AR Storage and Transportation

[SfGiants_fan1]

Hey everyone, don’t flame me for this stupid question but is it legal to transport my AR separated in a range backpack to the range and back? Lower in one compartment and upper in another? I hate those large AR cases and rifle bags. Lower is compmaged.

 

[Tere_Hanges]

Transport it where? What would be the point of seperating it? Is it in "standard" configuration? Would it be considered an "unregistered assault weapon" if the upper and lower are mated?

 

[SfGiants_fan1]

Transport it where? What would be the point of seperating it? Is it in "standard" configuration? Would it be considered an "unregistered assault weapon" if the upper and lower are mated?

Range and back, lower has a comp mag and I never remove it

 

[Tere_Hanges]

Range and back, lower has a comp mag and I never remove it

If it's in a legal configuration, why would you want to transport it separately? Doesn't make any sense. It's either legal or it's not. And if it's a RAW then you have to follow the rules for transporting RAWs. I don't think there's any provision requiring an upper to be separated from a lower for transporting a RAW.

Sorry if I'm misunderstanding your question. I just don't understand why you think there is a reason to separate the upper from the lower for transportation.

If you just want to separate them to make them more compact, I can understand that. But it's not clear in your question if that was the case.

If it has a compmag sounds like it is "fixed mag". If it's a legally configured "fixed magazine" AR, you aren't gaining anything compliance wise by separating the upper from the lower.

 

[ar15robert]

When I lived in ca I had a RAW ar. Used regular case and had to be locked.

Here I can toss other sbr in backseat.

 

[ChestnutBleach]

Hey everyone, don’t flame me for this stupid question but is it legal to transport my AR separated in a range backpack to the range and back? Lower in one compartment and upper in another? I hate those large AR cases and rifle bags. Lower is compmaged.

If it's in a legal configuration, why would you want to transport it separately? Doesn't make any sense. It's either legal or it's not. And if it's a RAW then you have to follow the rules for transporting RAWs. I don't think there's any provision requiring an upper to be separated from a lower for transporting a RAW.

Sorry if I'm misunderstanding your question. I just don't understand why you think there is a reason to separate the upper from the lower for transportation.

If you just want to separate them to make them more compact, I can understand that. But it's not clear in your question if that was the case.

If it has a compmag sounds like it is "fixed mag". If it's a legally configured "fixed magazine" AR, you aren't gaining anything compliance wise by separating the upper from the lower.

Seems pretty clear to me.


@SfGiants_fan1 Yes, it’s legal.

 

[SfGiants_fan1]

Seems pretty clear to me.


@SfGiants_fan1 Yes, it’s legal.

Thanks, yea it’s just for the compactness and convenience. I’d rather go to the range with a backpack rather than a long ass hard case.

 

[AdventureSeeker]

When I lived in ca I had a RAW ar. Used regular case and had to be locked.

Here I can toss other sbr in backseat.

You realize almost all of your posts are about bad mouthing CA or you moving to AZ? Why are you still on CA forums?

 

[TFA777]

ignore the haters, this site will only get to calguns type of engagement if we don't keep fighting ourselves for no damn reason.

I store and transport my AR's in a broken down configuration all the time, i have both a soft and hard case and both are broken down because i don't care to lug a 5ft hardsided container with nosy neighbors wondering what it is. The one bag I use to transport a broken down AR doesn't even look like a gun bag. Bulldog, i think its like 29" (basically length of a 16" upper with a brake) so very small and discreet.

 

[SfGiants_fan1]

ignore the haters, this site will only get to calguns type of engagement if we don't keep fighting ourselves for no damn reason.

I store and transport my AR's in a broken down configuration all the time, i have both a soft and hard case and both are broken down because i don't care to lug a 5ft hardsided container with nosy neighbors wondering what it is. The one bag I use to transport a broken down AR doesn't even look like a gun bag. Bulldog, i think its like 29" (basically length of a 16" upper with a brake) so very small and discreet.

