How to Reholster in a Car?

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CommanderCrusty

CommanderCrusty

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So, new car, sporty type bucket seats. Very uncomfortable with the gun on the belt at 4:00 position. (Hate appendix carry.) So, I draw the pistol from my stiff, leather OWB beltslide holster and set it on my lap, with my seatbelt over the top. DA only Sig P250 so it should be pretty safe there. Drive to store. Okay. All good.

Now I want to reholster and exit the vehicle. Finger off trigger. Thumb firmly holding the exposed hammer down. Darned if I can get the dang pistol back in my holster!

Can't find the opening. Can't see it. Can't feel it. Can't tell what's going on. So, I'm hoping one of you clever folks has a suggestion. Thanks.
 
I'm going to assume you're right handed, reverse all the left/right stuff if you're a southpaw.

Grab the top of the steering wheel with your left hand, about 11:00. Lean forward and to the left, pulling yourself forward with your left hand. This will get you farther forward in the seat than just leaning without pulling. This will expose more of the holster and usually allows you to clear the seatbelt, too.
 
Get a Sticky Holster and wear IWB with a forward cant at 3 or 3:30 and never have to remove it in the vehicle. Very nice.
 
Don't unholster your gun outside your house unless you need to use it or unless you're at the range. Unholstering your gun when you don't need to is the first step to becoming a news story.

It's time to figure out another way to carry your gun (or maybe even time to look at a different gun) if your current carry method/carry gun is incompatible with your normal activities.

If you can't come up with a way to carry that's comfortable while sitting in the car, then you need to switch to a holster that you can remove with the gun so that you don't have to unholster to remove the gun. The holster is part of your safety system, especially on a gun like the P250.
 
CommanderCrusty said:
So, new car, sporty type bucket seats. Very uncomfortable with the gun on the belt at 4:00 position. (Hate appendix carry.) So, I draw the pistol from my stiff, leather OWB beltslide holster and set it on my lap, with my seatbelt over the top. DA only Sig P250 so it should be pretty safe there. Drive to store. Okay. All good.

Now I want to reholster and exit the vehicle. Finger off trigger. Thumb firmly holding the exposed hammer down. Darned if I can get the dang pistol back in my holster!

Can't find the opening. Can't see it. Can't feel it. Can't tell what's going on. So, I'm hoping one of you clever folks has a suggestion. Thanks.
Click to expand...

To start with, don't unholster the pistol and ride with it loose (or under a seatbelt) in the car. Sorry to be blunt but that's a downright terrible idea. Things like this need to be figured out before you're sitting in a grocery store parking lot. That being said, I'm confused. How can you not see or feel your own holster attached to your belt? Do you have some sort of mobility impairment? I could see that possibly being a problem for someone with an injury (or possibly obesity) that didn't allow them to turn their torso or neck normally.

JohnKSa said:
It's time to figure out another way to carry your gun (or maybe even time to look at a different gun) if your current carry method/carry gun is incompatible with your normal activities.
Click to expand...

This. Time for a new gun, new holster, new carry method or new seats or some combination of those. I would also add some good, professional vehicle tactics training as well.
 
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BTW, OP, you write this in the present tense as if you were literally in your car in the parking lot at the time you posted this thread. Was that the case? Just curious.
 
Although I no longer carry a sidearm (and haven't - not even once since I retired out of police work...) at one time I lived with weapons 24-7 (for 22 years)... As a result I had to learn the hard way about having an unsecured weapon in a vehicle with you. That's a very bad idea for a variety of reasons - the chief one is that any sudden maneuver while driving is likely to leave you searching for that sidearm afterwards... No matter what you see in movies -keep any sidearm on your person, properly secured for that once in a lifetime moment when you might actually need it - or keep it secured and locked down when it's not on your person, period. As for drawing that weapon... simply stop the car and exit the vehicle first. You'll be miles ahead since maneuvering to a defensive position (getting the H out of that car and going to a position that might actually stop a bullet headed your way) is a pretty good idea. Anyone allowing themselves to come under fire while trapped inside a car is in big trouble in my opinion... If you come under fire while inside a vehicle -your best bet is moving your car (with you behind the wheel) out of the kill zone -whether that's just far enough to get out of the immediate line of fire or doesn't stop until you're some distance away.

Along with just plain living with sidearms day to day, like many I experimented with every form of weapons carry (from carrying more than one weapon) to casual inside the waistband carry in every position possible -crossdraw (crossdraw with weapon inside a tucked in shirt) all without even a holster of any kind. I learned the hard way that wasn't a very good idea (even if you live in shorts, flip flops and untucked shirts the way many do down here in south Florida...). That was learned after a brief struggle with a guy next to a parked car... after my sidearm slipped out of that waistband carry and hit the street I was forced to kick it under the parked car to keep it from my opponent's grasp... not a good position to be in at all...

Get a good secure holster for your sidearm -that's comfortable enough to live with day in and day out - and use it, period. Anytime you're not carrying that sidearm on your person keep it secured and locked down. You'll be glad you did over time...
 
Change holsters. You need a cross draw that puts the firearm on the left.
"...my seatbelt over the top..." Means the seat belt is too loose and the firearm is ready to escape to the floor.
 
