Do you bring a long gun when you travel?

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madwell

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Hello,

Vacation season is here and I plan to do several road trips this summer. I was Wondering how many highroaders bring a long gun(rifle or shotgun) when they travel. My wife and I are heading out on small trip in the beginning of June and I've been considering bringing my home defense 870 along for the ride. I typically always bring a handgun of some sort when I travel, but lately have been thinking why limit myself. I feel that the 870 is the best choice for me at home so what's the difference when I'm away?

Anyway I would just like hear others thoughts on the matter. In addition if you do bring a long gun what do you bring and how do you store it. We live in Arizona so there are no issues with legality.

Thanks
 
I usually carry a 1911 on my person when traveling. I also have a S&W 642 in my bag. I have brought along an 870 when camping in the mountains for several weeks.
 
Well, I'm not 18, so I don't carry of course.
But when we are travelling with my family my father always carries a handgun,
and there is a 12 gauge Mossberg 500 in the back seat, with 5 rounds of 00 buckshot in the tubular magazine.
 
I do not, except under very specific circumstances.

1) After extensive testing, training, and practice, I know that within across-the-room distances I am faster, accurately, with a handgun than any long gun. Handguns are what get my practice time and competition time, 10:1 over rifles or shotguns, so why would I switch to the far less suitable package for home/room defense?

2) When traveling, I'm almost always in a hotel room, cabin, or home. There's no way I can defend myself better at "accross-the-hotel-room" distances with a long gun than a handgun. Besides, I don't spend much time in the hotel room, so it makes far more sense to keep my defensive arm on me, rather than bring multiple weapons. I'm already carrying too much, and/or trying to travel "light." A long gun is a bit like a canoe paddle. If you need one you need one, but if you don't, it is quite a pain in the butt to drag everywhere. ;) Then there's the concern of where I'm securing it when I'm not in the hotel or car. Theft happens a lot to travelers. Don't need a firearm stolen if I can do anything to avoid it.

(2a) This shifts if I'm camping, especially wilderness camping, where a bit more power might be good for large animals, and a bit more range might be realistically used, even defensively.)

3) I don't believe in the theory of carrying a long-gun for car trips, as though you might "fight your way" to the trunk with your carried handgun, deploy your rifle/shotgun, and then mount some kind of standing defense of your vehicle. So that doesn't add into my calculations.

4) Now, sometimes I travel for competition or training and will have a rifle or shotgun with me then anyway. Different situation than "normal" travel, though.
 
If I fly I bring nothing; not worth the hassle. On road trips it kind of depends where I am going, but I will most likely bring just a handgun. Who wants to deal with another piece of luggage when they don't have to?
 
Thanks for all the replies so far. This is exactly the type of feed back I was hoping to get. The problem I'm having on making this decision is part of our trip will be spent in a remote wilderness area where a long gun would be comforting and part of it will be in more urban settings. There will also be times when the vehicle will be left unattended at trail heads and tourist attractions when it won't be practical for me to bring a long gun with me.
 
I have, and do when I'm traveling. I usually bring my SB home defense 870 loaded with some OO buck, as well.

Prior to doing so, I check the state laws of those that I will be passing through.

GS
 
I always take a long gun along with a half dozen loaded mags with me in the RV when we go somewhere. Of course the wife and I both also carry handguns as well.

This is my normal RV rifle:
15cdd173-d2c7-4101-be2d-67d4f474b846_zps2d77eafb.jpg
 
I have never even considered it before reading this thread.
I still won't.

However if I traveled in an RV like TMIC, I certainly would. It would likely be a shotty with OO Buck.
 
I keep an AR in the trunk, I have not been doing so for very long, but it will stay in the car next vacation trip, assuming it will be legal where I travel. I have always carried my normal EDC/HD pistols on trips.
 
If I bring a long gun, it is because it is my sporting clays shotgun and I plan on attending a shoot; otherwise if I feel the need to bring a shotgun for protection when I am on vacation, then I would rethink that trip for somewhere a lot safer. Handgun is a different story, easily concealable and more than adequate in a hotel room
 
I always travel with a rifle, usually a .22 and a favorite centerfire. Never know when you'll stumble across a good place to shoot
 
If I am going on an overnight or longer trip I have four tag along guns. Winchester md 12 that takes down, Marlin .357mag takedown carbine, S&W old model bodyguard .38 and a Coonan .357. The long guns take apart and stow in the bottom of the duffle bag. The .38 goes in an ankle holster and the Coonan rides in a custom pancake. All of them have been customized to suite me in one way or another. If I am traveling somewhere that I have shooting friends I might add whatever guns that I feel I'll get to shoot. In my travel range box I have 100 rds. for the shotgun, 100 rds. for the .38 and 200 rds. for the .357s. Also normal range stuff cleaning gear etc.
 
I usually carry a Kel Tec Sub 2000 in 9mm. Fits in a briefcase along with a few 33 rd mags. Doesn't take up much room and it easily fits in the saddle bags of my scooter if I am traveling on 2 wheels.
 
I used to carry an SKS but now carry a 30-06. I also have a handgun. Better to have and not need than need and not have.
 
Depends on where, and why, I am traveling. In general I only bring a long gun if I think I'll have a chance to use it (as in I'm visiting people I know shoot).
 
madwell said:
Hello,

Vacation season is here and I plan to do several road trips this summer. I was Wondering how many highroaders bring a long gun(rifle or shotgun) when they travel. My wife and I are heading out on small trip in the beginning of June and I've been considering bringing my home defense 870 along for the ride. I typically always bring a handgun of some sort when I travel, but lately have been thinking why limit myself. I feel that the 870 is the best choice for me at home so what's the difference when I'm away?

Anyway I would just like hear others thoughts on the matter. In addition if you do bring a long gun what do you bring and how do you store it. We live in Arizona so there are no issues with legality.

Thanks
Click to expand...

When traveling by car I almost always bring a long gun. These days that means an AR type carbine. It use to mean an 870 or an SKS.

Travel by plane I just bring an EDC pistol.
 
I have a scoped 30-06 bolt gun behind the seat of my truck. I keep a peep-sighted lever gun in 44 magnum in the trunk of my car. They are permanent residents in my vehicles, so if I'm driving somewhere they are with me.

I would never drive in New York, New Jersey or DC.
 
I never have taken a long gun except my old trapgun back in the day.
Usually it has been two .357's....a Python for me, and a SP101 for mrs kb.
Lately I have learned the virtues of an AR with weapon lite and 30rd mag. It sure is nice to have when checking out the property and finding out why the dogs are barking.
Ill definitely consider the AR next trip.
 
Last edited:
No, I don't, unless I'm heading home and want to bring a rifle to shoot in Dad's backyard.

My .38 snub should be enough to protect me along the way there!
 
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