Extra things you do to attract customers.

[Wreckmaster]

You and I are of like minds, Raccoon... =) My shop will be called Waterloo Gun and Lock, which is the same name as the original gun shop in Waterloo, WI that has since closed down... I'm going to need to get a downtown storefront though, the shops are about 40 feet wide and at least 100 feet long, which is perfect for a full length indoor pistol/archery range. With the bullet trap and shooting stations, there should be about 25 yards of range to play with.

The only difference is my guns will be of the collectible/military surplus variety, rather than catering to the home defense crowd. I'm all for being secure in your home though, and I will of course do anything in my power to get a customer what they want.

I just read an article about a local indoor range that was forced to shut down because of dangerous levels of lead in the air and on the walls from all the firing. I am not saying that having a range is a bad idea, heck I like it, but I am saying do your homework first. And check on the epa requirements. Perhaps all you gotta do is install an air filter and wash down the walls every so often.

As far as home defense is concerned. I do not believe a pistol should be used for this. I feel very strongly that only a shotgun is safe in a house. I use a pump gun loaded with #8 low brass birdshot. I have seen the tests of many pistols that will shoot through multiple layers of drywall (use a large enough caliber and a full metal jacket, you can shoot through te house), but that the tiny bbs have a difficult time penetrating 2 layers. This meens your loved ones that you are trying to protect are safe from any stray shoot. Furthermore, most "bad guys" know what the sound a a round being chambered into a pump gun, it is very distinct and loud in the middle of the night. I have never met a "bad guy" that is willing to stick around and play with a shotgun just because he wants to steal your tv. So perhaps a range for shotguns might be in order, or at least something to think about.

[Raccoon]

I feel very strongly that only a shotgun is safe in a house.

I used to believe the same, and posed this arguement to a number of gun owners. The responding arguement has always weighed 3 factors.

- Over powered. A shotgun is simply over powered for use in close quarters.

- Accuracy. It is dirty, only half of your shot hits the target, and the rest of the shot still penetrates walls or bounces all over the place eventually striking you or your family. You're probably not wearing eye protection, so expect to get hit in the face and eye by rebounding buckshot.

- Disgusting. While a regular 9mm bullet can be aimed and deal either a disabling blow or a death blow, an shotgun will leave bits and pieces of the intruder everywhere in a 5 yard radius and no amount of skill can guarantee disabling vs death. You may find an ear behind the couch a month later.

[Wreckmaster]

- Over powered. A shotgun is simply over powered for use in close quarters.

Which is why bad guys leave if they know you have one.

- Accuracy. It is dirty, only half of your shot hits the target, and the rest of the shot still penetrates walls or bounces all over the place eventually striking you or your family.

I can't argue the accuracy issue. I have fired a shotgun at a simulated wall at close range. I experienced no bounce back. Nor did the shot I fired effectivly penetrate both layers of sheetrock. I would agree with the posibility of bounce back depending on the building materials in your house. I can imigane plaster and lath walls would act simmilar to drywall, but concrete or block would definatly bounce.

You're probably not wearing eye protection, so expect to get hit in the face and eye by rebounding buckshot.

I can't argue that point. I can also imigane that you would suffer temporary hearing loss. Any time I have fired a weapon, it was outside with hearing protection. The concussion from such a blast in the confines of a house would be "impressive".

- Disgusting. While a regular 9mm bullet can be aimed and deal either a disabling blow or a death blow, an shotgun will leave bits and pieces of the intruder everywhere in a 5 yard radius and no amount of skill can guarantee disabling vs death. You may find an ear behind the couch a month later.

Call me crazy if ya want. My attitude is that if someone is in my home uninvited with the intent to cause harm, I really don't want them to stay alive to sue me. The deader the better. Bring the media out and take some pics. Then maybe some potential bad guys will think twice before they pull another job. Perhaps they will even consider taking up an honest vocation rather than have that happen to them.

I am not sure, but I think my homeowners insurance will cover, or at least help, with the costs of proper cleanup. I defanitly do not want to rick catching some blood-borne pathiogens off of the bad guy. Furthermore, the amount of blood that would leak out of even a 9mm sized hole will ruin your carpet and likle the sub-floor underneath.

And even if I would have to pay for the repairs myself, it is a small price to pay to not be a victim.

I am not trying to start a flame war, nor do I want you to consider this flameish. I was merely responding to your statements. And trying to clarify my opinion. But that is the groovy thing about opinions, they are yours, and you can have what ever opinion you want. What you do with it is up to you. You can keep it to yourself, or you can tell people. If you tell people be prepaired to have someone (at least someone) dissagree with you. Like I stated my opinion, Raccoon sorta dissagreed. I believe that there are alot of people that are pacifist in nature and refuse to have a firearm in the home. If they argue with me, that is their place to do so, or they can keep their opinion to themselves.

Then again, maybe I got too far off subject. If I did, I am sorry.

[Wreckmaster]

Where did the edit button go?


I think I miss-spoke when I mentioned accuracy. I did not get my thought out the way I wanted it. I agree that you can not shoot a bad guy in the left knee with a shotgun. It is not the design of the weapon. What I like about the dispersment of the shot is that you run a very good chance of hitting the bad guy while you are in a panic. Most people enter a extreme state of panic when their home is being attacked, it would take a extremely will trained individual not to be paniced.

I do not wish to come off as bloodthirsty. I do not want to kill another person. I would feel much worse if I maimed someone. But I made the decesion a long time ago that what is mine, is mine. I worked hard to get it, and I am willing to kill to protect it.

[Raccoon]

Don't worry about expressing your opinions to me, we're actually in more agreeance than you think. Just wait until our british brethren read this thread, our recent posts will most certainly be deleted. I've nearly been banned from the site because of my aggressive stance on gun ownership. Many cultures just can't cope with the thought of a non-state-official possessing the right and power to end a life, no matter how bad they are.

Only thing I'd add to the ricochet of buckshot is, yes, shot at most walls it will mostly penetrate and bury, but don't forget about your steel door, metal plastered corners, and hard wood frames. There are also many other items in the home that buckshot would love to bounce off of.

I agree that shotguns are intimidating and fool proof, but so are hand grenades. I'm just happy with a precision instrument and hollow points that leave no exit wound to endanger your family.

[77luke]

A lot of locksmith businesses do the thing where you will make the customer a key for free after a lockout- I think that that is a great idea. However, something that I have been trying out for the last month or so is to give the customer their receipt and on it put "Redeemable for one free key" - this will bring them into the shop where 9 times out of 10 they will spend money. I am kind of surprised that they will make a special trip just to get a free key- but enough people have come back that it seems to be working.

[77luke]

Something else I have been doing that hasn't had any noticeable effects yet but I figured was worth mentioning is this: Throughout the week, I'll see a fair number of vehicles broken down on the side of the road with their flashers on. What I have been doing (provided I have the time) is to stop and ask if they need help. They see the company name on the vehicle and I also give them a business card - gives them a good impression of the company, and if I got locked out and was going through the phone book- that is the company I would pick out of the other ones.
Most of the time they don't need help and a tow truck is on the way- so you don't need to really do anything except a sacrifice some time.