Discreet transportation of a long gun

Status
Not open for further replies.
G

goon

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2003
Messages
7,390
I am wondering if anyone has any ideas about how to discretely transport a long gun out of your apartment building for trips to the range.
I am moving soon and I am not sure that I want my neighbors to know that I own guns until I know them well enough to share that with them.
I prefer to keep a low profile.
While we are at it, suppose you had to evac on foot.
Are there any ways to camoflage a lever action carbine or something of similar size so that it wouldn't just get confiscated by your local friendly government representative?
 
In the interest of not alarming the neighbors (or alerting ne'er-do-wells), I usually just drape a coat over the rifle case, and hold it parallel to my body in order to obscure the gun's shape.

Same thing in the car. If you've got no trunk, place a blanket over the guns on the way to your destination. Nothing too crazy, I just don't want to be known as "the guy with all the guns." :rolleyes:
 
I second the guns in the jacket meathod, I carried a ithical 37 with a 28 inch full choke in and out of the dorms for a year with no one noticing, it helps if you put it down the sleve.

if you want a sure fire way of dodging attention, get a guitar case and some foam, you have room for carbine, ammo, and if you spend a few bucks you can get one with decent locks.

baring that, buy a takedown gun.
 
I sometimes carry my Bushmaster or 870 in a Fender Srat guitar case. They fit tight and no one is the wiser.
Biker
 
Sporting goods stores sell "cases" for golf bags for traveling. I bought a hard plastic one for $70.00 +/- . 46" tall I can fit 4-5 rifles in it.

NukemJim
 
If the gun will break down like an AR15 into two halves, a small suitcase or cardboard box that does not look like it would hold a long gun works great, plus lets you carry ammo.

Depending on the long gun, you could transport ina 4"-6" PVC pipe. At those sizes, there are folks who do transport posters, blue prints, or even fishing gear around (when they have a dozen or more flyfishing poles, but you get the idea). If your gun won't fit, the larger the tube, the weirder it will look. If the tube would work, you then just get the pipe caps for each end and you have a nice documents tube.
 
I second the idea of carrying the case vertically--less likely to draw attention. It can also be helpful to avoid cases with logos or the typical trapezoidal cases. Rectangular hard cases would likely be less recognizable, as well ("Hm, could be a keyboard he's carrying...").

I live in Chicago and regularly take a gun to suburban ranges. I have one of those trapezoidal black hardcases that I just recommended against. If I'm parked near my building, I just tote it normally. If I have to walk a bit, I carry it vertically and try to obscure it as best as I can. For as anti-gun as city people can be, they also tend to not look at one another, so that helps...at least in these circumstances.:rolleyes:
 
Last edited:
I got one of these from Amazon.com and it cost me $6.95 Shipping was free and I signed up for an amazon.com creditcard and got $30 off
It is 24" long and it will carry my Marlin 39M broken down and all my handgun needs for any range session.
I just have to be careful and cover the barrel of my Marlin 1894 when I leave the house.
B00002243U.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
 
For carbine length guns (like the tommy), a violin case.

For rifles and shotguns, a trombone or guitar case.

For a sawed-off, a box of roses:D (thats my favorite scene from T2)

Just be sure to wear a nice grey or pin-striped suit.:neener:
 
I store my longguns in "borestores". When I take more than 1 to a range I would load them into my old air force duffle bag, the ends stick out but most people wouldn't know what that grey material was and if they did then I figure they are knowledgable enough not to freak. I clip the strap and sling it over my shoulder - this also leaves my hands free to carry things.
 
Toolboxes for 2-piece and/or handguns, bore-stores + vertical carry /1 jacket...or toss long-guns (buttstock down) into an old golf bag (with a few clubs with "fuzzy-head" club protectors) as "camoflage).
 
For a sawed-off, a box of roses (thats my favorite scene from T2)
Click to expand...

So sorry, that originated in The Godfather (1972). I'm a big Terminator fan, but they ripped-off that idea. Oh, and the wearing of a pin-striped suit is an old Mafia thing. They were generally very well dressed whilst breaking fingers and knees, or fire-bombing your place of business, but that was in the heyday of the Mob in the 20's-50's, and they were just trying to blend in with the populace.

Speaking of blending in, and trying to salvage some way of staying on topic, that's what you want to do while carrying a long gun. I'll second the coat-over-the-gun recommendation, but that won't work in (for example) South Texas in mid-summer. Then go with the plumbing tubes (of course, if you're in S. Texas then you could just about carry the rifle or shottie over your shoulder and no one would care very much). :neener:
 
:banghead: the Godfather, of course! how could I forget.

Back on topic.

When I was in college a friend of mine lived in the dorm with is M4 carbine and Marlin 336 (not allowed). He would break apart the M4, wrap it in a towel to keep it quiet and put it in a backpack. The Marlin would be put in a gunsock and stuffed in an full landry bag, it would just look like an old sock if anyone saw it.
 
I use this gig bag for my AR:

g116103g.jpg


It has two pockets, two carry handles, and backpack straps. I can carry a boresnake, LULA, 180 rounds, spare parts kit, and 12 magazines with no problem. There's enough room in the main section to carry a spare upper as well.
 
Here's what I use, depending on what I'm taking out:

golf bag cover = loose zippered sack with a velcro opening to pull a long gun case's shoulder strap or carry handle through it, big enough for 2-3 soft long gun cases (24" barrelled rifle) (~$10 on ebay)

golf travel bag = big rolling travel-type bag, rigid base with wheels, thick nylon padded upper, big enough to stuff 3-4 soft long gun cases (24" barrelled rifle) (~$64 on ebay, depending on brand, features, and size)

oversize zippered military-style duffel bag = stuff tons of things inside and lug it out to the car (if strong enough LOL). No one can tell what is in it, can fit "a lot" (5+) of long gun soft cases (24"+ barreled rifle) (~$15 from Cheaper than Dirt)
 
Guitar case. Works like a charm. Or just do what I've been doing lately, carry the gun out, and let the neighbors flip out. I've grown rather tired of sneaking around like I'm smuggling drugs or something.
 
A baseball/softball gear bag from WalMart.
Click to expand...
Then take a cheap wood baseball bat and cut off the butt end, drill out so it will slide over the muzzle; you have the perfect disguise and a muzzle protector. :)
 
I've got a trombone case that I won in a raffle at a conference that I'm going to gut and make into a case for my Mossberg.
 
Brian Williams said:
I got one of these from Amazon.com and it cost me $6.95 Shipping was free and I signed up for an amazon.com creditcard and got $30 off
It is 24" long and it will carry my Marlin 39M broken down and all my handgun needs for any range session.
I just have to be careful and cover the barrel of my Marlin 1894 when I leave the house.
B00002243U.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
Click to expand...

Brian,

Do you have a link or model of this bag?

Thanks,
/tg
 
I can put an AK, or a 18.5 inch shaotgun, or a Marlin lever carbine in an old military duffle bag and throw it over my shoulder. Many guns came and went through college dorms and across campuses like this.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

B
  • Locked
discreet long gun transport?
Replies
21
Views
2K
Kid A
K
A
  • Locked
Transporting a handgun in WI
Replies
1
Views
297
Fred in Wisc
F
T
  • Locked
Suppressor - Transporting legally
Replies
8
Views
768
dogtown tom
dogtown tom
S
  • Locked
Maryland Handgun Ownership/Transport Issues
Replies
4
Views
746
Sato Ord
S
twofewscrews
  • Locked
How do you transport your long guns in NY State?
Replies
13
Views
5K
twofewscrews
twofewscrews
Back
Top