Hypothetical situation.

[Blkhrt13]

if it was nation wide legal to open carry anything, long or hand guns, what would you carry. I've always felt funny seeing long guns on people in random places. But if it was common? I prolly would have a few bigger unusual options. Prolly a sbs 12 double or a mares leg in a drop rig? What about you?

 

[FL-NC]

I would continue to CCW like I do now with a Glock 19. If I decided I needed to OC, I would carry a PS-90.

 

[Blkhrt13]

I've not ever open carried either. I prefer cc because of the element of surprise. But in a world where it was common...

 

[PBR Streetgang]

Have you actually ever shot either one of those? while having high cool factor their practicality of usefulness runs pretty low. Might as well run a shoulder rig slinging double Tec-9s!

 

[WrongHanded]

Long guns seem like such a hassle to carry on daily basis for normal, every day going about my business.

Maybe I'd open carry a large revolver. Can't imagine I'd be carrying an AR on a single point whilst grocery shopping.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

In many states it's already legal to OC a long gun.

In my state there's a cap on what you can carry long gun or pistol, 20rds.

Regardless I would continue to CC my single stack 7+1 9mm.

 

[JTHunter]

Six years ago, I lucked into a GP-100 in .357 Magnum at a pawn shop. A year later, I got a leather crafter to make a rig for that revolver in what he called "buscadero style". This would be my preferred carry option as the low-slung gun would be easier to clear the holster than anything on my waistband.

 

[Klint Beastwood]

I could tell you I wouldn't want to carry anything more than the situation requires. Ive lived and slept with a rifle more times than I can remember and it's anoying.

 

[Blkhrt13]

Have you actually ever shot either one of those? while having high cool factor their practicality of usefulness runs pretty low. Might as well run a shoulder rig slinging double Tec-9s!

I have carried a coach gun many times. the mares leg is because I grew up watching the rifleman and then later Firefly. Totally posted this with a kids grin. Tec-9s jam too much. Not likely to run them.

 

[armoredman]

Once, for grins and giggles, I carried a vz-58 rifle concealed in a UTG Covert Carry bag around town with my wife. It was a pain in the rear end. Nobody seemed to notice what it was, looked like a portfolio case, but it was a pain. I wouldn't mind getting a folding adapter for my Scorpion and then a 5.11 Sling Bag to carry it if I feel like it. In Arizona it's legal to carry any lawfully owned firearm, including NFA, openly or concealed without permit or license. However, I think I can count the number of times I have seen open carry of rifles, (outside of hunting or the rang, on a hand and a half. If you're not "in theater" or walking a fence line by the border, it's not really a widespread thing. I usually only open carry in uniform - I like the element of surprise as well, but I still occasionally see people open carrying sidearms here. If it became widespread and normal to open carry long guns, it would be a very unsettled time, for certain, and I would most likely be carrying my BREN 805 on a 3 point sling, just to fall in line with the OP request. Only other option I would think of would be perhaps a Mossberg Shockwave with minislugs on my backpack while hiking/backpacking in case of serious animal attack...if I could get to it in time and in addition to my sidearm.

 

[Blkhrt13]

I could tell you I wouldn't want to carry anything more than the situation requires. Ive lived and slept with a rifle more times than I can remember and it's anoying.

I can understand that.

 

[MedWheeler]

It doesn't take hypothetical nationwide permission; I've been to some states in which it's already legal. It's even legal for me here in Florida, as long as I'm engaged in a lawful hunting, fishing, or camping situation. I do fish a bit, but have never carried along a long gun (yet.)

Still, were it to become legal, the most I'd ever see myself carrying openly would be a service-sized revolver, and that would probably be only when involved in outdoor activities off-pavement, or at firearms-friendly events (gun shows, patriotic events, etc.)

I'm all for pressing for acceptance by making it common, but I don't feel it needs to be in an "in your face" manner.

 

[rskent]

I think I would most likely keep my sub compacts. I would keep them concealed, definitely.

 

[Rock185]

I grew up in Arizona, where open carry was always legal and not uncommon. I was never comfortable open carrying myself, but many others were not bashful about it . I do carry concealed, and that has been legal here for over 20 years, so my choices in weaponry would not change. I admit I have no desire at all to carry around a long gun, or "handguns" created from various rifle designs, whether they be lever actions, semi-autos or whatever.......ymmv

 

[larryh1108]

If there was a legal, nationwide right to carry "whatever", why would someone carry some high power rifle or other attention grabbing rifle if you were outside the rural areas? Why would you be making a statement if we already had the right to carry? If you are running errands, going to the grocery store and visiting friends and family, what good would it be to lug around an 8# rifle? As others have said, the usual carry pistol of the day would suffice. Nothing should change.

 

[hso]

Prolly a sbs 12 double or a mares leg in a drop rig? What about you?

I wouldn't change what I do now.

