TexasCHLforum.com

Ok...I'm finally posting this because it has annoyed me until it literally has become a pain in the, um...rear.

I can't seem to figure out a way to access my weapon easily while in my vehicle and belted in. It's currently a G23 in a C-TAC carried at approximately 3-3:30.

Without unholstering/reholstering/off body carry or switching to a paddle holster for crossdraw- any suggestions? Though I really don't want to, if I have to go with off body carry it seems that the Wilderness Safepacker is a good bet.

I've been thinkin' about options after hearing about some of the recent carjackings in town...


Much thanks....

I keep a second gun in the car or truck where I can get to it better.

I was thinking of getting a kydex holster and mounting it either between the seat and center console or under the dash.....OR in front of the seat. I'd simply unholster in the car and place it there. Lately (after the Utah CFP class.....thanks to llwatson!!) I've been carrying my Kahr CW9 concealed and keeping my fullsize within reach in a fanny pack holster rig by the seat. With all the recent pleasantness going on around here, I've decided that faster access while strapped in is a MUST. I've also added an OC device to my EDC stuff.

I use a Wilderness Safepacker. It works very well. However I usually have one gun on the body and then a second in the Safepacker. Occasionally however I will carry only one and switch it from the OWB to the Safepacker in the car.

In one instructional film I have, there is a section on shooting from cars, where the instructor engages targets from 1-2 yards away from a strong-side hip holster while belted in the driver seat of a motor vehicle.

This instructor was able to engage the targets very rapidly, and I noticed two things that greatly assisted his technique, which were not directly addressed in his lecture:

1) cover garment was pre-positioned so it was not obstructing draw (practically open-carry)
2) operator leaned forward to make extra room to get hand on the gun

Item 1 can be a little tricky with Texas' requirement to conceal; you will have to work with things like window tint, vehicle height and other alternative methods of concealing the gun from people outside the vehicle. Item 2 works when you are in the driver's seat and can muscle yourself forward via a properly-positioned steering wheel.

I use a second gun in a Safepacker, as well as keeping OC within easy reach. Absent a second gun, the technique I saw while watching the instructor described above looks pretty good.

Hope this helps.

I keep a second gun in the pocket behind my passenger seat in the truck but I also have very dark tinted rear windows and rarely have people in the back seat. I just have to remember to move it up front if I have people in the back seat especially kids but it works well for me. I have also put my XD9mm in the driver door pocket on occasion. Both allow easy access and conceal fairly well.

http://www.grassburr.com/ has several ideas and a system for in car mountings.

I keep a second gun in the center console.

I worry about arming a felon if my car is broken into. Most times, I just unholster it and place it in the center console.

Plan A here is to try and avoid getting caught in such a vulnerable position. Plan B would be to try and drive out of it quickly.

Beyond that, I typically have at least one flavor of OC in the door pocket or on visor. A Glock 23 could be a little large for such, but left ankle carry works well for me with 340PD or PM-9. With both having pretty short barrels, I've also got IWB holsters for each that facilitate carrying at 4:00. With either set-up and seat belt set on my truck, like someone said earlier, I need to lean forward some to draw.
But, since we all know that "Plan A (and even Plan B) may not work", I prefer to have at least one gun securely on me in the event I need to "drive to survive" and/or exit the vehicle quickly.

I also have been carrying a second weapon in the car. Usually in the center console or the passenger side map pocket. Kind of a pain in the rear but serves its purposes. I imagine a good shoulder holster could also be used to mitigate this particular scenario.

Here's one from Fist, Inc. I've thought about getting. Press a button and twist the holster from crossdraw to a driving holster. http://www.fist-inc.com/holsters/holster/42.htm

One precaution you can take against carjacking is to drive in the inside lane when you're approaching intersections. This places you away from a curbside attack and allows you an exit, since you're not "boxed in" during stops. If you're involved in a rear-end bump, keep moving. As long as you're at speed and in front, you're OK. If you're worried about a road duel, a 12ga. "cruiser" is the last word on that subject.

I really like shoulder holsters for driving. Access is fast, and in my case, a Glock 21 and 40 rounds of .45ACP conceals comfortably and well. I'm also very fond of Galco's front-pack holsters. In a car, you can fasten the holster's belt around the seatbelt buckle and hang the holster between the console and driver's seat, giving you secure, concealed, easy reach-in access. It only takes a second to don the front-pack when you leave the car. I'm quite hesitant to leave a pistol in the center console, or anywhere else in an unguarded car.

If you have a place to permanently attach a holster to the car, Blade Tech makes a line of very functional injection-molded holsters that can be disassembled and mounted inconspicuously inside the car. Brownell's price on the line is about ten bucks each if you get their discount, and around fourteen otherwise. At that price, you can get several to experiment with.

I've usually kept my carry piece holstered in its usual spot on the body...

I have learned to get used to it being there and it not being too much of a comfort issue over these years...

But...

If its a long trip, I usually belt on the holster where it usually goes...Get ready to get in the vehicle or truck (F-150) and (safely and discretely) un-holster the weapon and snug it into the seat crease near the console...

I have found the retention in that crease to be pretyt good and accessability is absolutely fantastic and safe to do in any senario I can think of...

But...

Looking at "grassburr" stuff "lrb" posted is raising my eyebrow...And made me think of retension in the face of a bad accident...The retention I know would not be too goood in the event of a bad collision, and having that G23 of mine flying around in the cab is not to comforting...

So after looking at that product line, I believe that standard holster with the concealment case that can be zipped around it (when need be) would work pretty good...

That way I might not have to think about carrying and securing another pistol just for the vehicle...And having one on the body as well...

Just my opinion...

lrb111 wrote:http://www.grassburr.com/ has several ideas and a system for in car mountings.

I spoke to the owner there yesterday and they are going to be at the Mesquite show this weekend showing thier wares. The design looks pretty cool.