So if you wanted to live in a van....

[Coyote3855]

Not a van lifer. If I were and wanted a handgun as the OP specifies, it would be my S&W Model 19. If I could expand the choice, it would be my 20 gauge Mossberg Shockwave. Compact and efficient.

 

[Mosin77]

I’d still want at least a half dozen guns. Because I like guns. But space being at a premium…

I reckon I could get by with a 9mm semi-auto which is pretty good for range gun, self-defense, and dealing with animals. An AR would not go amiss either.

 

[P Flados]

A van sounds too small for me & my bride, as such we got a 22' pull behind RV shortly after I retired. We have not really used it like we expected for several reasons, but we might do more in the future. Also, I would never willingly give up enough "stuff" to be a full timer with no home base.

Part of travel life is planning activities as you go. A couple of revolvers (my SP-101 327 & her LCRx 38 Sp) would probably normally go along most of the time just so that we could visit ranges along the way and have something to shoot. It really does not take that much storage space to take a lot of reloaded ammo with you.

I might take my 6" Ruger 22 semiauto pistol (a.k.a. Mk 1) if I planned to stay away from home base for an extended period. If a trip included a planned stop at a IHMSA shoot, all required gear with multiple guns and lots of ammo will fit in my duffle bag sized gun bag.

 

[Seymour380]

I lived in a van for close to a year, so here's my two cents. First, due to the circumstances, guns were really pretty far down my list. Only had two, a Ruger Mk 1 and badly bubbaed Mauser in 7x57, which ended up getting sold for the necessities.
One thing to consider is that the cops can pretty much turn your vehicle out on the slimmest of probable causes, no doubt helped by my age and appearance at the time (rough).
Definitely a good idea to have only one that goes with you, because a full van is tempting to thieves and the law equally.
Seriously, other than one evening when there was a disturbance not far from where I'd parked for the night, I never really thought much about needing one.
Now is a different story, but if I had any advice, stick with what you got and are comfortable with, and invest in concealment solutions. Mine was keeping the rifle underneath all my stuff and an old holster rigged up underneath the passenger seat for my Mk1. 70 VW busses have a surprising amount of room beneath the seats, I found.
Live small, don't attract attention, and listen to your gut instinct. When it feels like it's time to scoot, scoot. Lotta parking lots and quiet side streets to choose from, you develop an eye for safe and quiet spots to park. Try to stay out of high density population areas if you can as well as higher income areas too, cause they call the law on any strange vehicles. Don't plaster your ride with 2A or tool company stickers, matter of fact, try to make your vehicle's exterior as neutral as possible. Tint/paint over windows in the back to both conceal your stuff and keep it dark if you need to sleep in the daytime.
I could probably write a short book on doing it, just ain't doing it here. OP, if you choose the life, you'll find guns and shooting way down the list of priorities. Simple is best, and a good .38/.357, 9mm, or even a .22 like mine are all you need. Any more would be a pump shotgun on 20 or 12 and that should cover you, even in the deep blue states. Good luck.

Thanks Redleg, I sure appreciate your feedback. Been considering a Mark IV lately. Didn't enjoy the reassembly on the Mark II I had. I am glad you had no incidents to report!

 

[Seymour380]

Not a van lifer. If I were and wanted a handgun as the OP specifies, it would be my S&W Model 19. If I could expand the choice, it would be my 20 gauge Mossberg Shockwave. Compact and efficient.

Like the looks of the Shockwave, Coyote, pretty handy for self defense. Not for carry when outside the van though, so that would limit them for me.

 

[RedlegRick]

Thanks Redleg, I sure appreciate your feedback. Been considering a Mark IV lately. Didn't enjoy the reassembly on the Mark II I had. I am glad you had no incidents to report!

The only time I felt I needed one, the issue resolved itself before it became my problem. I felt my tire checker was more practical and less a liability than my pistol if there were issues and frankly, I was more safely storing it than keeping it handy while I was between addresses.

 

[defjon]

