Gumby0961
Member
Wondering how others moved a large amount of guns, ammo, powder etc?
Moving from Ca to Tx, how do I get my guns there?
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When I moved from PA to NV 12 years ago, I put them all in the back seat of my truck. The ammo was in the bed under a bunch of crap. But they're were just two of us and everything but the bigger furniture went in my truck.
I wouldn't trust most moving companies with guns (if they take them).
There are some u-pack companies that will drop off pods that you fill.
I wouldn't trust most moving companies with guns (if they take them).
There are some u-pack companies that will drop off pods that you fill.
Rented a U-Haul trailer and loaded it up. If your going to go through communist cities, pack all the firearms, ammo ,ect up front and everything else behind it. I doubt the CHP wants to stand by for hours so they can look at your buried firearms. But just in case, maybe have one trunk gun as your sacrificial lamb for them to look at maybe a wood stocked 12 g shotgun.
Advise a rental truck/van and a non stop drive to your new location. No overnight stops except at friends' homes.
RetiredUSNChief
Member
When I was still active duty, I ALWAYS transported my firearms and ammunition myself. I never allowed any moving company to even know I had them in the first place, much less touch them and pack them.
I eventually ended up doing most of my moves entirely as DITY (do it yourself) moves. The few times I had a moving company do a move, something ALWAYS disappeared.
I eventually ended up doing most of my moves entirely as DITY (do it yourself) moves. The few times I had a moving company do a move, something ALWAYS disappeared.
Buzznrose
Member
I have to say, my experience was opposite, I never lost anything in a military move after 27 years. I had some stuff damaged, but that happens.
I always shipped guns, but didn’t have many then, so no big deal. The KEY is to make sure if you use movers, you look hard at the inventory before signing off on it.
Buzznrose
Member
How is everything else getting here to Texas?
Movers should be fine but I’d buy padded weapon cases and after your movers inventory them by serial number and you take pics, seal the cases with a padlock.
They probably won’t ship ammo, powder, or primers. They should ship bullets and brass.
If hauling the powder and ammo was not an easy thing, I’d probably sell it all and just buy new when you get here. I imagine you can get top dollar there for the stuff selling to friends or neighbors. Coming to TX means you can buy ammo off the Internet again.
Pack it up and move it yourself on a non stop trip with another driver. No way I would get rid of ammo and reloading gear and try to replace. The last time we moved the movers moved empty safes but it was a local company I trusted. If your leaving Cali with your Gun stuff they are probably happy. Leave Cali ways there if you have any. Texas wont be red for long the way things are going...
danez71
Member
I've moved out of state 3 times. The last is very similar to yours
I never did find a moving company or pod type service that didn't explicitly state no guns or ammo (& other things too).
For the 300 mile moves, Uhaul type or in your own car.
For the longest 1700 mile move, dogs, tortoise, and the critical stuff were packed in a rented motor home for a 3 day drive. If pushed, it could have been 2 days.
The cost of the motorgome and shipping my truck was part way offset by the cost of hotels, eating out more and a small trailer rental due to very possible weather issues while driving that distance/time.
The major hassle of all that stuff going into my truck and having to be unloaded/loaded at each hotel stay, and finding hotels that take dogs was a major factor too.
The flexibility and benefits of a RV was huge to me.
Uhauls getting broken into or stolen from hotels is not rare. More often stolen than broken into from what I gathered.
I never did find a moving company or pod type service that didn't explicitly state no guns or ammo (& other things too).
For the 300 mile moves, Uhaul type or in your own car.
For the longest 1700 mile move, dogs, tortoise, and the critical stuff were packed in a rented motor home for a 3 day drive. If pushed, it could have been 2 days.
The cost of the motorgome and shipping my truck was part way offset by the cost of hotels, eating out more and a small trailer rental due to very possible weather issues while driving that distance/time.
The major hassle of all that stuff going into my truck and having to be unloaded/loaded at each hotel stay, and finding hotels that take dogs was a major factor too.
The flexibility and benefits of a RV was huge to me.
Uhauls getting broken into or stolen from hotels is not rare. More often stolen than broken into from what I gathered.
