Hello everybody.
I'm looking to get a good long gun for overlanding (fancy name for extended, remote, 4x4 touring and camping).
I detest CA's politics but I'll probably go through CA, including to visit some family. Mostly it will be through my home state of AZ, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and maybe Montana.
As such I need a CA (and Colorado, now that I think of it) legal gun.
Handgun wise I'm considering carrying my G26, with no mag extensions, unloaded and locked in a box when traveling in the truck through CA. Incidentally, I think once one is camped one can open carry at a remote campsite in CA, although I'm still checking on this particular aspect of things. Anyway, that's incidental.
The reason for this post is that I think having a long gun, that can be kept unloaded in the back of the 4runner while driving, would be a great option.
A shotgun would address self defense needs for anything from snakes to black bears, to alien rabid elk, to would be murderous Manson Hippies. In other words, as we all know, a shotgun would be very versatile. This would be a vehicle weapon so I'm not that concerned about humping heavy shells around.
And, I really would like a semi-auto shotgun, just because.
I am thinking of the Beretta 1301. It seems like it's earlier issues have been addressed, either by Beretta or by Aridus Industries, et.al., but I'm still researching this and still going through the 1301 thread in this forum as well speak.
I need to confirm, but it also seems at this point that it is CA legal; still have to look up Colorado. I am still looking what kind of mag extension, if any, would be legal, but the stock 5+1 capacity would be fine.
Any of you know with any CA compliance issues? I would not put a pistol grip on it..I may want one of those regular Magpul shotgun stocks which ought not cause a problem.
Any Colorado issues? I would be surprised, but this still needs to be formally checked.
Of course, I am also wondering if, in fact, a Lever Action in 44 mag, or 30-30 would be better. Problem is, I have no familiarity with Lever Guns, and I want something that is GTG out of the box. I don't have the inclination to get a base gun and put custom money into it to build it out.
Where am I going wrong with my thinking, what am I missing, what else should I be looking at?
I put my thoughts into the crucible of pistol-forum.com, to be vetted and purified.
Here is a gratuitous picture of my simple overlanding rig. I'm trying to keep it very lightweight.