"Disguising" guns during transport

[LooseGrouper]

I'm getting ready to move halfway across the country, and I will be taking my guns with me, of course. A couple of nights I'll have to stay in a hotel, so I want to bring them into the room with me (don't worry...I'll comply with all local/state/federal ordinances). I don't want to alarm anyone, or tip anyone off that I'm transporting guns. My current rifle/shotgun cases are pretty much dead giveaways. Does anyone have any ideas for a method of transport that will keep the guns secure, protected from damage, and "hidden in plain sight."

I need to transport 2 carbines, 1 shotgun, and 3 medium-to-large handguns.

 

[thorn726]

offhand, what about getting a hockey bag, put yer clothes/ whatever in there too, so you're just carrying one big bag into the room, itll look like you got too many clothes.

anything else is probably still gonna appear valuable if your trying to avoid getting robbed

 

[mrhuckins]

How about one of those golf club caddy things. Put some golf clubs in there and viola!

 

[Mercury]

Most golf bags come with a hood to keep the clubs dry during rain-play.
This set up would work very well to keep everything hidden.

 

[0luke1]

An AR in place of the old sand wedge would certainly beat my Michelob beer can wood covers for reaction from my fellow golfers!

Plus you could boldly "improve your lie" just about anytime you want after word gets out.

 

[White Horseradish]

K-Mart (and probably Wal-mart) sells a rigid plastic wheeled golf cub case for $40 or 50. It opens like a suitcase and should fit 4-5 long guns in soft cases.

For pistols I use an old attache case I bought at a thrift shop for $5. It even has combination locks.

 

[Harry Tuttle]

http://pulsartech.zoovy.com/c=dfI1sji4iT0fDpf0PIt0dJOAI/product/PGG01E

Padded Electric Guitar Gig Bag

Adjustable, detachable shoulder straps backpack system with all metal hardware.

Features:

Lightweight, fully padded protection
all-weather heavy duty polyester shell with yellow accents
Strong, two-way double zipper
Easy grip handle
Large A4 exterior music pouch with Zipper
3 rubber foot on the bottom for stand up support.
14"(wide), 40"(long) and 4"(deep)

Price: $8.90

 

[mrhuckins]

WOW, you mean I finally posted something on THR that someone thinks is a good idea?? And nobody is going to cut me down or insult me?? I'm marking this day down in my diary!

 

[P95Carry]

Harry - guitar case! You got it!! Might seem ''old hat'' but - the shape is so recognizeable - I doubt folks give a second look.

 

[Preacherman]

I like the idea of the golf club case - Wal-Mart's example is here. Pretty low-cost, too, compared to gun cases! I reckon you could easily get six to eight long guns into that, wrapped in gun "socks" (not the big padded cases).

 

[White Horseradish]

A soft gig bag will show the shape of the not-guitar in it. The neck area in a hardshell one might be too narrow for 3 long guns.

P95, old school would be a violin or cello case. Guitar case is pure Desperado.

Preacherman, I bet you would appreciate the wheels on it too, if you're moving that much steel...

 

[VARifleman]

At one prone match I went to one of the guys next to me kept his rifle in a ski bag to disguise it while he kept it in his apartment.

 

[Akusp]

I use the nylon bags that come with camp chairs. They have a carry strap too. Nobody ever suspects anything and they aren't worth stealing.

 

[LooseGrouper]

Wow! Great responses, folks. I actually thought of the "gig bag" before as an inconspicuous carry mode in and out of my apartment. Don't want to make myself an easy target to get robbed when I'm not home. Thought about getting a guitar case for an acoustic guitar and padding it with craft foam. But that's really only practicaly for one gun. I like the "big duffel bag/hockey bag" idea for range trips.

The hard golf case looks like just the ticket. Get some locks for it, and it would be a great way to check guns for an airline trip too!

Blackhawk makes some big rolling duffels specifically for guns, but I think they are a little too pricey, and still somewhat conspicuous.

As far as being worried about being robbed during the trip, I'm not (much). The guns would either be locked up in the car (out of sight) while I'm on the road, or in the hotel with me after I check in. I just didn't want to alarm any sheeple while the boomsticks are in transit between room and vehicle. Unless someone wants to try to rob my room or vehicle while I'm in it (which, combined with my heavily armed state and a reasonable amount of awareness, would be poor choice), my guns won't be there. Of course I won't be taking them all with me on potty breaks, but you can't eliminate all risk and still carry on a normal life. I'll just have to trust the lock on the trunk to work as my security for pit stops. If someone steals my vehicle, that's just bad luck or bad choice of rest stops.

 

[Malamute]

If they take down, or break down easily, they can be put in a medium gym or duffel bag. I use them when travelling. I keep a couple of pistols, a couple changes of clothes, shaving kit, (do you still call it a shaving kit when you don't shave?) and my model 12 Winchster 12 gauge taken down in my travel bag.


