Bag for a Trunk Gun?

AR/M4 AR General Discussion
1

Hey guys:
I’ve been pondering getting a bag for a trunk gun setup, and was wanting suggestions on what to turn to.

My initial plan was to get a Maratac Satcom bag, and store one of my 16" BBL AR’s in it, broken down. However, getting home, and breaking out the tape measure reveals that my particular AR upper is 24" long. The Satcom bag is 20" long. (http://countycomm.com/satcom.htm for those interested). So, of course, this means going back to the drawing board.

In the interest of this being a KISS project, all I’m wanting is to keep an AR, and 3 mags. Thus, I don’t have a need for a huge bag to carry ALL my stuff with me. Also, staying compact is big on me, as I don’t have a huge trunk.
Suggestions?
-Adam

2

This:

http://www.skdtac.com/S_O_Tech_Go_Bag_Extended_p/sot.506.htm

3

Practical and very discrete is a two rackets tennis bag and it doesn’t scream “tactical”.

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageBGNIKE-NS23RB6TH.html

Its length is about 28", which will accomodate a fully assembled SBR, or a disassembled carbine length gun.

4

"Practical and very discrete is a two rackets tennis bag and it doesn’t scream “tactical”.

Thats awesome. I remember that suggestion for a non-obvious carry bag. Another suggestion was a soft guitar case - put lots of band stickers on it(maybe not hip for some here).

I too have not found a decent non-descript carry bag short of the generic rectangular zippered nylon case for an AR.

As far a nice case for a truck gun, I use an AK, but here it is an SLR-106 with folding stock in an old M60 barrel bag. Two zipperd pockets hold a mag each. Takes virtually no room as far as the case goes.

5

i have no problem walking around looking like a retard- retards don’t pack, and aren’t a threat.

:slight_smile:

6

If I were carrying my carbine in the trunk, I wouldn’t want it to be broken down. I would want a bag large enough to carry it assembled. If I needed it in a hurry… I wouldn’t want any delays. :smiley: I have seen a variety of non weapon bags that all seem to work well. The tennis racket bag, skateboard bags, hockey bags are all good choices. Just bring a tape measure to a sporting goods store and explore.

My current “trunk monkey” is a Winchester Defender 12 ga. pump shortened with a pistol grip. It is in a small zippered case and has a few boxes of 00 buck in there too. My Glock 30 is usually with me up front. :cool:

7

+1 for tennis racket cases. Here is what I was using to contain my trunk rifle:

8

someone posted up a thread about hokey bags, im to lazy to look it up but i bought one and it rocks.

i cut the divider out and it fits my DD M4 the the stock fully extended and a pmag.

and i only have to unzip the lower storage comp to access fire control.

9

think anyone’s noticed the sudden increase in tennis, hockey and guitar players around town?

10

+1 on that. My only additional concern is that the bag be padded fairly well. Things in trunks tend to whack their way from one side to another, have groceries dumped on them, and generally behave like Mexican Jumping Beans.

11

Critically important to have a variety on hand, so that one is in the right season.

Bat bag for summer, snowboard case for winter, guitar case for church, etc. :smiley:

12

A few notes on musical instrument cases from my experience with people who make or modify cases for gun transport.

1 You are creating a fiction, and it must be believable. While a truth can be anything – a concert violinist can look like a lumberjack – fiction must conform to whatever an onlooker expects to see.

2 Music cases already have some problems due to their history of use for disguising guns (the old Tommy in the violin case). Soft cases can deform, demonstrating that you are not really carrying a cello; hard cases are unwieldy and can be a bitch to carry on stairwells. In any case, get a shoulder strap to keep the case close to your body and avoid clonking into walls, the furniture, etc.

3 While firearms are always attractive to thieves, so are musical instruments. They are easily hocked and often more expensive than the firearm the case (actually) contains. For example, my son’s music teacher walks around town with a $10,000 instrument in a soft leather case.

13

I’m sorry for saying, but your son’s music teacher…is an IDIOT! If I had a $10k guitar or whatever, I’d have it an a rigid Storm Case.

Other than that, I agree, a soft guitar bag makes for odd carry. It’s fine if it’s sitting in the corner of the room looking all inocent like but once you carry it around with you, the gun will flop around. Also, most guitar bags I’ve seen are a bit big for an M4. They’re fine if you’re hauling a SAKO TRG-22 or similar but you’d probably have a rigid case for it since you’d most likely also have expensive optics as well.

14

I guess the next step would be to have a rifle for each bag;)

15

Check out your local shops for a break-down shotgun soft bag. Found one that fits an assembled 16" with collapsible stock snugly. Nice padding, tough cover and heavy zipper, about $35.

16

Finding the right bag was like finding the right optic for me. A challenge. There are so many bags out there and many are just plain cheap. Most of the $20 to $40 bags are made in China and a POS.

I learned that if I wanted a durable and well made bag, then it was going to cost some money. So, after spending many hours looking, I ended-up going with one of the first bags that I initially looked at: BlackHawk Discrete Carry Case. With tax, I paid $122.00 for the BlackHawk bag. It is a decision I have not regretted. It is a Great bag.

I purchased the 42" length Black bag, so that I could use it for more than one gun, but shorter lengths are available. It is definitely well-made and fairly sturdy. There are two compartments; there is the main compartment for the rifle, then a second compartment for magazine pouches, ammo, cleaning gear, etc. It allows you to store one rifle, with an optic and a magazine installed if you require. The velcro tie-down straps lend to some choices in how to place the rifle in the bag as well.

In addition, the bag comes with one magazine pouch that holds three 30 RD AR mags. And more can be purchased, from the manufaturer. It looks as if the 42" bag can hold at least 2 pouches for (6) magazines. In my bag, I carry the rifle with (1) 20 RD magazine and (5) 30 round magazines in the accessory pouch. It also leaves enough room for several 20 RD boxes of ammo and my rifle sling. I haven’t weighed the total bag with all of this gear and some other accessories, but it is managable (around 20 lbs.). And with the carry strap pretty easy to carry.

Inconclusion, the BlawkHawk Discrete Carry bag is a very practical and usable bag. There are other brands with similar features like Brownell’s, Galatti International, and EAG that are quality gear too. I just preferred the BlackHawk bag.

Good Luck with you serach.
SkiDevil

P.S. I went-out to dinner one-night after work and did not want to leave my rifle in the trunk, so I took it inside the restaurant and nobody seemed to pay any attention. It definitely appears that it could be something other than a gun bag (Keyboard, Guitar, etc.).

And if you have an LE job, you should be able to write-off (tax return/ work equipment) the expense of the bag or apply your uniform allowance towards it.

http://www.blackhawk.com/product/Homeland-Security-Discreet-Weapons-Carry-Case,142,1401.htm

17

What is your price range? Do you want to be discreet? Does the case need padding?

Got this at my local Academy for $20.00. Didn’t buy it for a trunk gun but I’ll share it anyway. Can’t find it their site so I’ll post a link from somewhere else.
Under Armour Clean Up Bat Bag





18

But that looks like a “KISS gun” instead of a “trunk gun” or a “truck gun.”:wink:

I like the tennis bag idea Sam and Carlos. I, too, have the notion that breaking it down for carry is not the best approach.

Looks like I need an SBR for the trunk and one for the truck.

Thanks, guys!:cool: