Carrying a rifle on a motorcycle

[willtill]

I live about 21 miles away from the Marriottsville AGC range. I think that I am going to start visiting it on my motorcycle to shoot. Beats taking my gas hog Tacoma there.

I don't have any issues with transporting pistols there; since I have Pelican side cases and can store the pistol(s)/revolvers(s) separately from any ammunition. However, rifles will not fit in the Pelican side cases, so I need to figure out how to transport a rifle or two on my bike.

I am posting a picture of my V-Strom, though I have two bikes, this will be becoming my primary range vehicle:

So, any ideas out there on how to transport a rifle? Koplin cases? Just strap it across my back? Tie it to the handlebars? And to do it legally as well....?

Kindest Regards,

-Will

 

[Allium]

cello case

 

[kohburn]

rifle case designed for ATV - most can be locked - so then its in a locked case

 

[willtill]

Does the rifle need to be in a "locked case" on a motorcycle? I though that it just needs to be in a case, unloaded, and no more....?

If you are thinking of theft of rifle(s) while the bike is unattended, well that would not happen. The rifle(s) would come with me whenever I departed the immediate vicinity of the bike.

Kindest regards,

-Will

 

[smokey]

i dont think(barring some counties in md) a rifle needs to be locked in a case at all. novus and charliefoxtrot could fill in on legal issues but if my understanding's correct you can legally strap an UNLOADED rifle on your back if you want to legally....now in practice of the law some of our leo's can chime in on where that may get you in reality. are they rifles that can be broken down and then reasembled at the range(ar, most shotguns...) if so u could break them down to transport them easier in your saddlebags.

 

[FIREHAWK]

Does the rifle need to be in a "locked case" on a motorcycle? I though that it just needs to be in a case, unloaded, and no more....?

If you are thinking of theft of rifle(s) while the bike is unattended, well that would not happen. The rifle(s) would come with me whenever I departed the immediate vicinity of the bike.

Kindest regards,

-Will

so is a turret out of the question? nice bike! i like the graphix

 

[willtill]

i dont think(barring some counties in md) a rifle needs to be locked in a case at all. novus and charliefoxtrot could fill in on legal issues but if my understanding's correct you can legally strap an UNLOADED rifle on your back if you want to legally....now in practice of the law some of our leo's can chime in on where that may get you in reality. are they rifles that can be broken down and then reasembled at the range(ar, most shotguns...) if so u could break them down to transport them easier in your saddlebags.

This would be interesting, though I would not want to be the subject of case law.....

Could I strap one of my Mosin Nagants (unloaded) to my back and ride to the range with it; with the ammunition for it locked in one of my Pelican cases?

Kindest Regards,

-Will

 

[FIREHAWK]

This would be interesting, though I would not want to be the subject of case law.....

Could I strap one of my Mosin Nagants (unloaded) to my back and ride to the range with it; with the ammunition for it locked in one of my Pelican cases?

Kindest Regards,

-Will

subject of case law.... maybe.............subject of scared soccer moms.... most definetly

 

[VNVGUNNER]

I break my ar's down and they fit in the bags.

 

[willtill]

I break my ar's down and they fit in the bags.
View attachment 5205

Can you break down a 91/30 and/or a Turkish Mauser and do the same?


That is my problem. Not all of my rifles will fit into my saddle bags and/or Pelican cases.....


Kindest Regards,

-Will

 

[novus collectus]

State law there is nothing against it and there is a state premption against a local regulation on possession or transportation of long guns further protecting this, however there are exceptions for non-regulated firearms such as within 100 yards of schools, churches parks, and etc.

 

[smokey]

Can you break down a 91/30 and/or a Turkish Mauser and do the same?


That is my problem. Not all of my rifles will fit into my saddle bags and/or Pelican cases.....


Kindest Regards,

-Will

yeah, my m38 breaks down in a similar way, you'd have the barrell and reciever still suck together but if you slid off the forgrip rings then unscrewed the reciever from the stock you should be able to take it down pretty easy...it should even come with that wierd looking take-down tool in the pouch with the oil thing and cleaning rod attatchments.

 

[willtill]

State law there is nothing against it and there is a state premption against a local regulation on possession or transportation of long guns further protecting this, however there are exceptions for non-regulated firearms such as within 100 yards of schools, churches parks, and etc.

I am off this week. I am most interested leaving my house tomorrow morning for the AGC with one of my Mosin 91/30's slung across my back.

But it is kind of silly, since in order to approach the AGC firing lines, the firearm is supposed to be cased. Well, a rolled up soft case in one of my Pelican cases can take care of that.

Not looking to be a "rabble-rouser" but would truly like to know if this is possible in Maryland. I would be transiting MD-100, MD-29 and I-70 towards the AGC, Lot's of soccker mom's, maybe a few knowing LEO's.....

