Coast to coast by motorcycle. What gun?

[roundgunner]

I was considering the long gun in a gun case in the trailer behind the bike. I have made quite a few long trips, but the last time I went coast to coast was in October 79, my best friend ever and I both got transferred from Coronado (San Diego) to Little Creek (Norfolk).

We camped every night, went the long way to visit family and friends. We stopped in Phoenix, went up thru the Colorado Rockies all the way to Yellowstone. The weather was getting cold and we started to run out of time so we hurried across the plains visiting Toledo & Harrisburg.

We never had any problems but it was uneasy a couple times, sometimes we were the only ones in the tiny campgrounds, it was late in the season and we were short of money so that is what we had to do. I think when you are young and strong the bad guys can tell not to mess with you just by the way you carry yourself. The closest thing we had to a weapon for that trip was a claw hammer.

It is not a road rage incident or a road side, or gas station that concern me. It is at camps at night or a breakdown with no cell service in the middle of nowhere. I don't think I will be able to afford a motel every night of this trip either. (I do plan on spending the rainy nights inside this time though.)

A few years ago I did not feel as vulnerable, I could hold my own with bare hands or what was close. I can't kid myself into thinking I can hold my own anymore.

I don't think I would take the chance with CCW carry in states I'm not allowed. If I had a wreck or other mishap I could be "up a creek".

Is the broken down gun, like a J frame with the cylinder removed and on the other bike a option at all?

I may just have to leave it behind, your opinions are vary valuable to me.

As for the photo ops, I agree with the keeping my distance from critters.

I have been a portrait photographer after leaving active duty, but on vacation I get to take landscapes and wildlife photo's for pleasure. I do have a GPS too, all good advice.

My friend Dan, who will be joining me on this trip, named his first born son after my friend Jake who took the trip to with me the first time, from Coronado to Little Creek.

Jake died a young man, way before his time. This will be a tribute ride of sorts & a chance to spend some time with, and get reacquainted with a good friend from the past.

It must be late, I'm rambling on.
Good night.

 

[feralmerril]

My first and longest motorcycle trip was by myself in 1967. I rode from tujuanga california to my folks in central wisconsin and back. I remember I packed a revolver but cant remember which one. I belive it must have been a 6" colt officers model match. I had a 1963 harley dresser. I had no human trouble on that trip.
However, later I did on another cycle trip have a drunk probley illegal try to break into my motel room in fresno or modesto california.
I was armed, and that really saved the guy! I finaly let him go as I didnt want to answer for haveing a gun on me! I think to this day had I not had a gun on me I probley would have beat him next to death. Life can be funny!

 

[smitret]

Traveling through IL

Time for some of our CA members to chime in...

Don't plan on touring through the land of Lincoln with a pistol, even though taken apart in your possession.

Unloaded cased weapon in saddle bag. Ammo may be in magazines in same case just not in weapon.
Recently passed law allows empty weapon in console with mags.
Any doubt contact ISP.
Have a safe trip.

 

[Nicksterdemus]

"was a claw hammer"

Hard core prefers ball pein...

 

[GatorFarmer]

Pillow cases, trash bags, the case from a collapsible crib, golf bags... All ways that I've toted a long gun about with no one the wiser. If it doesn't look like a gun case, and more importantly, you learn to heft it about in a very non gun like way, no one is the wiser. Some people like to use the sacks that those folding chairs come in from Walmart. Mini 14s fit great in those. Lately I've gone places with an M4 carbine in a pillow case - hint, use king size ones for long arms.

You don't need to break your handgun down, not the places you're going. Just don't have it on you in Cali in terms of carrying it on your person. Still, a long gun is PC and would raise less eyebrows in many places. Sleep with the action broke open and ammo handy and you can get one into action plenty quick. I tend to sleep even in hotels with a long gun handy, but that's me. Out and about in the great wide open, yeah, even more comfy as a bed mate.

Michigan is a different place in the UP and even most of the LP than the metro Detroit area. Even before Michigan became more gunfriendly, I'd drive with a long gun in my trunk.

Do you have a Ruger Mini? Folding stock can go on in some states, wood stock in Cali and carry universally legal 10 rd mags in Cali. Mail yourself a 20 for part of the trip if you want. Fun thing about Michigan unless they changed it... get your OAL down below 30 inches even with the stock folded, and if it can still be fired, it is technically a handgun.

Anyway, an unloaded generic looking long gun causes few untoward glances, esp when you're a middle aged white guy. Non tactical looking shotguns are great - just say you bust clays. Stoeger coach guns take down real nice, or Wally word can sell you a snake charmer for less than 150.

