Arming for Iraq

johnniet

johnniet

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Jul 12, 1999
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I have a friend who may be going to Iraq for several months. He is not military and his job would not involve carrying a weapon.
He is not used to guns, but would like to carry one for self-defense while in Iraq.

What kind of gun?
What kind of training? Defensive training is often based on situations like a mugging or home invasion. The threats there are different. I don't know what the emphasis should be on.

Is this a good idea, or should he forget it if he doesn't have time to go through Marine boot camp? :)
 
If he doesn't have the time for training, it will probably be more of a liability then anything else. Gunsite, Thunder Ranch, and similar training facilities can give him a crash course but, if he does not have weapons skills now, then he probably doesn't have the time to develope the needed proficiency before he leaves.

You also have the issue of import/export type laws to worry about traveling abroad with firearms.

That being said, your best bet may be to buy one in country and then ditch it on the way out. If your friend really needs a firearm and doesn't have bodyguards, it must be some job to be worth risking your life.

As long as he doesn't come across as the arogant American, he can probably travel low profile and be pretty safe. You see it all the time when you travel abroad. People ask me why I sail through customs and they get searched like a war criminal/drug smuggler/.....

Don't attract attention. Don't advertise your American. Don't look like an American soldier. Your there to help, not to fight.
 
imho i would get a S&W J frame .38 special snubbie myself, and at least go to the range and try to familiarise yourself w/it some anyway.

have heard some CIA people got the same pistol when going to 'nam and only got one box ammo to practice with before shipping out. ya know not operators but admin people/etc.

if its at up close/personal range ya dont have to be rob leatham imho, and just having it might help discourage street thugs. of course if the BG has an AKM, oh well........

really just depends on the individual imho, my bud is thinking of going to work for dyncorp doing aircraft maintanance in the area, and i think they issue a S&W model 66 .357 to some employees. i dont think they offer any training w/them, though. another bud got a S&W 66 and a folding stock mini 14 when deployed to peru working on DEA choppers, he never shot the guns, just carried them. never even shot them to check function!!! i dont think i would approach the problem like that, but i dont run dyncorp (wish i did lol)

of course, a trip to thunder ranch/gunsite would be GREAT, but not all (or even many) will do that imho

good luck

greg
 
I suggest buying a Glock 19 with night sites, a good inside-the-waistband holster and mag pouches (see BladeTech and Comp-Tac.com). I also suggest taking some training classes on defensive handgun and a carbine (AR15/AK47) class.
 
one small, but often overlooked consideration is caliber.

In this case a 9mm may be the best choice as it is the about the most common centerfire cartridge in the world and would make it easier to get ammunition in a pinch while in a foriegn country.

Hope that's helpful,

-John
 
If he is going to be legally able to get in the country and/or carry get him a Glock 19 w/ a few 17 round mags if possible. If he can't legally get it in, but can smuggle it in, get a Glock 26. Only get the C model if he has a problem with recoil IMO, but since he isn't use to firearms the less recoil the better. Test out different carry methods that would be possible in Iraq, he should also take a few shooting courses (handguns and as dk suggested rifles too. IMO He should focus on pure defensive shooting or a defensive/combat mix class). I think the guys in the Practical Tactical would have more info. But either way let us know what he gets :)

Make sure he has a decent flash light, a multi-tool, a small-medium folder (i.e. a Delica) and a Large folder too! Mace should be useful too.
 
There must be more AK-47s per unit of population in Iraq than anywhere in the world.
 
Who is your friend working for? Do they allow him this option? If he thinks that he has a need for a gun then why isn't he company providing security for him?

If he thinks that he needs a gun he must get combat oriented training as well as basic gun handling before going! The handgun commonly available is supposed to be the Browning high power. He should try to train with it before going. If he's going to do this he should take ~ 40 rounds of Cor Bon JHP ammunition, an Otis 9mm cleaning kit, and get the gun and 2 magazines there.
 
Hso
please send me e-mail. I tried to contact you and the message was bounced.
 
get trained, and buy local firearms if he can.

Bring a substantial amount of cash and ask for a glock from his consierge at the hotel, followed by a $300 tip, all in $20's.

If he can bring a gun, still get a glock, but ask for something local too.

You may not be able to get 9x19 ammo so it may be good to have a local gun and local ammo on hand as a back up.

He may get a .380 (9x17) or a markov(spelling?) (9x18) from the hotel room service.

Oh, and have him put the word out that he will pay $30 for a glock 9mm 17 round magazine. If he brings his own glock, well, of course they were his mags...you think he would go to iraq with 10 rounders...(throw away the 10 round mags if he has any in Iraq to corroborate this..)

above all, get training in firearm usage. Crash course is better than saying "ok, so, how the fuc- do i load this thing" during a gunfight.
 
johnniet,

email sent.

I will second the Glock. If available in Iraq it might be my first choice over the BHP.
 
It just so happens I am working customs in this very region (Kuwait)in the Army which has jurisdiction over civilians also. Here's the deal coming in or going out of country ALL bags are checked for the following. GUNS, aoutmatic knives,SPRING ASSISITEDknives, double edged knives, anything to be used as a weapon that shoots any type of projectile. Your friends best bet is to buy somethinf in country(plentiful) then leave it behind when he leaves. You can email me if you have any more questions. Dave(229th M.P.) Camp Doha,Kuwait.
 
Good Morning All-

He should try to find a Ruger SP-101 revolver in 9mm. The ammunition is very plentiful and he would have the rock-solid reliability of the famed SP-101.

Methinks it will be VERY difficult arranging a reason why a non-military visitor going to Iraq could possess a firearm. Try this sceneario and replace the country "Iraq" with "Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Japan, Canada, or Sweden" or darn near ANY country and you'll see what a difficult task lays ahead for your buddy. Carrying firearms into foreign countries ain't easy business....

He should purchase on the dusty streets of Iraq. When he leaves, he should throw it in a dumpster or sell it.

~ Blue Jays ~
 
get an AK-47. Worlds best gun to forget about until you need to fire. you can pick one up, make freinds with the arms dealers, get to know your local ammo supplier, etc. Blend in, become part of the local culture. shoot with the locals in their backyard at pics of saddam. Immerse yourself in the afternoon activities. make freinds, and take them to target practice.
 
Originally posted by toolmaker
get an AK-47. Worlds best gun to forget about until you need to fire.
Click to expand...

Is it realistic to carry an AK-47 with you daily if you're not a soldier??
I would think that would be more of a home or car weapon.
 
naw, they are great guns. You can use them to open up beer bottles, change a flat tire, create a flat tire, withdraw funds from a bank, use the barrel to hold stationary, dig a latrine, etc. The gun with 1001 uses.

get one today.
 
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