Need a "packed in the car pistol."

T

Tatsumi67

New member
THIS IS NOT A SHTF THREAD. DO NOT LET IT BE ONE.

I read throgh American Handgunner's 2011 Reality Check issue, and I realized that in addition to keeping food, water, basic car repair items and what not in my car, a pistol that I can vacuum pack or otter box in a trunk cargo compartment with some ammunition just for the peace of mind may be a good idea.

I'm considering a low maintenince revolver like a GP100 or another Glock, like the compact 30 (I've got a 21SF so the mags will work). Thinking alittle bigger, maybe a Kel Tec Sub2000 folder carbine or something.

I would of course shoot it regularly at the range anyway, so maybe I'm probing for an excuse to buy a 'small' gun. The purpose for buying, however, was just as a tuck-away and lock type thing.

Suggestions?

Yes, I do realize the risk in leaving a gun in a car, even if it is locked or secure.
 
If you realize the problems with it, why do you still want to do it?

You're regular ccw is enough for regular commutes around town. Now if you have a "bug out bag" or "Katrina kit" you keep at the house to grab in case of an evac emergency then I would suggest a pump shotgun. If you're a farmer and need a rifle in your truck to shoot wolves, coyotes and other troublesome animals, a Ruger Mini-14 or nice leveraction would be good.
 
The security issue aside, be aware that as temperatures rise and fall, condensation will likely occur. It would be worse on an all-steel gun but even polymer pistols have some steel in them. I'm not sure if the vacuum bag will prevent this or not. I would test it out with something else before committing even a beater gun to the car/truck.

This is maybe why they make Hi-Points.
 
Since I retired I carry in my pocket, no separate gun in the car unless its hunting season,then I leave a rifle in the truck.

But that's since I retired. An incident made me start leaving a gun in my police car (which was a take home car, which we were encourage to drive all the time).

I was at a dinner party when I got an EOD call out. Apparently there was going to be a drug raid in which booby traps were suspected so they wanted a bomb tech on hand.

While driving to the scene it dawned on my I didn't have a gun. I was at the time shooting for the NG and thought maybe something was left in the trunk. I stopped and did a quick search and found a 22 revolver and TWO 22 shells in the trunk. Not what you call properly armed for a drug raid.

Turned out that I didn't need it, but soon as I got home I took an extra revolver and locked it in the glove compartment where it stayed until I retired.
 
Beyond the typical risks we discuss when talking about leaving a dedicated car gun, your particular state's laws have a lot to do with whether or not it's a great idea. I will use my state of Ohio as an example.

In Ohio, it's against the law to have a loaded magazine in a car if the car also contains the handgun for which that magazine fits, unless you have a state-issued concealed handgun license.

What that means for an Ohio guy that wants to have a car gun is that he will either need to take the magazine with him every time he exits the vehicle or he leaves his new "car gun" with no chambered round and no loaded magazine 24/7.

It's not against the law to leave a loaded handgun in the car... but it would get a friend or a loved one in a helluva lot of trouble if they needed to use your car. Even if you left your wife/GF in the car while you ran it to a store.

If you have kids, forget about EVER driving your car on to school property unless you only EVER stay behind the wheel. You can't get out, even if they fall in to a well 15 feet from your car, without breaking the law.

Dedicated car gun in Ohio can lead to trouble... like felony.

And for revolvers, speed loader is also specifically spelled out. So a revolver with no loaded chambers and no speedloader.

You could toss a 1911 with an empty mag in to a cardboard box and then dump 800 rounds of hardball on top of it and you haven't broken the law. But put one round in a 1911 magazine, put the magazine in the glove box and the empty pistol under the spare tire in the trunk and you've committed a felony if you don't have a CHL or an acceptable out of state carry license.
 
Sounds like a good thing I don't live in Ohio...I have a lockbox under the backseat of the truck with an old Colt Agent fitted with a hip grip, and a spare speedloader.

I generally don't carry going to work, so if I stop somewhere on the way home, like to grocery shop, I can hang the .38 inside my waistband and drop a speedloader in my pocket and I'm good to go.
 
When I had my Grand Wagoneer I bolted a digital safe to the under the back floor. Never trusted the locked glovebox concept. I had a detective friend who had a holster of sorts bolted to his center console in plain view which didn't make much sense either.
When you need a pistol there's rarely time to search/unlock/fidget...etc
Hip holster has always worked for me, but that's not the intent of the thread...e
 
When I leave the car I place the gun in the trunk. Once a week I give it a very light coat of oil in the summer and every 3 weeks in the winter. Yes I also carry a concealed weapon and am licensed.
 
I have some sort of pistol in the center console of my truck, usually a P94. A shotgun, .22 rifle, and Mosin Nagant either behind the rear seat or in the tool box.
 
I have a pistol in every car I own as well as one in the saddlebag of the motorcycle. Good idea, bad idea? Maybe, maybe not, but it insuires that I don;t get careless or forgetfull and leave home unarmed.

I do have a National CCW, as well as one for my state. Also in my state, open carry is legal, and my car is considered an extension of my home, so no worries about someone without a permit using the car.

Bill
 
Nickel Model 10 snubby with nickeled 158 gr. ammo... perfect to ride beside me in my center console.

DSC01429.jpg
 
To answer the OP's question, I would suggest an AMT .45 Backup. I leave mine locked up in my car sometimes - no problem.

No need to vacuum pack anything - a decent stainless steel gun will be just fine. I don't know how some of the poly-framed will do over time with cars heating up to well over 150 degrees and cooling down to freezing or below. Stainless Steel doesn't seem to care, though.
 
I think that depends on humidity. Stainless guns rust here where it's very humid, especially down toward the coast. I've seen S30V rust on the rack here.

I think that a vacuum packed gun locked away in the trunk under the spare is fairly safe. Locks only keep honest people out and your average stereo thief or joy rider isn't looking under the spare.

I would consider a revolver, lots of good "trunk gun" deals out there on decent old Colt and S&W .38s
 
A CZ 82 wouldnt be a bad choice, CDNN has them right now $149 to $189 depending on condition. They are painted and built like tanks.
 
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