Firearms transport: Lessons learned after major roll-over accident

Larry S. Moore

Any discussion of traveling with firearms usually involves the legal transportation of firearms and the duty of the CHL holder to inform law enforcement if the holder is carrying. Some discussion centers on the best gun cases or range bags for use.

Like most CHL holders, target shooters and hunters, I suspect, I gave little consideration to how my firearms were secured in a vehicle. Certainly I followed all the laws and I use quality cases. Decisions on how I packed them into my truck or camper, however, centered on what was convenient for the trip.

My considerations have changed significantly since December 6, 2008. That was the day I rolled both my truck and camper.

I totaled both but fortunately me and my hunting companion walked – or perhaps I should say limped gingerly – away. Locating all the firearms thrown from the interior of the truck, the bed of the truck or the camper is another story. It was imperative to recover the firearms immediately since a number of good Samaritans stopped.

My carry Glock and a double magazine holder were in the center console. This was, along with other items in the center console, was thrown over forty feet from the truck. The Glock and magazines remained in the respective holster or carrier. Unfortunately the Glock landed muzzle down in the snow, mud and water in the ditch.

The .44 magnum handguns used for deer hunting remained in the backseat of the truck. The metal cases remained closed. The padding protected the handguns. A later trip to the range verified that the red dot scope retained its zero. This was expected since the force of the roll, while significant, was probably not much to the handguns in a case with plenty of form-fitting padding. These cases were sitting on the rear seat where they were in plain sight. We were very lucky these did not fly forward to strike us.

The backup slug shotguns were a different story. One was in the bed of the truck in a gun boot fitted case. It was found on top of the cap shell, which was ripped from the truck and in front of where the truck landed. The gun boot case was intact. The shotgun was protected. Again a trip to the range verified the scope is still in zero.

Another shotgun was on the bed in the camper. It was in a plastic case that included metal re-enforced edges and locking metal latches. It was partially sticking out the rear of the camper and somewhat under what was the bed. The case remained closed and the gun protected.

Two muzzle loading rifles were in a metal airline-quality locking gun case. The case was made for two long rifles. It was in the bed of the truck. This was thrown from the bed but did not travel as far as the cap shell or the shotgun that was also in the truck bed. That is probably due to the weight of this case. Neither gun was damaged or moved inside the case. Both retained their previous zero point.

So what are the lessons learned from this incident? While we certainly don't expect an accident and especially rolling a vehicle, we should plan for that when we transport our firearms just as we plan our hunt, range time and our personal protection.

I am convinced that the investment in quality cases, avoiding the temptation to save a few bucks and use a $20 case for guns worth several hundred dollars, was a good choice and protected the guns. I am equally as thankful that I invested in quality carry holsters so that my Glock remained in the holster. I am certainly very happy none of the long guns were in the traditional three-gun rack on the back window of my truck cab. Those now seem like a recipe for disaster.

I am very unhappy that the center console, which only snapped shut, opened and so many items were thrown out. We could have easily been seriously injured with this stuff flying around the cab. My new truck has a console which latches in addition to snapping shut. I am not comfortable that the latch is of sufficient strength to remain closed in a serious accident.

Law requires our guns to be transported in a certain manner with the case in plain sight if in the passenger compartment. Well, law enforcement may have to arrest me. My handgun cases are going on the floor of the rear seat. The hunting coats or other soft items can be placed on top of these. I don't want a metal gun case with a large revolver flying around the interior of my truck with my head as a possible target. Our gun laws need to be updated to reflect passenger safety.

I see hunters and recreational shooters transporting long guns in the truck bed or loose in the back of an SUV. Often the guns are only in a soft case. This does not protect the firearm. The fact that any gun is loose is not good based on my experience. I am not sure how I plan to address this issue. I am still researching possible solutions including various cargo caddy systems that can be put into the back of a SUV or pickup truck. The fault with these is that none are secured in the bed so they may become an even larger projectile.

Most of us travel with a range bag. I sometimes have as many as twenty-five boxes of shotgun shells or a case of handgun ammo. Each box of ammo has the potential to become an object of concern. These need to be secured in the vehicle. I've not decided how to deal with this issue.

I was extremely sore for a month from the accident and the seat belt. The air bags did not deploy due to the lack of frontal impact. I believe my gun should be on my person to prevent it from being thrown from the vehicle. I have to wonder what the impact to my ribs might have been if I were wearing the gun.

While I am short on answers for the situations presented, I wanted to share my experience so that others may consider how they pack when transporting firearms. I am certain to put as much as possible into the bed of my truck. While that may not prevent it from being thrown out, it will not be in the cab with me. I encourage anyone with similar experiences and suggestions to post a thread on the Buckeye Firearms forums. It can serve to present options and perhaps prevent future injuries.

Outdoor writer and hunter education instructor Larry S. Moore is a long-time volunteer leader for Buckeye Firearms Association and winner of the 2005 USSA Patriot Award and 2007 League of Ohio Sportsmen/Ohio Wildlife Federation Hunter Educator of the Year.