If you're going on a road trip, and going to be gone for a couple of days, do you take a rifle with you?  I always have a handgun or two since I have my permit, and I've usually taken a rifle because I'm likely to go shooting, but this time I pretty much know I won't be hitting the range.

yep

No. I take 3 or 4.

Yes, rifle.
No, pistol.

I usually take a pistol or two and my 870. Makes me feel a little bit more comfortable.

I bring a couple of pistols no matter what.  I'd feel naked without them.  Only bring rifles if I will be someplace I can shoot them, camping, etc.

GunLvr

I must confess, part of me also is thinking that if the absolute worst happens, at least I'd still own ONE rifle.

I guess I'll load up some mags for the FAL and throw it in the "assault rifle" case for the trip.

Couple of pistols, at least one rifle.

there is always a 20" A2 and a 1911A1 on road trips.  You never know when a hapless coyote comes up out of the ditch

My standard road trip arms consist of:

A 1911 pistol with 3 loaded 8 round mags plus 3 loaded 10 round mags and a box of FMJ ammo.

A S&W model 38 Lightweight Bodyguard and about 10 spare rounds.

A 12G pumpgun loaded with 6 rounds of 00 buckshots in the tube and 3 buck and 3 slug on the sidesaddle along with spare dozen buckshots and dozen slugs.

Usually bring both if possible.  If it's in someone else's car (friend's, etc.) then just the handgun.  Not if we're driving through a draconian gun law state though, such as ILLinois...  In the general 5 state area though, both if possible.

An AR usually with a six pack of loaded mags.

.44 mag revolver - check
4 speedloaders - check
1 box 44 ammo - check
AR - check
6 full mags - check
M1A - check
4 full mags - check

Once a Boy Scout always a Boy Scout - be prepared.

NMSight

Of course!

Along with a pistol for use in the hotel room.

Hell yeah I do.

My girlfriend lives about 60 miles away from me and I even take it then.

One of my rifles lives in my car, hence, where my car goes the rifle goes.

As a matter of fact......
Yes.

I would only bring a small handgun for personal
defense, because you may need to carry it concealed, I would leave the rifles at home.

Yes. I have a padded "tool box" that locks and holds a disasemmbled AR, a couple mags, knife, weapon light, hand-held light, first aid kit, cleaning kit, hearing & Eye protection...

Fan do you carry the loaded mags and ammo in a separate locked container?  

That said, I'm seldom far from a pistol on road trips.  Won't say never take a long gun.  But the most likely would be the 870. If I was seriously concerned enough to consider taking one of the rifles -

1. It would probably be the M1 rifle or M1 carbine.  Neither in their current configuration are considered AWs in CA and both are replaceable (not cheaply though) in CA.  

2. Depends on the itinerary.  If I was someplace where I could shoot the AR it might go.  But I would prefer to stay away from any possible grey areas with the AR.  Up 395 where there are BLM lands available for shooting.  Hey I was shooting it legally and transporting legally.  But if I was continuing into Nevada, then I would be concerned with storage issues.  Traveling up the coast, wouldn't take it.  Can't explain where I was shooting or would be shooting.

3.  Like the idea of using tool box.  When I have a pistol I always have some kind of "range kit" with ear protection, eye protection, targets, etc.  Although a tool box scream "Steal Me First" almost as loudly as a gun case.

4.  Frankly if I thought I was likely to actually need a rifle, I probably would rethink the trip.  It's been over 11 years since I heard shots fired in anger and I prefer to keep it that way.

That's probably a good follow on question - How many of you actually think you will need a rifle  so iminently that you carry one all the time.  Are you waitng for the SHTF like the Rapture.  "It's gonna happen with no warning!"? and why do you think it's going to happen near you? or do you just travel through dangerous country on a regular basis?

You mean some people don't????

I always have a set of earplugs in my pocket with keys/loose change/etc...  (yeah, like "Snatch", but been doin it for years)

Sometimes.  

