What would make a good "shop" gun?

[SuperMagnum]

I recently moved into some industrial shop space for my business. I usually work there late at night when everyone else in the industrial area has gone home, so I feel the need to be armed. I had a big scare tonight, and that has really made me want a dedicated gun for the shop.

The real question is whether I want to carry full time there, or hide a gun somewhere. (shotgun?) I will be doing all kinds of physical work in there, and I don't want something heavy in my pocket, or an expensive gun that will get bashed up.

That makes me think I should just buy a shotgun and hide it somewhere. Problem is, it's a semi-public area, so I'd have to hide it well and/or lock it, and then I don't have quick access. Depending on where it's at when I need it, I might have to run 50' or more to get it.

What would you do? Gun on your person or bigger gun hiding somewhere? And for that matter, what kind of gun and why? (maybe even more than one?) I don't want to spend much more than $300-400.

 

[Sixtigers]

If it were me, I'd go with a stainless steel, smaller .357. Probably a Ruger SP-101 with a 2 5/16" barrel. It's built like a tank and resistant to corrosion. Get a used one that is already scratched up some, and don't worry about adding 'battlescars'--it adds character. It'll quickly become your new best friend on those late nights.

A shotgun is a good choice, but invariably, you're going to end up needing it when it is furthest away from you. I'd go with a firearm on your person.

Good luck in whatever you choose, and remember that practice with your chosen firearm is the KEY!

 

[PAPACHUCK]

Kel-Tec in your pocket.

 

[TAB]

My shop gun is a sig 220.

I normally don't have it on my person, but when I'm there late at night its with in arms length...

Far to many break ins in the area as of late.

 

[06]

I move houses for a living and have gone to a Makarov(always swore that I would never use a 9mm but looky looky) instead of my Warthog in 45. It carries easier, lighter,and I don't mind putting a scratch on it like a $800 gun. Another plus is that it is much less sensitive to dirt/lint accumulation. Once had to remove lint from behind the hammer on the Warthog before it would cock. That is not good.
ETA: carry always, a crook will not expect a working man to have a carry. Trying to get to a shotgun takes time and you may not have that luxury.

 

[mcdonl]

magnum, some others will certainly have more details, but make sure you put as much effort into other security features (Doors, alarms, etc....) as well as soft items such as procedures around locking certain doors, etc... to prevent the worse from happening.

Then, when all that fails you will have the comfort of a gun.

Also, I do not know your experience so I will mention you need to put time aside to get proficient with your weapon, for your sake and the others around you.

Good luck, and congrats on growing your business!

Leroy

 

[Zach S]

The Kimber in the bottom center has been my EDC for a few years, and while it isnt beat to crap, its not a very "nice" pistol either. Nowhere near as nice as the spare above it that says in the safe.

I'm 6ft tall and weigh about 150lbs. With a good belt and holster, the weight isn't a problem. Carried IWB, my EDC Kimber is more comfortable than my beater Glock 19 carried OWB in a blade tech.

A shotgun is a good choice, but invariably, you're going to end up needing it when it is furthest away from you.

True, however a lot of folks feel that handguns are compromise weapons, and one should use a handgun to fight their way to a longarm.

 

[MarineOne]

Have you thought about an ankle holster?

I used to work for my Dad in his garage so I can fully understand your need. We had a few times that a snub nose .38 in an ankle rig was a blessing.

Our garage was on the edge of town, so once in a while we'd get the "overly curious city dwelling ruffian" that came up with the brilliant idea of "garage + tools + pawn shop = easy money" not expecting us to actually be there working late at night, either painting a dozer or swapping the secondary tranny from a John Deere 350 tracked loader.

We had one incident that much to the chagrin of this one individual and his weak bladder, wasn't too happy with the backseat ride of the cruiser that took him to jail or the towing and storage fees of his car once it was impounded.

For added security, the motion sensor lights make great alarms on the cheap. Simply remove the light socket(s) and find a 120VAC horn or other noise maker. Put a light switch in the circuit to turn your "potential customer approaching" device on and off. Worked like a charm for our shop.



