Exiting Vehicle with Shotgun

[sm]

Advise on exiting a vehicle with a shotgun please.

Out doing some Shotgun training with a few friends. Used a "training SG" then later a 18" 870 , no sling, no side saddle , an old police trade in with wood furniture. So with crusher ready SG in sedan and P/U we worked on having to exit vehicle. Just a "what if" we wanted to work on. You never know. Personally I did better with a P/U than a sedan...but I'm used to a p/u. Getting in and out of a sedan is different to me anyway. 6' 170#.
Safety, with being efficient , could use some input please.

Advise, thoughts, suggestions?

 

[Jeff White]

Where are you carrying the shotgun in the vehicle? Dealing with locks mounted in different places in squad cars often requires different methods to exit with the weapon.

Jeff

 

[Dr.Rob]

Only did it fast once and it was an accident.

I had stored my SG (full mag nothing chambered) wrapped in a hunting coat on my left in the space between the seat and the door jamb (old landcruiser pick-up truck) scoped rifle on resting butt on floor, barrel up between my brother and I, who was riding shotgun with a rifle between his legs.

We were traveling on what some one euphamisticly called a "logging road", one might also describe it was a 'washed out game trail where once a year the forest service drives a jeep".

Any way I rounded a small bend weaving through jackpines and large boulders marked with the paint of previously mentioned industrial green forest service jeep when I spot, in the 'road" ahead, five good sized mule deer, one foot on the bake, One jamming the clutch and shifting to neutral as I yanked on the e-brake and opened the door all at about the same nano-second. The truck stalled/died, the shotgun popped forward from it's resting place as the truck stopped, and somehow I had it in my hands and was racking the action of the shotgun before my brother even had a foot out the door. Deer were all does as it turns out.


Truck kept rolling forward, apparently brake wasn't well set. Got back to truck, just before it rolling into small stand of pines. Noticed brother looked oddly shaken/pale.

"Whats the matter?" I asked.

"Dude I've never heard that noise 'for real'."

"What noise?"

"The sound of an 870 getting cocked in a hurry... and how did you get 20 feet in front of the truck before it stopped?"

"Hmmmmm... I dunno."

Funny thing was, before my shotgun hit my arm i was reaching to grab my rifle...

Not the BEST place to store it on a bumpy road with short stops, but a nifty place to store it (with a proper bracket etc.)

Never have found a "good" way to pack a rifle/shotgun in a jeep Wrangler, unless someone is riding shotgun/hanging on to your rifle for you. "Cop" style SG mount might work, if it could be tensioned etc so I could grab it but it stayed put while off-roading etc.

In a 'sedan' I'd lay it across the front seat, muzzle pointing at the passenger side, or muzzle down with the butt resting against my right leg, swing legs to side, exit and draw shotgun as if from a scabbard, this is of course nigh impossible if your "sedan" is a standard transmission sports sedan...

You can sort of do it with a jeep if you stuff a coat/blanket between the passenger seat and center console to cradle the rifle/SG but its not terribly stable.

 

[sm]

Sorry, should have clarified, given more info.
Shotgun is not secured.
The scenerio was asked if a member needed to respond, to a sister whom lives on part of large property. He and other kinfolks can arrive before sheriff. So he tosses SG into his vehicle, to assist.

Yes I know muzzle down on floorboard, cruisher ready, and going to assist, is not ideal. I did think it was a legitimate concern. I know it hits some "gray areas" perhaps in dealing with a threat. Nevertheless, It falls into a situation that I'm sure has/may occur out in the country.

Well out hunting, of course, unloaded firearms in vehicle always. There was a time a SG was "suggested" to be in my trunk, secured, cruisher ready. ( in another life)

So this fellas concerns , I dunno. Unloaded SG, arrive, load up would be safest, and my suggestion btw. I demonstrated I would pull up short, wait for others (kinfolk) and load up, walk as a team. Praying the Sheriff was showing up soon.

I did suggest he learn that SG of his by feel. I demonstrated loading up while blindfolded. That practice it itself is good to know in any situation. Just knowing that ( any firearm) well enough that it becomes an extension of oneself.

My time from stop, with passenger side as cover, loading , shooting targets (5) time to first shot 9 sec. using engine block as cover , I was kneeling ...then I found out the other 2 threat had to be taken from rear...wasn't told about these two threats ( surprise) so I was slow so total time was 16 sec. Distance : 10-25 yds, targets teddys...except for two pop up targets ( sigh) I was using slugs ( didn't know what my targets would be so my thinking was to prep for steel). My only saving grace was the fact I could load up and get the gun running because I've used a SG quite a bit. Still sloppy, wouldn't let me use my pistol on any threats. I was the the first man up and well... my buddy wanted to see how I would adapt in a not knowing situation. I don't know of a better or safer way than the way I did it. Civilian having no secure devices for SG...I put safety first, my excuse was I had my CCW.

Lessee, oh to keep it real I had 5 rds in a slip on cuff for butt stock, loose shells in pocket, like many farmers keep the guns. No sling, didn't want pendelum effect. Just tryoing to duplicate what in real life a person would do. Exception is the gun would probably be loaded in the home...that was the wrinkle...do you do admin unload, drive, load up...that's where the unsecured cruisher ready gets asked. I was gonna just run to the "house" ( tried) but the house "is a mile down the property"...well it was a thought. My brain was at least engaged.

Oh, we ( I insisted) we not do the loaded gun in vehicle and drive to target. Kinda loud and clear I was about that.

Older I get the more I realize I don't know.
So how bad was my analysis,adaption and excecution?

 

[sm]

Dr.Rob
Thanks
I got out so fast once hunting...forgot the gun for about 15 steps.
Then you understand the secure problem. I refused to use a small sport car...my lanky legs have a hard enough time with them as is. I used my truck, muzzle on floorboard, I had the butt next to my right leg. Action open of course.