In states where there are no open carry restrictions you don't see this sort of thing going on. It simply isn't practical and the inconvenience is too great.

 

[Girodin]

if it was nation wide legal to open carry anything, long or hand guns, what would you carry. I've always felt funny seeing long guns on people in random places. But if it was common? I prolly would have a few bigger unusual options. Prolly a sbs 12 double or a mares leg in a drop rig? What about you?

Carry a mares leg?! Why? Have you ever shot one? Why do you carry a gun? If it is to have a useful tool readily available for defense then your options seem absurd. If it is to look like some kind of 1960s western character then those options would be wonderful.

I also live where I can legally open carry so it would't really change anything I do. Carrying a long gun is fairly inconvenient. I'm guessing you have never had occasion to carry one with you everywhere you go all day long. I suggest just try carrying a rifle with you around your house all day one Saturday. Its hard for me to believe that many of the folks that find a G19 to be a chore and instead carry G43 and smaller sized guns are suddenly going to strap their ARs to their backs. There is also very little reason to. I know I can by and large go through my day unencumbered by carrying a duty size gun concealed. That's not really true of carrying a long gun.

 

[GEM]

I suggest you wear a Mare's Leg to a gun savvy community in TX. Unless it was a COS play western event, the sound of laughter would make your day? Old debate - there are a fair number of people who carry concealed and if you walked into a public venue with a long gun (like Chipolte, the mall, Starbucks) are making plans to shoot you if the gun comes off your shoulder. How do I differentiate you from San Bernadino?

It's an immature, posturing practice.

 

[reddog81]

That would be terribly inconvenient. The only way carrying a long Gun is going to become common is if you live in a war zone and then I'd leave the toys at home.

Like others have mentioned it is currently legal in places and often viewed as nothing more than an immature attempt to grab people's attention.

 

[jamesjames]

I think it would depend on the region of the country you are living in and what you identify with. I live in the west, and I would love to OC my single action Colts and USFAs a lot more. I imagine that folks in much of rural america would go that route or 1911s. I could see city dwellers in the midwest carrying revolvers or semi-autos. People in southern cities might go for stainless auto loaders due to the humidity. Miami-ans might opt for blingy pimp guns or space-tech nines. New Yorkers might carry 3-inch barreled .357s. I think it depends a lot on regional identity, history, and lore.

 

[GEM]

Are you carrying the gun to show off or for practical usage? The guns mentioned seem just for show. That's ridiculous. I lived in Oregon and I carried concealed Glocks as they were the best tool and not some plaything.

I lived in New York and I could carry - why the revolver?

These sort of posts just reinforce the showboat motivation of some open carriers.

 

[jamesjames]

Au contraire mon frère – They are all tools with a utility and style all their own. Now granted, the Glock may be the most basic and utilitarian of these tools, but that doesn't mean its always the best choice. I'm not talking about carrying for show. There's a world of guns out there that could be carried. If there was universal open carry we would have much more freedom to think outside of the box.

 

[Blkhrt13]

Yeah I guess it's foolish as a notion. I thought it would be a fun post. But alas we must all carry glocks all the time.

 

[Kleanbore]

if it was nation wide legal to open carry anything, long or hand guns, what would you carry.

What would "nation wide legal" mean to someone in a location in which open carry is already legal?

I prolly would have a few bigger unusual options. Prolly a sbs 12 double or a mares leg in a drop rig? What about you?

You "prolly" would not like a mare's leg much at all. The idea was devised to give Steve McQueen's character Josh Randall a "gimmick" to differentiate him from the other fictional screen characters who walked around with big Colts in heavy rigs.

McQueen reportedly took the one shootable example to a range once. He said shooting it was awful.

It would be inconvenient to carry, slow to get into action, and very ineffective.

I cannot imagine why anyone would carry a double barrel shotgun around for self defense.

Open carry s lawful where I live. I carry concealed. I do not carry a Glock.

 

[hdwhit]

Blkher13 asked:
"...if it was nation wide legal to open carry anything, long or hand guns, what would you carry.[sic]"?

In most cases, nothing.

I just don't find that most places I go pose the kinds of danger that I feel the need to be armed.

I thought it would be a fun post. But alas we must all carry [G]locks all the time.

At the risk of livening up the post a little bit, if I did carry, it wouldn't be a Glock.

My brother's newly-issued Glock spewed bullets wildly all over the range. When the department's armorer disassembled it, the frame could be bent nearly to a right angle (I have pictures of it, but since the department hasn't cleared them for release you'll just have to take my word for it). It was a major manufacturing defect - both improper polymer and metal inserts that should have been imbedded in the frame but weren't - and yet it passed Glock's QC. The department subsequently found that his was not the only "rubber" gun they had received. He got a new Glock and has to carry it as his duty weapon, but he also carried a Beretta 92 as a back-up.

So, I think both of us would be in the "anything but Glock" club.