Car gun...What's the best location?

[Gouranga]

For the purposes of this question, let's assume you have a full size (say the size of a S&W M&P) 9mm or 40 in your vehicle.

Assume vehicle has 2 bucket seats center console between the seats (with compartment that can hold the gun), glove box, door pockets which can hold the gun. Enough room under the seat to hold the gun.

Considering as variables LH vs RH shooter, and SUV height vs Sedan. What would you say is the best location for positioning a single weapon listed above to bring it to bear on a threat outside your vehicle (assume threat has materialized 20 ft or less from your vehicle)? Typical car jacking scenario in high density urban area.

I of course have a similar set up for myself, I have a Chevy TB. I have been keeping my weapon strong side on my person as the seat belt does not interfere with my draw, and I can quickly get the gun without anyone clearly seeing what I am doing. I could also do it while stepping out of the vehicle. My concern has been in a carjacking situation, if a BG was rapidly approaching the drivers side with a weapon drawn, my only option would be to shoot through the door or window. which does not provide an optimal amount of room to point and aim.

Any thoughts to the scenario above? If having the gun on your person the best? Would it be better off in another concealed location in the vehicle?

 

[Crusader103]

Well, there's lots of good places but there is always one in the pocket behind the front passenger seat. Why? For my wife and for good reason.

I always carry on my person so that is not an issue. My wife does not always carry on her person but spends a lot of time in the vehicle with my daughter, still in a car seat. The car seat is located on the rear passenger seat, passenger side. If you think about where my wife would be most vulnerable, such as a grocery store parking lot where she is getting my daughter in and out of the seat, the .357 is in the perfect spot. She is already leaning into the open door and the revolver (GP-100) is instantly available. If she happens to be driving at the time the weapon is still easily accessible by reaching the right arm behind the passenger seat (mom's are good at reaching back there anyway).

Before you all go saying that the revolver is too close to the child, it is an impossibility for her to get anywhere close to it.

But for me.... on my person, in the center console, glove box.... I've used them all and every vehicle seems to have it's sweet spot.

 

[the iron horse]

-a pistol in the glove box

-a shotgun in the trunk or in the hidden compartment in a SUV

 

[LRS_Ranger]

I've experimented with several different strategies. Right now, I keep a Ruger SP101 in .357 in my glove box, and a Marlin 45-70 behind the rear seat. (I drive a quad cab Toyota Tacoma.) My only issue is that the long gun is pretty hard to get at from the front seat. I'm looking at either getting a vertical rack that stands directly behind the center console and will hold 2 long guns, or a roof rack. Since a loaded long gun is a no-go in NC, I am thinking about using a shotgun and a speedloader. If I had to I could grab the shotgun and ram home a tube of buckshot and be in business pretty fast. I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone else here has to say..

 

[bobelk99]

I may be a little extreme, but I have a custom holster attached to the driver door, low and forward.

I can reach the weapon without giving the appearance of doing so.

Holster is clipped to a bar on the door, so it can be removed and place in console when desired.

 

[cerberus65]

First you need to know where in your car you can legally keep it. In my state I can choose glove box, console, or trunk. I choose console as most accessible. Your state is likely to be different. I wish mine would allow in a lockbox under the seat. I know if someone broke in they'd look in the glovebox first. I suspect they'd go through the console too. Anyone know for certain?

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

If you mount a holster to your center console between the console and seat belt latch you could grab it while undoing your seatbelt and fire through the door as you bring the seat belt around your body. Of course you'd want to lock it up when leaving your vehicle or transfer the firearm to your IWB holster. Either that or a crossdraw holster mounted at about 10 o'clock.
The safest option for you and innocents though would probably be to leave enough room when stopping to drive around/away and have your doors locked and windows up.

 

[armoredman]

PCR in Bianchi M-100 IWB clipped in the map pocket of da pile, legal in AZ. Won't hold it in in a rollover, but in that situation, I might have other things on my mind....

 

[Strand]

I have a soft holster wedged between the drivers seat and the center console in my car. The SUV actually has a nice nook beside the shifter that I put the gun in. (Xterra) Although I'm still looking for a better spot. In a crash the gun would go flying. I might get another soft holster and do the same thing as I did in my car.

 

[cleardiddion]

My pistol is either on me, or in the center console, or wedged between the driver's seat and the center console.

Occasionally it rides in the passenger seat due to various circumstance, mostly when I traverse across states which state that I must have it in plain sight.

