What makes a good car gun?

[MichSteve]

Ok, I know some would never leave their handgun in the car so I understand why. I have to either take no gun or leave a gun in the car at times, so I have just installed a Gun Vault 300 it is a small one gun combination safe that cable locks to the seat frame of the passenger seat and store neatly out of sight under the seat.

Question is what is your idea of a car gun and why?

I have a Glock 19, Kahr PM9 and S&W 642. I would not leave the Kahr in the car, because of its high price tag. I would even purchase another gun if that makes sense over my two other currently owned guns.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[GoBigOrange]

glock 19 but keep it locked up!

[Doc Holliday]

A dependable police trade in that I didn't have a ton of $ invested in.

[warmxd9]

if i had to leave it in the car i would leave the least exspensive one.

[MichSteve]

With the Glock, how often do you change out the magazines in a situation of car storage?

[Eagleks]

If it were strictly for the car..... I would get me a .357 EAA or Rossi revolver that I didn't have to pay much for and have it in there.

[TheOhioan]

If it were strictly for the car..... I would get me a .357 EAA or Rossi revolver that I didn't have to pay much for and have it in there.

This.

[buckeye .45]

I think part of what makes a good car gun is that it needs a history of reliability, and preferably has no sentimental value for you, and isn't too expensive.

Also, I think that part of the advantage is that you can have something in your car that is more difficult for you to conceal than your EDC. So a full sized revolver in .357 would be a good choice, or a full sized pistol, preferably with larger magazines than normal. (So in your 19, it would be using 17 magazines). You kind of eliminate that with using the car vault (not saying it isn't a good idea to keep it locked up, just making an observation.)

[retsupt99]

How many car thieves would look under the seat for valuables? I'm just sayin'...
If you have to keep the gun in the car at times, I would leave the revolver (of your choices) in a CoM safe, and hidden in the car.
Out of sight and out of mind...

[TWO GUNS]

A good car gun to me is. A gun that will fire when you pull the trigger.A big enough caliber. A small price tag. My car gun is a Charter Arms Bulldog in 44 Special.

[Knightrider]

I never got the reason to have a handgun as a "car gun". Seems kind of fruitless to me. Just have whatever your carrying that day be your "car gun".

[old grunt]

Try to find a 3" K Frame Smith or a Ruger Service-Six in the used gun market. These in 38 and or 357 would make an outstanding "car gun" that shouldn't set you back a fortune. They always "go bang" too, God forbid you need them. Good Luck!

[kapnketel]

I never got the reason to have a handgun as a "car gun". Seems kind of fruitless to me. Just have whatever your carrying that day be your "car gun".

Kinda my thoughts also. My wife's employer does not allow weapons, but she can leave it in the car. I have a combo safe cabled under the seat, she opens it up, puts her EDC in and goes to work. She gets in at the end of the day, opens the safe, and goes about carrying. Its the weapon she trains with and is familiar with. I worry that a relatively unfamiliar gun in a pressure situation could be a disadvantage.

[OldVet]

I never got the reason to have a handgun as a "car gun". Seems kind of fruitless to me. Just have whatever your carrying that day be your "car gun".

^
This.
Why would I want to keep a gun in the car, especially if it needs to be kept "locked up"? Having a lockable case with security cable makes sense on those occasions when you must leave the EDC in the car, but a dedicated "car gun"?

[gtv]

I would go with a revolver as well. That way, you don't have to worry about changing out mags every so often. I would look at stainless guns, too, since it is much harder to control moisture in your car, as opposed to a gun safe in your house. A friend of mine bought a used (NYPD trade in) nickel-plated S&W model 10 .38 special from J&G Sales last March for about $300 that he uses as his car gun.