Regarding keeping the gun loose while driving, keep in mind that two of the FBI agents in the 1986 Miami shootout lost primary sidearms doing just that; their guns were thrown during sudden vehicle stops/collisions as they approached their target vehicle. One of the agents could not participate further in the fight; the other had to soldier on with just a five-shot .38 snub.

They had deliberately placed their guns on their laps as they approached, thinking that would get them "ready" faster.
 
I was on the street working the day that FBI shootout occurred - thank god I was north of there and nowhere near the action....

All of us learn from our mistakes (if we live long enough) and most cops go an entire career without ever firing a single shot at another person. The day the balloon goes up and it's you on the spot, having your sidearm securely encased and with you as you run to cover (or however you respond to an armed threat) means that at least you have a chance... None of us can predict how we'll react in that terrible moment. I've personally seen stand up guys freeze up solid - and unlikely mild mannered types turn into raging tigers... That's why training and tactics are so important. I rate them higher than anything else for a real chance at "street survival".

To state it clearly... allowing yourself to become a target while seated in a vehicle is a very bad place to be -even if you have a firearm in hand.... Exiting your vehicle, where at least you have a chance of surviving (or simply driving out of the kill zone if that's your only option...) is a pretty good idea if you're under threat. Fumbling around in your car for the gun that just slid off of your lap isn't funny at all...
 
i have my reasons for why i do what i do. But...
I have a retention holster mounted on the trim around the dash.
You dont want to reholster in the car if need be, you want the ability to draw though, so its either drive with arm over seat belt and gun to 5 oclock or mount it.
upload_2017-8-9_14-54-7.jpeg
 
When I worked patrol I carried my BUG a 2" .38 first a Colt Agent later a S&W Model 36 in an ankle holster on the inside of my weak side leg. I never even tried to access my duty pistol from the driver's seat. If I needed a firearm while seated behind the wheel I drew the .38.

Best access while seated in the car.
 
I use a holster that comes off my belt or out of my waistband with the gun in it. Raven appendix holster for normal carry. Carrying between 1-2 o'clock helps a lot with attaching the holster. It wouldn't be possible seated with the gun behind my hip.

When I get in the car, the holster and pistol come off me and go into the center console. They go back on me when I get back out. Never an unholstered, loaded pistol anywhere in my life - that's asking for trouble.
 
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Yeah, I'm re-reading the OP and have to agree with the rest of the posters. An unsecured firearm in the car is a bad idea. Find a combination that stays put while you're seated in your car. Then refer to the technique I described to draw and reholster.

How many times have we all spilled a cup of coffee in the car? Now imagine that's a loaded handgun rolling around on your floorboard and sliding under your gas, brake and maybe clutch pedals.
 
Paddle holster might work; you can move it round your waistband for access, in car, out of car etc. Or crossdraw. Are you in an open carry state?
 
MedWheeler said:
Regarding keeping the gun loose while driving, keep in mind that two of the FBI agents in the 1986 Miami shootout lost primary sidearms doing just that; their guns were thrown during sudden vehicle stops/collisions as they approached their target vehicle. One of the agents could not participate further in the fight; the other had to soldier on with just a five-shot .38 snub.

They had deliberately placed their guns on their laps as they approached, thinking that would get them "ready" faster.
Click to expand...

Yes, MedWheeler, I was aware of that. As I remember, and it has been awhile, one agent put it on the seat next to him, the other tucked it under his thigh. As you said, both lost track of their weapons. If anyone has other info, please share as I am going from memory.

In my defense, my first trial was with the gun under the snugged up seat belt. WILL it work? Don't know. Should it work? Yeah, probably. Would it work better with even an El Cheepo, softy, clipon holster attached to the seat belt? You betcha!
 
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1911 guy said:
I'm going to assume you're right handed, reverse all the left/right stuff if you're a southpaw.

Grab the top of the steering wheel with your left hand, about 11:00. Lean forward and to the left, pulling yourself forward with your left hand. This will get you farther forward in the seat than just leaning without pulling. This will expose more of the holster and usually allows you to clear the seatbelt, too.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much. Best reply I've read. Will try that tomorrow with an empty gun.
 
bearcreek said:
How can you not see or feel your own holster attached to your belt? Do you have some sort of mobility impairment? I could see that possibly being a problem for someone with an injury (or possibly obesity) that didn't allow them to turn their torso or neck normally.
Click to expand...

Well, Bearcreek, I do have a neck injury that severely limits my ability to turn and see. But the main problem, in terms of reholstering, is that sitting changes all the angles. I can't see, and everything feels all off kilter, because it literally is. If you can't imagine how this could possibly be true, may I suggest you try it with an empty weapon. If you haven't literally tried this, you may be surprised at how awkward it is.
 
CommanderCrusty said:
Well, Bearcreek, I do have a neck injury that severely limits my ability to turn and see. But the main problem, in terms of reholstering, is that sitting changes all the angles. I can't see, and everything feels all off kilter, because it literally is. If you can't imagine how this could possibly be true, may I suggest you try it with an empty weapon. If you haven't literally tried this, you may be surprised at how awkward it is.
Click to expand...

A neck injury makes sense. I know you said you didn't like appendix carry but I'm curious. How many different appendix holsters have you tried? It would help with your problem of not being able to turn your neck to see your holster. AIWB does require you to not have too much of a gut and it takes some getting used to but if you're in decent shape it works quite well
 
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