Poll: Emergency Trip to CA - What Should I Take?

[UnionMillsNW]

Hey Folks,

I have a family emergency in CA and will be leaving tonight to head south. I'll be gone through the weekend. If I'm ever more than an hour from home I like to have a long gun in my truck. I have two options that don't break CA law:

M1 Garand in 308
Pump Shotgun in 20 Gauge

I'm leaning towards the shotgun (simply because it's already in the truck). But really do love the Garand.

Of those two options what would you take?

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[Heyjoe]

Scat gun all day.

The Garand would stress me out thinking some walking anus decides it didn't belong in civilian hands and confiscate it- maybe not likely.

Also, a shotgun has a bit less "scary" tone to some people.

 

[CountryGent]

Of the two, the scattergun. I'd imagine this is for close range defense and a pump shotgun would be effective and, presumably, legal even in that state.

Sorry to hear of a family emergency. Hope you and yours are well. Good luck.

 

[ARFrog]

Make sure your Conestoga wagon is well stocked. Depending on where you are going don't forget to bring batteries, water, emergency food stuffs just in case PG&E has turned off the power tomorrow and through the next 5 - 7 days

 

[PNW Partisan]

Shotgun. It's almost duck season and all. But more importantly, the diversity of loads. I always bring a long gun of some kind (shotgun, 10/22, or bolt gun) and also a deep concealment handgun.

Lived in CA for 10 years. Beautiful landscape, but I hate the place. I feel like I could get locked away every time I go back to visit family. It's another country I swear. Sorry to hear about your family emergency.

 

[Brian Vedack]

Rubber boots and a scraper.

 

[CountryGent]

Make sure your Conestoga wagon is well stocked. Depending on where you are going don't forget to bring batteries, water, emergency food stuffs just in case PG&E has turned off the power tomorrow and through the next 5 - 7 days

Yikes! That state is so dysfunctional now. Some of the crap I see, and some ways that is literal, reminds me of a third world country.

Beautiful landscape, but I hate the place. I feel like I could get locked away every time I go back to visit family. It's another country I swear.

Ditto. There are parts of northern California that has amazing natural beauty. But I will never live there because it is under the control of the lunatics in Sacramento.

 

[Certaindeaf]

A lawyer, that has a pistol permission slip.

 

[Joe13]

When in doubt go with a shotgun.

Better yet, use it as a good excuse to buy a 12ga.


Good luck with the trip.

 

[CountryGent]

Parenthetically, our "California loadout" is a Model 29 revolver and a Rossi 92 lever-action, both in .44 Magnum. The rationale is it is legal, fires the same potent cartridge, CCW is not an option so concealability isn't a factor, and in the rare case we're going there it is to see friends in a remote, rural area, not one of the decaying urban hellholes.

 

[GOG]

Shotgun. If you have one with wood, even better because it's less scary looking.
Don't take a chance on losing the Garand, keep it at home.
Don't forget your handgun can't have more than ten rounds.
If at all possible bring one that won't hurt too bad if the SJW Police confiscate it for "the children".

Stay safe and prayers for you and your family.
Safe home.

 

[Greenbug]

Is diplomatic immunity an option?

 

[No_Regerts]

Shotgun. Cheaper to replace if someone breaks into your truck.

 

[JuglansRegia]

I would take the gauge, only because if you anyone sees it, they'll probably call the SWAT team out on you, shotguns are cheap, Garands not so much.

 

[CountryGent]

Indeed; one can acquire a decent pump 12 or 20-gauge for little more than a song now. A Garand, circa 2019, is going to set you back way more than that. I don't really follow Garand pricing, but aren't the .308 conversions sought after, and therefore command a premium?

 

[nammac]

I'm in the shotgun camp as well. Just more reasonable to replace should it be taken into custody...

 

[v0lcom13sn0w]

garand because screw california

 

[UnionMillsNW]

Thanks for the input, everyone. I appreciate your well-wishes and suggestions. I'll probably roll out with the shotgun. I love shooting the Garand more but for a quick trip the shotgun should suffice...and as many have pointed out my Garand was about 9x more expensive.

I wish the trip was under different circumstances.

 

[gmerkt]

Just going by odds, you probably won't need any gun. But if you are talking about something strictly defensive in nature, the shotgun is the way to go. Remember, carrying any loaded firearm in public has been against the law in Calif. since 1966. "Public" is open to interpretation. It's a sad thing, but these days when a non-gun person sees any gun anywhere, they panic. Guy carries gun to his car, neighbor sees him through the window, calls the po-po and reports it as suspicious activity involving a firearm.

I think a 20 gauge is acceptable armament for self defense. You can get buckshot rounds in 20 ga., they will hurt and be discouraging.

 

[CountryGent]

I wish the trip was under different circumstances.

Hang in there.