When in uniform, LEO or military, somebody else determines how you carry. But when in civilian attire how do you carry on your person when driving?

What position (strong side, crossdraw, ankle, shoulder, etc) do you carry?

What kind of holster?

I am not asking about carrying in the glovebox or console or under the seats.

I am not asking what to do if pulled over.

Just asking what works for you when driving with firearm on your body.

I like the NRA insert that goes into the cup holder in the center console. 1911 sits right in it ready to do. Only bad thing is I have to learn to shoot it right handed but that shouldn't be too much of a problem.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

AIWB without a jacket. With a jacket on I'll move it to a jacket pocket.

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Two Handguns every day

Some facts: The window one is most apt to have to shoot out of is on the left of the driver. The seat belt will interfere with any handgun holstered in any manner on the right side at the belt level. The steering wheel will interfere with any draw from the right side to point out the driver's window: ..... Therefore; it is best to have the handgun on the left hip/kidney in a reversed crossdraw position. It can be concealed by a jacket and still be readily accessible. The handgun should be drawn by the right hand and raised enough for the left hand to come under the right arm to release the seat belt making possible further maneuvering as necessary. Yes, there are among us those that are left handed. They should be accomplished in shooting right hand at least for close shots. As, the right handed person should be accomplished at shooting left handed at close range.

The drill is slightly different for the person who must carry on the right side at belt level but is easily figured out by sitting in a vehicle and thinking thru the process of presentation. A handgun carried in an under the left arm position is no problem. The handgun carried in an under the right arm shoulder holster is all but useless in a vehicle emergency. I knew a lefty Detective that carried a double gun shoulder holster rig. The handgun under his left arm was his BUG. I thought that made a very nice workable solution to the whole problem. .....

Cross draw in a Simply Rugged pancake holster. Also like between the seats near my right hand.

My in vehicle carry is same as my usual daily carry.

Strong side (right) IWB or OWB circa 3:30. 642 or 60-NY1.

However, on occasions when I am in the vehicle on a long trip I will use a shoulder holster (butt down) for the sake of comfort.

The likelihood of me (or any other non-LEO, IMHO) needing to deploy a gun whilst in my car is near zero.

Be safe.

When sitting, a pistol carried in front seems to work best, whether cross-draw or appendix.

Back in the day, one state police agency, Michigan, touted its cross-draw holsters because they put the revolver between the door and the officer, making a weapon grab more difficult for a driver of a stopped vehicle who was in the front passenger seat of the officer's car. I note that Michigan has now changed to strong-side holsters. I suppose that, for the most part, bringing the driver back to the patrol car is simply not done these days.

IWB, between 12:00 and appendix.

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Just Say No - To Social Media

I thought that was what my shoulder holsters were made for! No seatbelt to snag me up....Totally comfortable while driving. Might work others as well..

Randy

I'll be a LEO for 18 years next month and I always carry off-duty. My method of carry off-duty is OWB on my strong side (right handed).

Living about 20 miles North of Detroit, where car-jacking are an hourly occurrence, it is very important how you access your weapon. Victims often don't even see it coming.

The perps often work in pairs, or threesomes. By the time you might realize what's going down, any move on your part, will likely get you shot. Almost without exception, you will be ordered to exit your vehicle.

I mount a holster on the driver's side door panel, that allows me in basically one motion, open the door to exit, and grab the gun at the same time, with my left hand. The gun is out of sight, and no one sees I have it, until it's too late...hopefully!

It's also extremely important to make sure your weapon does not become a projectile, in the event of a car accident.

For me, the proper place is inside the left ankle. The main gun, of course, is at 1500. Sometimes I downrate the importance of being armed while driving, and carry a J in the left front pocket of my "shoot-me" vest. I also used to use a shoulder holster a lot in the winter, less so lately.

Your car carry should be the same as your normal carry. I never have to adjust when entering or exiting the vehicle

Aiwb 100% of the time

Love that "experts" want to tell us how we're supposed to carry, as though their way is the only way. Do what works best for you.