 

[mgkdrgn]

This is where mine goes;

 

[CTGunner]

This is where mine goes;

How would you handle a traffic stop by police? I would be slightly concerned that an officer or officer's partner might see the gun during routine questioning. Maybe it's covered enough by your legs, it just seems like a possible risk to me.

 

[FAS1]

Usually keep my gun on me, but when I can't and need to leave it in the vehicle here's what I use. This is in a 2005 Exploder. Also here's a pic of a customers install it a Titan console. Like you, I don't have that much room. This box can also be installed vertically under a seat if there's enough clearance.

Here's the link for a 25% discount for THR readers

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=459871&highlight=safes

More pics on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/pages/FAS1SAFECOM/247921546874

 

[Zach S]

Setup from my previous car:

 

[Colton White]

Assume, assume you tell us what state you live in so we can actually help

 

[Shadow 7D]

I was thinking of installing a second fuse box (gutted) in my car under the dash, it is a drop down type, and it's an older car, as it's legal here, and I doubt that a quick search would notice two fuse boxes where there only should be one, that way I would have a place out of sight out of mind to put my gun when I have to disarm to enter somewhere, like the post office, and since it mounted to metal, the lock should be pretty secure.

 

[mgkdrgn]

How would you handle a traffic stop by police? I would be slightly concerned that an officer or officer's partner might see the gun during routine questioning. Maybe it's covered enough by your legs, it just seems like a possible risk to me.

1) What doesn't show in that photograph is the black towel I lay over the whole rig
2) I have a CCW permit
3) IF I get stopped, I'll hand over my CCW with my Drivers Lic, and tell him what I have and where I have it when he asks.

The only time I've had any interaction with law enforcement while using the rig (auto accident ... truck dropped his dock plate on I-95 and I hit it ... at about 80 or so. Blew out both right side tires) he didn't have a problem with it. Of course, the Calif Peace Officers Assoc shirt might have helped too ... ;-)

 

[CTGunner]

Sounds like you have it thought through.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Mine have been in my truck and cars like this for a lot of years.
I figure if I ever need a car gun I'll probably need it in a hurry, so I want it easily within reach.

 

[bigfatdave]

M2 Carbine, LOVE the carbine stashed back there!
Did you pick out a beater, or os something preventing damage from vibration?

I am not a fan of "car guns" for a number of reasons, but you get style points for sure, M2 Carbine.

 

[Gouranga]

Assume, assume you tell us what state you live in so we can actually help

I am in NC with a CCW so I am not really limited in how/where I store it in the vehicle. My concern is with having it in a safe place that I can get to it as needed and bring it to bear ASAP.

Some good ideas in here so far. Keeping it on me just does not work, I have a generic soft holster I have not used in a while. I think that would fit nicely between the seat and the console on the drivers side. I love the idea of the lockable safe in the vehicle. I think when I replace this truck I will get one and have it installed in the new truck.

When I need to lock it in the truck (should i venture to a store that does not allow CCW) all I got now is the glove box which is a joke as far as being secure. My 8 yr old could break the lock on that thing.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Did you pick out a beater, or os something preventing damage from vibration?

No it's a nice Carbine but I padded anything that the rifle might hit, like with that Red and White sock.

I had the Carbine in the truck for some years.
A little while back there was a court house shooting where the BG was wearing body armor. He was very hard to stop.

I got to thinking I might want a rifle with a little more power, so the Carbine was replaced with a SKS and AK in the cars.

 

[mbt2001]

I drive a 99 suburban with a center console. I have my pistol wedged between the chair and the console. If I get pulled over I just push it deeper down. It is in a pistol rug, the friction keeps it right at hand.

 

[easyg]

Lay it on the passenger's seat, inside a McDonald's paper bag.
If anyone sees you put your hand inside the bag they'll just think your going for some french fries.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I have my CCW either on me, or I might take it off and lay it in the passenger seat. In the back seat, it used to be my PLR-16. But I recently changed to my modified Remington M11 12 gauge auto (19" tube, bobbed stock), that now lays across the back seat, 00 Buck loaded tube (empty chamber in compliance with DOW laws), and covered by a jacket. I decided the shotgun was a bit more versatile, considering the odds of having to maybe put down a wounded deer hit by a car, and also I won't go deaf if I have to actually use the thing. I keep a 50 round shell belt in there as well, with 00 buck, slugs and hi-brass #5.