Coyote3855
Member
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.
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!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.
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.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.
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.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!
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.
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.Fourth amendment, and I would get the traveling carry insurance.
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.
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.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.
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?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.
I would think you need a separate class x(?) permit or license to have a silencer. Am I off base on that?
"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."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.
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.[/QUOTE said:Yah I didn’t figure it was worth much.