Gun for the trunk

K

KarinJ

Inactive
I live in a state with no CCW. At any rate, since I am not a U.S. citizen I probably could not have one at any rate. I do have a Glock 23 at home.

I was thinking of buying another gun to put in the trunk of my car in case a bad situation such as riots occurred while I was driving.

What type of gun do those of you on Firing Line recommend? I am a somewhat small woman (not sure of the measurements in your system). I have never fired a shotgun, I have fired a small rifle. Would a revolver be better for such a physical setting, in which I probably would put it in there and forget about it?

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Karin, The type of handgun depends on how competent a shooter you are. My GF just bought a S&W 410 and is taking CCW classes and spending more time at the range getting comfortable with it. Go to a range that rents out different pistols, try them out to see which one feels "good" in your hand, and more importantly which one you feel comfortable shooting. I'm not going to contribute to the great revolver vs autoloader debate. I would suggest that You go to your nearest bookstore and browse through the gun mags available and then see what you like and see if your local range will rent one of them out for you to shoot. As far as caliber, well since I carry a G19 I'd say don't buy anything smaller than a 9mm, but once again it all depends on what you feel comfortable with and can handle.
Good luck and remember, nothing substitutes for training and sending rounds down range
 
As a 'trunk' gun I prefer a light rifle or carbine. I'd recommend a .357 or .44 cal. lever action. Since it wouldn't be accessible unless you were stopped or had to abandon the car, the carbine would allow you greater flexibility to 'run and fight' out of a civil disturbance. However, since you are probably most familiar with an auto pistol (your Glock) in your case a small DA such as the Bersa, CZ, or Makarov might be more suitable and economical. A .32 or .380 hasn't anything like the power of a long gun, but no rioter wants to be hosed even by a peashooter, and you can deploy it while driving. Remember that if you are caught in a bad scene( remember the truck driver Reginald (?) Denny during the LA riots?) your BEST weapon is your vehicle! Ram and slam yourself to a relatively safe location, retrieve your trunk weapon (here's where a handgun has it all over a shoulder-fired piece) and bogie homeward. Note that the tactics you may intend to employ determine the best choice of weapon. I'd have both a pistol on my person and the 'trunk' rifle, loaded and ready, if there were any chance of my being 'caught in a riot', whether CCW was legal in my area or not. The best way to avoid a riot, of course, is to stay home, but that isn't always feasible.
slabsides
 
Karin,

just sticking in my $0.02 regarding CCW and citizenship. I am still a German citizen, and the state of TN (and all other CCW states, AFAIK) only mandate *state residency* for a certain length of time for a permit. I have purchased a lot of guns in the last year or so, and had no problem at all getting my HCP. Move to a CCW state, it's great to have a state that trusts you with a concealed firearm...unlike Germany and most other European "progressive" countries.
 
Personally, if I were concerned about encountering a riot, my first choice of a defensive weapon would be a slide-action shotgun. A shotgun barrel of riot length (18-20 inches) is the right size for a car trunk.

The *large* opening at the muzzle of even a 20-gauge shotgun (which perhaps might be better suited to a small-framed individual than a 12-gauge) is a pretty good deterrent, hopefully reducing the need to actually shoot the weapon. Racking the slide has a deterrent effect as well, according to an AP friend of mine, who was carrying a shotgun when he cornered a deserter in a house. The deserter surrendered as soon as he heard the racking sound. Of course, all safety precautions have to be observed, especially with a round in the chamber.

If it became necessary to shoot the gun, the resulting storm of buckshot should prove a substantial defense against rioters. Reloading is relatively slow, however.

For any gun kept in a car trunk, I would pay special attention to protecting the gun from rust.

OTOH, if you prefer a handgun to a shotgun, my first choice would certainly be a Glock.

JMHO.
 
I have to agree with Jimmy. A shotgun has an added advantage of being cheap. In the case of a theft-I would hate to see my car drive away with a $500 glock in the trunk.

--Mercator
 
A good pump action shotgun would fill your need for a trunk gun. If you want a rifle, semi-auto's are nice but not a necessity! A sturdy lever action or bolt with iron/optic sights should end any "civilian" shooting encounter.
 
I have to agree a good new or used Remington 870 would be about the best most powerful trunk gun you could get, Cheaper than a handgun and more bang for you buck!
 
Thanks to all of you for your good advice.
I suppose the idea of a riot seems remote to some, but after the officers were acquitted in the state trial after the Rodney King incident it was rather tense around here.
lendringser: Vielen Dank, aber es kann nicht sein.
 
KarinJ: While I don't have it yet, I myself am a foreigner who has applied for a CHL - they actually asked for extra info on my status that I had forgotten; but my application is proceeding.

