Vehicle Considerations

scgunrunner

Inactive
I just wanted to see what everyone here does about training for and carrying their self-defense firearms in their personal vehicles. Do you train to shoot while seated? Do you ride with your gun under you thigh while driving? Do you leave one gun in the car that you can easily reach and carry a second one on your person? Do you use FMJ’s to get better accuracy and penetration through the windscreen & windows? How do you guys/gals address the different issues associated with carrying in a vehicle? I look forward to seeing what everyone has to say.
 
I place my weapon in between my driver seat and the center console. I load only JHP's. In the event I must fire from my vehicle it's easy access, and hopefully I'm able to drive myself away from the threat. Never trained sitting down though, interesting
 
.380's and up shouldn't have any problem at all going through car doors. Windshields might add a little bit more resistance and I've seen many a bullet change their coarse after hitting a windshield.

While in the car I have the handgun in the center console. If I find myself in a bad neighborhood or an "iffy" situation I place the handgun on my lap or under my thigh.

I don't think there are too many senarios where I would use a firearm while driving. There are other options that would be much better. I can see many where it would be the only option while being seated and buckled in though.
 
sc, 12/27/08

I have several modes of carry in a car. Because I live in the tropics I often use a waist pack. I practice at the outdoor range near my house and it takes about 4 seconds to deploy. It's important to practice so you don't sweep your legs and can clear the steering wheel if the threat is on the driver's side.

I also carry IWB and this is a bit more difficult in the car as I must release the seat belt to get to my pistol. Still it is a viable way to carry if you practice drawing from a seated position.

Years ago I also would have a pistol in the center console or under the seat of my car, but I prefer on-body carry when possible.

Pick a method that works for you and then practice in the car to see if it really works (preferably in a remote place and not at the stoplight on your way to work).

Happy New Year- oldandslow
 
In regard to another question on this forum someone had posted a link to The Box O' Truth website.

Very cool stuff! I had seen the website before but had not paid much attention at the time. Anyhow, here is a link to a section of the site where they conducted different tests that may be relevant to this thread...

http://theboxotruth.com/docs/thebuickotruth.htm

PS My gun usually goes between the seat and the middle console or in the middle console.
 
The inside of a vehicle is a terrible shooting position in addition to being totally inadequate cover. If you're in an unarmored vehicle, then get the hell out of Dodge. If you're not able to get the hell out of Dodge, then get the hell out of the vehicle and get yourself to a position of better cover - say, outside the car and put at least one wheel, preferably two wheels, between you and the threat.
 
Some commentary:
Do you ride with your gun under you thigh while driving?
My preference is to keep the firearm in its holster at 4 o'clock while driving. I can still access the gun if necessary from this position. A shoulder holster is often better and more comfortable for long trips.

Also, consider these thoughts. If you have a collision or even if you are forced to brake hard, an unrestrained gun might become a loose object in the cab. If it lands down by the foot pedals it'll be difficult to recover easily. It can end up in the passenger footwell, far out of reach. There is also a remote chance it could discharge.

If that's not enough, consider the situation where the gun is now off-body (under thigh, between seat & console, etc.) and you find your car blocked from moving and one or more assailants fire on you. If you exit the vehicle rapidly your weapon may remain inside the cab. This is not good for cats. Keep it on your person.

Do you leave one gun in the car that you can easily reach and carry a second one on your person?
In order for me to do this and feel comfortable about it, the 2nd gun stashed in the car would have to be in some sort of sturdy locking container and the car equipped with an alarm. Here you run the risk of someone burglarizing the car while you are elsewhere.

Do you use FMJ’s to get better accuracy and penetration through the windscreen & windows?
This seems to imply that one will change ammuntion before exiting the vehicle and change back to FMJ's when you return. That's a lot of unnecessary weapons handling in a given day.

While in my vehicle, I am in control of a 5267 pound blunt instrument. With 4-wheel drive. There's also a 300 h.p. engine to help get me out of the kill zone. These are my first and best options. If someone is approaching and begins to wave a gun around or shoot at me, damaging other vehicles in traffic will be a tertiary concern. My first concern will be getting away from the lunatic. My second worry will be contacting emergency services for help.

If a deadly threat appears at either door, I'm shooting through the window, not the door. That's one piece of tempered glass (which shatters) to deal with, versus two layers of sheet metal, possibly a side-impact beam, window glass that extends below the doorsill, window cranks, electric motors, linkages, etc.

