Moving cross-country with guns?

[tex_n_cal]

In the next few months I'll be moving across country (to the other coast), and taking a few with me, plus a 650 lb safe. The company is picking up most of the cost.

My brother, who is a worry wart anyway, is telling me I almost certainly have to drive them all across country myself, otherwise they'll get stolen.

Any experiences or advice to share?

 

[45Badger]

I've done two relos with all my guns.

First time, I packed all my guns in car, drove it onto moving van, locked/chocked it. It was a straight shot move, no other loads on the truck. All arrived perfectly.

Second time, we drove both cars, so I drove my guns. This time, there was another small load on truck that was being delivered before mine. I felt more comfortable doing the transport. It was kind of funny checking into 3 hotels and basically unloading the armory every night into our room. Clean clothes pile, laundry pile, kids junk, gun pile, ........ it was an adventure.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I wouldn't trust a moving company with my guns.

 

[ambidextrous1]

I'm about to move, and any guns I want to keep will ride in my car with me.

On second thought, ALL of my guns will ride with me!

 

[mete]

You should always get extra insurance when moving . But with guns check the rules. It used to be that if youwere moving from state A to state B if the moving company did it that was OK but if you moved them yourself that was violation of federal gun laws. Not reasonable or logical just the law.

 

[stevelyn]

.....but if you moved them yourself it was a violation of federal gun laws.

There are no federal prohibitions against transporting your own guns cross-country and The Firearms Owners Protection Act of 1986 protects you from LE harassment through any state you pass through if you are moving guns cross-country if:

1) They are secure and immediately inaccessable.

2) The guns you are transporting are legally possessed in the state you are coming from.

3) Are legal in the state you are going to.

 

[Jack19]

I've moved a couple of times and would never trust the moving company with weapons of any kind. They have them for too long and there's too great an opportunity for tampering.

 

[Ed]

I have always moved them myself, Let them move the safe. The company that moved me wouldn't haul ammo either. When they were unloading the safe a .44 mag round fell out and they got all uptight....I did the hotel parkinglot relay too. 3 or so trips. I had helped hold a door open for a couple when they were checking in then went to my car. I had 3 pistold in the wasteband, a shotgun and rifle over my sholder and 2 more rifles in my hand and the Woman came toi ask if I needed help. I stepped out from behind the truck to say no thank you and her eyes got big as saucers. I explained we were moving. I didn't have cases for everything because I always kept them in the safe at home. You might consider cases.

 

[care-less]

I have seen moving co trucks sitting for the weekend in a truckstop; unload peoples furniture, set it up in the parking lot next to their rig, and PARTEEEEE!!!! There is no way in hell I would let them move anything I own. Have seen this on numerous occasions. Rent a moving van from U-Haul, or Ryder, and do it yourself; but at least for gods sake don't let them near your guns.

 

[No4Mk1]

You might also consider packaging and shipping them to yourself by common carrier. It is perfectly legal to ship guns across state lines as long as you are shipping them to yourself. If you have a trusted contact on the other end you can ship it to yourself in the care of the other person.

Just another idea to throw on the pile. Might save you some trouble with the "Hotel Shuffle"....

 

[BigG]

I moved with a big moving company courtesy fed.gov. The company would not move ammo, anything like gunpowder, reloading components, household cleaners, solvents, lubricants, motor oil, garage stuff, canned goods, etc. It pays to read the list of what they won't carry. If you have a lot of that sort of stuff, use it up or you have to carry it yourself.

The company or fed.gov I forget which had a rule that "firing pins must be removed." I pulled the FPs out of my AR15s, the bolts out of my SG/M1A, etc. and had them transport the long guns. The wrapped each individually and crated them in a crate which they sealed. I carried a couple dozen pistoles myself.

 

[George Hill]

My guns ride with me and my family. Ammo too. Some guns stay loaded.

 

[DorGunR]

I moved from SoCal to Maryland. The moving co. moved my gun safe but I moved my guns in my SUV. I would never trust a moving co. to move my guns.

 

[RustyHammer]

Depending upon type of guns (non-antique or not), space available and insurance matters, I would probably pack them in the safe (well wrapped and protected).
I would try to make it so that they wouldn't move around (so it sounded "empty"). For example, stuff "extra space" with foam "peanuts" [in plastic bags] or newspaper or whatever. The safe is ALREADY going to be heavy, so that's no "tip off" that something may be in it.

(Again, it depends upon the number, type and value of them.)

If you have "special guns" ... take them along with you in a locked case or something.

Just my two cents.

/Rusty

(If you're driving cross-country, you can count on a couple nights at hotels or whatever. What are you going to do with them while car parked?)

 

[J Miller]

When I moved across country I bought one of the hard plastic gun cases for each rifle and hand gun. Then loaded them carfully in the U-Haul trailer chained and locked to the back of my truck. I had all my ammo, and loading equipment, and every thing else I owned in the truck and trailer.
Everything under MY control, locked and secured.

I had no problems at all, except that the weight of all that.....achem....lead overloaded the trailer a bit, and just about gave the V6 powered Nissan 4x4 a hernia.

I would not trust commercial carriers to move my belongings. If my truck could not pull a sufficient trailer, I'd rent a box truck.
As long as the truck is turned in clean, undamaged, full of gas and oil, then there is no problems.

There is no federal laws preventing a persons from moving across counrty with their guns.