Handgun in a car

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CAS700850

CAS700850

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Okay, I have a question, and would prefer not to get flamed by many of you for what I'm about to say. I'm looking for advice, not abuse. Okay, I'll take the abuse, but want the advice.

Anyways, as many of you know from reading my posts, I'm an Assistant Prosecutor (district attorney). One week a months, I am "on-call" for situations that crop up after hours and on weekends. By far and away, the vast majority of the time, I'm called out from home, and arm myself accordingly. THe problem came up recently, and has now repeated itself, which got my attention.

I got an on-call while away from home, and unarmed. (This is where you all abuse me). Twice. So, I went unarmed. Unhappily, but I survived.

What I am considering is a handgun, holster, and spare ammo kept in my car for the week I am on-call. Of course, I am concerned about the risk of theft, which I would need to balance off against the risk of going on an on-call with nothing more than my charming personality and the knife from the glove compartment.

So, I ask:

1. Revolver or auto? I'm thinking revolver, because of less concern for function problems sitting untouched for a week. Plus, less expense, and a manual-of-arms I'm familiar with.

2. What concerns should I have about heat in a parked car, especially in terms of ammo reliability?

3. Theft prevention. I know a lock on a glove box is not security for the contents, just a challenge for the crook. Any suggestions on how to store it securely in the vehicle?

My thought right now is a Taurus 85, an Uncle Mike's Kydex paddle holster, a set of speedloaders/speed strips, and some quality JHP ammo. For know, stored in the glove-box, but I'm thinking of a lock-box bolted down in the trunk.

I'd appreciate your sugestions, and will take your abuse for ever being unarmed with a smile.
 
I was once a prosecutor for the Bronx D.A.'s office, in New York. I wish I had my CCW back then. Now, I live in Charlotte, N.C. I always have something on me. In the car is either my Taurus 605 or S&W 4516. How hot does it get in your car? I don't think that you have anything to worry about the heat. I use a simple Uncle Mike's holster for concealment purposes. Honestly, I don't advertise my car or what's in it; therefore, in my office garage, I don't worry about theft.

I suggest checking with your local police/sheriff department for legality.
 
I personally wold think that safest way to store it in the car woudl be in the olock box that is bolted to the car itself. I wouldn't dare leave it in the glove box.
 
Lock box in the trunk will work just fine.

Make sure its bolted down and out of sight.

I personally frown on leaving guns in a car but sometimes its unavoidable.

As for heat affecting ammo, I have left ammo in the trunk of a car here in AZ for weeks in the middle of August. It shot fine.

If it didnt ruin it here in AZ, it aint gonna hurt it up in Ohio. ;)
 
Gee, so many lawyers, around here. Prosecutors, no less! Of course, leaving a gun in the car is not the best idea, but sometimes you have no choice.

If your car has a trunk, and all you need is access with advanced notice, should not be a problem. I carry a hi-cap S&W 9MM in stainless behind the seat of my pick-up. A trunk would be better, but I don't have one. I carry one loaded mag (15 rounds) and it is either in the gun or with me. I never leave the gun and ammo together. I never leave an empty magazine with the gun. So, if someone breaks in, at best they have an unloaded pistol that won't fire until they locate a series 59 magazine and some ammo.

I bought a good quality cable lock and run it through the trigger guard and around the steel seat frame. If someone wants it, they had better had brought some serious tools with them. Most crooks aren't that prepared for an auto burglary. The trunk might be better and all you need is some structural member you can loop the cable around. Might have to drill a hole in a support piece or something. Make sure it's something welded or bolted to the car frame or body.
 
Whatever you pick I would store it in something like this
http://www.rvsafes.com/drawer.html
or one of their other products and not worry about the dust issue (if this is a real rather than percieved proroblm use a ziplock bag).

All of the above being said I would keep my regular carry piece in the locker.
 
I'm planning on building my own vehicle lock box for my "new" truck gun. It will be constructed of 11ga. stainless steel, internally bolted to the floorboard, airtight and with a hidden latch release that can be opened (by me only) in a hurry. Oh, yeah - and it'll fit under my seat. I think I can pull all of that off :uhoh: .

Not wanting to hijack the thread, but I'm looking for suggestions, if anyone has any...
 
