The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Ulmus on February 26, 2011, 09:40:03 PM
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Are you guys issued your side arms by the company or do you get to pick your own?
If you can pick your own, what did you choose and why?
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I'm not a security guard, nor do I play one on the internet, but in Colorado non-LEO security is restricted to carrying a wheel gun. That may have changed but that is the way it was a couple of years ago.
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No longer a guard, but used to be. The company I worked for issued us .38 Special Smiths.
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When I was unemployed I looked into it in NJ but the pay is really crappy. Talked to two new hires in a gun shop who were shopping for their own carry. They said they needed something with at least 10 rounds- after that they were looking for the cheapest thing they could find. They were looking at old Smith 9s (PD trade ins) I suggested they should think about reliability but don't know what they settled on.
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Interesting thanks. :)
I am thinking of going into the field and just starting to seperate reality from my own personal expectations. The pay for armed security starts arouind what I make right now.
I keep remembering this one unarmed, female security guard walking down Woodward, in Detroit, one night to her job. She was so scared that she asked us to pray for her safety. So I think that all security jobs are like that.
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I'm not a security guard, nor do I play one on the internet, but in Colorado non-LEO security is restricted to carrying a wheel gun. That may have changed but that is the way it was a couple of years ago.
I have a 2nd job as a security officer (in Colorado), the armed security officers that work for the same company carry M&P's & Glocks and a few other brands that each armed guard supplies. I have not seen anyone carry wheel guns, not even the armored car folks. When I got hired they asked me if I wanted to go armed and asked what gun(s) I would carry. I told them I have S&W M&P .45 F/S and M&P 9c, the Co. said they were ok.
I am not armed due to I work for them part time and I am not assigned a permenante location (Co. rules state you must be assigned a permenante location in order to be armed.) A couple of times they have sent me to locations to protect unknown amounts of cash and to protect a person in the ICU at a hospital the Co. felt was in danger from unknown persons wanting to finish him off since they didn't get the job done the first time. When I inquired what I am to do should someone want to complete the job and finish the guy off, I was told to radio the armed security officers a floor below and on the other side of the hospital and they would respond :o to my cries of HELP! As for the $$ situation, I was told I am there to observe and call 911 should something go down (this $$ institution had been held up 3 times prior), I no longer do those assignements because I will be fired for helping the robbers take the $$ and allow the supposed killer access to the person.
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We have a gunshop employee that hangs out here, and I would be interested in hearing his take on this.
I was in his shop and another shop over the last couple months and in both cases overheard people purchasing for this purpose. I won't go into all I heard except to say it had absolutely no parallel to my criteria.
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Most of the armed security folks who I help do not get a stipend for their gun. That being said, there are a few who get some form of reimbursement but they have strings attached (length of employment being one). Most are given a list of guns that are approved for carry but some are just a description of allowed and disallowed features. In general, they are prohibited from carrying a single action only pistol. Some lists rule out guns with any kind of manual safety even ones like Beretta. Also, most smaller pistols with a barrel length of 3 inches or less are not allowed either.
The most commonly purchased firearm for security is a used gun - Glock, M&P and Springfield XD or XDM.
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A couple of times they have sent me to locations to protect unknown amounts of cash and to protect a person in the ICU at a hospital the Co. felt was in danger from unknown persons wanting to finish him off since they didn't get the job done the first time. When I inquired what I am to do should someone want to complete the job and finish the guy off, I was told to radio the armed security officers a floor below and on the other side of the hospital and they would respond :o to my cries of HELP! As for the $$ situation, I was told I am there to observe and call 911 should something go down
These situations seem like insanity to me. Call for help or call 911?
Gee thanks boss! How about a prayer begging for restraint on the killers part...
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These situations seem like insanity to me. Call for help or call 911?
Gee thanks boss! How about a prayer begging for restraint on the killers part...
If you think its bad for the guard, think about the poor sob being "protected". At least the guard can run. ???
FQ13
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In Florida with an armed security or PI license you are restricted to a .38spl (or .357 mag with .38spl ammo, get caught with .357 amm and lose your license) or 9mm. I have either/and/or armed security, PI or personal protection specialist licenses in 8 different states and I believe 4 of those have similar restrictions.
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all firearms are issued by the company you work for. The actual client where you are posted will indicate in contract what kind of arms you will be issued. Some states may dictate what is allowed.
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Additionally while some states have limits on handgun caliber or type I don't know of any that restrict long guns. If the client has a need we commonly use AR's, 870's etc. It really depends on the client, if they have enough pull, government contracts etc. they will specify full auto etc. if the need is there.
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many, many moons ago - Ruger P89 - in expensive and went bang every time
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I am employed by a very large, international security firm, under contract as an executive protection officer for a high profile elected official. We are issued S&W Sigma 40VE pistols. We have tried several times, all unsuccessfully, to be allowed to carry our own, but each time the request was denied by the seat polishers, citing "policy." The only exception is when because of a particular assignment or mission, a higher degree of concealability is needed. In those cases, having qualified with it, I carry my own Springfield XD .40 sc.