I am itching to hit the range. Was going to take the Barrett tomorrow (but there's NO WAY that I am going to sling THAT on my back)

Ya'll let me know; foolhardy or do-able? Especially the LEO's here.... I would like your advice especially.....

Kindest regards,

-Will

 

[novus collectus]

Look at it this way, what about going to the range on horseback, motorcycle, bicycle, or walking? There is no law that I know of that says the long gun has to be in an enclosed case, and if it suppoesedly was even suggested, then what about if someone was riding a bike and they had three rifles that would not fir into one case?

 

[willtill]

Any law enforcement members here, that can allude or provide advice? Either post here or PM me... Your PM would be confidential if you so choose.


Kindest regards,

-Will

 

[boatbiologist]

I used to take a shotgun to the Marriotsville range- unloaded, in a soft case, bungeed to the rack of my Yamaha XS400 from Columbia when it was my only transportation. Barrel pointing to the side. That was, ummm... 25 years ago.

I haven't shot there since. Ho Co Police were fine with it back then but not the speeding to get there. Infact, the old codgers that ran the range back then thought it was cool.

Give the soccer moms a bad boy to daydream about. I will give you a thumbs up if I see you on the road!

 

[tpy77]

Get a GI Cordura duffle bag, put the rifle in a gun sock and place in the bag with the butt in the bottom. The duffle fits on the back like a pack. Take the bolt out before you put it in the gun sock. If you want to be even more safe, put a trigger lock on it. The point is, you won't have some nervous soccar mom calling 911 on her cell phone after seeing you speed down the road. This works better with shorter guns, but works. The GI models are around 36" deep and for all anyone knows it's a fishing pole, tennis racket or guitar sticking out the top in the shapeless sock.

 

[novus collectus]

Get a GI Cordura duffle bag, put the rifle in a gun sock and place in the bag with the butt in the bottom. The duffle fits on the back like a pack. Take the bolt out before you put it in the gun sock. If you want to be even more safe, put a trigger lock on it. The point is, you won't have some nervous soccar mom calling 911 on her cell phone after seeing you speed down the road. This works better with shorter guns, but works. The GI models are around 36" deep and for all anyone knows it's a fishing pole, tennis racket or guitar sticking out the top in the shapeless sock.

If I am walking or riding a bike on the way to an informal target practice, I can assure you I would be wearing it on me openly and with the ammo on my person.
THing is though I have no place to shoot close enough to test this.

 

[JasonMD85]

willtill, I have been contemplating this same thing for awhile. I ended up just taking my primary transport all summer rather than test any of the theories out, so please let us know how it turns out. With that said, the best way I could think of without causing some Howard county soccer mom to call the police (Yes, I have had a few call the police while un-loading rifles from my Jeep after range visits, bringing them in to the house) is a soft rifle case bunged to the exhaust side of the bike. You are only going to get on/off on the left side of the bike, you're never going to purposely lay down the bike, so the only thing you really need on the right side is some ground clearance and access to the rear brake peddle.

With the set up you have there on that DL650, I would run something strong under the seat (right behind where the rear strap of your seat pillow is so it is just behind your butt) and tie it into a loop. Maybe a bike lock or something with a little bit of strength and a good strong way of holding together (not too sure I would tie a fishermans knot with some twine and use that ). I would put the case in between the rear cowl/passenger seat and your right pelican cause, and use bungees to secure it to that loop around that seat. That should prevent any side to side movement up front. I would than use some bungees and do the same thing in the rear from the pelican case to the soft rifle case. If it were me, I would put some holes in the soft case, maybe even have the wifey or cleaners sew around the holes for strength, and run the bungees inside the holes in the case to ensure no forward movement. That should hold the rifle well, be SOMEWHAT discreet, and easy to remove/install at the range. Just be careful of the exhaust/swingarm etc. and make sure none of the bungees or rifles are near moving/warm parts. A broken bungee would equal bad times for all. I plan to try this next season, but I don't know exactly how I am going to do it. My cruiser has largish exhaust pipes that ride kind of high. Maybe be able to use the rear passenger pegs to hold the rifle away from the exhaust, will have to look at that later.

By the way, nice DL650. I have been looking pretty hard at a DL650/SV650 this up coming season....I heard they are like a big couch with a little bit torquier SV motor

 

[willtill]

Well....

....after a good night's sleep and more contemplation of this matter; I have decided to take the Tacoma to the range today. I don't think that it would be a good idea to end up in jail for New years Eve, though I would think that technically I had done nothing wrong.

Maybe I will approach this another day in the New year, with some LEO advice.

It's sad when we seemingly have to hide our guns.


Kindest Regards,

-Will