Armored farmer
Member
You cannot carry in my state. You can (legally) have a firearm in your car.(except Chicago of course)
Lately I have been rethinking my need to carry a gun in my truck (Super Duty F-250), my principal need stems from carrying the evening bank deposit to the bank from work on most days. The reality of the situation is it is mostly checks these days, but can still include several thousand dollars in cash occasionally, the perception of a fairly thick deposit bag is probably a bit more than the reality, and in this case I think the perception is the big issue. In the past I have just grabbed whatever was handy (note I live in a state where in vehicle carry is relatively unrestricted), often a semi-auto of some type, .45ACP, 40S&W, etc. I am now considering purchasing a gun just for the purpose, I want something that will resist corrosion (condensation is a problem around here certain times of year), be relatively cheap so if it gets stolen I am not out a lot of money (say under $500 used market), small enough not get in the way in the confines of a vehicle. Most likely carry position is the tray next to the ignition switch or by the seatbelt clip between the seats. What are your thoughts?
People tend to discredit it as a "novelty" weapon, but I use a Taurus Pubilc Defender in my car.
I have one of the gun magnet holsters mounted underneath my ignition and the gun hangs 4 inches from my hand. In the event that you get car-jacked you don't even have to aim. Just point it at the window and adress the threat.
My first round is a AA skeet load. It probably wont kill the attacker even at close range, but it's enough to make the guy think "Golly-gee whillickers, this dude just shot me in the face with a shot gun." While having an insanely low risk of hurting an innocent bystander.
Rounds 2 and 3 are 00 buck. If unloading the skeet load wasn't enough then these two should be. This round is enough to be lethal up close while still posing a very minimal rick of hurting bystanders.
Rounds 4 and 5 are affectionately saved for the 45 Long Colt. In the event that those first 3 rounds simply weren't enough and you have to use lethal force two doses of LC should do the trick. You do have to worry about penetration at this point and civilians because of that, but if you're trained to use your weapon you should be able to handle that.
The quick accessibility of an extremely loud shotgun shell to the face is daunting in an enclosed area. I highly recommend it.
The problem with leaving a firearm inside a vehicle, but not inside a very sturdy locked, bolted-down container, as I see it, is that it may well be used against me, as I approach the vehicle. (I know what it is like to step outside, to see a "BMV" in progress.) My "car/truck guns" are the weapons I carry with me, to the vehicle, which will normally exit the vehicle when I do, except when I must walk into the few places where I cannot carry.
Tuffy Products makes good locking storage products, though not to fit all vehicles.
For the times I must leave a firearm unattended, inside a vehicle without a lock-box, I like firearms that allow me to pass a sturdy U-lock, of the type intended for locking bicycles, through the frame or action. Kryptonite makes such locks with "New York" in the product name, a reference to NY bike thieves being the true test of such locks. I can affirm that cheap U-locks cannot withstand a sturdy pry bar.
The problem with leaving a firearm inside a vehicle, but not inside a very sturdy locked, bolted-down container, as I see it, is that it may well be used against me, as I approach the vehicle. (I know what it is like to step outside, to see a "BMV" in progress.) My "car/truck guns" are the weapons I carry with me, to the vehicle, which will normally exit the vehicle when I do, except when I must walk into the few places where I cannot carry.
Tuffy Products makes good locking storage products, though not to fit all vehicles.
For the times I must leave a firearm unattended, inside a vehicle without a lock-box, I like firearms that allow me to pass a sturdy U-lock, of the type intended for locking bicycles, through the frame or action. Kryptonite makes such locks with "New York" in the product name, a reference to NY bike thieves being the true test of such locks. I can affirm that cheap U-locks cannot withstand a sturdy pry bar.
Lately I have been rethinking my need to carry a gun in my truck (Super Duty F-250), my principal need stems from carrying the evening bank deposit to the bank from work on most days. The reality of the situation is it is mostly checks these days, but can still include several thousand dollars in cash occasionally, the perception of a fairly thick deposit bag is probably a bit more than the reality, and in this case I think the perception is the big issue. In the past I have just grabbed whatever was handy (note I live in a state where in vehicle carry is relatively unrestricted), often a semi-auto of some type, .45ACP, 40S&W, etc. I am now considering purchasing a gun just for the purpose, I want something that will resist corrosion (condensation is a problem around here certain times of year), be relatively cheap so if it gets stolen I am not out a lot of money (say under $500 used market), small enough not get in the way in the confines of a vehicle. Most likely carry position is the tray next to the ignition switch or by the seatbelt clip between the seats. What are your thoughts?
Unless you have a safe bolted to the floor of your truck, THIS IS A REALLY DUMB IDEA. The OP states that he wants a cheap gun in case it gets stolen, Come on, that is not a way to look at this situation. We want to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and really worry if a gun gets stolen. Unless you can come up with a way to keep it from getting stolen do not do this. Just putting it in the console or glove compartment is not securing a gun the way it should be.
I would rethink this into "How can I carry a gun so that I have ready access to it while I am driving?"
I think the idea of a car gun is silly. There's no point in leaving a gun in your car 24/7, except convenience. Carry it when you need it, take it out when you get home. The gun I keep in my car, when that's all I need it for, is the same one I use for CC (Kahr pm9) and sometimes the same one I use for HD (S&W M&P45). It's also kept in a locked case that's attached by steel wire to the seat.
If I have a firearm in my truck/car and it is out of sight and the vehicle is locked I've met my legal amd moral obligations to keep the gun away from kids and thieves.
If someone decides to break into the vehicle and take it THEY are the criminal. There are no decals or bumper stickers on any of my vhicles that may give a clue that there is anything in there.