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Vehicle holster? Yay or nay?

BassCliff

BassCliff

Professional
Hi!

Tapping into the hive mind here.

There was a time when I thought about "accessibly" storing my self-defense firearm in my vehicle while driving, perhaps with a magnet under the dash. But I think the following article has changed my mind:

gatdaily.com

Just Say No To Vehicle Holsters

Vehicle holsters are never a good idea. They are a terible solution to a non problem. Just get rid of it and carry the weapon like a grown up.
gatdaily.com gatdaily.com

In case of a vehicular accident, having a "projectile that shoots projectiles" flying around inside my truck gives me cause.

When carrying in my vehicle I have to remember to open my jacket and make sure my shirt is not stuck under the seat belt to make for easier access. I have practiced drawing inside the vehicle and exiting the vehicle quickly. Now I'm thinking that this is sufficient.

Your thoughts? Yay or nay? Thanks for sharing your mind.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
Yes, I have an Alien Gear holster mount under the dash just above and off to the side of where my right knee is (offset under the steering wheel), my Alien Gear Cloak Tuck OWB paddle holster slides in and holds it securely (trigger completely covered). You cannot really see if you're casually looking into the car from the outside and it's a very fast draw (faster than if I had it on my hip).

I wouldn't leave it in there if I'm not in the vehicle of course but it's useful if I'm driving longer distances.
 
I can't think of anything good about a vehicle Mount holster but I can think of a lot of bad.

1. Unnecessary administrative handling leads to negligent discharges.

2. Off body carry leads to forgetting your gun.

2a. If you get car-jacked you've given the thief a gun as well as your car.

3. Leaving an unattended, unsecured gun in your vehicle is an invitation to theft.

4. What if something happens and you need your gun and you go into brain lock because all your training is to reach for your hip and the gun is under the dash?
 
In Florida for example, you may not open carry, even in your car and even if you have a concealed weapons license. If you have a holster or one of those magnet deals mounted in such a way that the firearm is visible from outside the car you are in violation. If You do not have a concealed weapons license you may legally have a concealed firearm in your car, provided it is not accessible as if it were carried on your person. Such as tucked between seat and console or in a door pocket. Every state has idiosyncracies in the law that you must know and understand. So thus I say if you are planning to mount a holster, check the law.
 
The Night Rider said:
I can't think of anything good about a vehicle Mount holster but I can think of a lot of bad.

1. Unnecessary administrative handling leads to negligent discharges.

2. Off body carry leads to forgetting your gun.

2a. If you get car-jacked you've given the thief a gun as well as your car.

3. Leaving an unattended, unsecured gun in your vehicle is an invitation to theft.

4. What if something happens and you need your gun and you go into brain lock because all your training is to reach for your hip and the gun is under the dash?
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I'm not sure I can agree on all your points.

1. Yes, you're absolutely right, it's more administrative handling, if you're not sure about your trigger discipline you should probably not use a car holster.
2. IMHO If you have a propensity for forgetting your gun, you probably shouldn't be carrying one.
3. I don't know about you but if I'm getting carjacked my gun is going to be in my hand not in a holster.
4. IMHO Leaving your gun in a car holster when you're not in the car is absolutely STUPID, in fact leaving it in your car anywhere that isn't a cabled down, secure safe while you're not in the car is absolutely STUPID.
5. Train for a car holster draw scenario, my car holster is a much easier and faster draw than having to remove my seatbelt and drawing from my hip. Maybe a shoulder holster for in car carry is a solution to this dilema but that has it's own challenges.

Biggest advantages of a car holster, much more comfortable than sitting in a car for hours with a gun in your hip holster and as a bonus it's a faster draw if you do it right. :)
 
Me personally, I keep my weapon on me at all times when in car or driving, now I do have a Hornaday lock box that I have mechanically attached under my seat to put my gun in when I visit a store that prohibits CCW, plus when I use this box, it’s completely hidden out of sight as to not draw attention that I may or may not have a gun in my car
 
Net Engineer said:
1. Yes, you're absolutely right, it's more administrative handling, if you're not sure about your trigger discipline you should probably not use a car holster.
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Regardless of your Trigger Discipline or lack thereof more unnecessary administrative handling gives you more opportunities to screw it up.
Net Engineer said:
2. IMHO If you have a propensity for forgetting your gun, you probably shouldn't be carrying one.
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Off body carry long enough and you will forget your gun  or you'll just say screw it and leave it there because you're lazy. And if you don't you're still unnecessarily handling your gun. Lose/Lose.


Net Engineer said:
3. I don't know about you but if I'm getting carjacked my gun is going to be in my hand not in a holster.
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Have you ever trained for a car jacking scenario (By training I mean an actual Tactical Pistol class not going out to your range and practicing by yourself)?

Have you ever worked on shooting from your car? Have you ever worked on fighting while you're strapped to your car seat?

Net Engineer said:
4. IMHO Leaving your gun in a car holster when you're not in the car is absolutely STUPID, in fact leaving it in your car anywhere that isn't a cabled down, secure safe while you're not in the car is absolutely STUPID.
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On this we agree

Net Engineer said:
5. Train for a car holster draw scenario, my car holster is a much easier and faster draw than having to remove my seatbelt and drawing from my hip.
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Define "train". Again have you ever actually worked around a car in training?

Net Engineer said:
Biggest advantages of a car holster, much more comfortable than sitting in a car for hours with a gun in your hip holster
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I spent several years working as a roving patrol guard/alarm response. I spent 8 to 12 hours a day in a car with a gun on my hip. I also had to get into and out of the car multiple times a day.

I also had a guy rush my car one night while I was sitting in a parking lot doing paperwork. I didn't have time to sit there and think "Which holster is my gun in now?"

Net Engineer said:
it's a faster draw IF YOU DO IT RIGHT :)
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Your life may very well depend on that
 
I'm positive a holster can be attached to your vehicle in a way that it's out of sight. Conventional wisdom says it's a bad idea. People have hammers and other crap on the floor or wherever that will fly around though and I don't ever hear anyone cautioning about that. I actually have a friend, the guy I have talked about here before who is pals with he president of FN and who's brother in law is a bigshot here at Browning. Anyway, he was in an accident about 6 months ago. Bad enough to total his car. He was out on a lonely road and walked to the nearest house to get help. When he went to the police station the next day the cops had found his gun in the front floorboard and tried to make a big deal of giving it back to him unless he provided a receipt of purchase.

I guess that doesn't really have anything to do with Cliff's question though.

Anyhow I say do what you want. I don't see anything horrible resulting from having a holster mounted in your car somewhere. Personally though I keep mine on me.
 
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