Gary L. Griffiths
New member
In another thread I asked about an AR-15 pistol in .300 Blk for a “car gun.” One of the members replied that it might be useful to define a “car gun,” so I will throw out some characteristics of what I consider to be a “car gun.”
To me, a “car gun” bridges the gap between a routinely carried concealed weapon and a full-fledged battle weapon. It’s purpose is to defend the owner and his or her family and friends from a concerted assault on the vehicle by multiple assailants while traveling, whether from inside the vehicle or if forced from the vehicle by a violent mob. It should have, nominally, 100 rds of ammunition loaded into magazines. It differs from a “truck gun,” (e.g., a “thuty-thuty” Winchester, AR-15, riot-type shotgun, or even .22 rifle) which is more oriented towards rural applications, such as predator/pest control, or putting down a wounded animal.
I would postulate four categories of car guns: (1) Battle Pistol, (2) Rifle-Caliber Pistol, (3) Pistol-Caliber Carbine, and (4) Carbine. Here are what I perceive as advantages and disadvantages of each:
Battle Pistol: A high-capacity full-sized 9mm pistol, such as a Springfield XD, Glock 17, Beretta 92, Sig 226, etc. For those who routinely carry, say, a Glock 19 or Springfield Xdm, it may suffice simply to have extended capacity magazines available in the car for emergency use. Advantages: Easiest to conceal/secure in the vehicle. Quickest to deploy, although probably not quickly enough to counter a sudden car-jacking. May be kept loaded in vehicle if one has a concealed carry permit. Disadvantages: Least intimidating. It’s just a pistol. A violent mob may be emboldened to attack, even if they see a 33-rd magazine hanging out the butt of a Glock. This is the one instance where something on the order of a Tec-9 be useful, assuming it can be made to fire reliably. Least accurate in case one is forced to engage an armed assailant in the midst of a mob. Least stopping power.
Rifle-Caliber Pistol: An AR-15, Draco, “Enforcer” M-1 Carbine pistol, etc. Advantages: Easier to conceal/secure/deploy than full-sized carbines. Very intimidating. A violent mob is likely to perceive the pistol as a submachine gun. Fairly powerful. A .223, .300 Blk, 7.62x39, or .30 Carbine cartridge, even fired from a short barrel, packs more punch than a 9mm making it more likely to stop assailants with fewer hits. Can be fired more accurately than a pistol, especially if equipped with a red-dot sight. May be kept loaded in vehicle if one has a concealed carry permit. Disadvantages: Less easy to secure/deploy than pistols. Severe muzzle blast. Still, winding up D-E-A-F is better than winding up D-E-A-D!
Pistol-Caliber Carbine: A Kel-Tec Sub 2000, Hi-Point Carbine, Beretta CX-4 Storm, etc. To me, most of the disadvantages of a rifle-caliber pistol, with most of the disadvantages of a pistol. YMMV. Advantages: Fairly intimidating. Appears to be a long arm, at least, if not a sub-gun. Less muzzle blast than rifle-caliber pistols. Can be fired more accurately than a pistol. The Kel-Tec can be folded to be more easily concealed/secured. Disadvantages: Less easy to secure/deploy than pistols. Less stopping power than rifle-caliber pistols, albeit slightly more than regular pistols.
Carbine: AR-15s, “M-4geries”, M-1 Carbines, AK-47 variants, etc. Advantages: Can be fired more accurately and at longer range than any of the other types, although long-range accuracy is of dubious value in a self-defense situation. Most powerful. Very intimidating – again, mobs may be cowed by the “assault rifle” mystique. Disadvantages: Least easy to conceal/secure/deploy, especially from within a vehicle.
Just my take on the “car gun” concept. Hopefully, will spark a few ideas for those looking into this category.
To me, a “car gun” bridges the gap between a routinely carried concealed weapon and a full-fledged battle weapon. It’s purpose is to defend the owner and his or her family and friends from a concerted assault on the vehicle by multiple assailants while traveling, whether from inside the vehicle or if forced from the vehicle by a violent mob. It should have, nominally, 100 rds of ammunition loaded into magazines. It differs from a “truck gun,” (e.g., a “thuty-thuty” Winchester, AR-15, riot-type shotgun, or even .22 rifle) which is more oriented towards rural applications, such as predator/pest control, or putting down a wounded animal.
I would postulate four categories of car guns: (1) Battle Pistol, (2) Rifle-Caliber Pistol, (3) Pistol-Caliber Carbine, and (4) Carbine. Here are what I perceive as advantages and disadvantages of each:
Battle Pistol: A high-capacity full-sized 9mm pistol, such as a Springfield XD, Glock 17, Beretta 92, Sig 226, etc. For those who routinely carry, say, a Glock 19 or Springfield Xdm, it may suffice simply to have extended capacity magazines available in the car for emergency use. Advantages: Easiest to conceal/secure in the vehicle. Quickest to deploy, although probably not quickly enough to counter a sudden car-jacking. May be kept loaded in vehicle if one has a concealed carry permit. Disadvantages: Least intimidating. It’s just a pistol. A violent mob may be emboldened to attack, even if they see a 33-rd magazine hanging out the butt of a Glock. This is the one instance where something on the order of a Tec-9 be useful, assuming it can be made to fire reliably. Least accurate in case one is forced to engage an armed assailant in the midst of a mob. Least stopping power.
Rifle-Caliber Pistol: An AR-15, Draco, “Enforcer” M-1 Carbine pistol, etc. Advantages: Easier to conceal/secure/deploy than full-sized carbines. Very intimidating. A violent mob is likely to perceive the pistol as a submachine gun. Fairly powerful. A .223, .300 Blk, 7.62x39, or .30 Carbine cartridge, even fired from a short barrel, packs more punch than a 9mm making it more likely to stop assailants with fewer hits. Can be fired more accurately than a pistol, especially if equipped with a red-dot sight. May be kept loaded in vehicle if one has a concealed carry permit. Disadvantages: Less easy to secure/deploy than pistols. Severe muzzle blast. Still, winding up D-E-A-F is better than winding up D-E-A-D!
Pistol-Caliber Carbine: A Kel-Tec Sub 2000, Hi-Point Carbine, Beretta CX-4 Storm, etc. To me, most of the disadvantages of a rifle-caliber pistol, with most of the disadvantages of a pistol. YMMV. Advantages: Fairly intimidating. Appears to be a long arm, at least, if not a sub-gun. Less muzzle blast than rifle-caliber pistols. Can be fired more accurately than a pistol. The Kel-Tec can be folded to be more easily concealed/secured. Disadvantages: Less easy to secure/deploy than pistols. Less stopping power than rifle-caliber pistols, albeit slightly more than regular pistols.
Carbine: AR-15s, “M-4geries”, M-1 Carbines, AK-47 variants, etc. Advantages: Can be fired more accurately and at longer range than any of the other types, although long-range accuracy is of dubious value in a self-defense situation. Most powerful. Very intimidating – again, mobs may be cowed by the “assault rifle” mystique. Disadvantages: Least easy to conceal/secure/deploy, especially from within a vehicle.
Just my take on the “car gun” concept. Hopefully, will spark a few ideas for those looking into this category.