Kris

 

[Mp7]

put a makarov with the original flap-holster on your belt, when it´s late.



I´d say any gun on your person will be better than
a glock that´s in a drawer 20fett away when you need it one day.

So .380 pocketguns seem reasonable and light. The Mak would be
the "beater" alternative to that.

Lock the door(s) ...get some cheapo window-contact-alarms
and put them on door. If you exclude all surprises... a SKS with bayonet
extendet on a wallhanger will enuff

 

[BigGuy52]

There's a lot of good advice in the other posts. I would personally go with a snubnose in .38spl + P at the mininum, or even better a .357mag. A ankle holster would seem to be your best choice, it's out of the way, and keeps your movement fluid.

Plus, how about adding some video cameras. You could also put up some warning signs, about video surveliance. Between that and some very bright lights on a motion detector would cause Mr BG to think twice.

 

[woad_yurt]

Kel-Tec in your pocket.

Yup.

 

[DHJenkins]

I'd go with both if you don't want to carry a full-sized SD weapon on your person.

The pocket rocket should buy you enough time to get to your shotgun.

A used 12ga w/ tube extension should fit the bill budget & power-wise, plus there's actually ammo available for it!

 

[CoRoMo]

This very idea occurred to me recently as I've also moved my business to a new location. I carry a P11 daily, everywhere, but the idea of a SG behind my office door, a 1911 in my desk draw, or a mini14 in the bathroom cabinet sounds tempting. It is all negated by the pistol I always have with me, but I can still dream.

 

[eye5600]

In this day and age, I think you should look to technology for deterrence and alarm, e.g. motion detectors, perhaps, that give an audio alarm. Sort of like the way the bell goes "ding" when you walk into a store. It could make all the difference if your gun is a couple steps away.

Just having a light click on when someone approaches the building could be a deterrent.

 

[230RN]

In the box thinking?

I'm seeing everyone thinking that the defensive firearm has to be "on your person" or parked in a corner somewhere. Why can't you keep one in your rollaround tool cart? How about a scabbard for a shotgun mounted to your tool cart? (Or even just a couple of custom-made brackets?)

Or keep a gun in your toolbox in a large, loose, open-ended bag used almost like a holster, so you can reach in and just grab the gun in your toolbox out of its "unconventional" plastic-bag holster. Or even fire right through the bag.

You might even be able to park the plastic-bagged gun right on top of the engine you're working on. I know how "involved" you can get when your head's inside an engine compartment, to the exclusion of everything else --especially if you've got a radio blaring in the shop. (You might not hear an "approach.")

Can you keep a shotgun sitting on the seat of the vehicle you're working on?

Ankle holsters are pretty darned slow, BTW. In experimenting with one, I found it was actually faster to drop my pants to get it than to try to haul up my pants leg. I'm not kidding, as wierd as it sounds, and needless to say, I don't use the ankle rig with some pairs of pants. I try everything once, no matter how ridiculous it may sound. Can you put a velcroed slit in your coveralls leg to access a gun in an ankle rig?

+1 on the "other" protection strategies (motion detectors, etc.), but I know for a fact that in starting/expanding a business, you really have to watch the pennies.

Laugh at me if you will, but OP has a real problem to solve, so let's use some breakaway thinking on this one --like how to handle it if you're on a wheeled cart under the vehicle.

OP's problem really should be looked at as a tactical question rather than a "what gun" question, to my mind.

Terry, 230RN

 

[renegade1alpha]

I agree with BigGuy52 on the choice of gun. A good snubbie .38 with +P's is a good choice. A slim .32, .380 or 9mm is also a good choice. Some people also might disagree with me, but a small .22 auto is an option, as long as you keep it meticulously clean AND you practice with it. I have a friend that carries a Phoenix Arms .22 and he can draw and fire all 10 rounds accurately into a 4" circle so fast that its scary! Shot placement beats a loud noise every time!

