Coast to coast by motorcycle. What gun?

[roundgunner]

I hope to be going from Connecticut to Washington State then down the left coast to San Diego & back on my GoldWing this fall.

The plan is to stop in the U.P. (Michigan) to meet a service buddy from the 70s. He is going to do the trip on a V twin Yamahopper or something. We used to ride together a lot in the day. My daughter starts collage in Montana this year so my wife will fly out with her and Dan and I will meet them in Montana, then my wife will ride with us to San Diego, then fly home. I get to do the ride I have been looking forward to for years.

My question is what gun to bring. I have a CT permit, and will have a Fla. Permit. That still leaves the whole west coast and many states in between.

It seems like I have 3 choices:
1. Take an M&P and in the states that you cannot have a handgun I could take the slide and magazine and put them on the other bike. That would make gun parts, not a complete gun. We would have to make sure if one of us got stopped the other would keep going, and meet up later.

2. I have plenty of room for a folding 870 shotgun.

3. I also have a Beretta Storm in 40 S&W.

I hate to make the trip without some form of protection.
Any opinions?

 

[Andy Griffith]

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.

 

[GatorFarmer]

Your valid home state permit would be valid for carrying a concealed handgun (not a long gun). However hi cap mags, and any type of "assault weapon" becomes a crime to take into California in many circumstances. I passed through California (Northern) with a Mossberg 500 (non folding) from Washington state and didn't worry about it.

If it was me, I'd take something low key as possiblen like an generic looking revolver or a lever action .30-30 or something of that nature.

 

[HAWKEYE10]

I would carry your favorite carry hand gun. Just keep quite about it. As long as you don't act up nobody will ever know. If you do get in a situation and have to use it then deal with it then. Don

 

[Xfuzz]

S&W model 60(close) and a big bore 4"(stowed)...extra ammo.
I'd leave the longguns.
Have a safe trip.

 

[venomballistics]

if it'll fit and travel well, roll with the shotgun.
it'll finish any fight you'll ever get into

 

[The Big D]

Oh, my! The likelihood of bad guys picking on a biker are slim. Accordingly, you should be just fine with a j-frame or sumpin'. Selecting a gun(s) for the trip should be the last thing on your mind, IMHO.

Be safe.

 

[parallel]

I can't help ya with the firearm decision... but MAN what a great ride that would be! Color me green with envy!.

 

[sheriffoconee]

J frame....preferably one you don't have any emotional attachment to.
hides well, no evil high capacity mags, no scary looking appearance, no one will see you going in and out of hotel rooms carrying it....like they would your 12 gauge....or Beretta, or levergun.....
travel light...and have a great trip

 

[NE450No2]

I would make sure that any handgun I carried was legal in what ever state I was in, ie mag capacity.

Also I would be sure what ever long gun I carried, was legal in every state I was going to.

I would carry at least 2 handguns and one long gun on the trip.

I would know all the rules, and act/plan accordingly.

I would not let anyone else "around me" know I was carrying a gun.

 

[M28]

Wow....what an ambitious trip!

I'm located not too far off of I-90 about 200 miles west of Missoula and about 300 miles east of the salt water. I'd be happy to buy you and your entourage a brewsky when you're passing through and/or provide any guide services you might need in the immediate area.

Ride On, Brian~

 

[mtgianni]

Should be a great trip. Where is she headed to school? I would go with a concealable 9 or 40 and tell no one. Mine alternates in a zipped jacket pocket with a Mod 66 2.5" iwb. No reason to suspect it's there and easy enough to get to.

 

[Nicksterdemus]

A cheap 9/40 Sigma($329 delivered from Buds + 50 bucks rebate from S&W)/or any ole gen II/III S&W 9mm & a mod 60/36/442/10.

You would survive w/o remorse if you had to give up a Sigma or a plain, used wheelgun.

Just another excuse to buy a couple of guns...

 

[feralmerril]

Sheriffocone wrote what I would have. I rode many years. As long as you keep your nose clean, ride those dressers and carry discreatly you will never be shook down. If you need to defend yourself at least you may be alive for the chance, boils down to I would rather be tried by 12 than carried by six! Wild hogs was just a movie, I doubt you will be harassed by outlaw bikers!

 

[scooter123]

I would suggest that you forget all about any long gun. In Michigan, as I understand it it's illegal to transport any long gun unless it's cased. Our Concealed Weapon's permit is quite specific, it's a Concealed Pistol License and that is all we are permitted to carry, with the exception of a somewhat mild pepper spray. Every single state you pass through will have provisions under the law that could result in a legal nightmare, so play it safe and leave the long guns at home.

I also don't think that you'll ever have any need for a rifle or shotgun. If your transporting it broken down, you'll never have time to employ it for defense if the SHTF.

