Gun for full-time RVing.

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KenW.

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I am a military retiree and now three years from a civilian law enforcement retirement. Plans are for the wife and I to full-time RV for a while after this career. I know I'm covered with LEOSA for my handgun(s), but in order to avoid state and local conflicts with assault weapons (rifles) I picked up a Mossberg 500. I used a 500 for years in LE, and took my first deer with Winchester Model 12.

Are there any States where I could find myself in trouble for having a "
tactical" shotgun? I checked the most restrictive I know of, and its all about removable mag capacity and rifles.
 
You and I must be on the same wavelength, as I was recently thinking about this myself. You and I have the same retirement goal, but I'm still a few years away. I wonder how this would apply to a handgun. Plus I have the added challenge of having to drive across Canada to get to the lesser 48.
 
I googled "taking a firearm through Canada to Alaska", and found some info. Handgun barrels must be longer than four inches for Canada. Long guns are alright as long as they aren't prohibited by Canada,and you have a valid reason to need a gun at your destination. BE CERTAIN TO DECLARE AT THE BORDER.
 
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I googled "taking a firearm through Canada to Alaska", and found some info. Handgun barrels must be longer than four inches for Canada. Long guns are alright as long as they aren't prohibited by Canada,and you have a valid reason to need a gun at your destination. BE CERTAIN TO DECLARE AT THE BORDER.
I knew about the border declaration. I also knew about the barrel length. ("I've read that the reason all of Ruger's 4" revolvers are actually 4.2" is because the corresponds to the metric minimum barrel length to be legal in Canada. I figure a 4" revolver is the one least likely to get me into trouble, excluding the most extremely restrictive states, which I choose not to visit and spend money in.
 
I figure a 4" revolver is the one least likely to get me into trouble, excluding the most extremely restrictive states, which I choose not to visit and spend money in.

I have a buddy who full time RVs and he spends some time in the winter in one of many campsites that are just west of the Kalif border but in free states. They get all the benefit of the Kalif weather, but none of the restrictions. I can't imagine how many guns are in those RVs, all the full timers know about this.

Feel free to stop by the campsites in Ohio in the warmer months. You might just see us in our 5th wheel.

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The Lady and I have kicked this can around a little. More of a lodging convenience when visiting the kids and grandkids.

It really boils down to what States you plan on visiting. Mine will the free States (Maryland and East Coast is out).

Regardless of the gun laws even in the free States security is more important than the actual gun(s). I would install a heavy steel box that can be locked with a heavy padlock and bolted in place. Depending on your space availability a Job Box used by contractors would be worth considering. You can store more than just guns in it...valuables like jewelry, spare cash, cameras, etc.

A locked box will avoid problems with over-zealous leo's claiming the item(s) were in "plain view" during a search (which may or may not be legal).

A shotgun seems like a safe legal choice for most States but remember the Shotgun has several disadvantages for self-defense especially in the tight confines of a RV.
 
I would tend to recommend a bolt action 5.56 magazine fed rifle.It is going to be legal most places and be more then adequate for almost any need.

That being said, I would be more likely to go with a Ruger 77/44, which is also a bolt action magazine-fed rifle, for no other reason than that I like it better. As far as going to Canada, still remember my father shipping his pistol home from a town along the border. The last time he crossed he got a lot of questions about his air-rifle.

Ignoring Canada, and Mexico, for a moment, a bolt action is going to be legal almost anywhere.
 
Browning makes a detachable box magazine fed lever gun (BLR) in several chamberings
including .223 Rem. I would pick that over a bolt gun for defensive usage. Would also be legal to bring into Canada.
.223 Rem chambering could be an issue with some provincial game laws in Canada :-(
 
Is not your RV considered your home?
Legally speaking.? I highly doubt it. But rules regarding "plain sight seizure" exist for structural residences as well. In any event, if you're pulled over in your RV, all the officer needs is probable cause to get you out of the vehicle and make an arrest. At that point, he can search beyond plain sight. (Or, if you're silly enough to consent to a search.)
 
I would tend to recommend a bolt action 5.56 magazine fed rifle.It is going to be legal most places and be more then adequate for almost any need.

That being said, I would be more likely to go with a Ruger 77/44, which is also a bolt action magazine-fed rifle, for no other reason than that I like it better. As far as going to Canada, still remember my father shipping his pistol home from a town along the border. The last time he crossed he got a lot of questions about his air-rifle.

Ignoring Canada, and Mexico, for a moment, a bolt action is going to be legal almost anywhere.

I have a bolt action .243 Win I'll be taking along.
 
Legally speaking.? I highly doubt it. But rules regarding "plain sight seizure" exist for structural residences as well. In any event, if you're pulled over in your RV, all the officer needs is probable cause to get you out of the vehicle and make an arrest. At that point, he can search beyond plain sight. (Or, if you're silly enough to consent to a search.)

Im aware of how that works. Been a cop since 1997.
 