I am not, however, a big fan of ankle holsters. If you are not used to wearing one, then they can feel uncomfortable and tend to slide around. I have NEVER found one that fits right. Ankle holsters are also a pain in the ass to draw from depending on the circumstances. If you have enough time to see the threat coming, then yes you can get it out. But if you get jumped, you either have to bend down or lift your leg up. Either one puts you off balance. Also you have to use both hands; one to pull the pant leg out of the way and the other to draw the weapon.

Drawing from the hip area is not only more natural for us, but is also much faster. It also leaves your other hand free to block or defend yourself while you draw your weapon with your strong hand.

I personally carry a Kahr CW9 in a High Noon (http://www.highnoonholsters.com) tuckable IWB holster. It gives me the option to tuck a shirt around it (if I so desire) or to leave my shirt over it. That is what works for me.

Whatever you decide to carry remember practice shooting and especially drawing from the holster A LOT so that it becomes second nature to you. Because when its "time to get hot" you dont want to fumble around like an idiot.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

CZ 52 makes a good cheap office/shop gun. It's a pistol, and thus can be hidden/ locked easily. If it's stolen, you're out all of $160. For a little more firepower & money, a Bersa Thunder 9, fullsized 9x19 pistol. Makarov in this category too.

Yeah, a shotgun would be preferred and is also very very cheap, but you're gonna have to think long and hard about securing it, whether it can be found by public members, and the liability to you and your business if found & misused.

 

[thesolidus]

Ultralight SW titanium revolver in a hip holster.
.38 or .44
They're a pain to shoot but I've shot the 44 and it's okay. Super light weight though. Like wearing a cell phone on your hip. Small enough to draw from multiple positions and enough heat to do the job.

Keep a shotgun with a rail light in the office. Either buy a police model vehicle lock (the hidden pushbutton type) or something similar for instant access but something that prevents a disgruntled employee from getting it.

Don't! leave an unaecured weapon lying out of reach. The delivery guy, the ex-neighbor, the customer fell last month that see it could be the one case-ing you. If they know you have a shotgun at the workbench they and their muscle just have to sneak up when your 50' away or seperate you from it.

 

[Bennyb747]

If you want a true shop gun instead of a carry piece I'd go with a Mossberg 500 Persuader with a pistol grip and an 18" barrel. It's fairly compact, and intimidating as you can get, also it's easy on the wallet at about $250 new.

I used to work in a liquor store and this was my choice "Shop Gun".

 

[vanguard]

Kel-Tec in your pocket.

Agreed, or maybe an LCP. If you carry a lot of heavy things I'd put it in your back pocket in a wallet holster.

 

[Buck Snort]

The motion detector alarm suggestion was spot on and I'd recommend a large dog as well. Anything you can do to keep the situation from getting into a "must shoot" condition has to be a big plus.

 

[jnyork]

I would think a motion detector that makes some of the shop lights blink on and off would be a good investment in a noisy shop, less chance of someone making a sneak on you. I like the idea of the handgun in the rollaround tool chest and a short shotgun stashed somewhere nearby. I have spent plenty of time crawling around in and under vehicles and other machinery and feel a handgun on your person would be a real PITA figuratively and literally.

 

[heviarti]

small hammerless snubby. steel frame. no snag, no crap in the hammer. steel frame so you can stick it in a magnet tray. under the car? jab it in the mag tray. under the hood... jab it in the mag tray. in both cases it wouldn't come from where people expect a gun to come from. wish smith still made a pistol like the safety hammerless... I'd carry mine everywhere but for it's age.

 

[Bradym77]

If somebody wants to do you harm an alarm won't stop them. A dog might, but is it practical at a shop late at night?

I would go with a Kel Tec PF9 in your pocket 7+1 of 9mm that you use to fight your way to your Remington 870 12ga that you have stored elsewhere. If you have a choice (seems like you might), you only use a pistol to fight your way to a long gun!

 

[rogertc1]

A couple inexpensive 12GA Pumps if you have a big shop. Not that expensive..