Good carry weapon for Armored Truck driver?

[Combat_Diver]

Here's a few more points for him to consider.

1: Is the company going to provide range ammo or does he only get a basic load of whatever? If, the company only issues .357 ammo for carry and practice, what's his buget?

2: Reference shooting through ports, you are still liable for those bullets you fire unaimed. Yes, you can stick a muzzle thru it but do you know where that bullet is going? Have him look and study the set up/firing ports. I would suggest a laser attached to the firearm. I like CT grips but the laser is on the side of the frame. The port may depending on the angle of fire block the laser. I would consider the LaserMax (replaces guide rod) laser (I have no experience with this model). Thrust pistol through port, move laser point to target and engage.

3: Get as much training as he can to include weapons retention since he will be a target.

CD

[jhs1969]

Just a second thought on the gun ports;

I don't remember the size of the ports but they are very small. So small that I would not even consider using a semi-auto through the ports, also consider you have to use your weak hand to hold the port block open as it was spring closed. A 12 ga. pump's barrel would fit through the port (and as a benefit would also keep the port block open) but with very little room left over, making for a very tight fit for a semi-auto. When using a revolver you had to manually hold the port block open or it would spring close and put pressure on the cylinder.

[BT2012]

I don't recall an armored vehicle having a gun port nor would an armored truck company would allow any guards shooting out of the vehicle due to liability reasons. SWAT teams are the only one with armored vehicles which may have gun ports for rescue. As Combat_Diver pointed out, shooting a firearm without aiming is a BIG liability issue and BIG PR nightmare. As quoted by Ken Hackathorn, every bullet has a lawyer's ($$$ jackpot $$$) name attached to it. You have to remain alert, use proper tactics and scanning, and display professional demeanor in reducing yourself as an easy target as observed by would-be bank robbers. I've seen many armored guards who were inattentive or sloppy and unprofessional in appearance.

[John_Wayne777]

I don't recall an armored vehicle having a gun port nor would an armored truck company would allow any guards shooting out of the vehicle due to liability reasons. SWAT teams are the only one with armored vehicles which may have gun ports for rescue. As Combat_Diver pointed out, shooting a firearm without aiming is a BIG liability issue and BIG PR nightmare. As quoted by Ken Hackathorn, every bullet has a lawyer's ($$$ jackpot $$$) name attached to it. You have to remain alert, use proper tactics and scanning, and display professional demeanor in reducing yourself as an easy target as observed by would-be bank robbers. I've seen many armored guards who were inattentive or sloppy and unprofessional in appearance.

...I've seen one lose his revolver out of the holster without noticing.

[jhs1969]

I don't recall an armored vehicle having a gun port nor would an armored truck company would allow any guards shooting out of the vehicle due to liability reasons. SWAT teams are the only one with armored vehicles which may have gun ports for rescue. As Combat_Diver pointed out, shooting a firearm without aiming is a BIG liability issue and BIG PR nightmare. As quoted by Ken Hackathorn, every bullet has a lawyer's ($$$ jackpot $$$) name attached to it. You have to remain alert, use proper tactics and scanning, and display professional demeanor in reducing yourself as an easy target as observed by would-be bank robbers. I've seen many armored guards who were inattentive or sloppy and unprofessional in appearance.

Please check you facts before posting, please.

Yes, armoured trucks DO have gun ports. And the employee's are permited fire, through the ports or outside the truck, if a situation warrents lethal force. The ports have been used by personel with my prior company. Liability for fired rounds are attached to ANYONE who fires said rounds, be it law enforcement, military, ccw, homeowner, armed guard, etc, etc. You may debate whether someone should/should not fire if you want, this is not something that can be answered by me or any one else. This can only be determined after the fact through proper investigation. I've seen other companies use armoured "vans" and I can not speak for these vans nor the companies that use them but our company used only heavy trucks, armoured and with gun ports. Everyone of them.

You may post based on your opinion if you want, your allowed. I'm posting based on fact from my own experience with my prior armoured company and another large armoured company that we worked with from time to time.

Check closely any armoured trucks you see running town, if it is from one of the two largest armoured companies in the nation it WILL have gun ports. Again I can not speak for the smaller compaines or the "vans" they use.

As far as unprofessional employees, come on. We have all seen them, again, in law enforcement, military etc. etc., from every walk of life, you've heard the saying "don't be that guy". I've worked with these guys before and always raised my own attentiveness to try to make up for some of their lack of. You will always have guys who simply want to "draw a check".

Again, check your facts.

[Irish]

I would consider the LaserMax (replaces guide rod) laser (I have no experience with this model). Thrust pistol through port, move laser point to target and engage.

