get home bag pistol

[Revolver Ocelot]

I'm building a get home bag to leave in the truck and would like to get a pistol for it should I find I need the bag and for some reason was not carrying a pistol that day.

I would like to get a gun that is either 380, 9mm, or 45acp (calibers I stock up on already), preferably something on the compact side (not sub compact), preferably steel.

And above all else, not terribly expensive (less than 500 preferably), if anyone ever broke into my vehicle and stole the bag I wouldn't want to lose any sleep over the cost of replacing it.

And at the risk of being flamed, No glock, not hating on them, but I'm glocked out.

Any ideas?

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I would not cry if someone stole a 3rd Gen Smith or Ruger P series.

 

[Valkman]

I'd use the same kind of gun I have in my truck, a XD45. Just a great gun for that situation.

 

[cheesebigot]

CZ 83. Cheap (~$200), in .380, and holds 12. While heavy, it's also easily concealable.

 

[32_d3gr33s]

Honestly I think id get a high point in .45. Not compact but cheap and could be used as a hammer too

 

[danez71]

I'm building a get home bag to leave in the truck and would like to get a pistol for it should I find I need the bag and for some reason was not carrying a pistol that day.

I would like to get a gun that is either 380, 9mm, or 45acp (calibers I stock up on already), preferably something on the compact side (not sub compact), preferably steel.

And above all else, not terribly expensive (less than 500 preferably), if anyone ever broke into my vehicle and stole the bag I wouldn't want to lose any sleep over the cost of replacing it.

And at the risk of being flamed, No glock, not hating on them, but I'm glocked out.
Any ideas?

If your glocked out.... maybe that should be your choice so you wouldn't loose sleep if its stolen. Its a good choice regardless.


BTW, you really should lock it up some how in the car. Run a cable lock through it.. put it in a decent lock box... something. No sense giving a bad guy an easy added bonus.

 

[Telekinesis]

I've been looking at doing the same thing and I'm leaning towards one of the Tristar CZ clones that Academy sells. It's a 9mm compact (13+1) that takes CZ compact mags and can use Meprolight night sights. I've heard mostly good reviews of it. Last I checked it was around $350 or so.

 

[rcmodel]

I'd lose a whole lot of sleep if some scum-bag broke into my truck and stole a working gun & ammo to use in an ever escalating life of crime!

Nothing good can come out of arming more creeps that break into trucks and steal things.

You are just feeding & better arming the beast you fear already!

IMO: If you can't maintain control of it by taking it with you coming & going?

Don't take it at all.

rc

 

[goon]

I agree with rcmodel. I wouldn't want to be responsible for anything that helped a bad guy get a gun, even if the gun was only worth $200.

I'd ask the OP, what's your regular carry gun? Why not just use it as your get-home gun?

Also, understand that I'm on the same side of the fence with you guys and agree that having a gun around is a good thing, both for peace of mind and for actual security.

Having said that, I've found good boots, a change of dry clothes, two changes of socks, an extra sweatshirt, a flashlight, a snack, a bottle of water, jumper cables, tools, a spare serpentine belt, a full-size spare tire, a tarp, and a blanket to be of real immediate use at various times in vehicular emergencies throughout my life. I've always felt better having a firearm, but I've never needed one.
Food for thought.

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

I'm in the military, so naturally most of my day is spent in scenarios where I cannot have a weapon, it'd be locked up (in accordance with post regulation). But fact of the matter is locks don't stop everyone.

Having the gun in a lock box in a back pack in a locked car is as close to easily accessible as I can have most days, so you would be suggesting I forgo that option out of fear that a bad guy might steal my gun? It certainly isn't plan a of course, but I certainly wouldn't rule it out as things like this do happen.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I am not going beyond keeping my gun outta sight and locking my doors to prevent the what ifs of what a thief may do after he rips me off.

 

[Rusty Luck]

EAA witness CZ clone. I had one in 45 and my friend had one in 9mm. That thing was a tack driver. Cost me a whole $300 (used). Or like previously mentioned the Tristars from academy look really enticing. Older rugers and smiths. There are a ton of options for less than $500 and even quite a bit less than $400 if you look at used and shop around.

IMHO there is nothing wrong with having a gun in the truck, it's just like having one at home, someone can break in a take it. People will rebuttal with; but you have it locked up in a safe at home. But everyone knows that locks are meant to keep honest people out and any half determined thief will find a way to take the burden of ownership off your hands. There are these pretty nifty gun locks now, might be worth a look. http://theusrac.com/

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

http://www.thegunbox.com/product.php

I plan on getting one of these once I save for the gun I would really much rather have in the vehicle, but as of right now I can't justify a 500 lock box for a 300 dollar gun.

 

[goon]

The option Rusty Luck posted looks pretty useful. I have lived in places before where the only way I had to secure firearms was to chain them to the heating pipes. That option looks a lot more secure than that and also looks pretty portable. I tend to travel light and end up in lots of different places, so something like that is a far better choice for me than a bazillion pound safe. And it only leaves a couple holes in the floor when I move that could be easily repaired and painted over.
I could see maybe using that to secure one underneath a spare tire in a trunk.