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I am employed by a very large, international security firm, under contract as an executive protection officer for a high profile elected official. We are issued S&W Sigma 40VE pistols. We have tried several times, all unsuccessfully, to be allowed to carry our own, but each time the request was denied by the seat polishers, citing "policy." The only exception is when because of a particular assignment or mission, a higher degree of concealability is needed. In those cases, having qualified with it, I carry my own Springfield XD .40 sc.
Let me guess, anti gun liberal ? ::)
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Thanks for the great info guys! :)
I didn't know you were limited i to .38 spl or 9mil here in FL. (My wife thought I should use my SAA revolver in .357! :o )
My stepson was nice enough to loan me his 1911. I was hoping to be able to use that.
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It also depends on the company, I worked 6 years as an Armored car guard, I had to supply my own pistol, I carried either my 1911, a Browning HiPower or a S&W Model 19. I had to qualify with all 3 in order to carry.We had guards carrying anything from a Walther PPK .380 to a S&W Model 57 .41 Mag. Most of the "Nationally " Known Armored Companies supplied the side arms but you had to check them out when you got there and turn them in at the end of your shift.
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I am employed by a very large, international security firm, under contract as an executive protection officer for a high profile elected official. We are issued S&W Sigma 40VE pistols. We have tried several times, all unsuccessfully, to be allowed to carry our own, but each time the request was denied by the seat polishers, citing "policy." The only exception is when because of a particular assignment or mission, a higher degree of concealability is needed. In those cases, having qualified with it, I carry my own Springfield XD .40 sc.
Wow, If I were a "high profile elected official" I wouldn't allow my security detail to carry a Sigma. It, arguable, has one of the worst trigger pulls and there is little to nothing that can be done to improve it. People in the shop affectionately call it the "stigma."
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Thanks for the great info guys! :)
I didn't know you were limited i to .38 spl or 9mil here in FL. (My wife thought I should use my SAA revolver in .357! :o )
My stepson was nice enough to loan me his 1911. I was hoping to be able to use that.
Keep in mind you will need to qualify with whatever you plan to carry as well. Unless you're really good with a snubby I'd avoid that. Your best bet would be to buy/borrow a Glock 17. You can find police trade-ins for around $350. Most likely your employer will issue you a weapon when hired. Some, but not many companies will hire you without a license, pay for all your training and classes and issue you a weapon for the classes. My employer does this but you pretty much need to be ex-military or LEO to be considered for hire with them to begin with. Here is the section copied from the state handbook available for download at myflorida.com:
V. FIREARMS
a. Class “G” Statewide Firearm License
A Class “D” Security Officer or Class “M” or “MB” Security
Agency Manager who also possesses a Class “G” Statewide
Firearm License may be armed with a firearm in the course of
his/her duties. While performing duties authorized under this
chapter, the only firearms that may be carried are a .38 caliber
revolver; or a .380 caliber or 9-millimeter semiautomatic pistol;
or a .357 caliber revolver with .38 caliber ammunition only. If an
armed security officer’s duties require a firearm such as a
shotgun, etc., a written waiver must be obtained from the
Division prior to its use. Waivers must be requested by the
licensed agency and will be granted only upon a showing of
sufficient need. Such waivers are valid only for the specific duty,
post or activity, on or for which the request is based.
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I'd buy what ever the company recomends...
If I had my choice, I'd buy a LE turn in 3rd gen smith. You can pick one up for about $350, they are built very stong, are very reliable and actually shoot very well. There only down side is mags are about $50 each. The good news is most le turn ins come with 2 or 3 mags, so you are covered.
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Wow, If I were a "high profile elected official" I wouldn't allow my security detail to carry a Sigma. It, arguable, has one of the worst trigger pulls and there is little to nothing that can be done to improve it. People in the shop affectionately call it the "stigma."
you think the protecteee know or cares about the details - a gun is a gun to most folks
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High profile elected officials only care about their next election.
So can you use +P ammo in 9 or .38 special?
I'm guessing the .380 is used as a BUG?
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During my 3 year tour as a Nuclear Security Officer at the local Nuke power plant, we were issued Berreta 92's (compact version) in 9mm. Start of shift was issued my sidearm, got my long gun from the officer I was relieving at the post and then turned in my sidearm at the end of shift. Basically everything was supplied by the Security Contractor.
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This is all great information. It's also helping me learn what sort of security job are being done. I was truly expecting to be guarding some sort of warehouse or something along those lines.
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During my 3 year tour as a Nuclear Security Officer at the local Nuke power plant, we were issued Berreta 92's (compact version) in 9mm. Start of shift was issued my sidearm, got my long gun from the officer I was relieving at the post and then turned in my sidearm at the end of shift. Basically everything was supplied by the Security Contractor.
Catawba, McGuire or Brunswick?
