[STEVE M]

OK here's the deal; I am going to take a family vacation in a

couple of months that will take me across a few state lines.

Some of those states honor my permit, others don't. Will spend

most nights in campgrounds in tents.

Here are the guns I have narrowed it down to: A J-frame smith

airweight with +p 158gr lswchp. A Glock 23 with 155 Fed. hp.

Or a SIG 220 with 230 Fed. Hydrashoks.

I have a better holster selection for the Glock, will be

spending most of my time in the car (favors the J-frame), carry

the SIG on duty and use it most of the time off duty as well.

So what's your choice and why? (Not what's your favorite gun.)

[Bowlcut]

Personaly what id do is if you have a shot gun take it for nights in the tent. Strap it to the trunk lid in the day time. Then as for a hand gun, whatever you are confortable with. And also think about ammo. Gota be light weight, or easiably bought. So if you have a gun that just LOVES walmart white box winchester then thats what Id take. Cause there are walmarts everywhere.

If you have more holsters and better ways to concel the glock it might be a better choice. Also might think of which gun the wife or kids might be able to funtion properly if need be.

[jrpeterman]

I ran into this same dilemma during the Christmas Holiday when traveling with the family to Florida. I decided on using a my snub 686 rather than the Glocks because my CCW was not valid in TN at the time. I figured the revolver was easier to unload less conspicuously before entering TN and load again after crossing over into GA. In case my wife would have to have access, she is familar with the operation of the revolver and not a semi-auto. I carried some extra speedloaders just in case. I would probably go ahead with the J-frame snub nose .38 for the reasons mentioned.

[Lone_Gunman]

Bowlcut,

It would seem unlikely that ammo availability would be a consideration, unless he is vacationing in Somalia or Afghanistan.


How much ammo do you guys usually need on vacation?

[Brian Williams]

I am going to go north this summer which includes a day in NYC and a few in Mass. We are planning to go to S&W in Springfield MA. and the Springfield Armory museum I will probably take along my S&W's; 586, 13, 60-4, 940 just to shoot at the S&W range.

[Bowlcut]

Well alot of ammo ya know :D

No actualy read what he said. He is going to be camping. So say it comes a big deludge of rain. All his ammo gets soaked cause the ammo can was left open..... given that he is properly transporting and carrying ammo in a weather tight container.

So prevleance of good ammo for your gun is a thing to think about I think. Cause you never know.

[MeekandMild]

J Frame:
1) light, small and compact
2) P.C.
3) what is easier to find than .38 ammo?


Carrying in a lockbox the trunk where not legal to carry on person would allow any one of the three.

[P95Carry]

Carrying in a lockbox the trunk where not legal to carry on person would allow any one of the three I may do a four states trip next month ... and have a Chevy truck ..... so no trunk. What's my best approach here??

Damned if I wanna be too far from pieces and ammo.

[Serpico]

J frames are nice guns but for a trip I'd go with something a little hardier...specially in a tent out in the woods...there's no reason on extended drives you can't simply take it off your waist...why drive for hours on end with any gun sticking in your side?

[Nightcrawler]

My CZ-97 escorted me all the way from Upper Michigan to Utah and back in March. Little reassurance when sleeping at that rest stop in Northern Iowa, you know?

[TRIDENT]

J-Frame .38 will probably be more than adequate to get you out of almost any jam. Easy to keep handy, simple to operate, safe. Bring a couple of speed strips, of course. Have fun on your trip, sounds cool!

[Rich357]

You might take the one you wouldn't mind losing (as much) if it got confiscated.

Rich

[chaim]

I don't know what states you'll be in so I don't know what 4 legged creatures you may possibly encounter but if it was me I'd want to take something that would be useful against those possibilities (however unlikely).

I'll second the shotgun advice for camp, adding a carbine as an alternative. A lever gun in .357mag, .44mag or .30-30 would be a great wildlife defense gun at camp.

Of your handgun choices, the only one that sounds like it would be acceptable against some wildlife would be the .45acp (though I'd feel more comfortable w/ a magnum revolver of one flavor or another).

If you do have the long-gun, or the states you'll be in no longer have dangerous wildlife bigger than snakes, I'd say the .38 snub sounds like the best gun to take on a trip. It seems on vacation you'd want something useful and easy to get to, but pretty unassuming. A .38snub can ride in your pocket or on your ankle and it will completely disappear using the same carry options as a bigger gun. It will be pretty much out of your way as you are busy doing vacation things as well. And, of course a .38+P can be a very effective round. Even better, while camping it can be easily loaded w/ shot shells for snake defense for the first round or two and the rest can be HP for defense against criminal attacks.

[standingbear]

id go with the sig.you say its an off duty as well as an on duty gun.sounds like your very familiar with it.it should eaasily handle the situation should the need arise.why?simply because you state you are familiar with it most.you know its characteristics(where it hits,handling ect)and because its your family as well as you that youre looking at defending.go with what you know.

[sm]

My last road trip Iwent from the South to the NE. With resident permit, and non-res FL, only place I wasn't "legal"was Ohio...duh- .

I took a bunch of different guns and platforms--because I went to play, and I was gone for awhile.:p

My CCW's are 45 ACP and 9mm...one or both--always.

Thinking back, with the guns and ammo...Tamara has the best line I've ever heard...something like..

"You have any guns...yes officer, whatcha need?"

[STEVE M]

The camping will be in campgrounds (like KOA's), so I'm not real

concerned with the 4 legged critters. Not 2 worried about large

critters where we'll be going anyway (From Tn. to the Grand

Canyon). Ammo won't be a problem, a couple of speed strips and

a couple of speed loaders in the tent. A extra box in the car.

Family usage is not a problem. Both my wife and kid are

competent with all my handguns.

Serpico, not having a gun pushing into my side makes me less

comfortable!

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All-

Steve, being that you will be traveling in some
area's that won't honor your CCW license, I
would be tempted to carry only the J-frame
Smith & Wesson; concealed very nicely in
your luggage. Why? Because unless you
are a suspect involved in a serious violation,
most LEO's won't take the time to do
a through search of your luggage!:) :uhoh:

FootNote: North Carolina & Tennessee frown
on outsider's coming thru their respective
states with firearm's. They may simply "lock
you up and throw away the key".:( :uhoh:

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[sm]

Ala Dan makes a good point.

Since my previous post:
I've spoken with a friend whom though he(and wife) has the TX res and non- res FL, had to run to IL. They didn't camp out.They fretted between one his J frames and his Glock ( model 36). He chose an older well worn model 36 J frame, with speed loaders. He shoots its well, and it was easy to "store". his wife shoots it well also. Besides his wife would have his hide if something were to happen to "her" Glock 36. I think that means the Mrs. has claimed another one.;)

[note- the 2 states, Missouri and IL , even with him having 2 permits, not gun friendly]