Practical Readiness/Vehicle

[cz223]

There has been plenty of talk on this and other forums about bug out guns and such. My question is a little different, I think. You are driving down the road, by yourself, and you drive right into the middle of a bad situation. By bad situation I mean that, for whatever reason, you need to get out of your vehicle and into the fight as quickly as possible. How much firepower can you bring to the party immediately. What I really want to know is that should find yourself in this type of situation, what do you have readily available, including ammo that, you can grab and go right now. A truck load of guns and twenty Wal-mart bags full of ammo don't do you any good if you can't get to them in a hurry. What do you have for guns? How do you intend to carry ammo? Where and how are the guns carried? I know this should get widely varying answers due to a number of factors including but not limited to what type of vehicle you drive, state in which you live and their laws, and weather you regularly carry other people like your kids in the vehicle a lot.

I ask this question because I recently realzed that should I find myself in this situation I was not well prepared at all. I have since begun to rectify the situation. Since I now carry regularly, I can at least get out of the vehicle with my carry gun, a Glock 23, and a spare mag of ammo. That gives me 27 rounds of 40 S&W at the ready. I will be buying another mag pouch or double soon so that will increase the number to a min of 40. I said minimum cause I may buy some mags for the 22 that will give me 44 rounds. That said since I own several shotguns and 2 AR-15's I see no reason that I shouldn't have at least one if not both close to hand and ready to "Rock and Roll" at a moments notice. At the moment I drive an F-250 Super Duty Crew cab with a cap on the back. I dont normally have people in the back seat. I can either hang the long guns from the back of the front seats, stow them behind the rear seat or get an overhead rack. As for ammo for either long gun it cannot be attached to the gun via a sling or side saddle. State law. I was thinking of getting a duty belt with mag pouches for the AR mags, glock mags and shell holders for the shotgun.

What do you do? Do any of you have suggestion regarding my specific problems?

[G-Cym]

Well when I'm driving the only thing I have is either my Ruger P345 with a total of 25 rds, or my Taurus .40SW with a total of 31 rds. But they are deployable in seconds as they are on my hip.

[Slideman]

I have a CCW, carry a Glock32 in a fanny pack (slower and more convenient than my rarely-used AKJ Concealco IWB). That puts 10 rounds of .357 auto on me. My ever-present briefcase adds another 10 rounds in a backup mag.

I have yet to take high-round-count scenereos seriously. If my world becomes a less secure place, I will adjust according to my concern level.

For just in case, behind the seat in my (non-standard, non-extended) standard cab pickup is a canvas case holding an AK-47 and 5 loaded mags. I choose the AK because losing it is "it was just an AK", but losing another of my small collection to a thief would hurt... and it is plenty of firepower for short-range work.

Not accessable in a hurry is a 8-round Mossberg 590 with a fabric bandoleer of 50. On my ToDo list is getting it into quickly accessable secure storage for homework.


By the way, I still haven't adjusted my clothes to fit IWB carry. Cold winters and hot summers both leave me choosing the fanny pack that fits over anything I choose. Where's the good book covering these issues?

[Blackwater OPS]

I have a long gun(semi-auto rifle or pump-shotgun, depends) in the trunk, or behind the seat if I am in my truck, and whatever CCW I am carrying thst day-if any. IMO the most powerful weapon you have if you are sitting in your vehicle IS your vehicle. I would at least use it to get some distance and cover so I could deploy my long gun from cover if the situation was that crazy, or just get the hell out of there and call 911.

[teejhot.40cal]

+1 on using the vehicle as a weapon.

[Jason607]

I don't think insurgents are going to be operating in the US (unless the dems win 2008) but there could be a situation where you end up in a bad neighborhood and a street gang decides they want to pimp your ride and your wife/daughter. Of course, keep a vehicle with some power behind it, size as well. Here in Atlanta, I have heard of them pushing the big rollin dumpsters in the road as a road block. However, stay out of those areas. If your picking up hookers or buying drugs, your asking for it.

I keep my .40 and clips in arm reach, that is all I really know how to prepare.

[cz223]

Funny that you should mention the vehicle being the best weapon as that is my opinion as well. Like the man said the best place to be during a gunfight is....."somewhere else".:) Truer words were never spoken. I didn't want to get into specifics of the situation were rolling into because I honestly think that most scenarios that people outline are at least unlikey. But, like some other wiseman once said, "if I ever need my handgun, I'd rather have a rifle or a shotgun", or something to that effect. Anyway, that is the reason I asked the question like I did, because as I said before, I have the guns for the job, I might as well carry them in such a way that I can get to them if I should need them in a hurry. If I could carry rounds in a side saddle and on a sling I would be very happy with my new Mossberg 590 secured in one of the ways mentioned. Since the rounds cannot be attached to the gun I will need to come up with another way of carryin theammo with me such as a bandolier or belt. Right now my first choice might be to carry the AR at the ready with 2 mags in the console of my truck.