A good friend of mine has the LaserMax for his G19 and has had it installed for approx the last 5 years. He does not shoot it often but has put approx 1000 rounds through the pistol with good results as far as durability and keeping point of aim with the laser.
LaserMax at that time offered a substantial discount to .mil & LEO, I don't know if this still applies. Sounds like this would work well for your situation since it is not frame mounted and everything is internal. The laser on/off control switch is your slide lock and is easily activated. You can swap this part out in about 2 minutes.

[BT2012]

jhs1969,

I offer my observation and opinion based on my background but it does not matter to me whether you learn from it or not and it is not meant to criticize you but rather as from another's point of view. Where I come from, when an innocent bystander get shot, it is big news with big lawsuits surely to follow but it may be a different in your area. I and other members offer comments based on observation and experience and is meant to benefit other members on this forum. This forum offers a wealth of information and if you find a member's comment offensive, then maybe this forum is not for you. I can see you don't take constructive criticism well and I won't engage any further comments with you.

[Failure2Stop]

I have a few buddies that were on police escourt to cash in transit vehicles in South Africa. They highly recommend rifles .

Rifles . . . and friends on helos with rifles.

I'm sure that this will be of zero help to the handgun discussion, just trying to interject some perspective.

[jhs1969]

jhs1969,

I offer my observation and opinion based on my background but it does not matter to me whether you learn from it or not and it is not meant to criticize you but rather as from another's point of view. Where I come from, when an innocent bystander get shot, it is big news with big lawsuits surely to follow but it may be a different in your area. I and other members offer comments based on observation and experience and is meant to benefit other members on this forum. This forum offers a wealth of information and if you find a member's comment offensive, then maybe this forum is not for you. I can see you don't take constructive criticism well and I won't engage any further comments with you.

Read the forum rules, qualify your remmarks. Don't pass off your opinion as fact.

I don't recall an armored vehicle having a gun port nor would an armored truck company would allow any guards shooting out of the vehicle due to liability reasons. SWAT teams are the only one with armored vehicles which may have gun ports for rescue.

How else would this be interpeted? Don't tell me how my job operates unless you've done my job. Armoured car employee's are allowed to use lethal force to protect themselves and their cargo. Only SWAT is allowed? Give me a break. Again, yes they have gun ports. They are not bristling machine gun ports as you may expect to find on an APC, as stated they are very small and most people would not even recognize them or even spot them. I will not discuss liability of fired rounds, this was not a question the OP asked about, this is a subject better addressed on a case by case basis based on state laws concerning this matter. I will not role play with this one. You may if you like, but again it was not what the OP asked for.

I offer my observation and opinion based on my background

What is your background? Have you worked for armoured carriers before? You never gave your background. From your previous post you made it sound as if you knew all about it. But the details of your post suggest otherwise.

This forum offers a wealth of information and if you find a member's comment offensive, then maybe this forum is not for you.

Yes, this forum is unique and can be very beneficial. The only time I, and most others here, take any offense is when people state opinions as fact or try to pass themselves off as something that they are not. If you want to be seen as an "all knowing commando" then maybe you should find another forum, try TOS. Most people here will raise the BS flag when needed. I would guess there are others here with more experience on armoured vehicles than I and would gladly welcome their insights.

I can see you don't take constructive criticism well and I won't engage any further comments with you

Again, thoughts and opinions from other people can be helpful and can open new lines of thought that could otherwise have been untapped. Just don't pass said opinons as fact. The OP is looking for anwsers to his questions, disquised opinions may only confuse someone.

I've tried to show how your post was misleading, at best. Hopefully we can all try a little harder qualify ourselves. I've simply tried to correct, to the best of my ability, some misleading information. It is not meant to be a personal slight, however, if fact leaves someone butt hurt then it is not my butt.

Back to the OP,
Some are still suggesting a semi-auto, and I would feel better about using one myself. I don't think most people realize how small the gun ports are, I personally was not comfortable in trying to operate a semi-auto through the ports without causing malfunctions. Have your buddy check the size of the ports with a co-workers semi-auto if possible, he should then have a better idea if he wants to go that route. Where I worked, we had the option of checking out a shotgun if we wanted. I felt these worked much better through a gun port and may give your buddy the option of going with a semi-auto with very little negative effects as the shotgun can fill that role if needed.

Just a few more thoughts. Good luck.

[ekujustice]

Best bet drop the money and get out of dodge if you can. At least around here they get about 8.50-9 bucks and hr. Not worth getting in a gun fight over if you can avoid it. What are they going to do if you drop the bag and haul ass fire you? Loosing a 8.50-9 buck an hr job wow

Also in EVERY state you are liable for any round you fire out of that gun justified or not. You fire out of a gun port without the ability to aim unless they are directly in front of it and hit an innocent person you are going to get charged with something. Shooting to save your life dosen't give you the right to take an innocent persons life.