I've one (ex-cab pickup) truck in which I almost always keep a old Russian Makarov in .380 along with one spare mag, stored behind the jump seat. The Mak always goes bang even when extremely dirty. I normally keep my old Taurus 85CH in my SUV (in the nifty little hidden compartment in the rear cargo area under the mat) with a spare speedloader of +P GDHPs. I figure that either of these two handguns don't represent a big investment, but both are totally reliable, easily concealable and reasonably accurate. Still haven't gotten around to mounting a lockable box in either of my vehicles. Also, like Lennyjoe, I've left ammo in my vehicles for days at a time in Arizona summertime, no ill effects on the ammo. The Uncle Mike's kydex paddle holsters are a good idea -- I keep Fobus paddles with my car guns.
 
My choice would be an SP-101. The cable lock is a great stop-gap until you can arange something that gives you more warm fuzzies.

To me, the best case senario for vehicle weapon storage would be to have a cheap car safe. Leave the safe empty. Hide the gun, cable locked, elsewhere. Bad guys find and break into safe, find it empty, and assume that you have the gun on you so don't search too hard for it. Meanwhile they've spent more time fussing with the safe and are more likely to get caught.
 
My reason for an auto is who wants to fumble loading and unloading the revolver? I assume you don't intend to leave the gun loaded while unattended? I just drop out the mag and pop it back in and I'm good to go. Gun lives in condition 3.
 
Thanks fo rthe info without the flames. :D

My concern over heat was based on a memory of an article read many years ago, claiming that leaving ammo in a car risks that it could heat up, melt the bullet lube, and contaminate the powder/primer. Probably not a concern with jacketed ammo.

I hadn't thought about having an auto with a full mag and empty chamber. A friend (GreatScot on THR) recommended the Mak as well. Hates to say he may be on to something, but...
 
The concern aobut leaving ammo in the car and getting hot is real. The area around the primer can expand just enough to not allow a full strike on the primer. Picture the prime being seated too deeply. Just a small amount may be enough to cause a misfire. In Ohio, in a lock box in your trunk, should not be as much of a concern as warmer climates.

As a D.A. and officer of the court, can't you get a provision to carry a concealed weapon?
 
I keep a M640 in my car. Before the M640, I kept a Walther PPK in the car.

I live in FL, so my car interior gets pretty hot in the summer. I replace my ammo monthly.


nero
 
$0.02

1. Revolver or auto? use what your familiar with.

2. do not store more ammo than you are willing to replace monthly.(just to be sure). and weekly clean and lube of firearm.

3. Theft prevention. lock-box bolted down

you answered most of your own questions.
 
Yes, as a D.A., I carry on my badge, not on a permit. The question was intended for situations when I need to "go to work" but am not carrying at the time.

Yes, I agree, Ohio carry laws are not good. But it's a start.

Thank you for the advice. I know I answered some of my own questions, but at least now I know that I'm not obviously wrong. ;)
 
A month or so ago I posted a thread asking what is the best way to store a gun in a vehicle. One of the replys gave me this web site.

www.center-of-mass.com

After looking around at other safes I ended up getting this one. You can mount it to the vehicle or use the cable lock to attach it under your seat. That way the box is easy to reach in the event you need it fast. Good luck in your search.
 
He's in Ohio

In Ohio, if I recall correctly from statements on packing.org, if the gun is not secured in the locking glove box it must be in plain sight (whatever that is), and holstered on the CCW person.

If it is secured in a locking box, the box must also be in plain sight... without the holstering requirement, of course. :) This would preclude attaching the box in a safe out of sight place in the passenger compartment.

More than a few states actually consider hidden compartments in a vehicle illegal. They are, in this situation, called traps.

Regardless, the best and safest place for a gun is on you.
 
Quite a few states also prohibit loaded guns in the car unless on you or under your direct control (both w/ CHL), and treat a loaded mag that's with the weapon as the equivalent of a loaded weapon. But we are sure that you know how to get the answer to that question for your own state! :D
 
http://www.center-of-mass.com/

This is working out real well for me now when I have to disarm to go into work. The small box (what I have) holds a holstered J-frame and a speed strip just fine. They have a larger model coming out soon if you need larger. Price cannot be beat either. You can use the cable to secure it or bolt it down somewhere.

Greg
 
No knocking or flaming intended...

Those Center of mass boxes look a lot like a Brinks box you can get at your local Sprawl-Mart for around $10. Drill a couple holes in it, add some foam and a cable lock supplied with your last firearm, and you're good to go.
 
Whatever you do, change ammo frequently.
Heat isn't really a problem in my experience but I don't care for the long term efect of heat and vibration.
Shoot it up in your monthly practice and replace it.

Sam
 
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