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Un-Holstering and Re-Holstering in Vehicle
Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 9:42 am
by Abraham
In order to NEVER have my pistol seen by others, I always carry a large, kinda scruffy, but clean towel on my center console when it's necessary to leave the pistol in the vehicle.
I pull the towel very close to me and no one can tell what I'm doing and as long as I'm careful (always), no one can see the pistol I'm removing. The pistol stays in the towel and away I go. I reverse the process when I get back in.
When it's necessary to go unarmed out of your vehicle - How do you accomplish this mission?
Thanks!
Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 10:11 am
by dws1117
Never thought of using a towel or something similar. I just discretely remove the gun and place in locked glove box. I know not the safest place but it's slightly better than under the seat.
Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 10:24 am
by jbirds1210
I try to leave it somewhere that will not allow a "launching" of the gun if I were to decide to leave it out of my waistband when I get back in my vehicle and drive off. I always fear that a fender bender will cause my gun to slide off of a seat or console.
With a little practice you can remove your holstered weapon and secure it in a car safe while only appearing to be playing with your seatbelt. Just keep the gun below the dash and make sure that nobody is standing next to your car.
Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 11:22 am
by Venus Pax
I wait for other people to get away from my car and then do the switch. I usually don't even have a towel available.
Since I live near a small town, there aren't a lot of people around anyway.
Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 7:11 pm
by Liberty
Mostly I leave it holstered, on hip even on a long 4 to 600 mile drives. Sometimes I find it necessary to remove it it if I need to go into a prohibited convenience store. ( Such as in Louisianna.) I use a shop rag and tuck my Ruger between the seat and the console. I reholster after I leave the pumps and before I'm on the freeway. The shop rag also doubles for coffee spill remediation.
Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 7:13 pm
by HighVelocity
I'll make two stops. One in a remote area of the parking lot or adjoining parking lot to disarm and stow my weapon and the proceed on to park my vehicle.
Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 7:44 pm
by longtooth
I too keep a towel in my truck. I have a lock box between the seats. As HV said I also stop at a remot part of the parking lot or have used a different one on occassions.
The towel is good for more than conceal. I throw it over the lock box too so it is not evident that there is a lock box in that truck.
Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 9:18 pm
by Photoman
With the advent of a camera on every pole, the towel idea is a good one.
Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 9:56 pm
by dws1117
It is definately something to consider
Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 5:36 am
by elwood blooz
I keep a small "throw" blanket in my truck for seat protection in case of a bad day at work. It stays under my center console where I stow if needed.
Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 4:59 pm
by Thane
I just drive a truck. The sills of the doors are high enough that I can keep my hands "below view" while I do whatever task is necessary with my pistol, be it stowing the gun or re-arming.
It also helps to have a dark-colored gun and a dark vehicle interior. I'm also left-handed, so when I'm shuffling the pistol, there's very little time it's visible from any angle outside the truck, as I keep my hand/gun between seat and door while transferring.
If someone -does- happen to see me fiddling with a gun, they'll either see it going into a locking safe or back into my holster. It's not in my hands very long at all. If they see me re-arming and freak, well, I'll likely never know as I'll have driven off. If they see me putting it away, and freak, they'll have some 'splainin' to do as to why they thought a locked-up gun was any threat, and a reality check as to what our rights really are.
As for "failure to conceal" within the vehicle, well, if someone can manage to pick out a gun through dirty glass and a dark interior, they've got snooping problems. Nothing criminal, but they'll certainly be uncomfortable when I ask them why they're straining to peer into strangers' vehicles, and just WHAT are they looking for?
I only conceal the pistol in the vehicle because the law says I have to. (Yes, were it legal, I'd openly carry) The law doesn't say anything about long guns, and I've gone through fast-food drive-thrus with a full gun rack, clearly visible.

So far, no-one's freaked out too badly.
(For the record, the long guns were bolt-action rifles/pump shotguns. No "evil black rifles" - I really don't want to scare people -that- badly, nor do I want police attention. The local police are likely to shrug at mention of a hunting rifle, but I don't know how they'd react to an AR-15)
Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 6:16 pm
by Will938
If no one sees it then it was concealed. Be vigilant and don't get caught.
Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 9:22 pm
by JLaw
jbirds1210 wrote:
With a little practice you can remove your holstered weapon and secure it in a car safe while only appearing to be playing with your seatbelt. Just keep the gun below the dash and make sure that nobody is standing next to your car.
+1
JLaw
Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 9:36 pm
by cyphur
Like others have said - just slide it out, and secure it somewhere.
Some folks might be curious as to why you're using a towel in your car, but fiddling near your seatbelt is often overlooked.
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 5:40 pm
by FrEaK_aCcIdEnT
I use a lock box from center of mass. I make sure noone is looking at me. Just take it out and place it in the box and lock it. Stuff under seat and done. When i forget to put the safe in whatever vehicle im in i just disassemble and take the magazine and barrel with me. XDs are easy to tear down and reassemble. I store the frame, slide, and recoil spring in seperate locations of the vehicle. Even if someone breaks in and finds them all they would be missing parts that you cant just go out and purchase. (the barrel) You would have to ship the thing back to Springfield. I take the ammunition just because it would be stupid to get shot by your own bullets. Or let someone have free ammunition that may be used for against someone else.