I lived in a van for close to a year, so here's my two cents. First, due to the circumstances, guns were really pretty far down my list. Only had two, a Ruger Mk 1 and badly bubbaed Mauser in 7x57, which ended up getting sold for the necessities.
One thing to consider is that the cops can pretty much turn your vehicle out on the slimmest of probable causes, no doubt helped by my age and appearance at the time (rough).
Definitely a good idea to have only one that goes with you, because a full van is tempting to thieves and the law equally.
Seriously, other than one evening when there was a disturbance not far from where I'd parked for the night, I never really thought much about needing one.
Now is a different story, but if I had any advice, stick with what you got and are comfortable with, and invest in concealment solutions. Mine was keeping the rifle underneath all my stuff and an old holster rigged up underneath the passenger seat for my Mk1. 70 VW busses have a surprising amount of room beneath the seats, I found.
Live small, don't attract attention, and listen to your gut instinct. When it feels like it's time to scoot, scoot. Lotta parking lots and quiet side streets to choose from, you develop an eye for safe and quiet spots to park. Try to stay out of high density population areas if you can as well as higher income areas too, cause they call the law on any strange vehicles. Don't plaster your ride with 2A or tool company stickers, matter of fact, try to make your vehicle's exterior as neutral as possible. Tint/paint over windows in the back to both conceal your stuff and keep it dark if you need to sleep in the daytime.
I could probably write a short book on doing it, just ain't doing it here. OP, if you choose the life, you'll find guns and shooting way down the list of priorities. Simple is best, and a good .38/.357, 9mm, or even a .22 like mine are all you need. Any more would be a pump shotgun on 20 or 12 and that should cover you, even in the deep blue states. Good luck.

Fourth amendment, and I would get the traveling carry insurance.

 

[d2wing]

Several years ago I traveled SW states in a Class B van. I usually had a Ruger .357 stashed where I could get at it. On occasion I also has a Ruger Mark ll as well. Other trips I used a toy hauler pulled by a Yukon. I had a KLR motorcycle then. I might have squeezed a AR in somewhere a trip or two. I don't recall ever using guns but they were comforting a few times.

 

[RedlegRick]

Fourth amendment, and I would get the traveling carry insurance.

Probable cause can be stretched to the breaking point if need be and I could barely afford the bare minimum to keep my van legal.
It was sort of the reason I was living that way in the first place.

 

[tactikel]

My shooting buddy camps 15-20 weeks a year. Both he and his Wife carry 9mm Shields. Common caliber and platform. Where legal they carry 24/7 when on the road.

 

[KansasTrapper77]

I know its not what you asked exactly and that’s annoying. But for an all 50 state gun with limited space I think it’d be hard to beat a revolver and a take down lever gun in the same caliber. They both fly under the radar of most crazy state laws I believe. The take downs are usually found in .357, .44 mag, and .45 colt. In my area .44 mag followed closely by .357 are the easiest to come by. But to some degree ammo availability shouldn’t hold you back. How often are you shooting the gun? Is it a plinker or purpose firearm. Stock up when you can find ammo and plink when you find an extra box somewhere on the road. And secure them in the vehicle when you can’t bring them with you. Get a locking case and get clever with bike locks. Get a gun lock and string a bike lock through that. Most vehicle robberies are smash and grabs, attaching the firearm to something bolted down will slow down most thieves.

Best of luck on your travels.

 

[Varminterror]

Silencerco Maxim9 - integrally suppressed 9mm semiauto pistol which uses prevalent, reliable, and inexpensive Glock magazines. If there’s ever a need to make noise, the integral suppressor will help ensure your head isn’t ringing and you retain your faculties after the shot.

 

[shafter]

Self defense is self defense whether you are living out of a van or your house. I'd say the chances of running into trouble would be a bit higher living that lifestyle so I would definitely have a fighting handgun on me. Probably a Glock 19.

 

[jstert]

I know its not what you asked exactly and that’s annoying. But for an all 50 state gun with limited space I think it’d be hard to beat a revolver and a take down lever gun in the same caliber.

50 state legal leans far away from handguns and embraces a bolt/lever/“non-tactical” semiauto action rimfire rifle, or a single/double/sporting clays/hunting shotgun, unloaded while in a moving vehicle. having a game- & season-appropriate hunting license or printout of skeet/trap shooting ranges along the way may be useful.

here is a handy resource: https://www.handgunlaw.us/documents/USRVCarCarry-1.pdf

 

[Seymour380]

My shooting buddy camps 15-20 weeks a year. Both he and his Wife carry 9mm Shields. Common caliber and platform. Where legal they carry 24/7 when on the road.

Been strongly considering picking up a Shield or Sig P365. Most of the reviews I have seen on the Shield state that they are very comfortable for carry, reliable, and they have tremendous after-market support.

 

[Seymour380]

Silencerco Maxim9 - integrally suppressed 9mm semiauto pistol which uses prevalent, reliable, and inexpensive Glock magazines. If there’s ever a need to make noise, the integral suppressor will help ensure your head isn’t ringing and you retain your faculties after the shot.

Varminterror, while I like the idea of a quieter option, I would think you need a separate class x(?) permit or license to have a silencer. Am I off base on that?

Don't want to over-complcate things. I imagine something with a silencer would be hard for carry as well. Not my cup of tea, but thanks for the idea.

