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I go out bush on the mighty mudbug and have been wondering how to transport a .22 without upsetting hikers and the like.
Any suggestions? Often I'll have a backpack on also.
Have considered getting a folding rifle to fit it into a pack, but is there a better option?
Cheers
If it's a .22 rimfire leave it at home unless you have a permit for using it on public land.
All that aside I never bother hiding my rifle it's pretty obvious what I'm up to.....
If you really feel the need to hide it your only option really is a takedown.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dannyb
Thanks for your reply, cheers. I will think about the takedown.
And no, I will not be taking a rimfire onto doc land.
.22LR goes well out of a very short barrel. An overall minimum legal length rifle is still quite a small package if you want to go down the barrel chopping route rather than buying a takedown rifle.
You could mount a scabbard to the bike
I've seen ones where the butt is up in the handlebars and the barrel is down by the front axle
Thanks for the suggestions, I'll do some googling with the scabbard, I've seen them on ex-military KLR's. It seems very obvious what it is, but also well secured and hopefully therefore looking less 'scary' to the hiker types who seem angered at the presence of hunters or motorcycles.
I try to be as respectful as possible when crossing land like this, stopping to say hello etc.
I do a lot of work up mountain tops and get to meet all sorts, from super friendly to the how dare you types.
Inside a padded rifle bag with carry strap over shoulder works well. Carry upside down makes it balance better. For a heavy rifle the strap over your shoulder needs to be 'captured' inside a waist belt, to stop it moving about and whacking you on the back of the head... Don't ask me how I know...
Edit: since you mention the mighty mudbug, many rabbit shooters fashioned lightweight tubular frames that bolted to one of the forks. The frame held stiff plastic material that formed the scabbard.
Don't worry what the hikers think, you have as much right to be there as they do, and if you have the correct permits/ permission then probably more than them. If they're country raised they shouldn't blink an eye, and if they're Townes they need to harden the fuck up cause they're out in the real world now!
Guitar case :)
Technically now you probably need to think about fitting a lockable cashbox or something similar to the machine as well as I'm not sure the latest rules actually differentiate between types of vehicles when talking transport security...Quote:
Originally Posted by BushChook
All they say is:
3.1.4 Motorcycles
1. A motorcyclist carrying a firearm must:
(a) Render the firearm incapable of operation
by removing the bolt or other vital part and
keeping it on their person or by using a
trigger lock.
(b) Contain the firearm and anything removed
from it within a locked case or carry bag.
So in essence the scabbard or similar rack would seem to be the way forward where you can lock the thing and keep yourself compliant with that rule, and maybe on the mudbug re-purpose the tool box area under the rack on the back to have a lockable option? Because sure as eggs have a pointy end and a blunt end someone is going to Karen you and try and get you in the poo with the powers that be... It's the modern way apparently.
Anything about horses, see more rifles travelling by horseback than motorcycles.Quote:
Originally Posted by No.3
Ahhh, not off the top of my swede. Interesting point haha.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetawa
Yep good point, shouldn't be too hard to mount a small ammo box on the bike, or a small cash box in the backpack.Quote:
Originally Posted by No.3
Would that interpretation mean that rifle in scabbard and bolt and ammo in a fannypack/backpack is ok?Quote:
Originally Posted by BushChook
"or carry bag." is the bit I mean
All you need is a rifle soft case with a tiny padlock on it - fills the lockable case requirement. I have a padlock between the zip pull and the strap d ring.
I would have imagined having the rifle slung over your shoulder would be OK?
After all it’s in your direct control.
(Well it’s what I USED to do!)
It's an interesting one, I suspect the lockable requirements only relate to 'public road' areas i.e. beach or sealed roads. Any other time whatever goes, like spotlighting pests on the farm where you are using the thing off the machine. I'd assume there's some logic involved in the somewhere where doing the job outweighs storage requirements but on the other hand you do know what they say about assumption...
I'd agree. Once you are off public roads I would argue that you are no longer 'transporting' said rifle, but are now 'hunting' from the motorbike. Locks etc go out the window once in hunting mode. I know the rabbit board guys hunted from their motorbikes, and we regularly hunt from the motorbike, often getting within 100m of deer if the wind is right. A video would have been handy of the carnage that ensues trying to get the rifle unclipped from the waistbelt and brought into action whilst the curious deer wonders if it should stay or go....
I guess there is some grey area where it come to transport or whatever. I've been pulled up riding down dirt farm roads, gravel paper roads for not having a reg and wof on a farm bike... Even some of the river trails around here are classed as paper roads and therefore need road legal vehicle and proper transport solutions.... Been riding round since I was 10yo round rivers and back country gravel roads no problem.
Some guys were fined on the river bed for not having reg or wof after some Greenies called the police as they were driving near bird nests.
I ride with a 1022 TDR most days, if it's in a backpack with a trigger lock you are good to go. I'm half way through modding it a bit so will post up once it's done.