Lead and diamonds: the Richmond jewelry store shootout [Blast from the Past]

American Handgunner Mag (The Ayoob Files) ^ | May-June 2003 | Massad Ayoob

[Mr. Mojo]

Defensive Use of Firearms Pinglist

If you want on/off this list, Freepmail me.

[FreedomPoster]

I just love a good story with a happy ending.

[snowsislander]

Not long before, it became apparent that an anti-gun governor was going to ramrod through a "one gun a month" law in Virginia. It seemed like a good idea to stock up. Baker had purchased eleven Rossi .38 Specials, five-shot snubbies, and laid them out at ten foot intervals behind the counters, invisible to the public but readily accessible to staff

Thank goodness he had both the foresight and the ability to buy enough revolvers. Those "one gun a month" laws are another silly infringement on the 2nd Amendment.

[G.Mason]

" ... Thomas Salter has moved. The employee has done as instructed. Salter isn't moving any longer ... "

Bosses just love it when employees do what is asked of them.

Keep them coming Mojo, I just love the smell of criminal blood and 870 Rem. smoke. ;)

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Hmmmm.......

I was just looking at small .38s for a summer pocket gun.....

[Constitution Day]

read later

[hang 'em]

Surely this was written by Elmore Leonard.

[MD_Willington_1976]

Remi-870...got to love it...IIRC it is the highest production run Shotgun out there used for personal defence. Add another notch to the "field tested" check list.

Same with that Ruger.44...Fine handcannon, I used one on a few mischievies watermelons that needed a good lesson.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

What a nice story!

[Sergio]

And people say that all you hear about now a days is BAD news.

Best Regards

Sergio

[Sergio]

Doesn't S&W and Taurus make 7 and 8 shot revolvers in .38/.357? Replace the 5 shot .38 cal revolvers with a like number of 8 shot .357 and you up the stopping power while maintaining ease of use under stress and commonality. The cost of course would be possible controllability (greater recoil) issues and over penetration of the .357 vs a standard .38 special.

Still, as was seen, it's kinda hard to survive six solid torso hits of .38 special. The story just proves that there's a lot to be said for training like you plan to fight and fighting like you trained.

Best Regards

Sergio

[G.Mason]

There are plenty of opinionated people like me here that will be glad to offer you sound advise on the topic. Whatever you get, make certain you become proficient with it. Preferably by pulling it out and pointing and shooting.

Target ranges are fine for getting adjusted to a weapon, but you don't have that luxury in a confrontation. By learning to unholster, (un-pocket?) pointing (not aiming) and shooting in one complete action, you will have what it takes to survive. JMHO

[Emmett McCarthy]

I actually just bought a Taurus Ultralite .38 Special for the same reason. My S&W .40 is just to heavy to put in the pocket of my shorts. You might want to be sure that whatever you buy is +P rated.

[Deaf Smith]

Good read.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Sorry, I thought I had responded to post #1. I was referring to the line in the article that said: "He wasn't impressed with the number of .38 Special rounds it took to drop big Tom Salter."

Maybe I'll rethink the .38.... That's all.

[BayouCoyote]

Incredible story. Thanks!

[G.Mason]

" I thought I had responded to post #1 ... "

I got you.

"He wasn't impressed with the number of .38 Special rounds it took to drop big Tom Salter."

Hell, I've got a two shot derringer in .22 magnum that will drop anyone from ten feet, if they aren't coked up.

As for the owner of the jewelry shop, I couldn't figure out the Rossi's myself. If you are going so far as to get ten snub nosed five shots, you may as well pay the piper and get ten 1911 .45's and two clips. The 870 Remington was an excellent choice. :)

[El Gato]

There have been no further attempted robberies at Beverly Hills Jewelers

Criminals are stupid, but not that stupid. :)

That's defintely not a store the average crook wants to try to takedown while the owners and staff are there.