gun for van life

[doublegregg]

wasn't sure where to post this - please redirect me or this thread if this is wrong group...

i'm going to be travelling in a little van and i'd like a recommendation for a gun. particularly for self protection in the event someone tries to break in while i'm in it - potentially sleeping, or any other activity... i've got a couple 9mm (glock, cz), 38 cal snubbie, and a kadet 22lr adapter for my cz 75b... but i'm actually wondering if a 22lr might have some strong advantages. such as lower noise, more accurate, less recoil, less of a muzzle flash, etc... i'm concerned about me being disoriented, etc from firing a 9mm inside a vehicle... i'm also concerned about a 9mm bullet going right through everything and out and hitting someone else. say, in the camp ground i might be in.

so far only used my kadet 22lr at the range... bulk ammo. actually, the slide on it is a little hard to rack... you have to grip it in a certain spot, not exactly where a normal slide racks..clearly a disadvantage when you're stressed out!

thanks so much!

[Dano3467]

Are you permitted to carry in most states ? if so, just stick with the one you do carry.

Otherwise, 75B if you only want one HG.
also don't forget your lock box

[200Apples]

Of the list you've provided, I'd go with the .38 snub. I'd assume it's a five-shot J-frame with the hammer block safety, so you could keep it fully loaded under your pillow.

A small double-action revolver like the snub you mention is probably the best thing to use if an attacker is almost on top of you in close quarters...

...that is if you wouldn't rather have a semiauto ready with one in the chamber, and the only pistol I am comfortable with in that configuration is the 1911.

[Milsurp1]

[sealocan]

Well at least you've thought it through and have eliminated long guns.
Sure they absolutely are more accurate and in the case of a shotgun they are extremely versatile in the ammunition you can select.

But for a vehicle, especially if you have to use it inside your vehicle which may be the case, a handgun is it better solution in my opinion.

Next, although I like a Smith & Wesson J frame with a shrouded, bob or concealed hammer for so Many reasons, you've got to consider the unlikely possibility that you might have to reload while driving ( like for example if a bunch of bad looters were chasing you in their pickup truck, for your toilet paper, and they weren't afraid of your first few missed shots). That puts you at a nice semi-auto that's small and concealable in at least nine mm or something that can penetrate other car doors windows Etc, even if as just a pistol cartridge, it's only somewhat effective at that job.

Lastly shooting a gun inside a car is going to be very loud and make your ears ring, possibly causing permanent damage, but it's not going to rock your world if it's only a 9 mm or 38 but even a 22 is going to be loud in the closed quarters of a car or truck.
And you won't have time to put on your hearing protection either.

So if you lived in a free state you could put the 38 where you're sleeping and then 9 mm up by where you're driving and the 22 that's hard to rack or anything that you can't take off it's safety and fire and possibly reload instinctively should be secured in a different safe lock box.

But if you live in California or any other non free state you're probably breaking some law even thinking about this.

[sofbak]

Pick whichever one you would be least upset to part with. If you have to use it in an SD scenario as you have described, there is a high probability that the investigating LEO agency is going to take it for evidence.

[sealocan]

Here is an oldie but a Goldie with lots of information on bullet penetration and real-world verse Hollywood including things like shooting gas tanks, through car windows, through car doors and even shooting themselves with 44 Magnums while wearing a bulletproof vest etc etc.

The part you might be especially interested it is around the 56th minute Mark about how it's harder to penetrate a car door in some areas than you may think. ...

https://youtu.be/AcPjtkD-OoQ

And I suggest anyone who hasn't watched this video take a look. It's old as disco but there's lots to learn.

[jimbo74]

Where the hell are you camping that someone is going to break into your van while you are in it?

Considering it is illegal in ca to have a loaded gun in a vehicle, you're screwed already. Don't park in east Oakland under the freeway...

[Wordupmybrotha]

This

https://youtu.be/BBoP2l7VBeo

[splithoof]

I'd say you have everything you need: 9mm Glock. After that, I'd say get some specific training in relation to vehicle scenarios and issues relative to.

[doublegregg]

thanks for replies...

i would much prefer to shoot a 22lr inside my van than a larger caliber. my hearing is already not that great, (i'm 64) and would prefer not to lose it shooting at some thug maybe just thinking he's going to steal a van... i realize it's not an ideal SD round (altho there seems to be debate about that). i'd load it with some more powerful 22lr load....

maybe i'll carry a 22lr cz kadet plus a glock 19... i don't want to carry a lot of guns --- i principally would be carrying it for SD.. of course, it would be nice to shoot it too, at ranges. i would assume? if i shot someone, i'd get the gun back eventually.. but thanks for tip about LE confiscating it. actually, if i shot someone, even in clear SD, i guess the the gun confiscation would be just something to accept, even if it's a nice gun.

as far as camping, yes, sometimes i may be camping in a city... have not decided yet exactly. many camp in casino lots, walmarts, etc... camp meaning, sleeping inside a van or rv.

i do live in california........ since i'll be sleeping and living in a van, it's my home, and i believe i am entitled to having a loaded gun by my side, esp inside my vehicle when it is stationary and i've set up camp, etc. otherwise, the gun and ammo are locked up and gun is unloaded.

watched some of the video, sealocan, thanks... interesting... i guess i'm assuming velocity plus weight of bullet pretty much equals more power... hadn't thought of the... is it glass loaded bullets?

thanks for replies - i appreciate it and am open to any feed back.. happy sunday!

[smittty]

I've been thinking about this for myself and for me the first trigger pull must be double action.

I carry the LCRx3 backpacking and sleep with it unholstered under my pillow. It takes one hand to use it and there's no safety lever to think about.

A double-action/single-action semi auto would be good too such as the Sig P226, Beretta 92 or similar.

I different approach that I'd be OK with is a glock in a hoster that's attached to the van. It would be safe because it's holstered and wouldn't need two hands to unholster. I would definitely consider that.

I have no caliber preference for this.

I'd also like to have a long gun, either 20 ga single shot or a take-down 10/22. The van would need a discrete lockable spot for which ever one I ultimately chose.

My initial thoughts are 20 ga because it can be used for hunting mainly due to availability of lead free ammo. If we had good options for lead free 22 lr I'd likely choose the 22.

I think the long gun would get some use out in the back country for hunting but the pistol would be strictly for SD.

[AFTII]

[doublegregg]

can you cite where you know that an rv must be hooked up to utilities, etc, to qualify as a home? i can't find anything on the web... wikipedia (not super trust worthy, but better than some sources) says:

A castle doctrine, also known as a castle law or a defense of habitation law, is a legal doctrine that designates a person's abode or any legally occupied place (for example, a vehicle or home) as a place in which that person has protections and immunities permitting one, in certain circumstances, to use force (up to and including deadly force) to defend oneself against an intruder, free from legal prosecution for the consequences of the force used.[1] The term is most commonly used in the United States, though many other countries (see below) invoke comparable principles in their laws.

and then each state would be treated differently...... but i would always have the gun unloaded, locked in a container while driving, or i guess just parked at stores, etc...

[jr-abs]

I get how the Kadet is difficult to rack. Consider chambering a round and manually lower the hammer. Most CZ models have a firing pin block to protect when dropped. If it is a 75B you will have a first pull that is like a double action revolver. If is a 75B SA and single action only, chamber with hammer down and thumb cock for first round. Use the best quality 22lr ammo you can get. Cheap ammo has a tendency to misfire at the worst time.