I got out , pulling by buttstock the SG ( using cover) See the other thing is, my buddy knowing I'd be the guinea pig, had Good Guy targets too, he had some my targets using cover...with the sun in my eyes. Well he still is a buddy...we never know what we may be faced with...so he had a good layout. I had to distinguish the first two BGs "kneeling in the trees". sheesh, not had that one before.

Serious fun , made me think...heck still got me thinking.

Can you see where this "might" be applicable in real life?

 

[Dave McCracken]

Stowage method has to be considered. In cases of rapid response, on personal property, jam receiver between seat and console, muzzle up and go there. With empty chamber, full mag, safety on. Classic "Cruiser ready".

Have carried a short barreled 870 crosswise on dash. Tends to slide.

An Easy Rider gun rack in back window of P/U makes stowing safer, but keep it pointing to starboard side if there's someone riding shotgun(pun intended), then have muzzle behind own head.

Same gun rack in side window of SUV, muzzle rear.

The vertical racks used on the golf cart things used by Yuppie Scum for transport during Sporting Clays events may have application, but I'd want some velcro fasteners to keep it in place during rough terrain travel.

Cabela's used to and still may have a rack that fits up near the headliner in a P/U or SUV. Same for behind the seat in a P/U.

HTH....

 

[Dr.Rob]

Dad used to have a plywood mount above the visor on his old red cruiser where he stored his CB radio etc, always seemed like a good place to velcro a long arm.

On pickups with bench seats, I've seen those gun sleeves that let a long arm sit sideways across the lower front of the seat, again muzzle pointed at passenger door. Some skinny rifles ala Winchester 94 sort of dissapear in those.

Like I said in a pinch (sort of what dave said,) mash a field jacket in between passenger seat and console, then shotgun muzzle down and go.

Sounds like a neat COF.

 

[TrapperReady]

re1973 - Here's my approach when exiting a vehicle with a shotgun:

Open door and step down.
Scratch.
Walk around back and open liftgate.
Let dog out of kennel.
Drink last mouthful of coffee from cup.
Take out case, unzip it and remove shotgun.
Open action and verify empty.
Take a look around to see what the hell the dog is doing.
Put on my vest.
Pat pockets of vest to see if I've got any shells in there.
Dump an extra box of shells into the vest "just in case".
Try to get one more sip of coffee from the empty cup.
Close the liftgate.
Make sure I've got the car keys.
Make sure I've got the car keys again.
Lock the car.
Put the car keys into a zippered pocket.
Pat down the pocket and make sure the car keys are still there.
Yell for the dog.
Drop a couple shells into the chambers.
Scratch again.
Pat the dog on the head and say "Hunt 'em up."

 

[Bob F.]

Trapper Ready: YEAH!

 

[sm]

TrapperReady I know THAT COF...aren't you supposed to be gettin another quail hunt together...

Dr. Rob.
Yes It was "interesting" so say the least.
I forgot, but your're right someone makes a over the visor long arm dealie to hold guns, thanks- good Idea.

I was I guess really wanting to be safe. It's like I'm gonna be safe, know my limitations...just really not sure sure with two fellas not really into shotguns.

Mind Pic, me 6' ,old Honda Civic, stick shift, whom can't get in or out of one anyway, trying to exit in a hurry with a training SG. I hate that individuals car. I wish the guys had shown up in the Beemer and Miata...I hop into and hop upon top of seats to hop out of those...when top down... no need for doors..now thats an idea..." wanna drive or shoot?" ...that'd work.

Its interesting the COFs we set up, ATM, carrying groceries, changing a lightbulb ( a stepladder changes a bunch of stuff btw) carrying a kid,...we have serious fun, we also will load dummy rounds into each other's guns, you never know, if in the gun, in a mag...we didn't use dummies in the SG, but we do this too.

 

[Roadkill Coyote]

Well, in the specific scenario you describe, in which you are alone in a vehicle with no rack, responding to an emergency situation, in a vehicle with a bench seat, I think I would probably load up cruiser ready, lay the shotgun on the seat, and sit on the stock. The shotgun is not going to wander around on a fast drive over, and its beside your hand getting out. Its not a scenario about comfort or long term solutions, right? Don't know about bucket seats, would depend upon the configuration. You would be amazed where unsecured items can end up when your driving like a madman.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Safe is best... you'd be amazed how many shooters firing from inside or "car" in IDPA matches (a stool set behind an actual car door) SHOOT the car door!

Some fool did it with a RIFLE (that's what you get mounting your sights 2 inches above the bore line).

Sitting on the stock seems perfectly reasonable. Won't work in my jeep, but on a bench seat that's perfect.

 

[Roadkill Coyote]

Its always funnier when its the Sergeant's car

So we had this quarterly shoot, which involved engaging the first two targets from the V of the open door before moving to a better position. The Sergeant running the range that day is, naturally, using his own car, and we had this guy, since moved on to other career opportunities, who always had problems shooting. The spotlight was turned bulb down, so the round only gouged a hole through the back of housing. Needless to say we haven't been shooting out of the Sergeants car since (lest you get the wrong idea, we still run scenarios out of the car, just not the sergeant's car ).

 

[Tom Held]

I was pheasant hunting in South Dakota last week. Interesting state, you are allow to road hunt pheasants, grouse, partridge anywhere in the state (but 300 yards from any occupied building). The procedure entails driving around, spot a cock bird (locals call them ditch chickens), jump out with your trusty smokepole and shoot as quickly as possible.

There were two reported hunting accidents opening weekend where hunters shot themselves in the foot with 12 bore guns exiting their trucks.
Nasty mistake.