If you're handy swapping parts, you can take an offlist bullet point lower with 10rd mags into Cali. A lot of Cali laws apply to residents, not visitors, and you can give their gun liscing authorities a call for information.

South of Chicago, hunting guns are common enough in IL not to raise eyebrows.

 

[walnutred]

A friend uses a little Rossi, pump action, 22 mag carbine for camping in various states.

 

[cowboy117]

No way i would travel without a gun.I've traveled extensively in the western United States on a Harley Davidson.Concealed means concealed.Take a pistol or revolver,.38 or larger,on your person.The chances of your getting stopped and frisked are very small. Have fun!!!

 

[Goldstar225]

I wouldn't bother with a long gun, a .38 snub will serve you well. In those states that don't allow carry, unload and store in the trunk.

 

[Chromedhearts]

Think "Covert Carry", not "concealed carry". A J frame and one speed strip, not a speed loader, to easy to spot. Wear it on your body, under a layer of clothes, with a jacket over it, and have no other accessaries, no ammo box, loose rounds, holster .etc that could be spotted. I've carried a mod 60 in a shoulder holster, over an under shirt, with a denim shirt over that, and a light jacket, in places where any gun was taboo. Kept it on for days at a time, slept with it, washed with it, and only took it off when in the privacy of a bath room. Not to bad uncomfortable. I know some folks wouldn't go through the trouble but just how serious are you about being armed 24-7?

Officers, I promise I wasn't in your jurisdiction.

 

[feralmerril]

Just off the top of my head I can remember two incidents almost Identical. The first one a small guy was camping near where I lived in california. He had a small PU camper and some idiot tried to tear his way in. The guy shot him as he tried tearing the door down. I dont belive he had any trouble with the state either! Most people are scared to death, even here, about california law. A lot of it is BS!
I live at cedar city utah. About two years ago here a retired LEO from florida was in a motorhome with his family in the walmart lot.
A local guy tried to break in and the guy killed him. He did have to hang around a few days for the investigation, but as far as I know, that was about all.
It was puzzeling though for the local people that knew the intruder as they claimed he wasnt a druggie but was either a medical or law student I heard. The odd thing is the intruder had been going to college in florida, the MH he was trying to break into had florida plates, so that did of course raise a question, however the ex LEO must have been cleared.
Many years ago when I thought I was tough I traveled a lot and feared no one or any situation. I traveled with a gun, but not out of fear, but just because I am a gun enthusist and always had them.
The truth is we all get old, fat and out of shape. I still think like I used to, but then once in awhile reality sinks in when I run out of breath just trying to tie my shoes!
Since I have deteriated to the shape I am in, I have become more of a gun packing advocate. At one time I used to kind of wonder about some of my coherts that insisted on packing everywhere they went even though I was more of a gun enthusist than they were! Well, now I am the same.

 

[sigp220.45]

Hi Roundgunner - I agree with those who say the best way is the legal way. It may mean stopping at each border and rearranging your gear, but getting charged with a felony in the wake of an accident or even a legitimate self defense situation is a no-go in my book.

I would think a J frame or similar sized revolver would be the way to go. You could easily conceal it on your person where it was legal to do so, and in more restrictive states I would put it unloaded into a locked case in one locked saddlebag, and put the ammo in a case in the other locked saddlebag. I would think (I may be wrong, and you should research it to be sure) that even in the most restrictive state you would be good to go with that set up.

At any rate, I envy you for your upcoming adventure.

 

[m657]

1) AFAIK having researched for my own travels, all but the Triangle of Evil states allow for legal carry out-of-state residents to travel through.

2) Several CCW permits can add up to 'most states' as a legal CCW. For instance, the combination of Oregon AND non-resident Utah gives 35 state reciprocity.

3) Check with the web site (forget the name now--used to be "packing.org") that has updated pretty much laws.

4) Consider such as "Thunderwear" as an option.

My bet is your trailer could be arguable as a 'non-accessible' locked storage even while in Cali. Check it out and keep us posted!!!

Great plans and wonderful idea for seeing the country and recalling your old friend.

 

[SWID]

I think it is illegal to bring ANY gun into California without some sort of permission from a state agency.

The problem you have (or the risk you run) is that if you are involved in an accident and go to the hospital the HP is going to inventory your vehicle before they store it. If the find a gun not in their system you are a felon.

I left five years ago, partly because I couldn't take it anymore. I'm not a lawyer (God help us) and even the state sometimes can't figure out the mismash mess of their own gun laws. But if you want to be legal you need to find somebody that knows what's what.