When using a motor vehicle as cover, put the engine between you and the threat. Position yourself behind a tire/wheel for added protection. If not near the engine, then positioning yourself behind the tire/wheel is better. Remember to keep your head down too. Vehicle doors are not bullet proof, but using them like police do gives you a chance that the bullet will be stopped or slowed enough to prevent a lethal injury. Just remember that your shins and feet are exposed (help counter that by cranking your front wheels to the left).

If attacked by several persons while in traffic, use the Secret Service technique - MOVE. Push other cars if necessary or drive on the sidewalk, opposite lanes, back up, make a u-turn... but MOVE. Sitting there is likely to get you killed.
 
Is it really wise to keep a weapon out of a holster when riding in a car? Wasn't one of the FBI agents doing this in the Miami shoot out? And he was unable to locate the weapon after the accident?
 
In my previous car, my Glock 26 fit perfectly in my center console, muzzle facing backwards. It was extremely fast and easy to draw from. I drew once when some guy I stopped to let cross a parking lot rushed my window. I was amazed at how quickly I was able to draw. I kept the gun poo ted straight ahead and next to the steering wheel. I can't believe I had the presence of mind not to stick the gun next to the window which could have resulted in a gun grab or having to fire through the door. The guy saw the gun and made up some lame excuse about not trying to cause any trouble. I had practiced drawing from the center console quite a few times and muscle memory really kicked in. A passenger of mine commented on how incredibly fast I was able to draw. Lucky the guy took off. I not, I might have had to shoot someone.

My current car has a tiny center console. I have to keep the gun in the door pocket which is much slower to draw from than the center console. It might have something to do with being a righty.

The bottom line is practice, practice, practice drawing the gun. Be sure it is unloaded when drawing and be sure you do it in private. Maybe practice shooting while seated with an Airsoft gun. You can even practice drawing and firing if your Airsoft is a good replica!
 
i have a owb holster zip tied to the seat belt for my middle(60/40)seat.
its down in the crack so its hard to see, but easy to draw.
i get into the car gun goes into car holster, i get out of car, gun goes into sob holster.
 
Ok. If its pinned under your leg and you have to do evasive driving or you are in a accident then the weapon is on the floor floating around somewhere. In the holster it goes where you go... no questions. One of the most important things in a vehicle is have you trapped the vehicle. Where is your "OUT". If you cant see the bottom of the tires touching the ground on the vehicle in front of you then you have trapped yourself in most cases. (JEEP Wrangers might get away with it with their turning radius). Just like if you were walking down the street you need to be aware of your surroundings. This is so you are able to identify your threat long before they are next to the car. Your brain is your weapon... everything else is a tool to accomplish the act.
 
Relatively inexpensive auto armor partial solution can be found here:
http://www.c3defenseinc.com/windowFilms/

After looking at this site, I got to thinking. a combination of the film for the windows and kevlar panels for the doors and the rear of the back seat could end up being a "poor man's armored limo".

I have seen the window film tested with an MP5. It's pretty impressive.
 
Putting your gun under your thigh allows you to grab it without raising your elbows(they won't be able to see u). I have done this for years through minor crashes, and major evasive driving. Heck 3/4 of all my driving is off road on 4 low (at extreme angles). My gun stays off the floor pretty well.

Hey phill I can't find a level rating for those panels, I would not trust them. Most bulletproofing disables u from rolling down the windows, and even they break down under automatic fire.
 
Car guns

I have a Beretta 21 in .25 in a little hidden compartment in the dash of my car. It's right under my hand when it's on the gearshift, but not obvious at a glance. The .25 is OK for across the car and if it gets stolen it's not a great loss. I have done a lot of dry fire practice in the car.

As for training, we are working on building a portable car door and seat for the range. Something we can bolt a junkyard car door to and practice shooting while seated or out the window.
 
Riding with a handgun under your thigh is stupid and dangerous. Get in an accident and your gun goes flying around the car. Get yanked out of the car....your gun is still inside. Have to bail.........gun still inside, etc.

I don't leave a gun anywhere in the vehicle. A gun should be on your person.

FMJ's aren't going to be any more accurate or penetrate any more than HP's.
 
where I live the chance of me needing to pull my gun up quickly is just as likely as getting in an accident , and it would have to be a major accident, cuz if already been in a few and my gun stayed right there. If I get hit that hard I highly doubt I will be in an condition to shoot my gun.
 
hey superhouse, what u need to do is practice firing while driving. This is not easy to do but if u can find a pasture someplace....it's a whole other bowl of oranges once the car is moving
 
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