Although I'm not sure which state you're in, I can assume that A: You're from a more communist country than the US, and B: You're from one of those states that's little better than most of europe in terms of strictly following the philosophies of Karl Marx. Bet you're paying a big chunk of state income tax, >$100 car registration.

Unless you're in Sil. Valley, Texas job opportunities exceed wherever you are. Arizona, Utah, Montana for goodness' sakes. lendringser seems nicely set up in Tenn.

Just advising you to experience some of America's liberties while they're still there, in a state where they still pay lip service to liberty (NY, CA, Hawaii, Minn. etc. no dice).


Back to keeping a gun, I think laws everywhere are more lenient when it comes to non-handguns. Are you sure you need to put it in the trunk? At least in Texas, there are pretty much no laws regarding long guns - you can walk around with it strapped to your back? (social ostracization aside).


Battler.
 
i carry in the tool box of my truck an SKS rifle with a Choate Tool Company folding stock and a 30 loaded round magazine. it lives in an Assault Systems padded cordura case along with 4 other loaded mags and a air force pilot's survival knife. there are also two .50 cal ammo boxes full of Russian hollow point ammo and some steel jacket/steel core ammo for vehicle penetration. this entire setup was of minimal cost 5 years ago but might be higher now to put together. if i have to bug out of my vehicle i can sling the case over my shoulder and carry an the two ammo cases in one hand (zipped tied together) and my CCW pistol in the other. if i make it to cover it would take a large group to overcome that firepower. the best plan, however is to stay clear of trouble areas if possible. remember the crowds beating the truck driver ect. in L.A.? your biggest weapon is your vehicle, never give it up or surrender it unless there is no alternative. it can move a lot of people in a pinch, in more ways than one.

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Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what is for lunch.
Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the outcome of the vote.
Let he that hath no sword sell his garment and buy one.--And they said. Lord here are two swords. And he said unto them. That is not enough. Luke 22-36,38
They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night. Song of Solomon 3-8
 
Karin I see from your profile your are in Kansas City, Missouri. The state of MO. has no provisions for obtaining a CCW. The bill, propostion "B", allowing CCW in MO. was defeated though ballot fraud already discussed here on TFL on 04/06/99. Having said that you are not, nor will you be allowed to obtain a CCW in the state unless and until a new bill is introduced and passed into law. In the state of Missouri carrying a "concealed" firearm is a felony, even in the trunk.
The idea of purchasing any firearm and placing it in the trunk and forgetting it is not a good idea in any sense. The gun would be inassessable if and when needed. The fact that the gun is not checked on a regular bases would lend to it being taken and not discovered for a long period of time. Kansas City also has one of the highest stolen auto rates in the nation! If the gun was actually there and you were able to get to it when needed you would not be familiar with it. Plus the fact that there have been no riots in Kansas City since the race riots of the sixies and the chances of any new ones are remote at best.
Forget the trunk gun and if you have purchased the Glock, taken it home and forgot it please get some training to familiarize yourself with it.

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Gunslinger

We live in a time in which attitudes and deeds once respected as courageous and honorable are now scorned as being antiquated and subversive.
 
"Trunk guns" are a subject that come up once in a while. I'm not sure what the law is, but I think that a cheap handgun in the trunk is probably a good idea. Aside from riots, occasionally people are kidnapped in thier own car and forced into the trunk.

As far as which gun, I'd go with something in .357, not too expensive (Taurus maybe).

As far as rioters go, they are cowards. I agree with Jeff Cooper, knock down the first 3 and nobody else is going to mess with you. And if they are brave or determined enough to keep coming, all the firepower in the world probably won't be of much use.
 
12 gauge pump shotgun. Period. (Rem 870, Win 1300 or Mossberg 500 would all do the trick)

All around $200 - $250 at Wally World

I dont see how there could be any discussion on this one. He is looking for a "trunk gun" in case of riots.

12 gauge pump is inexpensive, reliable, and plain old nasty if you have 5 or 6 00 bucks loaded in the tube.

Good Luck.
 
Hello Karin, Please take heed to the gun
laws and customs, here in America. Some
of the local "good ole' boy's would place
you under the jail for a firearms violation.
It is my understanding from the previous
post that the State Of Missouri is real
serious about this matter. I live in the
State Of Alabama and we are more lax than
some other states. Heck, we'll even honor
most other state's CCW license!!!

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
Stick a good pistol or revolver in your glove compartment and forget the trunk. Some states have laws that allow carry in your glove compartment w/o a permit, in any case you want your gun accessible quickly in a bad situation.
 
KarinJ,

If you find yourself in a situation wherein you find yourself in the middle of a riot while driving through town, I would suggest the following two things:

1. You live in the wrong town.
2. Put the pedal to the floor and GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE. I think that your best line of defense in a situation like you described is not being there at all.
 
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