I assume your daughter is going to U of M. Missoula is a beautiful town if you don't mind 15 below F.

 

[GatorFarmer]

I think it is illegal to bring ANY gun into California without some sort of permission from a state agency.

The problem you have (or the risk you run) is that if you are involved in an accident and go to the hospital the HP is going to inventory your vehicle before they store it. If the find a gun not in their system you are a felon.

There's no long gun registration in California, save for "assault weapons" that were grandfathered in. Long guns wouldn't be in the system, since there isn't one.

 

[feralmerril]

I no doubt told this story before but it pertains. In 1970 or 1971 I had bought another harley dresser. I owned another, but a good deal came. It was winter and I had the newer harley just sitting as the weather was cold. It definetly wasnt a novelity as I had been rideing harleys for years. A nice warm day a buddy and his wife wanted to meet me near magic mountain california. We toured for awhile and now it was night. I think that was hy 128 that goes past magic mountain to santa paula/ventura. Buddy got ahead on the narrow winedy highway. I was boxed in. Finaly I seen a opening and poured it on. The prior day I had just got eyeglass`s for the first time in my life and it made everything look different like steping a foot over a garden hose etc. I started around a car and the devil speeded up! Now I got a high speed wobble I hadnt experianced on that bike before! When that happens usualy you can speed up and power through them. I sure needed to speed up! I opened her wide as I could, went around the car and came into a curve with a 45 MPH sign. Normaly I could make that curve at any speed even so. The glass`s made the curve look even more serious than it was. I paniced! I hit the brakes and that raised me vertical as I was trying to lay it down! I left the road at about 100 mph. There was a cliff and I went end over end down to a abanded rail road track at the bottom. I was busted up pretty bad, broken leg etc. I dont think I lost conciousness except maybe for a few secounds. Soon there was a bunch of people that got down to me.
Finaly my buddy showed up as I had also passed another line of cyclelists, and one of them had went ahead and chased my buddy bill down and told him I got killed! He showed up and it dawned on me I was going to the hospital and that I had a snub in my vest. I asked the people would ya all step back? I want a private word with my partner. They did, bill knew what was up and nodded as I palmed him my S&W model 60.
They had to pull the stretcher up the cliff with a rope. They took me to the hospital in newhall.
Then here again came the CHP, ran the nurses off, then said : What did you hand yer buddy? I dunno, probley my keys. Thats not what someone there told me. They said you handed him a plastic envelope!
Then it dawned on me what he was talking about. Nope it wasnt a plastic envelope, it was my stainless steel snub! Was it loaded? No, I lied. Ya gonna write me up? Naw, your suffering enough!
You boys are giveing california LEOs a bad rap as far as I am concerned!

 

[Bruce51]

If you really want to get the facts for California regarding transportation of firearms PM me your email address.
I will scan and send you the pertainent pages from my CRPA handbook.
Three pages cover all you need to know and the penal code sections are referenced if you want to check the law exactly as it is written.
Bruce

Also let us not forget that there is a federal law S 178.38 Transportation of Firearms that preempts state law allowing interstate transportation of firearms which are unloaded and locked in a trunk.
I would obtain a copy of that law and carry it along just in case.

 

[crsides]

feralmerril

I was on a yamaha 350 & hit a stopped mustang on HWY 49 in Charlotte in 1975. Had a bauer 25 in the pocket. On the way to the hospital, I asked the ambulance attendant to take the 25 and keep it for me. There was NO concealed carry in NC back then. He said he couldn't take anything, or risked being fired.

Had to pass it to my wife while laying on the stretcher in the emergency room. 2 minutes later, Hiway patrol showed up wanted to see superman. Superman? Yeah, the lady in the mustang said you flew plumb over the top of her car.

Be safe.

Charlie

 

[cowart]

You boys are giveing california LEOs a bad rap as far as I am concerned!

Based on an experience that happened 40 years ago... things may have changed since then!

 

[feralmerril]

Gawd! It has been 40 years! I feel old as mose`s. You are right though. Lots of things have changed. To tell the truth leo back in those years let me slide a bunch of times that I wouldnt want to try now. I did have a few things going for me back then, still it didnt make me more legal away from my job. It just probley showed that I didnt have a record. I was a guard for lockheed where we carried a gun with secret goverment clearances, a state OPEN CARRY gun and guard cards. Legaly, it meant no extra brownie points, however in the real world it meant a lot. Demeaner is usualy every thing in those instances.

 

[zoom6zoom]

How about something discrete like this...