Nationwide 35 Day Road Trip! 21 States. Need Firearms Advice

[Coyote Blue]

On September 15, my beloved spouse and I are leaving on our longest road trip in our 49 year "career". We've traveled through 49 of the 50 states, but never for this length and mileage.

About 11 to 12 thousand miles is my guess. Previous high was 10 grand from Florida to Cali RT in 1996. Burnt out the brakes on 2 rental cars. :laugh:

This time, the route is from FL,AL,MS,LA,AR,MO where we pick up the Lewis & Clark route of 1804-1805 as close as possible along the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers and portage thereafter.

So after MO we go to KS,IA.SD,ND,MT,ID,WA,OR to Astoria and the Pacific.
On the return we leave L&C and come back through a tiny slice of Cali,NV,UT,AZ,NM and TX.

Then back through LA,MS,AL,FL and home. I have a Florida CCW which is good in 34 states. On the proposed trip, only California,Oregon and Washington do not honor it.

What guns? I'm going to take 2 handguns. the choices are between:

2 Handguns

Glock 36 .45 ACP 6+1 27 oz loaded 3.5" barrel
S&W 340PD .357 Snubby 5 rounds 18 oz loaded 2" barrel
S&W 686P .357 7 rounds 40 oz loaded 2.5" barrel
Ruger GP 141 .357 6 rounds 42 oz loaded 4" barrel

1 long gun

Winchester 1894 Trapper .44 Magnum 9+1 16" barrel
Marlin 45/70 Gov't Guide Gun 4+1 18" barrel
Ruger R77 Bolt action Sporter 30.06 4 rounds 20" barrel
Yugo 59 SKS 7.62x39 10 rounds clip fed semi auto 20" barrel

All ideas and suggestions will be appreciated. :happy:

 

[apvbguy]

your guns, especially the handguns may not always be welcome, especially in WA, OR, CA and NV
you should check out each of the states applicable laws

 

[gfrlaser]

What the hell, just take em all!

 

[Coyote Blue]

your guns, especially the handguns may not always be welcome, especially in WA, OR, CA and NV
you should check out each of the states applicable laws

All the handguns and rifles are legal in all 21 states. Even the Yugo SKS is legal in Cali as it does not have the dreaded grenade launcher of the 59/66 which I also have.

 

[Coyote Blue]

What the hell, just take em all!

A fine thought,but too much risk of theft and too cumbersome. 3 will do.

 

[Stengun]

Howdy,

I would take the Glock and the Ruger .357 handguns and the Trapper .44mag. rifle.

When you hit the anti-gun states you either have to lock them in the trunk unloaded or break the law. Your choice.

Paul

 

[longslide10]

Take the Glock, GP141 and M77 30.06. Cartridges are easy enough to find should the SHTF while your out and about and should have just about every game animal and 2 legged threat covered.

 

[Coyote Blue]

Thank you, Stengun and longslide. Several good suggestions from you both. It's a tough call. But we still have 7 weeks to make the final decision.

And besides guns, we want to travel as light as possible. So many motel/hotel stops. Gotta use the the old Army KISS formula.It's a winner.

 

[NavyLCDR]

your guns, especially the handguns may not always be welcome, especially in WA, OR, CA and NV
you should check out each of the states applicable laws

WA? Really? Do you know ANYTHING about our handgun laws? Without a recognized CPL the handgun cannot be concealed on the person, either loaded or unloaded; and cannot have a round in the chamber or in a magazine with rounds loaded in the gun when inside a vehicle. Otherwise, loaded open carry of the handgun is perfectly legal outside the vehicle and there are many exceptions that allow the handgun to be concealed on the person.

 

[HoJo]

your guns, especially the handguns may not always be welcome, especially in WA, OR, CA and NV
you should check out each of the states applicable laws

I don't know why you stuck NV in there. We are one of the most gun friendly states in the union. Open carry is legal. State law preemption so you don't have to worry about local laws differing from town to town. The only down side I can see is NV doesn't recognize FL CCW.

 

[NavyLCDR]

I don't know why you stuck NV in there.

Because some people think that the only way to carry a handgun is concealed with the state's permission.