%. It places the gun right under your armpit so crawling, rolling, etc isn't a problem, and you don't have people touching or bumping into you there. If you wear shirts with a pocket, you can keep some stuff there so that if someone does bump into you it's obvious the hard object was a pen or light, etc.

Pocket carry seems risky if it has any possibility of falling out, and anything around the ankle or waist is pretty much out in your circumstances.
 
Considering the restrictions/conditions of your job pocket carry sounds like the best idea. Hidden from your anti gun bosses and out of the way while you work. Be sure to use a good pocket holster though.

Some suggestions:

Kahr CM9 or PM9
Diamondback db380
Kahr .380
Taurus TCP

I think that .380 is sort of useless though because 9mms are so tiny these days.
 
As stated, your decision, your job. However I would really consider a NAA mini, or a small pocket pistol, (like micro9, or one of the .380 pocket pistols) but carried in an shoulder holster or similar style under your clothes (can you wear a button shirt? I also saw this "tactical" shirt a while ago that buttoned and looked like a button up but had an access panel in the front that allowed you to reach a shoulder holster.

My $0.02 if you are set on carrying on the job.
 
Another vote for the NAA. A small .38 special is better but if you absolutly can't print or show any sign of carrying a gun when your boss is up close to you then having a micro gun is the way to go.

Their are lots of small micro guns but the NAA single action revolver gives you a lot of fire power and is reliable. Those little Kel Techs can still jam on you.
 
Just want to thank everyone for all their replies. There have been some good ideas here.
Yes, I can and do carry pepper spray which ironically the company provides for protection against dogs. I don't know the exact strength, but was talking with an animal control guy who said mine was stronger than what he was using. If people are anything like dogs, it will work most of the time, but sometimes will be an epic failure.
I will consider the cargo pants. I might get static from management as they want to present a certain image when facing our customers, but worth a try.
I like the idea of a mini in a shoulder holster. I could wear a western style shirt with snaps instead of buttons which would help quick access. I already have a NAA Black Widow and am strongly considering putting a pug grip on it and trying a few of your ideas using it.
Thanks again for all the input. Always helps to have some fresh ideas.:)
 
There have been some great ideas on this thread.

While you have to make the ultimate choice about your own self defense - I personally wouldn't carry anything besides a big claw hammer in your situation - a job dismissal could be devastating to your dependents in this economy. Use your wits to get out of any sticky situations. The worst you are most likely facing is a mugging (I'm not saying it couldn't go tragically wrong...) or very likely tool theft.

I don't carry at work because I work on a federal military installation and it would be a federal felony to even have a handgun in my trunk. I go straight to and from work - no stops through mostly nice areas. If I need to carry or hit the range after work - I park off base, lock it up unloaded in the trunk and hoof it in. Luckily, my building is 100 yrds from the gate. The only risk here is a stolen pistol due to a car theft or break-in - my job isn't lost. Easier to replace a $500 pistol than a job.

Personally, If I made the decision to carry in your situation; I would go J-frame in cargo pants pocket in a pocket holster. Otherwise, a mini "cell phone style" CCW pouch on you jeans belt since your tool belt hangs lower - several holster makers make J-frame or LCP cell phone-case style holsters. Everyone has a cell phone - just don't answer you 'real' cell phone in front of the boss or customers...
 
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The Kahr PM9 is a bit heavy for pocket carry. Any of the Scandium S&W are ideal for throwing in a pocket. Just did that taking the trash out with a 360PD.

BIG difference between 18-20 oz in a pocket and 12.5 loaded.

My Beretta 950 fits in a Palm Pilot belt clip on carrier. Not the easiest to get it out, but I don't really practice much.
 
Are you good with knives ? I'm not :) but I do have a friend who's an ex-ranger and works on utility projects in our lovely downtown Detroit. He carries a large Phillips screw driver with a sharpened tip and swears that he's more deadly with it than most people would be with Crocodile Dandy's style knife. Which makes sense, given how stilettos were the most popular weapon choice of Italian assassins in older times.

Other than that, it's your choice. There's really not a good answer here. The right way to do it would be to work through the union (if you have it) or company management trying to force them to adapt some sort of employee protection policy. How many employees were attacked so far ? If there's a good number, it's liability on their part. Unfortunately, if their employee shoots someone while on job, it's also their liability.
 
That would have that 'back off I'm not worth the trouble' look. Hang a 18" machete from your belt. I sure wouldn't cross you.
 
I've never had one, would like to, but you might try one of the concealment shirts or a belly band holster. Pretty deep concealment and wouldn't interfere with your climbing equipment. Should also keep your guns clean.
 
Machetes, knives, pepper spray, they beat having nothing. But, they aren't much use when someone is pointing a gun at you unless he is within spitting distance.

It's still not a bad idea to consider the defensive use of the tools you use on the job, as those may be what you actually have in your hand and ready if trouble comes your way.
 
A few options for you. If you don't have to wear a company logo, they make cargo type shirts with holster pockets built in. If you are required to wear certain shirts, they make under armor or some such shirts, or kangaroo holsters that fit tight to the body.

Another option is concealment concepts and other types of pocket holsters that have anti print flaps.

Last and least, a mini in 22LR will fit in the watch pocket of any jeans, looks like a bunch of change and is better than nothing. It is also well protected and held tighgly in that pocket. I have a one and one eighth barrel I carry as a bug this way when I cannot carry anything else any other way.

I worked for a rural phone company a long time ago before conceal carry permits existed and everyone carried a knife or two in the boot and a 25acp in their back pocket or on their ankle. Heck one of the good ole boys rigged up a way to carry in his hard hat. It was a mums the word kinda thing but it was quietly sanctioned, by field managers and down.

I too would recommend a jframe if at all possible, but if not a small Keltec, Ruger or similar small auto that is well maintained (break down and relube at least once a week) should serve you well.

Good luck!
 
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