transporting a shotgun.

[angelina]

I just picked up my Mossberg 500 and have a few questions about transporting it. From the state of california website it says that they are exempt from being carried in a ocked container as long as the gun itself is locked. so here is my question. If i simply cable lock the gun - can it ride around in my trunk or backseat? Does it need to be in a bag. I had to walk it up from my underground garage, up in the elevator and into my apartment out in the open (unloaded and locked with a cable lock, of course).

[MaHoTex]

While in car... No lock needed. No container needed. Stay out of school zones.

You can put it on the seat next to you if you want. Keep it unloaded.

[Will Goes Boing]

You can buy a soft case CHEAP.... I don't see a point in having a shotgun exposed in your back seat for everyone to see or walk around holding onto it. That's just asking for trouble.

[MaHoTex]

You can buy a soft case CHEAP.... I don't see a point in having a shotgun exposed in your back seat for everyone to see or walk around holding onto it. That's just asking for trouble.

Agree 100%, and it keep it from getting banged up.

[The Undertaker]

Also, if you have a side saddle shell carrier on it, having shells in the carrier does not constitute a loaded weapon. You may freely transport the shotgun with shells at the ready in the carrier. They just can't be loaded into the magazine tube.

[SparrowHanger]

You can buy a soft case CHEAP.... I don't see a point in having a shotgun exposed in your back seat for everyone to see or walk around holding onto it. That's just asking for trouble.

I have wondered about this. If the sh0tgun is on the back seat with the ejection port face up so that an officer can see it is unloaded, am I avoiding an issue that may arise should the LEO ask if there are weapons in the car or am I guaranteeing the issue will come up? Then there is the problem if some nervous nellie civilian freaks out when they see a shotgun in the car.

[SpectreZ91]

I always play it on the safe side have the cable lock on and have it in the trunk of a car, but since I don't have a car I just put it in the back of my truck up against the cab in the soft case.. I have a little lift on the truck so no one can see what's in the back of it without climbing up the tire and looking over the side.

[akamaru]

I don't always use a car. Can I use a soft case to transport my saiga 12 on my motorcycle unlocked?

[coyotebait]

Legal is one thing, personally I prefer that people passing by not know what I have. I put them in a case and in the trunk. A million years ago when I was a kid, we got pulled over for speeding heading to 29 palms. The police saw the rifles in the gun rack in the back window of our truck, they checked that they were NOT loaded and sent us on our way....would it happen like that today? Dunno....I prefer to NOT find out.

[sanjosebmx]

yeah I bought a (pretty nice) soft case at Bass Pro for like 34.95..

[superman21]

Always put the lock in your gun and put it in the soft case just to be safe.... I just picked up my mossberg 500
combo today and got the soft case too at big 5 for $19.99.....

[dogtrainer]

Having shells in the magazine to and from while...

Hunting. It legal to have shells in your magazine if you are going to or coming from hunting.

I am always going in and out of small towns on my way to hunting spots or just out for lunch before I go back into a hunt. I keep may magazines loaded but my action open with a clear chamber.

I also keep my firearms covered by cloth so that a casual glance into my vehicle will not show that I am transporting firearms.

[MaHoTex]

Hunting. It legal to have shells in your magazine if you are going to or coming from hunting.

I am always going in and out of small towns on my way to hunting spots or just out for lunch before I go back into a hunt. I keep may magazines loaded but my action open with a clear chamber.

I also keep my firearms covered by cloth so that a casual glance into my vehicle will not show that I am transporting firearms.

Are you sure about that? Cite a PC with this exemption please?

EDIT: Added this section below
Fish and Game Code Section 2006 Loaded Rifle or Shotgun in Vehicle
Loaded Rifle or Shotgun in Vehicle
2006.
(a) It is unlawful to possess a loaded rifle or shotgun in any vehicle or conveyance or its attachments which is standing on or along or is being driven on or along any public highway or other way open to the public.
(b) A rifle or shotgun shall be deemed to be loaded for the purposes of this section when there is an unexpended cartridge or shell in the firing chamber but not when the only cartridges or shells are in the magazine.
(c) The provisions of this section shall not apply to peace officers or members of the Armed Forces of this state or the United States, while on duty or going to or returning from duty.

EDIT: Even with the F&G code above...
Coming to/from hunting or not, I find it hard to believe that it is legal to transport a shotgun in a vehicle with shells in the tube. I think that PC 12031 is the applicable code here:

12031. (a)(1) A person is guilty of carrying a loaded firearm when he or she carries a loaded firearm on his or her person or in a vehicle while in any public place or on any public street in an incorporated city or in any public place or on any public street in a prohibited area of unincorporated territory.

and loaded is defined as:
(g) A firearm shall be deemed to be loaded for the purposes of this section when there is an unexpended cartridge or shell, consisting of a case that holds a charge of powder and a bullet or shot, in, or attached in any manner to, the firearm, including, but not limited to, in the firing chamber, magazine, or clip thereof attached to the firearm; except that a muzzle-loader firearm shall be deemed to be loaded when it is capped or primed and has a powder charge and ball or shot in the barrel or cylinder.

[supermario]

If you ARE hunting, you cannot have a loaded firearm on you while you are in the vehicle/truck driving, this is one reason I wanted a Rem 700 with detachable mag so I could quickly unload and load my hunting rifle while scouting.

[dogtrainer]

Let us not let the State define out of existence hunting

MoHoTex has cited the CA definition of a loaded firearm (under Fish and Game Code--relevent for hunting):

b) A rifle or shotgun shall be deemed to be loaded for the purposes of this section when there is an unexpended cartridge or shell in the firing chamber but not when the only cartridges or shells are in the magazine.

Note that the above only applies (with regard to vehicles) if the hunter and vehicle is in a public environment ("open to the public"). If you are on private property (sealed off from the public) then you can carry your hunting arms locked and loaded within your vehicle with the vehicle moving or not moving.

I like to be safe so I aways open the action (which acts as a built-in safety) of my hunting arms before I mount or dismount my vehicle; before I move my vehicle to a public environment I clear my chamber.