Carrying a firearm while detecting

[DiggerGal]

Being an avid and pro 2nd A. Believer, there are many places I want to explore, however, I feel a bit safer with a side arm if you will. Researching many a clues, I am looking at remote wilderness areas out and away from the general public.
Licensed to "Own" a firearm is much different than the elusive, next to impossible to obtain CCW in California, to which I do not have.
Just curious on everyone's thoughts as to carrying a firearm while detecting, and, it seems as though while wearing earphones it is a little behind the eight ball so to speak (as I would be challenged to hear anything but the sounds of the detector), but, that said, I would "feel" more secure.
So, do you carry while detecting in remote areas?

 

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[mtdoramike]

I don't carry a firearm while detecting or any other time. I'm a retired cop and after carrying a gun for over 20 years and hated it. But it was a requirement of the job. Fortunately I never had to use it, but I came very close a time or three. If I felt unsafe while metal detecting to the point I needed to carry a gun, I would quit and find another hobby.

I have had a few run ins with folks who are wanting to bitch at me for hunting for lost items and feels that it's wrong for me to do it, which believe or not occurs at the beach. I've been lucky (also born with a gift for gab) and able to deescalate the situation before it getting out of hand plus the very large and handy beach scoop doesn't hurt visually either.

 

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[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

Wow! I didn’t know Smith made a J frame .357. I had to look it up. That’s a whole lot of bang in a small package. I have a .38 J frame I just started engraving. View attachment 2194746

You might want to fix that J or not notion. Mine is an N frame, HWY patrolman. Is that what you show?

Wow! I didn’t know Smith made a J frame .357. I had to look it up. That’s a whole lot of bang in a small package. I have a .38 J frame I just started engraving. View attachment 2194746

You gotta know what you are doing to engrave like that!

 

[ToddsPoint]

You might want to fix that J or not notion. Mine is an N frame, HWY patrolman. Is that what you show?

You gotta know what you are doing to engrave like that!

It’s a M-36 Chiefs Special with a 3” HB. A dinky little 5 shot 38 Spcl. It’s stripped and polished now. It will be blued eventually. I learned engraving in Gardone Italy in ‘84-‘85.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Sweet. I have a S&W K-38 (.38 Spl) 6" Model 14 Target Masterpiece I used to shoot PPC with, but now carry around the homestead in a full-flap holster. Best S/A trigger ever and not bad D/A. Accurate enough for chicken coop and garden pests.

 

[Almy]

I grew up in the 1950s in a state that had a rigorous procedure to obtain a permit to own or carry a handgun. I got the permit when I was old enough, but to hunt snowshoe hares, deer and woodchucks, not to shoot people. I did not expect to be attacked when I was out, and never was. I now live in a place where people expect to find friendly people when they go out, not attackers. No one carries a gun. I find it sad that the peaceful country I grew up in has so many people who expect their neighbors to be enemies and who are ready to shoot them.

 

[dowser]

Grew up hunting w rifles and shotguns in Michigan, but bought a pistol to carry, when I moved to Az in 2004.
A Taurus 357 that I never liked the feel of.
I saw Havelina, Coyote, Rattle snakes, Jack rabbits and Cougar tracks. Never shot at anything, but carried it just in case..
I don't carry it here in Michigan out Mushroom hunting, but I am concerned when I see a Cougar tracks, more than Coyote..
I've never heard of anyone getting attacked, by a critter, It's still a thought!

 

[DizzyDigger]

Always looked at it this way...it's like a set of jumper cables. Far better to have it and never need it than to not have it and need it.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

I'm armed 99.9% of the time...I even had to pull my firearm once when I was attacked through drivers window when I refused to give a ride to hitchhiker at stoplight.

I also know of 2 people who were mugged while detecting at night. One went to hospital for concussion after the mugging.

I would rather be judged by nine than carried by six.

 

[Hunter1805]

