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Please, this is NOT a thread to debate gun carry in a car.

Been working on this challenge for a while, and I do believe the gun magnet is the best solution I've found so far.

Picked up a Taurus PT111 Millennium Pro 9mm and was surprised by how well it shot right out of the box. Super compact little 13 shot with a decent trigger.

This "Quick Draw" magnet is super powerful, and there's no way a compact pistol will fly loose even in an accident. Rated at 10lbs, it takes a strong "twist" to detach the PT111 since the flat slide puts a significant surface on the magnet.

So, the muzzle is pointed safely, straight down with the weight of the gun resting both on the floor and the magnet.

I left enough room to move the seat up if the wife drives the Touring, and with my hand towel stuffed between the seats instead of under the front seat, it's a winnah.

Doc,

Thanks for the info on the magnet. I do have one question. Does your wife have any trouble detaching the gun from the magnet? I worry that I would be there fumbling around to get the gun off the magnet in a time sensitive situation. Otherwise, looks pretty nifty!

T.

Doc, does the magnet have a coating which will protect the gun's finish?

The Annoyed Man wrote:Doc, does the magnet have a coating which will protect the gun's finish?

Good question AND how does it work with the plastic pistols; e.g., SA XD's?

Oldgringo wrote:

The Annoyed Man wrote:Doc, does the magnet have a coating which will protect the gun's finish?

Good question AND how does it work with the plastic pistols; e.g., SA XD's?

Even though the frame is made of polymer the rest of it is metal, the slide, barrel, trigger group, I would expect that if the magnet was strong enough to hold a 10 lb weight it would be strong enough to hold a polymer frame pistol.

p.s. if you look at the pics there is a polymer pistol attached to the magnet

all excellent questions

Yes, my wife can twist it free, especially when determined and intentional.

Yes, it's coated. But I don't carry a nice, valuable gun in my cars, just beater/shooters of limited value.

Yes, the flat side of the metal slide provides more than adequate contact surface. It attaches with a definite "clunk".

It's not the ultimate solution, by far, but until I figure how to attach a holster with a retention strap, make is accessible and concealed, this is gonna have to do.

doc540 wrote:Yes, it's coated. But I don't carry a nice, valuable gun in my cars, just beater/shooters of limited value.

I've actually got enough invested in relatively expensive pistols that I can't afford to go out and buy a beater.

That said, it seems like one could simply stick some kind of protective product like moleskin, for instance, over the contact surface of the magnet, which would keep it from scratching the finish of the gun.

...food for thought...

So, at school we all made non-magnetized metals magnetic by rubbing them in the same direction with a magnet.

So, using this magnet frequently, is it possible your gun could become magnetized, and could that magnetic charge then potentially cause problems. I carry in close proximity to where my credit cards sit in my wallet. I've accidentally wiped cards before with a magnetic field.

Is this a valid concern or should I wear the tinfoil hat and stop worrying

While not a concern with a beater, I will mention that the magnetic field could affect the finish on the gun.

I once clamped a strong utility magnet to the underside of my trunk lid. The paint on the exterior then cracked and deteriorated severely in the shape of the magnet.

TheBrit wrote:So, at school we all made non-magnetized metals magnetic by rubbing them in the same direction with a magnet.

So, using this magnet frequently, is it possible your gun could become magnetized, and could that magnetic charge then potentially cause problems. I carry in close proximity to where my credit cards sit in my wallet. I've accidentally wiped cards before with a magnetic field.

Is this a valid concern or should I wear the tinfoil hat and stop worrying

I'm wondering if the gun becomes magnitized, and it's loaded with sub-sonic/low recoil loads, could the magnetic pull become so strong that it would stop the bullets from leaving the barrel?

Sorry, my hat fell off for a moment.

This sure beats my idea of putting my pistol in an insulated beverage holder and then filling it with super foam.

Actually I thank you for sharing this neat idea. I'm tired of constantly adjusting our car gun, as it's repositioned itself into a hard to reach position more than once.

TheBrit wrote:So, at school we all made non-magnetized metals magnetic by rubbing them in the same direction with a magnet.

So, using this magnet frequently, is it possible your gun could become magnetized, and could that magnetic charge then potentially cause problems. I carry in close proximity to where my credit cards sit in my wallet. I've accidentally wiped cards before with a magnetic field.

Is this a valid concern or should I wear the tinfoil hat and stop worrying

Perhaps even magnetize your tinfoil hat... Then THEY could hear your thoughts.

doc540 wrote:all excellent questions
It's not the ultimate solution, by far, but until I figure how to attach a holster with a retention strap, make is accessible and concealed, this is gonna have to do.

A left handed holster, attached right where your magnet is, will work.
A pretty durable Uncle Mikes style fabric holster w/retention are still economical. and work well in a car.

I recommend cheap plastic holsters for places like desks, under counters, back of headboards, up under bathroom cabinets, etc. Fobus and Houston make plastic/Kydex paddle styles that can have the paddle removed to go in a "fixed" position. They grip the gun pretty securely as they are designed to hold on around the trigger guard normally.

A little fore thought for which side the holster will get attached to is all that is necessary.

lrb111 wrote:

doc540 wrote:all excellent questions
It's not the ultimate solution, by far, but until I figure how to attach a holster with a retention strap, make is accessible and concealed, this is gonna have to do.

A left handed holster, attached right where your magnet is, will work.
A pretty durable Uncle Mikes style fabric holster w/retention are still economical. and work well in a car.

I recommend cheap plastic holsters for places like desks, under counters, back of headboards, up under bathroom cabinets, etc. Fobus and Houston make plastic/Kydex paddle styles that can have the paddle removed to go in a "fixed" position. They grip the gun pretty securely as they are designed to hold on around the trigger guard normally.

A little fore thought for which side the holster will get attached to is all that is necessary.

I've been trying different holsters, but have yet to find a way to put sheet metal screws threw the back (contacting) side of the holster. And many of them protrude into the legwell area. I own probably a half dozen Uncle Mike's, Galco's, and Roto's.

I even thought of cutting a slot through the carpet and plastic console side and sliding a clip-on through it. I decided not to carve up the console side because I won't keep this car more than a couple of years longer anyway.

To recap:
The gun's an inexpensive beater that I don't worry about marring (no guarantee that's even going to happen) or having stolen.
It's firmly secured, and until one actually experiences the retention force one is just guessing.
It ain't perfect, but it's working for me in the interim.

Doc,

Where did you get the magnet from?

Joe

Gander Mountain $25 with my Christmas gift card.