You asked so here goes.
I take my gun and place it under my right thigh , grip to left.
It's secure, I know where it is and it's available in an instant.
No holster , just gun tucked under leg.
I have deterred one attempted car jacker and like the fast access and quick presentation.

I don't carry on body in the car because it's just too hard to get to the gun, especially when I pocket carried a Smith 36.

Whatever I'm carrying, it goes in the glove box when I'm driving.

There used to be a bunch of inane restriction on car carry in Ohio. They're all gone now for people with CHLs.

As a matter of fact during the debate prior to rationalization of the car carry provisions, the Ohio Highway Patrol said people would be able to drive down the highway, twirling their pistols on their fingers. I think I'll try that next...

I carry in the car the same way I carry when out and about, IWB at ~3:30-4:00. If I need to get to my gun, I don't want to have to think about my gun's location if attacked. To each their own.

While that is a quick, easily accessible way to keep your gun in the car, what happens in a car accident? IIRC, one of the FBI Special Agents involved in the 1986 Miami Shootout kept his gun like this. When his car got hit (I can't remember the reason for the impact), he lost his gun. He spent a considerable amount of time trying to find it.

Something to think about, if you haven't already.

It depends entirely on what your environment is like.

Big city where carjackings are a thing--probably some form of crossdraw. It would be accessible quickly while in the car, but not much slower on foot, and wouldn't require an awkward (and possibly illegal) change in carry position.

Other places, where your primary in-the-car threat would be encountering thuggery on the road, anywhere that's comfortable, really. Your on-foot risk likely outweighs your on-the-road risk, and unless you fail to pay attention to your surroundings, you should have plenty of time to either make your weapon accessible, or make your escape.

Car carry same as all the other time. Leave space between your car and the one in front (you should be able to see the bottom of their rear bumper over your hood) to be able to pull past and flee should you spot someone approaching with possible evil intent. Do keep scanning while in traffic.

Your insurance carrier and the local traffic cops may become unhappy, but you're alive and well.

You aren't getting the drop one someone who carjacks you. You won't know about your own carjacking until you glance left and see the stolen Hi-Point level with your eyes. I wear my pistol strong side 5 o-clock because that's where I expect it to be - always. You may have a chance to go for your gun after you get pistol whipped in the face as you exit past the carjacker. Best it be where it usually is, is my feeling.

They can have my Jeep; I'm not going to force a bad tactical situation if I don't have to. However, if my wife is slow to get out of it and I get concerned... I may have to act fast, and if I do my hand will be headed for 5 o-clock - where it always is - before I'd have a chance to remember where my "driving" holster is situated.

The detective who taught me my on-the-road driver's ed told me this exact thing. He was also named "Moore". Unfortunately, he passed away some years ago, which was a shame.

SAY WHAT?

AIWB just the same as walking around. No need to remember a different location.

I like the NRA Cup Holder idea. Right there when you need it. Carrying anywhere anyhow in my truck is such a pain. I often wonder how fast I could get it out if needed it, and I carry one in the door and one in the box next to my right hand.

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Dr. B

just because I am in the car my carry doesn't change .. IWB around 4 .. I'm able to draw with my seatbelt on .. I do practice drawing both while seated in the car and also as I exit the car ..

I will take my shirt or what ever outer clothing and tuck it behind my pistol butt exposing it .. allowing a slightly quicker draw speed .. the way my console is your not able to see it from looking in the right window as its blocked by the console .. so is still concealed from other drivers .. but can be quickly acquired by me ..

OWB right hip. If you rob me at gunpoint, I'll be happy to reach for my wallet...

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an actual conservative

Notice the almost universal dependence on belt carry?

In the military vehicle crew members carry pistols in shoulder holsters.

In a passenger car with seat belt on most belt carry positions are vulnerable to getting trapped or tangled in the belt. With a coat on it's even worse. Since it IS valuable to carry the same way you do all day - some of us carry in a shoulder holster, precisely because we are in a car a lot. Keep a jacket or coat free on the off hand side (right handed) and it's not much different than going for a cell phone. It also presents more quickly aimed at an intruder at the driver's door.