With that idea in mind... something cheap and weatherproof (stainless and synthetic). I've seen used XD's for around $350 and Ruger P95's for around $300 or even a little under. In the case of Rugers, there are Mec-Gar 18 round magazines available that are relatively cheap and are as trustworthy as factory magazines.

 

[bannockburn]

Revolver Ocelot

Looked at the gunbox.com website and I think the only thing I could afford from them would be one of their t-shirts. Really high-tech and really pricey.

 

[HexHead]

You may be "Glocked out", but a police trade in Glock would be your best option.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

I'd lose a whole lot of sleep if some scum-bag broke into my truck and stole a working gun & ammo to use in an ever escalating life of crime!

Nothing good can come out of arming more creeps that break into trucks and steal things.

You are just feeding & better arming the beast you fear already!

IMO: If you can't maintain control of it by taking it with you coming & going?

Don't take it at all.

rc

+1 ^^^^^^^^^^^ !!

I have a bug out bag in my truck with some food, water, first air kit, extra clothes, etc for the disaster that keeps me out of my home space. But a gun isn't part of that tack. I'll keep my gun on me at all times...I'll *have* to lock it in the vehicle at times and then it will be in a locked strong steel box bolted to the vehicle.

Don't feed the animals....

VooDoo

 

[dogtown tom]

Revolver Ocelot I'm building a get home bag to leave in the truck and would like to get a pistol for it should I find I need the bag and for some reason was not carrying a pistol that day.

I would like to get a gun that is either 380, 9mm, or 45acp (calibers I stock up on already), preferably something on the compact side (not sub compact), preferably steel.

And above all else, not terribly expensive (less than 500 preferably), if anyone ever broke into my vehicle and stole the bag I wouldn't want to lose any sleep over the cost of replacing it.

And at the risk of being flamed, No glock, not hating on them, but I'm glocked out.

Choice of a bug out bag, truck gun, etc should be chosen based on a model and caliber you are MOST familiar with......not on a price point.

You mention steel.............the WORST choice for a handgun to be stored in a vehicle. Temperature fluctuations>condensation>rusty gun.

If you regularly use a 9mm Glock it would be farcical to choose a .45 Hi Point.
Police trade in Glocks can be found for $400 or less.

As far as losing sleep over a cheap gun being stolen,,,,here comes my flamethrower............NO FIREARM should be left unsecured when out of your direct control. Get an lockable armrest/console, small pistol safe or a cable lock to secure your gun......don't just toss it in the glove box where any methhead can find it, that's irresponsible.

 

[buck460XVR]

Where I used to work, they had a policy of no guns on the job site, but we were allowed to have a gun in our vehicle. Plenty of times I CWC on the way to work and after. Thus, while I was on the job, the gun was locked in my truck...not a big deal. The value of the firearm after $250 was irrelevant as anything after that was covered by my homeowner's insurance.

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

my options are leave the gun in the truck or not go armed at all, 90% of my week is spent where I cannot legally conceal carry.

 

[Glocktogo]

For all those that say "don't carry if you can't take it with you", that's silly. If someone breaks into your home and prys open your safe, are you irresponsible for arming the thieves? At what point do you draw the line?

For me, that line is a secured storage method in a vehicle. A hard mounted lock box for the pistol is sufficient, for me. If I feel like the risk is too great beyond that, then it's someplace I wouldn't want to park my vehicle regardless of whether it contained a gun.

As to the OP's question, I see S&W M&P's for under $500 all the time. $450 seems to be a fairly common rate. If you hate Glocks, that might be a viable alternative.

 

[WestKentucky]

Harbor freight sells small electronic lock safes with a key override behind the buttons. Buy that, bolt to the floor/trunk. It is safe (pun intended) and secure, quick, cheap, easy, small, and has the added bonus of extra secure space for your wallet/keys/phone/wife's purse ammo, paperwork etc. on those days you may be at the beach or on the boat etc and want it secure but not on your person where it may get lost, stolen or ruined. It isn't pretty, but it is VERY efficient. I know of 4 in jeeps and a couple others in pickups. I suspect I know where a few are in cars trunks (same as jeep owners, but the wifemobile). I had my weapons in one when I was at college, but I bought a bigger one to hold a mossy 500 with barrel removed. Add a bag of desiccant and your set.

 

[W.E.G.]

If you don't want a plastic pistol, get a stainless steel revolver to store in the rust box.

Seems like a simple solution to me.

It irked me when Ruger started putting plastic inserts in the grips of their D/A revolvers.
So, you might have to spring for a set of grips to de-plastic it.

 

[tomrkba]

Ignoring your 'Glocked out' requirement: used G19 for around $400.

Or, grab a revolver out of the safe, add three speed loaders, holster and a box or two of hot hardcast ammo.

If you are concerned about rust, why not vacuum seal the unloaded gun up in plastic with dissectant? Seal up a box of ammo, an extra mag/loader or two and you are done.

 

[FAS1]

my options are leave the gun in the truck or not go armed at all, 90% of my week is spent where I cannot legally conceal carry.

In TX you can have a gun in your car without a CHL and there are many people in the same situation that can't carry at work. I would secure the gun as well as could reasonable be expected and be able to have my gun before and after work while travelling. That's more than a locked car for me. I wish that was enough, but we're not talking about someone stealing a TV. Something like this would be pretty secure in your situation.