Choosing a car gun...

I've secured K-frame snubbies in the center consoles of each of my cars for over 5 years and never had a problem. If you live in heat and humidity, I strongly recommend nickel-plated cases as brass will turn green and corrode.
 
I would also like to know what folks that do not believe in leaving your gun in a car do when you are at a location that you cannot take our gun in. The idea of a trunk gun is kind of comical to me. Am I going to walk out of my office every day, walk to my trunk, get my gun out, put it on me, drive to lunch, go back to my office, open the trunk, pull my gun out of my holster, put it back in trunk and so forth. You are telling on lookers, hey I got a gun and I am leaving it in my trunk which by the way can be broken in to.
 
I would also like to know what folks that do not believe in leaving your gun in a car do when you are at a location that you cannot take our gun in. The idea of a trunk gun is kind of comical to me. Am I going to walk out of my office every day, walk to my trunk, get my gun out, put it on me, drive to lunch, go back to my office, open the trunk, pull my gun out of my holster, put it back in trunk and so forth. You are telling on lookers, hey I got a gun and I am leaving it in my trunk which by the way can be broken in to.


I typically try to avoid places I can't bring my gun to. For work I would leave it in the car, but take it out at night. As for your example, how about just eating at work? I'm not suggesting a trunk though, I'd rather something in the cabin.
 
Tunnel, I personally know more folks that have had their homes broken into than I do people that have had their cars broken in to. I do not live in an urban area though and I am sure that plays a part in that though.
 
Tunnel, I personally know more folks that have had their homes broken into than I do people that have had their cars broken in to. I do not live in an urban area though and I am sure that plays a part in that though.


For me it's the reverse and I wouldn't call where I live "urban". Most statistics I've seen back that up. Either way breaking into a house and then a safe inside the house is more work than just breaking the window on a car. It's a free country though so do what you want.
 
I do agree that circumstances dictate a particular situation and nobody should do anything they do not feel comfortable with. Like I said earlier, I do not have small kids, if I did, my feelings about a gun in a locked car would probably be different.
 
I do agree that circumstances dictate a particular situation and nobody should do anything they do not feel comfortable with. Like I said earlier, I do not have small kids, if I did, my feelings about a gun in a locked car would probably be different.


For me it's not the kids it's the concern of theft as I don't have an attached garage and my watch dog is more of a sleeping dog these days, but he does okay for the people inside the house. Even still I just got into a habit of bringing the gun in at night. My driveway is pretty secluded so that helps.
 
I rarely leave a gun in the car and when I need to it is for a very brief time. I know here in Texas many people leave guns in cars all the time since no permit is required to do so. Even if you have a permit, you might not be able to carry at your job. I can't blame people for wanting to have their gun with them when they can and that might just be to and from work, so I would only blame a thief for breaking into a locked car and stealing it.

On the other hand, I also realize that I do many things every day (and most cost $) to protect myself not just from thieves, but idiots too. So, a little extra security to slow someone down or maybe prevent a thief from choosing me or my vehicle is well worth the investment to me.

I never even leave my good shades in my locked car and I have only had one vehicle broken into over the last 37 years that I have been driving. Did I mention that I hate thieves? In no way do I want to make anything easy for them.
 
If one feels they can adequately secure a car gun to their satisfaction then I believe it is a good idea. I think the difference in a carry gun is that you're trying to conceal as easily as possible, so the carry gun may be small, maybe a single stack, etc which WILL work, but I would think a car gun is more like a HD gun. You're not lugging it around all day so a full size, heavier, powerful gun can be chosen.

Also, if you're CC is holstered especially with a tuckable holster than it can be a pain to undo, make accessible while driving (drawing from a tucked holster at 4 o'clock with a seatbelt and seated in driver's seat isn't exactly quick), and then put it back after arriving at destination and exiting the vehicle. Much easier to get in vehicle, leave carry gun on belt as is, and know you have a car gun you can draw as fast as your carry gun under ideal conditions.

That being said, I would probably choose a semi auto like the Glock (except since I don't like glocks personally, I would choose an XD(m)), or a revolver in .357 or maybe a even in .45acp/lc.

Edit: another gun I might try to find is a .22lr with HIGH capacity that can be fired quickly with one hand. Maybe .22mag even. Revolver or semi auto doesn't matter so much as it can be emptied into a car jacker quickly and accurately.
 
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You'd choose a car gun the same way you'd choose any other gun:

- Suitability to intended or potential usage
- Your ability to shoot it well
- Reliability
- Cost

The Ruger 9E looks like it would be good choice for that if you like Ruger semis. You might also look at the SR9 models. They seem extremely similar except for the slide finish, and one of the ways they cut the cost is the 9E only comes with a single mag. That narrows the price difference by about $30.

If I were leaving a gun in a car subject to temperature extremes and possible condensation of moisture, rust would be a concern. I am not sure the black oxide alloy steel slide of the 9E would be a better choice than the stainless slide on the SR9.

I'd also want to invest in a holster for the gun that would stay in the car, so if whatever situation I was in called for me to carry it, that I'd have a way to carry it. If your situation requires concealment, then it should be a holster you can conceal. You might also want to leave a light nylon windbreaker in the car that could serve as a cover garment.
 
Before retiring, I had multiple vehicles and quite often drove different cars. I used a GI mechanic's tool bag to carry my "stuff" and extra gun in. A "purse" if you will. I could just grab it and put it in whichever car I was driving that day.
 
Before retiring, I had multiple vehicles and quite often drove different cars. I used a GI mechanic's tool bag to carry my "stuff" and extra gun in. A "purse" if you will. I could just grab it and put it in whichever car I was driving that day.


That's a good idea
 
Just to be clear:
It is my position (firmly) that you are not guilty of anything if you leave a handgun in your locked car and it gets stolen, and that is not what I am saying.

My position is more like...
If gun control hits us wave after wave after wave and you don't do ANYTHING to fight back, I also cannot sit here and blame your laziness and apathy for the gun control they pile on us, but YOU should understand that if you aren't part of the solution, then you're just another leech on the backs of those who are. That's your cross to bear and I won't campaign against your laziness and apathy... much like I won't sit here and blame you for leaving a handgun in your car 24/7 that has a -VERY- good chance of getting stolen and immediately being put to bad use.

My position on a car gun is that I won't go out and about without a handgun on my person... but of all the places I go, there is ONE place that I simply DEMAND to have a handgun on my person and I go there every single day and sometimes multiple times in a day: I enter my own home. I must have a handgun on my person when I enter my home.

A handgun sitting in the car simply does not meet that requirement.
An EXTRA handgun sitting in the car is superfluous and is a potential liability for something that I can't use unless I wish to go Hollywood "gun in each hand."
 
I had a gun stolen from my truck 17 years ago. It was a BHP. I still wonder wher that gun mite be. It happened on a construction job and I looked everybody on that job like they did it. I take the effort to put it in the trunk and get it out when I leave one now. I finally found a replacement last week for that gun.
 
I'm not saying that people shouldn't secure their guns.
What I am stressing is you should not be of the mindset that you bear ANY responsibility for someone stealing from you.
Car guns can always be brought in when you get home.
 
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