 

[KansasTrapper77]

If you get a good conceal carry license with high reciprocity (*cough* Kansas *cough*) you will be able to carry in most non-commie states. The commie states don’t even reciprocate each other so there’s not alot you can do there with a handgun other than get busted for having a magazine with too high a capacity. But I also thought there was some form of travel law that protects out of staters on that as long as you’re not using it. Sadly I don’t travel as much as I’d like to, but I’ve had these same thoughts.

 

[WestKentucky]

The guys who are serious vanlifers are not really all that different from tiny-housers. Limited space is a thing, but it’s not SO limited as to only have 1 handgun. Handguns are small so you could do 2 or 3. I would go with a compact 9 for carry… my EC9s would be a great choice. Then there’s the option for a bigger gun, perhaps a 686 or similar, 1911 if your a slide gun lover. I would do the EC9s, a 686 AND a 10mm 1911, then either a single six or a Bearcat for 22lr fun.

 

[RedlegRick]

Thinking further on this, I'd also urge you to invest as much thought in the concealment/security/accessibility. I hid my pistol more to keep it from being easily taken when I was away from my vehicle, didn't really consider accessing it quickly. That's why when that ruckus I mentioned happened, I had my tire thumper in my hand and not that.
If you have the luxury to perform some modifications to your van, do it. I dreamt of a discreet floor safe from time to time and for a shooter, having a dedicated storage area like that is a great idea, not to mention helping avoid the nosy cop happening to see the butt of the gun or edge of the case.
Cops are great people until they make contact with you in the small hours where you're parked somewhere quiet in hopes of getting some desperately needed sleep before going to work. Fourth Amendment pretty much goes out the window then, not making this up.
And thieves don't like challenges, they're looking for the quick and easy score, not to be getting all technical flipping a car looking for goodies. I left the nonfunctional radio in rather than even a cheap aftermarket to avoid getting attention for that reason.

 

[AK Hunter]

I tried to live in a motor home while my dad & I built our new house house.
Mom & dad with me & my little brother was too much I had to move out to get an apartment.

 

[Varminterror]

I would think you need a separate class x(?) permit or license to have a silencer. Am I off base on that?

Kinda off base. Yes, Owning a suppressor requires an NFA tax stamp, and not all states allow suppressor ownership, but largely, the states which prevent suppressors also prevent concealed carry. So the challenges of owning and carrying a suppressed pistol aren’t really different than carrying a pistol in general.

I’m not a van-lifer, but travel nationally, extensively, for a couple decades and keeping pace with where we can carry and where we can’t can be exhausting - but really not so much different for taking my Maxim9 along than my Glock 19’s. In many states, it’s just not plausible, to the point of really not being possible, to carry concealed - in many states, it’s scantly possible to even defend yourself. But your opportunity to cause irreparable problems for yourself and your wife by firing in such close quarters is very real. “Better to be deaf than dead,” isn’t a very compelling defense.

 

[theotherwaldo]

Never tried living out of a van.
Did live in a 1954 Shasta 14' travel trailer for extended periods, everywhere from the ridgetop logging roads of southern Oregon to the alleys of south central Los Angeles.

Usual firearms were a small .22 revolver (usually an R/G) used for emergency signalling, an AR-7 and a '58 Remington clone.

Worst situation was when Dad managed to burn out the clutch of the Rambler wagon that was towing the trailer while pulling it through three feet of snow on a remote Oregon logging road during spring break.

The six of us spent almost a month up there... .

 

[Speedo66]

If you get a good conceal carry license with high reciprocity (*cough* Kansas *cough*) you will be able to carry in most non-commie states. The commie states don’t even reciprocate each other so there’s not alot you can do there with a handgun other than get busted for having a magazine with too high a capacity. But I also thought there was some form of travel law that protects out of staters on that as long as you’re not using it. Sadly I don’t travel as much as I’d like to, but I’ve had these same thoughts.

"But I also thought there was some form of travel law that protects out of staters on that as long as you’re not using it."

A Federal law protects you only for non stop travel through a state. Get stopped and your handgun found in one of those non recip states and there's a good chance you'll be arrested and trying to use that as an affirmative defense at your trial.

 

[KansasTrapper77]

Yah I didn’t figure it was worth much.

 

[Seymour380]

My conclusion based on the feedback so far is that I will likely pick my "vanlife" firearms as if I will be going camping long-term. In my case, a 9mm like a Sig P365 for carry/self defense, and a Ruger Mark IV for plinking would do. Adequate security/ locking/ storage and state regulations will be researched whether or not I go out of my gun-friendly state.

I am fortunate to already have some handguns that would fit the bill in a pinch, so this exercise is probably just a great excuse to justify some future handgun purchases.