IF I had one I may used it. Walking to check out one of my beach detecting site, I am in my shorts, sneakers and had my keys with me. The beach is hidden from the road and I was about 200 yards from my car heading in the direction where the water hits the cliffs. I felt an uneasy feeling while walking and turned to see a guy walking but not near the water but near the cliff away from the water. I turned and he stopped and looked out in the direction of the lake... I continued walking knowing I am walking to an area that would require me to enter the water if something was up.... I stopped and turned once again and he stopped now I know I have a problem. As I came closer to the end of the cliff I started looking for rocks something to protect myself. Now the guy about 250 lbs plus, he was catching up to me and was about 100 feet from me with his right arm behind his back and laughing at me like a nut case, smiling and laughing and grabbing his crotch. The cliffs have cuts in them from the wave erosion and it looked like I was going swimming. I went in one of the cuts and the house on top of the cliff had a ladder hanging on the cliff, and I was just able to get my fingers on it and I was up. He comes around the cutoff and does not see me and notices the ladder and he starts running down the beach back to where he parked and where my car is parked. I was terrified ..... I ran through the guys yard to the road and now I am worried he will come after me so I hid out until I seen him leave....... NOW !! I am pissed I run to my car and started after him as I am speeding after him a NYS Trooper pulls me over... I tried to tell him about what happened just as the his car goes over a hill out of site. He wanted NOTHING OF IT ... Just my drivers license.. I tried to tell him what just happened he was getting mad because I did not produce my license fast enough. Then I just shut the hell up and took my 65 in a 40 ticket.
I know a lot of troopers and they know me and said they will handle it... I go to court and the Trooper was there and he was sorry for being such an asshole. He spoke to the judge and the ticket was dropped.
Folks, it takes just one time and all the fun and enjoyment of being by yourself and detecting is now gone and what took the place was knowing you must be aware and cautious when your out alone. This happened 20 years ago and has broken the peacefulness of just detecting... I carry a knife all times and I have my shovel but on the beach I had nothing !!! As he ran down the beach back to his car I could see a knife in his hand.. I am always aware of my surroundings .... If I had a gun who knows what would have happened maybe the same thing ... Maybe he would have turned around and ran if i pulled it out, or maybe this fool would have charged me, the guy was CRAZY ...
Right after this happened I spoke to GARE and met him at a state park for the first time. I was recovering from a car accident. HE heard this story before.

 

[mtdoramike]

IF I had one I may used it. Walking to check out one of my beach detecting site, I am in my shorts, sneakers and had my keys with me. The beach is hidden from the road and I was about 200 yards from my car heading in the direction where the water hits the cliffs. I felt an uneasy feeling while walking and turned to see a guy walking but not near the water but near the cliff away from the water. I turned and he stopped and looked out in the direction of the lake... I continued walking knowing I am walking to an area that would require me to enter the water if something was up.... I stopped and turned once again and he stopped now I know I have a problem. As I came closer to the end of the cliff I started looking for rocks something to protect myself. Now the guy about 250 lbs plus, he was catching up to me and was about 100 feet from me with his right arm behind his back and laughing at me like a nut case, smiling and laughing and grabbing his crotch. The cliffs have cuts in them from the wave erosion and it looked like I was going swimming. I went in one of the cuts and the house on top of the cliff had a ladder hanging on the cliff, and I was just able to get my fingers on it and I was up. He comes around the cutoff and does not see me and notices the ladder and he starts running down the beach back to where he parked and where my car is parked. I was terrified ..... I ran through the guys yard to the road and now I am worried he will come after me so I hid out until I seen him leave....... NOW !! I am pissed I run to my car and started after him as I am speeding after him a NYS Trooper pulls me over... I tried to tell him about what happened just as the his car goes over a hill out of site. He wanted NOTHING OF IT ... Just my drivers license.. I tried to tell him what just happened he was getting mad because I did not produce my license fast enough. Then I just shut the hell up and took my 65 in a 40 ticket.
I know a lot of troopers and they know me and said they will handle it... I go to court and the Trooper was there and he was sorry for being such an asshole. He spoke to the judge and the ticket was dropped.
Folks, it takes just one time and all the fun and enjoyment of being by yourself and detecting is now gone and what took the place was knowing you must be aware and cautious when your out alone. This happened 20 years ago and has broken the peacefulness of just detecting... I carry a knife all times and I have my shovel but on the beach I had nothing !!! As he ran down the beach back to his car I could see a knife in his hand.. I am always aware of my surroundings .... If I had a gun who knows what would have happened maybe the same thing ... Maybe he would have turned around and ran if i pulled it out, or maybe this fool would have charged me, the guy was CRAZY ...
Right after this happened I spoke to GARE and met him at a state park for the first time. I was recovering from a car accident. HE heard this story before.

Yes, you were lucky. It's a proven fact a guy with a knife and is 10 feet from you will get you before you can get a shot off with a firearm. To me, a gun is a deterrent more than a final result. I've seen guys to quick to use a gun and even though they were in the right, they still regretted it for the rest of their lives. I look at a weapon as a peace of mind and hope like hell I never have to use it. The point I'm make is, even though I own a few firearms and keep them in my hope for protection and that peace of mind, I still have window locks on my windows and all exterior doors have 3 types of locks each as a deterrent.