I've carried soft cased long guns into motel rooms also. In the west and states that it's common to hunt in, nobody gives you a second look. I tend to hold long guns vertically against my body by habit to reduce the profile signature.

ALWAYS park where you can see your vehicle, away from other vehicles some also. I happen to have 2 large dogs in my vehicle at all times also. Never had anyone try to get into it.

 

[bogie]

If you're staying in a cheap hotel, just carry 'em from the trunk to the door.

If it's a "real" hotel, with lobby and everything, "I'm on a hunting trip, and I don't wanna leave my stuff in the car overnight. Nobody's gonna freak out if I carry enough stuff to fight, and win, WWIV through the lobby?" Inevitably, I get a laugh, and get told to go ahead, as long as I don't do any shooting inside the hotel...

 

[bogie]

Oh yeah... Last year on the way to the Supershoot, Doc and I checked into a Holiday Inn near Dayton... Did the routine with the clerk, and when we were carrying the cases in, some kid's walking through the lobby asks us if we're playing in some local battle of the bands... Doc's the drummer, but I play bass. REALLY LOUD bass...

 

[LooseGrouper]

Malamute

Thanks for the advice. Breaking down the shotgun is a good way to go. I may do that and just wrap it in a blanket ans put it in some luggage. The rifles are scoped semiautos, though. I could break them apart into the stock and barrel/reciever assembly pieces, but I wouldn't want to be as casual about handling them as I would the pump shotgun. Plus I wouldn't want to pack my clothes around them, or I'd smell like EEZOX for days. Of course, that's not such a bad thing...

 

[entropy]

I put my Kel-Tec 9mm carbine in a large Military-type mechanic's bag I got at www.sportsmansguide.com . Threw in some wrenches for that authentic sound, (kling-klang, ja?) and voila! Inconspicuous carry! Worked great on a trip to TX and back recently.

 

[Malamute]

LG, I don't know what states you wil be travelling through, but some states are very particular about guns being "cased" in a gun case. Even broken down, wrapped in a blanket or towel and in your luggage may not be legal. Those gun sock things are considered cases tho, so a couple of them, one for each end of the gun, may take care of the legal aspect. I have soft cases for my pistols when travelling.

Wyoming has no case requirments. I have to track down my cases when I travel out of state around the holidays. I had a soft case made for my model 12. The gun has a 20" barrel. When broken down and cased, the overall length of the cased gun is about 21 1/2".

 

[45Badger]

I moved from Wisconsin to Pennsylvania in 2002. Movers had all the junk, my wife had the kids in the car, and I had the dog and arsenal in the Pathfinder. Almost all the long guns were in factory boxes, about 3 were in soft cases. Handguns were all in factory boxes, inside a larger cardboard box.

Each night at the hotels, we got the kids and dog settled. I went out with one of the hotel's luggage carts, loaded it up, and wheeled it into the room. I kept the cart in room, and the next morning would wheel it out and load up the Pathfinder. No problems, no hassles.

 

[Biker]

I often carry one of my 870s or my Bushmaster in my Strat's hardcase. I look just like any other pony-tailed musician.
Biker

 

[Blue Jays]

Hi All-

This is a "don't ask, don't tell" situation. People who frequent this board have much better-than-average situational awareness. In most areas of this country you could put a rifle on your shoulder on a sling and the vast majority of people wouldn't even notice. I say put most of your firearms in a bulky (but well-padded) bag and just carry them in a single trip from the car to your room. The hardside golf case seems like a great solution for longarms.

Remember that scene from the movie HEAT with Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Val Kilmer, Jon Voight, and Tom Sizemore? They walk out of the bank after the robbery with slung rifles muzzle-down under their sportsjackets and pedestrians don't even notice or raise an eyebrow. I think that is a very accurate depiction of the Condition White under which most people operate.

​

As an aside, I wouldn't mention to hotel staff or even make jokes about bringing a large number of weapons through the lobby. You wouldn't say anything about transporting large sums of money or expensive jewelry, so why treat valuable firearms any differently? All you need is some shady hotel personnel to overhear what you've got and the stage is set for a "robbery" by a "stranger" while the cleaning staff has your door unlocked for housekeeping purposes. Stay low-profile and just quietly do what you need to do and nobody is going to care about your comings and goings.

~ Blue Jays ~

 

[armoredman]

Go to WalMart, ask for some used curtain rod boxes....you're a traveling salesman....

 

[MikeyBee]

Harry - guitar case! You got it!! Might seem ''old hat'' but - the shape is so recognizeable - I doubt folks give a second look

Unless, that is, they're in the market for a free guitar.

I can just imagine the thief returning to his lair and opening up his new prize...

"Crap. A gun... again."