PaDanby:  If I was going somewhere that I thought was dangerous enough to require rifle, then I would first call in air support (or just stay home and hide in the basement).

"This is American Handgunner Magazine. In one hundred and-some pages there are a hunch of ads for everything from knives to plastic grips. Hell's-fire, there was even an ad to change your pistol into a rifle. But in the whole magazine there were only two ads for rifles, real rifles. Folks, without putting a hole in your balloon, maybe we need to wake up and smell reality. Handguns are concealable; they can sometimes win a fight if used effectively. Handguns work best when you remember to carry one of size and substance regardless of whether or not it is comfortable to wear. Handguns are a tool designed to respond to a fight someone else starts and when you have no viable route of withdrawal--or escape.

We are not talking about choices. If there was a choice to be made we should choose to leave the area of contact. If there is nothing but a handgun available--or if it was your personal choice--then being mediocre with it is not good enough. And, if there was in fact going to be a fight with no option for withdrawal, a rifle is a better choice and more effective.

But then, [red]handguns are truly at their best when they are used to fight your way to a rifle. A rifle you should not have put down in the first place. Play with handguns--fight with rifles. Period.[/red]"------Clint Smith, from American Handgunner

Uasually just a pistol and spare mags anless I plan to shoot my rifle.

Shorty AR

6 mags

Assault bag

Depends on where I'm going. To one of the cities like San Antonio or Dallas? Just a pistol.  Headed out into West Texas?  Well, that's a little different.


Not only a rifle, but an extra pair of boots, socks, poncho, two liter canteen, hard candy, and a basic first aid kit.  I guess you could call it a "bugout" kit, except there is no "bugging out" involved. Some places I go it can be a VERY long walk back to civilization with the strong possibility of running into unfriendly folks.  Triple A is kind of scarce by the time you get past Del Rio.

Not usually - it's usually not legal for me to do so.

Most of time,yes.Ak74SU,5.45mm,select fire PMDSS rifle,with 2-3,30 rd mags,for"just in case SHTF"packed in gear bag,in trunk.Much like spare tire.If you need it and don't have it.......Stays in car.Small,light,dependable,the choice of paramilitary experts the world over.Why settle for somthing.......second best.

a handgun is more likely to be used if your in a defense situation because it will always be on you where ever you go.

 Standard:  Always one 1911 with several loaded mags and additional box of 50 rds.  An AR15 or M16 with 3 loaded mags and 300 rds of .223.

 

In my truck is my mini-BOB and full-sized medic kit. When I go anywhere, or if the terror alert level is at orange or above, I put in the M4gery to go a long with the Kimber always on my hip.

I keep an old Savage Model 24F-12/30-30 behind the seat all the time.

Yes, but it should be used to fight your way to a rifle.(situation permitting)

Unless it's illegal in your area there's no reason not to have a rifle with you as well.  Better to have one and not need it, than need it and not have it.

I'm not much of a camper, so it's usually just a pistol (1911).  defensive, get to the car and beat it.  However, given some of the things I have been reading, I think I will take a rifle on my trip next month.  It seems to be kinda hairy along the Mexican border areas.

I normally only take my Sig-225 and a couple spare mags. I don't see the need for a rifle,if I'm going somewhere that tough I'd just as soon stay home. IF(and it's a big IF)I had to take a long gun it'd be a shotgun. In this day and age of "snipers" behind every tree the Feds would be all to quick to pick up someone with a rifle and check em' then they would someone with a shotgun and a pistol. JMHO.

I carry my M4/Fab10 with me on my back in a Tripod carrying case. Unloaded with no ammo ;) When people ask what's in the bag, I tell them "Camera Tripod" I always have a few stripper clips of XM193 in the Med Pack of my Xterra.
The gun is essentialy useless, but it gives me a warm fuzzy walking through crappy areas of San Francisco.

Certainly, handgun and rifle.  I keep the rifle in a musical instrument case to be less conspicuous.

And we are at orange now... lotsa extra mags.

Glock 30 goes with me everywhere and an AOW shotgun is coming in the future...

Mike