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In Florida with an armed security or PI license you are restricted to a .38spl (or .357 mag with .38spl ammo, get caught with .357 amm and lose your license) or 9mm. I have either/and/or armed security, PI or personal protection specialist licenses in 8 different states and I believe 4 of those have similar restrictions.
Hmm.....357Mag revolver with .38SPL ammo only.....this looks like a problem a reloader can solve easily.... ;)
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Hmm.....357Mag revolver with .38SPL ammo only.....this looks like a problem a reloader can solve easily.... ;)
Why? there are tons and tons of great comm'l 38 spl loads( and even +p and +p+) no reason what so ever to go with reloads.
thats a legal can of worms, best left unopened.
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Why? there are tons and tons of great comm'l 38 spl loads( and even +p and +p+) no reason what so ever to go with reloads.
thats a legal can of worms, best left unopened.
Exactly, there's no written restrictions on +P so there are plenty of good loads out there. Being someone who's sat through a (civil) court case and who had to testify for a co-worker who shot someone, listening to the plaintiff's (dumb ass who deserved to get shot but sued anyway) attorney try to make a federal case of every one of even the slightest modifications to the pistol "so these night sights are to make it easier for you to attempt to kill someone in the dark, before you can properly identify them?" I would NEVER in any situation use handloads in a self defense or duty weapon. You would spend hours in cross exams trying to explain why you "had to custom engineer a more deadly bullet since you were out to be a more efficient killer and nothing on the market would satisfy your taste for blood". No thanks, I'd rather use a well known factory load that is established within the law enforcement community, even for my personal self defense uses. That's why I always laugh when I see those ads for the DIRT ammo, I don't want to load anything I might have to use with an ammo that advertises itself as a more efficient killer.
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Exactly, there's no written restrictions on +P so there are plenty of good loads out there. Being someone who's sat through a (civil) court case and who had to testify for a co-worker who shot someone, listening to the plaintiff's (dumb ass who deserved to get shot but sued anyway) attorney try to make a federal case of every one of even the slightest modifications to the pistol "so these night sights are to make it easier for you to attempt to kill someone in the dark, before you can properly identify them?" I would NEVER in any situation use handloads in a self defense or duty weapon. You would spend hours in cross exams trying to explain why you "had to custom engineer a more deadly bullet since you were out to be a more efficient killer and nothing on the market would satisfy your taste for blood". No thanks, I'd rather use a well known factory load that is established within the law enforcement community, even for my personal self defense uses. That's why I always laugh when I see those ads for the DIRT ammo, I don't want to load anything I might have to use with an ammo that advertises itself as a more efficient killer.
Well stated, my friend. I might even suggest asking your local constabulary what kind of loads they carry in their duty weapons. If it's good enough for the cops, it's good enough for me.
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Catawba, McGuire or Brunswick?
Shearon Harris (New Hill, NC)
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Shearon Harris (New Hill, NC)
Forgot about that one....never there but visited the other three over my nuke years.
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Let me guess, anti gun liberal ? ::)
Yup. Even has a sign in his office; "GUN FREE ZONE."
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Wow, If I were a "high profile elected official" I wouldn't allow my security detail to carry a Sigma. It, arguable, has one of the worst trigger pulls and there is little to nothing that can be done to improve it. People in the shop affectionately call it the "stigma."
I (we) are in total agreement. Every time we bring it up, we get the stonewall answer; "policy." Sigma's suck!
Our contract is for armed officers, retired LEO's all, but does not specify armed with what. Once again, I find myself in the position that I know nothing about my own abilities and my own firearms, but the "company" knows what is best for me.
I'll be retiring (again) in June, when I begin to collect my goodies from Social Security & Medicare. I'd like to thank all the US taxpayers who will be supporting my lavish lifestyle for the next several years.
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Gee, didn't know so many were in it. Have been laid off from G4S for awhile but may be back soon (lost a big contract) 27 of us were laid off. Its tough getting work in East Tennessee.
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Gee, didn't know so many were in it. Have been laid off from G4S for awhile but may be back soon (lost a big contract) 27 of us were laid off. Its tough getting work in East Tennessee.
Is Nuclear Fuel Services still in Johnson City?
check them out...
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Yup. Even has a sign in his office; "GUN FREE ZONE."
Big surprise.
You should threaten to duck. ;D
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Is Nuclear Fuel Services still in Johnson City?
check them out...
Not sure will check, thanks. Might be getting picked up again for King Pharma in Bristol, and for the Bristol race (cool) every Bristol race we post at the local banks and at the track. Good chance. :)
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Not sure will check, thanks. Might be getting picked up again for King Pharma in Bristol, and for the Bristol race (cool) every Bristol race we post at the local banks and at the track. Good chance. :)
http://www.nuclearfuelservices.com/#
My bad, a bit further south on US 26.
Erwin, TN
Primary provider for nuclear fuel for the US Navy.
I worked for them for several years here in CT. Didn't ever make it down to the area though. Seemed like a good company, great benefits at least back in the 90's. Certainly work for security in general..