I notice that you are a military retiree. Are you planning on staying at any of the many on-base RV parks? If so be aware of the regulations of each base before you try to stay there. We full timed for over two years about 15 years ago, so my experience may be out of date, but maybe not.
At that time each base set of rules was pretty much up to the base commander. Some didn't care one way of the other about on-board firearms, some required a list with serial numbers of all you were carrying, several required that your firearms be turned in to the armory or security office.
I found that Air Force bases were the most gun friendly. Army bases were so-so and Navy bases were the most difficult to deal with. (Example: the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station required all firearms to be turned into the off base security office before you would be allowed through the gate.. There was a big sign at the gate that any firearms found on base would be confiscated and destroyed.)
Whatever you do, if asked if you have firearms aboard, don't lie. Military bases don't afford you the protection from search and seizure that you may have in the civilian world. I have turned away from several bases that we were planning to stay at because of their policies on firearms.
Lemoore Naval Air Station being one I remember. I had reservations in their RV Park but could not come to an agreement with the gate guards on my firearms. I was carrying around 7 or 8 long guns and handguns in a locked compartment under the bed. They wanted me to break them out onto the bed and then come aboard to "inspect" them. This would have required that I basically set up the RV and extend the bedroom slide just in order to get to the compartment. I just u-turned and left.
 
I notice that you are a military retiree. Are you planning on staying at any of the many on-base RV parks? If so be aware of the regulations of each base before you try to stay there. We full timed for over two years about 15 years ago, so my experience may be out of date, but maybe not.
At that time each base set of rules was pretty much up to the base commander. Some didn't care one way of the other about on-board firearms, some required a list with serial numbers of all you were carrying, several required that your firearms be turned in to the armory or security office.
I found that Air Force bases were the most gun friendly. Army bases were so-so and Navy bases were the most difficult to deal with. (Example: the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station required all firearms to be turned into the off base security office before you would be allowed through the gate.. There was a big sign at the gate that any firearms found on base would be confiscated and destroyed.)
Whatever you do, if asked if you have firearms aboard, don't lie. Military bases don't afford you the protection from search and seizure that you may have in the civilian world. I have turned away from several bases that we were planning to stay at because of their policies on firearms.
Lemoore Naval Air Station being one I remember. I had reservations in their RV Park but could not come to an agreement with the gate guards on my firearms. I was carrying around 7 or 8 long guns and handguns in a locked compartment under the bed. They wanted me to break them out onto the bed and then come aboard to "inspect" them. This would have required that I basically set up the RV and extend the bedroom slide just in order to get to the compartment. I just u-turned and left.

Stay on a base? Oh heavens no except as a last resort. I've had my fill of the military.
 
Been research the more restrictive States and have found so far that mag restrictions apply to semi-autos. Mine is a pump. Still researching though.
 
I have a buddy who full time RVs and he spends some time in the winter in one of many campsites that are just west of the Kalif border but in free states....

Hmmm, the only state that is west of the Kali border is Hawaii. Does he attach pontoons on the rig enroute?
I assume he may be one of the million RVers around Quartzite AZ. What a pig stye for those who camp there in the desert. No one thinks it’s wrong to dump their holding tanks out in the open when they leave, fouling things for everyone who’s left. Four wheelers everywhere day and night, dust and dirt in the air, noise....yuck. And hundreds of drunks with guns. But if your buddy likes it, it’s a ‘free’ country.

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Hmmm, the only state that is west of the Kali border is Hawaii. Does he attach pontoons on the rig enroute?
I assume he may be one of the million RVers around Quartzite AZ. What a pig stye for those who camp there in the desert. No one thinks it’s wrong to dump their holding tanks out in the open when they leave, fouling things for everyone who’s left. Four wheelers everywhere day and night, dust and dirt in the air, noise....yuck. And hundreds of drunks with guns. But if your buddy likes it, it’s a ‘free’ country.

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Typos on the internet are notorious so I would guess he meant EAST of CA. I make them all the time if I'm in a hurry.
Quartzsite is a mess, not someplace I will ever go back to and all I did was go visit someone there for a few days. (Also it's spelled "QuartzSite." Those typos get you all the time.:rofl:)
However, there are a heck of a lot of other campgrounds in AZ, NV both states are just east of CA. :D
 
Have been thinking about this for my summer travels--not in an RV though----seems you'll probably be ok with a revolver--lever action rifle or pump shotgun----but I need to look into this more to be certain.
 
Stay out of New York and New Jersey if possible. If not possible, avoid stopping overnight. Carry a print out of Federal Law in the Interstate transport of firearms.
 
If you want a long gun a lever 357 might be a good choice. Decent round capacity but very non-tactical looking and I would assume legal in most locations. Plus good power with minimal recoil. A pistol may be a lot handier in a confined trailer but you'd need to be careful about magazine capacity in some states. I suppose a revolver might be the handgun equivalent of a lever gun in terms of looking non-tactical. I suppose you could get both chambered in the same caliber.
 
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