Covert rifle carry

[Combat Controller]

Legman, try this. .40 cal goodness and extra small. I might just copy this idea...

I want an AR SBR because I like the mag compatibility with LEO, .MIL and I already have AR's all over the place. Further, under stress you default to your training, and all my training is really AR patterned, 6 years active duty, then reserves (meh), carbine matches, etc. Eventually I think I may get a 6.8 SBR or .458 SOCOM for giggles, that way I can BBQ any perp foolish enough to be within a 20 degree arc of the barrel.

It is foolish to underestimate the lethality of the AR. Are there other rifles that could do the job better? Sure, I could carry an AK but since active shooting incidents tend to feature AK's more often than not, I figure I ought to side with the angles on this one. A 1-7 twist is the ticket and I will load it with heavy 77 gr Hornaday TAP, which gets good reviews out of the SBR crowd.

I do kind of like the Trombone case for a full sized rifle, but it calls as much attention as a toolbox.

[SoupOrMan]

How about one of those new Perfomance Piston System setupss from RRA, CC? The Pistol would be just about what you're looking for.

[Greg]

Toolbox? No you want to blend in, there are too few situations where a toolbox is appropriate- most of the time it'd be just "wtf is he carrying?".

A Toolbox raises eyebrows?

HTRN

The places I go? You betcha. Unless you can look the part of 'maintenance staff', and that only works part of the time.

You go carry your toolbox into a bookstore, a bank, a post office, maybe a grocery store. You know I was quite serious about the Tom Bihn suggestion- in any of those places a stylish man-bag (admit it, it's a murse) would be invisible.

[randy]

Part of this discussion has to be what you mean by covert carry.

In my case, the toolbox would work fine, as it would ride in the back of my Trailblazer along with other emergency gear. I'd depend on the CCW piece to fight may way to the truck and grab the box. Around here, any situation requiring me to remove the box from the truck to bug out would probably mean that I'd want the weapon out and ready for use. At that point covert means me trying to recall my Escape and Evasion skills from Fairchild AFB 20+ years ago to Sneaky Pete my way home/to the family rally point.

I certainly wouldn't envision carrying it around with me to the bank, bookstore, post office etc. IF I felt the need to have a long arm with me, I'm not making casual every day type errand stops anywhere.

And if I do need to walk out of an area, but not in a tactical mode, the tool box is not going to look any more out of place than the Camelback backpack etc with my bug out gear.

If nothing else I'd stick some Amateur Radio manufacturer stickers on it and tell folks it's for carrying the radio I didn't want to leave in my truck.

[randy]

Another factor to consider is local laws.

In Ohio, a loaded magazine is considered the same as a loaded weapon. My CCW permit does not cover long arms. Long arms in vehicles have to be transported unloaded, that includes magazines.

So an AR/AK type rifle is not optimum if trying to comply with the letter of the law.

Things I've considered for truck guns that are compliant: SKS with stripper clips, FR-8 with stripper clips, 12 Gauge shot gun with a bandoleer, Lever action carbine, again with ammo in a bandoleer, M-1 Garand (say a Tanker variant in .308) with clips.

Yes I know I could carry AR ammo on stripper clips and load up the magazines when needed, but if I'm going to do that, might as well use the clips to load a weapon up directly and avoid the time of an intermediate step.

I personally would prefer an AR in this role for much the same reasons a CC, experience and comfort with the platform, but I'm just as proficient with a pump action shottie, and that would probably be adequate for urban/suburban E&E.

[Combat Controller]

This is like an intermediate type thing. I have an AR in the trunk along with a 12 ga so I was thinking of a hike or hauling it around a campus or similar. Non-permissive or subdued type stuff. I don't see a ton of applications, it is more of an exercise than anything else. Not that I won't build one, but you know how it is. I experiment the same in my lab. Most stuff is pretty banal but every once in a while I get a good idea or put two ideas together.

With a search for better bags and gear to haul around I have a goal and all the stuff I find on the journey make it that much richer an experience. Plus I learn stuff.

[Greg]

Part of this discussion has to be what you mean by covert carry.

In my case, the toolbox would work fine, as it would ride in the back of my Trailblazer along with other emergency gear. I'd depend on the CCW piece to fight may way to the truck and grab the box.

Then you're kind of avoiding the whole point of the discussion, which was to find a low-profile way to have more than a CCW piece on you when it comes time to fight your way to the truck. (Having gear waiting for you in your vehicle is already assumed, so saying you'd just put more gear in the vehicle...) Anyway, that's what I'm taking away from the discussion.

Around here, any situation requiring me to remove the box from the truck to bug out would probably mean that I'd want the weapon out and ready for use. At that point covert means me trying to recall my Escape and Evasion skills from Fairchild AFB 20+ years ago to Sneaky Pete my way home/to the family rally point.

I certainly wouldn't envision carrying it around with me to the bank, bookstore, post office etc. IF I felt the need to have a long arm with me, I'm not making casual every day type errand stops anywhere.

Two words: "active shooter". If you're expecting to need a long arm, you wouldn't be running errands and you wouldn't be alone. I was under the impression the point of the discussion was to find a way to prepare for unexpected situations where a CCW by itself might not be enough.

And if I do need to walk out of an area, but not in a tactical mode, the tool box is not going to look any more out of place than the Camelback backpack etc with my bug out gear.

Which means it will look out of place, which is why 'covert' was specified.

If nothing else I'd stick some Amateur Radio manufacturer stickers on it and tell folks it's for carrying the radio I didn't want to leave in my truck.

That's pretty good, except that depending on the situation you may have just covered yourself in 'rob me and steal this' stickers.

[Evyl Robot]

I'm not particularly a fan of Kel Tec, but their Sub-2000 carbine is wickedly suited for non-permissive carry. You've got a 16-inch item that's ready for action quickly, with no tax stamp or Federal list of 'those people.' Plus, they aren't expensive so you aren't out the price of an expensive SBR if your bag ever gets lost/stolen/destroyed. Let's face it, if you are dragging it through the field, it's more at risk than locked in a box somewhere.

[martini]

I got a 5.11 catalog in the mail yesterday and saw this:
http://www.511tactical.com/browse/Home/ ... 05/I/58603
I immediately thought of this thread. With all the college kids carrying around sling bags of one type or another I don't think this would get a second glance anywhere.

[Combat Controller]

Thanks! That is exactly the kind of thing I am looking for.

My active shooter thoughts came before the UT shooting BTW, but what I know is that shootings tend to come in threes. We already had a shootout with the cops yesterday at an Academy a few blocks from here. That makes two.

It's just one of those things I want to grab when I'm feeling froggy, I trust my gut now due to it regularly kicking the tar out of my rational mind talking me out of something....