Define "large amount". When I moved across the country, I packed guns and ammo into a rented box truck along with everything else and drove. Doesn't require anything particularly fancy.
theotherwaldo
Member
Last time that I moved it took three trips with a pick-up truck and trailer just to haul the stuff that the movers wouldn't accept... .
WestKentucky
Member
I recently moved. I put down a thick blanket in the back floorboard of my truck (seat bottoms fold up) and I put down a layer of guns. Folded the blanket over, layer of broke down cardboard boxes, fold blanket again. The blanket protects from scuffs and scrapes. The cardboard helped to keep guns from banging into each other. It worked really well. I did handguns on the bottom layer and that let bolts and cocking spurs of various types have a place to go in between guns. Even with cardboard it kinda form-fit under weight so it worked very well. I think I had 3 blankets total and 4 layers.
The Night Rider
Member
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- Feb 16, 2022
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SINGLE SHOT SHOTGUN.
It's really hard to give advice without knowing your situation. Is the rest of your stuff going by moving van?
Before I say this I have to clarify that I own less than 10 firearms and I'm assuming I-10 through Arizona and New Mexico to Texas
If it was me I would send my household items by moving van andI would put my guns in my vehicle and either take them into my motel room every night or have a co-driver and just drive straight through.
The Night Rider
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When my unit was getting ready to go to Desert Storm they had household goods come in and pack up all of our personal belongings for storage. My memory may not be right because this is 30 years ago but I remember the Mover taking apart my stereo wrapping up one of my speakers and dropping it into the packing box.
One of the guys in my first unit put $1,000 Yamaha stereo system on layaway at the PX the day he got to that unit. He got it paid off and out of layaway right before they shipped his household goods. He planned to send it on to his next Duty station still in the packing case that it came from the PX in. It vanished enroute but it was replaced with an identical system
I can only speak to my recent experience. We had way to much stuff to carry in any rented solution that we drove. Also. at our age, moving items in and out of the house was impossible. Thus we hired a major moving firm. We detailed insurance coverage on the items to go with the movers. Some small valuable were sent UPS and detailed and insured.
The guns: One all state compliant long arm came with us with a reasonable SD load. The gun was carried in the SUV in a travel compliant manner. Of course, that means retrieving on the road in real time would take a minute or two. Folks have run thus for the truck gun carried in the stored, unloaded, legally correct manner, it takes time. I wasn't risking some trooper busting us. SD, both of us had OC sprays on us. We stopped at legit places during the day - The Cracker Barrel tour of America!
The guns to ship - bought sturdy Pelican cases with good locks. On move day, the truck drive and I went over each gun, checking to be sure they were unloaded. I photographed each, serial numbers were recorded by me and the driver on their forms, then locked up. They made it safe and sound and we unpacked them together and check them over.
Ammo - I had way to much to take in the car. Driving it in a U-haul - no need to supply criminals who rob U-hauls at motels. Might not happen but it might. So I sold all the generic stuff. I might have taken a loss on some but so what I was paying a fortune for the move and the new house expenses. I did take some boxes of high end more specialized stuff in a box in the car. Shipping the ammo was almost like buying it again.
Now, someone else's finances might differ but that's how I did it. NO problems with the movers.
The guns: One all state compliant long arm came with us with a reasonable SD load. The gun was carried in the SUV in a travel compliant manner. Of course, that means retrieving on the road in real time would take a minute or two. Folks have run thus for the truck gun carried in the stored, unloaded, legally correct manner, it takes time. I wasn't risking some trooper busting us. SD, both of us had OC sprays on us. We stopped at legit places during the day - The Cracker Barrel tour of America!
The guns to ship - bought sturdy Pelican cases with good locks. On move day, the truck drive and I went over each gun, checking to be sure they were unloaded. I photographed each, serial numbers were recorded by me and the driver on their forms, then locked up. They made it safe and sound and we unpacked them together and check them over.
Ammo - I had way to much to take in the car. Driving it in a U-haul - no need to supply criminals who rob U-hauls at motels. Might not happen but it might. So I sold all the generic stuff. I might have taken a loss on some but so what I was paying a fortune for the move and the new house expenses. I did take some boxes of high end more specialized stuff in a box in the car. Shipping the ammo was almost like buying it again.