As for the jaunt down to San Diego, you should check that your choice is California Approved before you even think about taking that leg of your trip. In addition, you'll have to check the particulars of whether your legally entitled to have access to that gun as a temporary resident. Odds are that you can't because it won't be properly registered in California. Personally, there are 3 states that I won't stop in with a gun in my possesion, California, Illinois, and New York. Because if it's not properly documented and permitted for those states, getting caught with it means that you'll most likely be facing Felony charges.

As for Illinois, under Federal Law, you are permitted to transport a gun THROUGH any state in the Union. Which means your OK for gas stops, bathroom breaks, and meals. However, as soon as you stop for Lodging you become a Temporary Resident and you lose that Federal Pre-Emption. Bottomline, don't make any stops in Illinois that that aren't fuel related. If you break down, find a FFL dealer and ship it to a dealer near home.

Don't even think about "skating" around the Laws in the various states you'll be passing through. Yeah, you might get away with it and never get caught. However, if you do get caught in a state like Illinois or California, you'll be looking at Hard Time and the loss of your firearms rights for Life. IMO, it just isn't worth the risk.

Note, watch your speed. A lot of states are "milking" speeders to supplement their budget. With out of state plates, you will be a Prime Target. This means that the 5 mph "cushion" is now History. Mount a GPS on your bike and don't go more than 3 over the limit, otherwise you'll be paying "taxes" all along the way, probably to the tune of 100 bucks for each one.

Finally, if you happen to come on a great photo op with a Moose, keep the bike running and don't get too close. They are very large and quite aggressive once you violate their "comfort zone" and it can turn in to a real foot race.

 

[Wyo]

My son used to ride a lot with a Winchester M94 Trapper in 30-30.It had a 16" barrel and he rolled it up in his sleeping bag. The sleeping bag was in a weather proof sack that was strapped on the back of the bike. It was fairly innocuous and worked better for him than a handgun when he was riding in bear/moose country. Not sure how it would play in some of the more restrictive states but it was never any problem in the western states and sure wasn't any problem at all in Wyoming.

 

[SleazyRider]

It ain't worth it carrying a weapon, in my opinion. I've taken pretty much the same trip by motorcycle no less than a dozen times, camping under the stars nightly, and never wanted the responsibility of securing a weapon while I was using a public shower or having a brewsky at a local bar. How would you secure your weapon, for example, when you're camped out and want to take a swim? Sagglebags are not as secure as a car trunk.
I suggest that you enjoy yourself unencumbered by this responsibility. What ever you decide, you are on the threshold of a wonderful experience, and I wish you godspeed!

 

[mod34]

It ain't worth it carrying a weapon, in my opinion. I've taken pretty much the same trip by motorcycle no less than a dozen times, camping under the stars nightly, and never wanted the responsibility of securing a weapon while I was using a public shower or having a brewsky at a local bar. How would you secure your weapon, for example, when you're camped out and want to take a swim? Sagglebags are not as secure as a car trunk.
I suggest that you enjoy yourself unencumbered by this responsibility. What ever you decide, you are on the threshold of a wonderful experience, and I wish you godspeed!

I will have to respectfully, but vehemently disagree. On any trip, car or bike, I'd take something light but effective. A little "J" would be perfect or something you are used to practicing with on a regular basis. When on a trip, I'm never unarmed. Come to thing about it, I don't know when there is a time when I'm not.

 

[DOEBOY1]

i would assume that if you were pulled over and license run it would say you have a ccw. this would be a dead give away of course. i would by pass any state that didn't respect my rights as a reposible gun owner. of course i would cut out california all together just me. good luck with the moose, bear, and the occasional gang banger. one last thing we have in cherokee nc a lot of harley riders of which the majority of them are wonderful people, now on the other hand when the gold wingers come into town this place turns into a ghost town for fear of what them gold wingers are cappable of. old men with money is a scare prospect. i hope the fear factor preceeds you and you have a safe trip. Doeboy

 

[feralmerril]

I really dont think it would be possible to tour all the states involved without breaking a law in several of them without great planning. Just carry a snub out of sight and keep your nose clean.
The biggest no-no, is stay out of canada or mexico. If you do want to cross either border, hide that gun and everything to do with a gun somehow in the states. You cant count on it, still if for some reason, maybe by being in a TA, you might have your gun discovered. That has happened twice that I can remember to me, and I talked nice and got away with it. Odds are you could too, but you cant count on it! Usualy the older LEOs will let it slide but a younger serious eager beaver could well give you trouble!
By the way, many have mentioned california being bad. I lived there about 40 years, left 5 years ago. Personaly, I had maybe 3 to 5 or 6 gun incidents in that time there, and NEVER had a problem with the officers! You cant count on anything, but for my part, I think LEO there have been getting a bad rap! I had many friends in LE there and none were libs. Of course you cant bank on it!