Best semi-auto car gun?

[firestar]

What is the best "car gun" for the money?

The way I define a "car gun" is: it has to be medium sized and chambered in a cal that is respectable. It should be inexpensive in case it gets stolen but still should be of high quality. It should be as close to 100% reliable as possible. It should be small enough to fit in a coat pocket if needed or stuck in a wasteband. Accuracy is not the most important consideration but is always helpful.

Here are some of my considerations:

Makarov

Star BM

Star Firestar

Bersa .380

RAP 401

What else fits the bill? I am leaning towards the Star BM right now but I need to shoot it enough to see if it is reliable.

 

[blazer610]

I had the same criteria. I chose the Star-BM for my truck gun and I'm pleased. The gun is much more accurate than I expected. After 300 rounds it is completely reliable. The trigger is really great and the mag disconnect safety is very simple to disable. The only things I see as negatives are the small sights and future parts availability concerns.

I like it better than the Mak and Bersa simply because of caliber. The Firestar is a nice gun but I like the single action trigger on the BM. I'm sure the RAP would be a fantastic truck gun, it just costs $100 more than the Star-BM.


Larry

 

[farscott]

My answer was a police trade-in S&W 4006 with night sights. Less than $375 out the door, and the only real wear is holster wear. It is a very reliable, albeit a bit blocky, pistol. Gives me eleven rounds of .40 S&W before I need to reload.

Police trade-ins often make good truck guns since they are often good deals and are already cosmetically challenged.

 

[10-Ring]

My answer to the same question was to get a used version of my favorite pistol...I went w/ a USPc 9

 

[DMK]

I know this is the autoloader forum, but it seems to me that a cheap, used, short barrelled, S&W .38 special K frame would do the job nicely.

Out of your list, I'd pick the Mak. You can say a lot of bad stuff about the Soviet regime, but everyone pretty much agrees that they made some pretty tough small arms.

 

[Snowdog]

It should be small enough to fit in a coat pocket if needed or stuck in a wasteband

Well, there goes my CZ-52 suggestion. That 7.62x25's hot 85gr FMJ @ 1500 FPS is a auto body buster if one ever existed. They're cheap, rugged and you won't deal with any guilt trips for leaving a $100 in your glove box.

That said, I would also look into that RAP 401; the reports I've heard so far are quite promising.

 

[Futo Inu]

Why not full-sized? Plenty of room for holding/concealing a full sized pistol in a car. Oh, OK, small enough to put in waistband. Hmmm, no this requirement does not make sense to me, because I'll already also be carrying my compact carry gun, be it my P3AT or Wilson KZ45 compact. Car gun should be full-sized, double stack high-capacity pistol, IMO, for a little more firepower than the CCW piece. YMMV.

My car gun WILL BE a CZ75. Right now it's a Springfield loaded, locked in a safe bolted to the floorboard. But good choices there...

 

[firestar]

The CZ-52 would make a great car gun also. I have one that has been reliable and it would no doubt slice through a car like a hot knife through warm butter. The problem I have with the CZ-52 as a defensive gun is, the safety is up for safe and sometimes when I am shooting it at the range, the recoil will push my thumb into the safety and engage it. This has happened enough that I don't trust it as a defensive gun. Somtimes, I will engage the safety just by picking it up and gripping it. I don't have large hands so I assume this happens to people with big hands even more often.

I suppose I could pin the safety in the down position to stop this but that would defeat the de-cock feature which is good to have.

The Firestar is a nice gun but I like the single action trigger on the BM.

The Firestar is single action also.

 

[AUTIGER04]

The only guns that I have any experience with on your list is the Makarov and Bersa. I say that the Makarov is the best car gun and otherwise gun.

 

[USGuns]

P95

Ruger P95.

 

[Blueduck]

With farscott.

Police surplus S/W's can often be bought scary cheap. I've was very impressed with both the 4506 and 4006 I owned. Hear very little bad about the 9mm's reliability wise.

 

[gconan]

That said, I would also look into that RAP 401; the reports I've heard so far are quite promising.

What is a "RAP 401" ?

 

[heathen]

gconan, see this thread for RAP 401's

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?threadid=33102&highlight=rap+401

 

[Voodoo]

Makarov....

also...

PA63
Bersa .380

Personally, I'd go with a wheelgun. A used Smith M10 would fit the bill nicely!

 

[Matthew_Q]

I'd throw my vote for the Bersa. $200 for a great little pistol. Can't beat that with a stick!

Otherwise, I'd try to get something like a Sistema or an old beater .380 auto.

 

[David4516]

Makarov isn't a bad choice. But then again I always say that

I also like the idea of 7.62X25 as a 'car' caliber. How about a Tokarev TT33?



A good wheel gun might not be a bad choice either, you won't have to worry about wearing out springs...

 

[tiberius]

For you Firestar, Without question, get a Kel Tec P-11.

 

[firestar]

No thanks, I don't like junk.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Bigger pockets = enforcer carbine.

Kidding, though I met an FBI guy who did just that.

If its a car gun, concealing it is a second thought. Full size FEG Hi-power clone, K Frame SW 357, Ballester-Molina 45 all work for me.

 

[LeonCarr]

A "car gun" should also be able to provide decent penetration on windshields and car bodys.

My first choice: police trade-in/reconditioned Glock 17 (they go for around 300-350 bucks if you look around), loaded with IMI 9mm +P black tip carbine ammo or a 9mm NATO equivalent.

My second choice: police trade-in .357 Revolver (Smith,Ruger,Colt, etc, start around 200 bucks), loaded with Fiocchi .357 142 grain FMJTC ammo.

Honorable Mention: Any Ruger P-Series auto. They make an excellent impact weapon also .

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[KeysBear]

My car gun is a S&W .357 Model 19. Cheap enough at $200.00 used. My car gun for the other car is a Makarov - even cheaper at $129.00.

Makarovs rock.

Regards, Keys

 

[Gordon]

Sigma in it's plastic box with 14-17 rounds in gun and extra loaded mag! Contrary to what you hear I have found them reliable; just not as good as a glock!. I up graded to a CZ97 .45 but could not stomach the abuse to this fine piece so I stuck it under my mattress (the 1911's are in the safe!) . If you like pop guns anyone of the 9X18 Maks will do (I like the PA-63) esp. for the gals. I think auto's have an advantage over revolvers as a stored gun in vehicles. I think plastic guns are best in this role because of vibration damage to metal finishes.

 

[WonderNine]

I just had a thought about having to fire a 7.62X25 from inside of a car.

Can we say shattered eardrums....

Btw, I really like what I've seen with the Star BM9. Even saw one in person at the gunshow Saturday. Sounds like a neat little pistol for the price. I may have to order one here eventually.

A good wheel gun might not be a bad choice either, you won't have to worry about wearing out springs...

Oh really? Revolvers have springs too....

 

[Blueduck]

Not mag springs they don't

None of the designs I'm aware of have any springs under significant pressure when left loaded. The springs in a loaded semi's magazine are under pressure.

I know "somebody" once found a old 1911 left loaded for 60 years and it worked great, I know lots more people that have found a magazine left loaded for a couple of months or less that has killed the spring enough to cause reliability issues YMMV

 

[WonderNine]

Not mag springs they don't

Ah details...

Anyways, pressure doesn't really measureably weaken springs unless given a very long amount of time.

The act of compressing them repeatedly through their range of motion is what does. Use is what weakens springs, not having a constant force (within specs) acting against them.