CCW Question: What do you do with the handgun when you get in the car?

[AirPower]

I'm curious to find out what people do when they get in the car driving. Do you take the CCW from the belt to put it somewhere, ie. center console. Or do you keep it hidden but also make it more difficult accessing it, ie. under the seat or glove box. Or do you adjust its placement but not take off your body. Or do you not even touch it and drive the car as is? I haven't carried while driving but I would imagine it's not the most confortable thing while driving.

 

[carpettbaggerr]

Drive a lot and you'll come to appreciate shoulder holsters. Ankle holsters too.

 

[esheato]

Maybe I'm just stubborn...but I practice with my holster in a location and I expect that gun to be in the same location when I need it. There's one gun and one holster that gets worn on my person and it's always in the same location.

This has been said probably a thousand times, but I'll say it again:

A gun on your person is supposed to be comforting not comfortable.

Now, that doesn't mean you have to be uncomfortable when you have your gun on, by all means wear the most comfortable holster you have. But...if it's a slight inconvenience and uncomfortable in certain situations, deal with it. I'll gladly put up with a poke in the back while I'm driving for the assurance that I can deal with whatever comes up.

Ed

 

[gggman]

I put the CCW on when I get dressed in the morning, and I take it off when I go to bed at night. In between, it's on my hip, whether I'm in the car, at home, at work, or at the supermarket, it's there. It doesn't bother me while I'm driving, so I don't remove it.

 

[M2 Carbine]

It's in my pocket (Kel Tec P3AT) or/and on my belt (Kimber) .
There's no need to do anything with them.

I can't hardly get to either of them because of the seat belts but I always keep two or three "car guns" within easy reach.
Each car and truck has a holstered pistol on the left side of the seat.

Matter of fact just yesterday I was making a spot for a 1911 RIA.

 

[Richard]

Handgun lives securely under the arm rest between the seats while I am driving. I have a shoulder holster but for some reason, while seated, the pistol moves rearward and out of reach. Regards, Richard

 

[Tamara]

I drive a sports car with tight, wrap-around bucket seats. I carry a full-size 1911 IWB at 4 o'clock. I have worn this pistol in this fashion on more than one 6+ hour roadtrip with minimal discomfort. Pick the right gun and the right holster and all will be cool.

 

[El Tejon]

Air, remember the FBI's Great Miami shootout? Bad things can happen if you "put the pistol somewhere" other than your holster.

Software. It's all about learning to fight with the pistol inside your vehicle. Get trained up.

As Tamara mentioned, a good holster and belt are a necessity. No, not a belt you got on sale from the GAP, but a real deal gun belt.

A seat cover thingie, like the cabbies use here, are handy as well as your stock may chew up your leather seats.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

The only exceptions to my always gun being on me is when I'm showering or swimming.

Other than that it's always with me and always in the same rig. Simple.

The way I carry doesn't give me any disadvantage when seated.

 

[Lennyjoe]

It's in my pocket (Kel Tec P3AT) or/and on my belt (Kimber) .

Copycat!!!!

I do the same. Even carry the same as this guy.

Only difference is the Kimber is on my belt and the Kel-Tec P3AT is in my pocket.

 

[Nate_m]

I used to Drive for a living in a Ford Escort Wagon. I carried 9 hours a day 5 days a week in this job and was never uncomfortable with my gun on my hip.

 

[Wildalaska]

Sit on it.

Got one other in the truck

WildlumpybuttAlaska

 

[SapperLeader]

I carry in a iwb summer special rig, the most I have to do when sitting down is tilt the grip a little bit. My versa max II arrived 3 hours ago, and so far tehre is no adjustment necessary when sitting in a car or a chair. Its supposed to be comforting not comfortable anyway .

 

[matsaleh]

New York Style Carry

I carry a compact semi-auto (Steyr S-40) in an IWB holster just forward of my right front pocket, and to the right of my midsection, under an untucked shirt (the holster is tuckable but I normally don't). I'm told this is called "New York Style" carry. Whatever. Anyway, for this particular gun and my body, the fit is perfect, and acessibility is fantastic from almost any position, including driving. I reposition the gun when I drive only so far as it won't poke me in my spare tire, and I pull my shirt up over my seatbelt, so I can get to the gun easily while sitting if I need to.

 

[Valkman]

I voted the first option, but actually I just sit in the vehicle and then pull my cover shirt back to make sure I have quick access to the gun. I wear a unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt over a tank top most days so I just make sure it's out of the way.

 

[Treylis]

I often carry crossdraw, so no adjustment is needed. Ideal for packing in a car.

 

[Zeke Menuar]

I am left handed. There is a map slot in the drivers door that holds a Commander perfectly. Lets the butt of the gun stick out just enough for me to get it. Much more accessable than trying to draw from a holster while driving.

ZM

 

[Mr. Mysterious]

There is a map slot in the drivers door that holds a Commander perfectly. Lets the butt of the gun stick out just enough for me to get it. Much more accessable than trying to draw from a holster while driving.

Here is why I don't do that.

Say that you are at a stop light...and like a ninny for the first time in 20 years you forgot to lock your doors. Up walks a BG and opens your door. You are now exposed for a car jacking...unarmed. He could club you in the head with baseball bat and you are tied down to your seat without your gun which, conveniently for the badguy, he is blocking you from.

 

[Knives]

I have to adjust the holster a bit so it's not digging into my back.

 

[jetman]

thanks to Ohios new sorry set of car carrying CCW laws, it must be holstered AND in plain sight, which greatly limits the possibilities. It can be locked in a glove compartment, or in a permanently mounted locked guncase. None are optimal for preventing a car-jacking. I usually carry my Kahr PM9 in a IWB holster on my right hip, except in the car, I adjust it around to the front for a crossdraw set-up while driving through "the hood". It is then fully legal as "holstered & in plain sight"

 

[gbelleh]

I'm trying to figure out the best way to comply with the Ohio silliness. So far, the plan is to just carry IWB at about 2:00, then pull up the shirt when driving, so it is "in plain sight".

Or, if carrying at 4:00, I could take it out of the 4:00 holster and slip it in a cheap Uncle Mike's IWB (or pocket) holster and shove it into the front of the waistband "in plain sight".

I hope that silly part of the law goes away soon.

What if I decide to carry a BUG or two? I guess they'll all be sticking out of my waistband in Uncle Mike's pocket holsters.

 

[W Turner]

Due to my size(6'8") and the vehicle I am stuck with for right now(1992 Ford Ranger standard cab), drawing quickly while seated in my vehicle is practically impossible. My solution is to place my carry gun in the split of the 60/40 bench seat. I usually cover it with a ballcap or similar and this leaves it very acessible (sp?) to my right hand.

When I arrive wherever it is I am going, I can maneuver around to get the pistol back into the holster, but it is not a quick or easy process.


Mino

 

[Smurfslayer]

speaking only for myself

I draw the pistol, and caress it lovingly, repeatedly calling her "My Precious"....

I often find that I'm late when I drive places...

 

[CatsDieNow]

I don't like the seatbelt laying right over mine, in fact, that's probably going to break a hip or something if I got into an accident. Usually goes into the door pocket.

 

[cratz2]

I guess it depends. I used to carry at about 4 oclock and either took it off or just took the gun out (if it was a Kahr or a Glock as those holsters were collapsable). I put the gun between my handbrake and the passenger seat. 1911s were a bit more of a problem as I use a nice moulded holster that stays the same size regardless.

Lately, I've started carryingat about 2:30 and just leave it on with no adjustment unless I'm going to be driving over 40 miles or so then take the holster and gun off. But I very rarely need to leave it in the car.