Now, someone else's finances might differ but that's how I did it. NO problems with the movers.
bannockburn
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- Apr 24, 2007
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- 26,308
Gumby0961
I have moved four times over the last ten years and I have always moved my guns, ammo, and all of the things that go with them, by myself. When I get to my new home I back my truck up into one of bays and close the garage door so I can unload every thing in privacy.
Thankfully most of the moves weren't long distance. If I had to do something that was interstate, I would rent a big enough box truck and ask a family member or close friend to go along. Would try to make it straight through without any overnight stays.
It takes a lot of prep work and effort to get it all done but I think it's worth it.
I have moved four times over the last ten years and I have always moved my guns, ammo, and all of the things that go with them, by myself. When I get to my new home I back my truck up into one of bays and close the garage door so I can unload every thing in privacy.
Thankfully most of the moves weren't long distance. If I had to do something that was interstate, I would rent a big enough box truck and ask a family member or close friend to go along. Would try to make it straight through without any overnight stays.
It takes a lot of prep work and effort to get it all done but I think it's worth it.
An alarm I have used on my truck and trailers:
https://www.harborfreight.com/home/...rms/wireless-security-alert-system-57937.html
Totally mobile and wireless.
I put the sensor on my open trailer or in the bed of my truck facing up.
I stay at places where you can park close to or outside your room and the 400ft range of the alarm has always been enough to trigger the chimes in the room.
I have duct-taped over the sensor to adjust/narrow the trigger area too.
My LGS owner used these when attending gun shows out of town where he had a table.
Before using this alarm, he had to unload everything in his truck into his room.
As far as trailers being stolen/broken into, I don't think it's as common as some people here are professing.
Most hotels have security cameras covering 100% of their parking lot.
jmo,
.
Edit: I paint the sensor flat black and tape over the little red light that lights up when activated.
Here is other options, alarms with up to 1000 ft. range:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=BUNKER+H...ecurity+alert+system,aps,521&ref=nb_sb_noss_1
.
https://www.harborfreight.com/home/...rms/wireless-security-alert-system-57937.html
Totally mobile and wireless.
I put the sensor on my open trailer or in the bed of my truck facing up.
I stay at places where you can park close to or outside your room and the 400ft range of the alarm has always been enough to trigger the chimes in the room.
I have duct-taped over the sensor to adjust/narrow the trigger area too.
My LGS owner used these when attending gun shows out of town where he had a table.
Before using this alarm, he had to unload everything in his truck into his room.
As far as trailers being stolen/broken into, I don't think it's as common as some people here are professing.
Most hotels have security cameras covering 100% of their parking lot.
jmo,
.
Edit: I paint the sensor flat black and tape over the little red light that lights up when activated.
Here is other options, alarms with up to 1000 ft. range:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=BUNKER+H...ecurity+alert+system,aps,521&ref=nb_sb_noss_1
.
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I moved my stuff across the state with a truck. The ammo stacked in ammo boxes. Powder in the cabinet it was stored in. Handguns packed in boxes. I had 20 or so rifle cases. More expensive rifles went in cases.
The cheaper rifles and shotguns were stacked in moving blankets in cars. I got 30 or so guns a trip with moving blankets. I put down a layer, then a blanket, then alternated them, then another layer. I could have stacked a hundred of them in a van.
I have known several people who had movers take their guns with their furniture and something bad happened. Either the guns disappeared enroute or they were damaged.
Bad thing is moving insurance is based on weight of the items and not value of the items.
Best bet IMO is driving them yourself or one of the cargo type containers.
Bad thing is moving insurance is based on weight of the items and not value of the items.
Best bet IMO is driving them yourself or one of the cargo type containers.
RetiredUSNChief
Member
Your options vary depending on several issues.
In the military, for example, you can file a claim as part of the household moving process.
Also, if you have any items specifically covered by homeowners insurance, you may be able to submit a claim that way.
As mentioned above, accurate documentation of EVERYTHING is essential in a move. If you've got the inventory nailed down to fine detail, the odds of something "mysteriously disappearing" seem to go down...if only (in my opinion) because it's plainly obvious to the movers and the moving company that you've done so, which would make a claim against them much easier for you to process.