I've carried that way on the beach in swim trunks. Most say they can't because IWB or other doesn't work well in that situation. Shoulder holster does. Tropical shirt covers the holster, you need it for sun protection anyway.

Don't get trapped into the belt carry only solution, there are ways that can work better. If you tend toward the mature build and belt carry isn't good - that inverse funnel thing where trousers tend to obey gravity - don't wear it on the belt. Or pocket.

I've never seen a shoulder holster slide down around someone's knees.

Any of you ever run a car jacking training scenario? Every time I went for my gun, I "died". I've only had one disarm attempt fail when I ran car jacking scenarios with my instructor. At the range a car jacking takes place, it's always faster to take the perps gun. So I suggest keeping it in your normal carry position.

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Just the opinion of a kid

For me, carrying this time of year is easy. I have a nice NRA bomber jacket that has elastic straps velcroed into pockets on the inside of the jacket. In effect, its a shoulder holster. Secure.. easy to deploy. Walking, sitting in car, all the same.
In summer, its different. IWB cross-draw while not in car. While in car, just put the pistol between my legs.

I have thought about something along these lines myself. Any chance you would be willing to take a photo of how you've done it?

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Ukraine -- now more than ever

IMHO, the wearing of any piece of clothing that advertises that a person is a "Gunnie" i.e. the NRA jacket or hat or shirt can alert bad guy(s) that one is probably armed. ....... Just say'in. It seems to me that keeping all others from even suspecting that I'm armed is to my advantage.

And, placing a firearm anyplace in a vehicle that would allow it to be dislodged into the floorboard or under the seat is not the optimum place for a handgun that just might be needed quickly. That is exactly what happened to one of the FBI Agents in the Miami Shootout. The FBI Agents in that shootout paid the price for his mistake.

I mentioned the word 'advantage' above. After a few years of martial arts training with firearms, I came to realize that one can't give away very many "advantages or edges or ticks of the clock" in a gunfight. ...........

I have to travel to various large metropolitan areas frequently. I keep a snub revolver in a fanny pack on my lap.

Leaving yourself room and simply driving away sounds great and would be ideal, but in big city traffic that just isn't always a possibility.

Someone once said to me, "If you'd fought fair, I'd have beaten you."

My reply was, "And you're only saying that because you lost."

Under your right thigh. It's readily available and you can hide it well until you tell the cop who pulls you over "I have a legal gun under my leg on the seat".

Two of the FBI agents lost their guns by taking them out of the holster and putting them on the seat just before the very short chase... Agent Manauzzi lost his when he used his vehicle to force Platt and Matix off the road and into the parking lot of the duplex. He did not have a backup weapon. Agent Hanlon lost his weapon when the car he and Mirelis crashed into a wall across the street from the shootout. He did have a 5-shot chief as a backup and was later shot in the hand and groin by Platt.

Since the late 1970s I've carried a 1911 IWB butt forward at about the 0830-0900 position in a lightweight holster...now using a RAMORA. When seated I draw with the left hand and either shoot left handed or pass the gun to my right hand depending which direction I have to shoot.


There is no one right way to do things...just the best one for you..just make sure it works before you have to use it...

Bob

"Just prior to ramming the Monte Carlo, Manauzzi had pulled out his service revolver and placed it on the seat in anticipation of a shootout,[8] but the force of the collision flung open his door and sent his weapon flying. Hanlon lost his .357 Magnum service revolver during the initial collision, though he was still able to fight with his Smith & Wesson Model 36 backup gun." -Wikipedia.

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

For me it's my regular carry position. IWB at about 4:00 position.

I carry in a vehicle the same way I carry everywhere, OWB RH cross draw.
If you're driving it stays out of the way of the seatbelt, and drawing is simple, without a lot of arm motion.
I actually practice this quite a bit.
That's what works best for me, YMMV.

Attached Images

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I carry in my normal right hip position, with a second gun in the the drivers side door panel. Be Safe,

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I BACK OUR BLUE