Thanks man, this is the answer I’m looking for. I don’t like carrying a 5 foot case around and I live in a pretty anti gun area here in cali and a backpack just seems so much easier. My neighbors are always outside and pretty nosy so that large case just draws more attention. Backpack doesn’t needed to be locked or anything right? Don’t think locking a backpack is possible anyways lol

 

[sonofeugene]

It’s generally easy to lock any soft case. Just use a TSA lock and lock the zipper pulls together.

 

[joefrank64k]

Thanks man, this is the answer I’m looking for. I don’t like carrying a 5 foot case around and I live in a pretty anti gun area here in cali and a backpack just seems so much easier. My neighbors are always outside and pretty nosy so that large case just draws more attention. Backpack doesn’t needed to be locked or anything right? Don’t think locking a backpack is possible anyways lol

You can lock a backpack by locking the pull tabs on the zippers.

Here’s the relevant PC about carrying ’firearms that are not handguns’:

Section 26400 (26400 is the prohibition on open carry of firearms that are not handguns) does not apply to, or affect, the carrying of an unloaded firearm that is not a handgun in any of the following circumstances:

(c) When the firearm is either in a locked container or encased and it is being transported directly between places where a person is not prohibited from possessing that firearm and the course of travel shall include only those deviations between authorized locations as are reasonably necessary under the circumstances.

Your backpack is good to go, OP. As long as it’s encased it doesn’t matter if it’s broken down. I always try to carry my stuff in generic containers vs ‘gun cases’ to stay off nosy people’s radar. Sometimes that means they have to be in disassembled.

 

[TFA777]

Thanks man, this is the answer I’m looking for. I don’t like carrying a 5 foot case around and I live in a pretty anti gun area here in cali and a backpack just seems so much easier. My neighbors are always outside and pretty nosy so that large case just draws more attention. Backpack doesn’t needed to be locked or anything right? Don’t think locking a backpack is possible anyways lol

I was looking into the guitar case but that would be more suspicious when the neighbors realize they never hear guitar being played. Lol

 

[CWINSD]

Nothing wrong with it assembled in your rifle bag and locked and in the trunk.

 

[sonofeugene]

Unless your trunk is too small. I have a high performance Mini convertible and I simply transport with my rifles laying on the back seat. I do wrap the seatbelts around and through the cases so that they cannot be easily grabbed if someone sees them. I love driving with the top down.

 

[SilverWraith]

I was looking into the guitar case but that would be more suspicious when the neighbors realize they never hear guitar being played. Lol

I used to take a couple of different AK variants to the range that way (via key-locking guitar cases). The only time it ever came up was in the elevator of an apartment building we lived at, a parent who was with their kids pointed out the case and starting talking about musical instruments to them. Otherwise, no one ever brought it up in the many trips I took with them stowed this way.

Ultimately, your neighbors probably aren't paying that close of attention to what you do, or just don't care.

 

[Warpspeed]

The other advantage to transporting them this way is if you are staying in a hotel, walking them to and from your room gets almost no questions.

 

[treelogger]

Legally, the lower is a firearm. And in a school zone, it therefore has to be transported in a locked case. Whether disassembled or not. In urban and suburban areas, it is difficult to avoid school zones.

 

[Warpspeed]

Legally, the lower is a firearm. And in a school zone, it therefore has to be transported in a locked case. Whether disassembled or not. In urban and suburban areas, it is difficult to avoid school zones.

From the DOJ website :

SHOTGUNS AND RIFLES

Nonconcealable firearms (shotguns and rifles) are not generally covered within the provisions of California Penal Code section 25400 and therefore are not required to be transported in a locked container.

 

[treelogger]

You are correct, school zone does not apply here. But not because the statement from the DoJ that you quote above. The important part is in a different part of the law, namely the gun-free school zone act:

626.9. ... (b) Any person who possesses a firearm in a place that the person knows, or reasonably should know, is a school zone as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (e), shall be punished as specified in subdivision (f).
(c) Subdivision (b) does not apply to the possession of a firearm under any of the following circumstances: ...
(2) (B) This section does not prohibit or limit the otherwise lawful transportation of any other firearm, other than a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed on the person, in accordance with state law.