Rifles on Motorcycles

[bladeracer]

Last year I did 18,000km just driving to pistol shoots. I can enjoy driving, on motorcycle roads, but I hate highways trapped in a car. I'd be a whole lot happier if I could ride to these shoots instead. It's a bit of an ask for Cowboy as there is a fair bit of gear required, especially overnight stays, but I think it's doable. An old member here got into bikes a few years ago and hasn't been here much since, but I caught up with him last year when I was going through Sydney. He's got a hankering to ride to Alice Springs and spend a week or two camped out in the desert. My earliest years were in Tennant Creek, just up the road (about five hours) from Alice, so I'd love to go back for a look myself, and my brother would be up for the ride too. It's roughly 9000km to Sydney, then to Tennant Creek, and back, and I would much rather do that on a bike than in a car, especially if my mates will be on bikes anyway.

So, I bought a bike again last week. After twelve years away I definitely need to get the hang of it again. I've done 350km on it already, including pistol shoots, without any major issues. But I want to do Cowboy shoots as well, especially the away shoots. So I'll need to carry some rifles (the Coachgun breaks down to nothing so is no more difficult than packing the pistols), the gun cart (which folds down to be a wooden crate 530x350x230mm), swag, a fair bit of ammo (.44-40 and 12ga. take up lots of room), ten-litres of water, and a Cowboy hat (without crushing it). I also want to get twenty litres of extra fuel on there (which would let me do 600km round trips without having to make any stops)

I don't want to leave firearms on the bike if I can avoid it so I prefer to backpack them. But three or four rifles, a shotgun and five pistols is a lot of steel to have hanging on my back for a three-hour ride. I think I'll have to build a steel rifle case for the left side of the bike that doesn't look like it holds rifles.

I know I'm not the first person to look at doing rifle shoots on two wheels, so how are other people managing this?

[bladeracer]

I do have a couple of Kolpin GunBoots, but they're not exactly stealthy.

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[Zappa]

Cant help with rifles as the only thing i pack on the motorcycle is my pistols and a broken 12ga. Ive got lockable side boxes for the pistols and range gear, and a fairly big top box for the shottie which I drag out on occasion.
Many years ago, when you had to take your purchase to the local old firearm cop shot for sighting and verification, I packed them in guitar softcases strapped on my back. Padded to resemble somewhat of a guitar. Until one day when I walked into the cop shop , the local constable looked up and said nice guitar, pointing the Sterlings muzzle that decided to poke out.
i woouldn't carry them on my back for long rides, not only unsafe but the wind buffeting you'll get becomes tiresome after a while.
That hard case looks nice, I bet I could fit my traveler guitar in there.

[Finniss]

Im guessing no. But is a trailer an option for the bike you got?

[Wapiti]

Mate bikes are great.
Says the bloke who spent a year in a wheelchair by some other clowns mistakes. It's the f'wits in cars that are the problem, but it's not only morons high on gummies or V's.
Seriously though, the Kolpin's out. The gun container can't look like it has a gun it.
All the laws now, are stacked at the fully lockable metal thing with the tinted windows, the car.
Even the pistols locked in the car need to be in metal boxes fastened to the vehicle, at least here. Unless I've read the regs wrong, and the local Sergeant is also wrong.
I'm truly interested how you're going to solve this idea you have though.

Edit: not what you want, but maybe invest in a car with better fuel consumption....

[bladeracer]

Im guessing no. But is a trailer an option for the bike you got?

The guy I bought the bike off has a Harley tourer with a trailer. I don't think I'm against a trailer but the bike isn't set up for it. It's a 2005 GSX750F so it would handle a trailer fine. It's an idea I may look at further. I've ridden sidecars and I wouldn't enjoy riding those for long at all

[bladeracer]

Mate bikes are great.
Says the bloke who spent a year in a wheelchair by some other clowns mistakes. It's the f'wits in cars that are the problem, but it's not only morons high on gummies or V's.
Seriously though, the Kolpin's out. The gun container can't look like it has a gun it.
All the laws now, are stacked at the fully lockable metal thing with the tinted windows, the car.
Even the pistols locked in the car need to be in metal boxes fastened to the vehicle, at least here. Unless I've read the regs wrong, and the local Sergeant is also wrong.
I'm truly interested how you're going to solve this idea you have though.

Edit: not what you want, but maybe invest in a car with better fuel consumption....

I think I could probably disguise the Gunboots under saddle bags and top box but I think they're bulkier than I need. I do have a two-rifle hunting pack, but again, it's fairly obvious what the lump is sticking out the top of it. With the butt stocks removed the rifles are only about 750mm long, so not too difficult to conceal in a normal field pack. And the butt stocks are 500-600gm each that I don't need on my back. The rifles are also short enough that I could probably lay them on the rear seat and rack, they would overhang the tail light by about six inches. With other gear stacked on top of them they'd be pretty invisible, and more difficult to lose.

Our pistols do not need to be chained to the vehicle here in Vic, or even in a locked box, just out of sight. I usually transport them in the car in a locked ammo crate. Section 126 of the Act states that CatA/B/C/D/H firearms and ammunition must be carried and used securely and not dangerously with reasonable precautions to prevent them being lost or stolen.

I bought the car in late '24 specifically for getting to the pistol clubs - 2001 Hyundai Sirion one-litre, three-cylinder, tiny little thing that is a blast to drive and great on fuel - 20kpl or better if I behave myself. Original owner who only did 53,000km in 23 years, I've added 21,000kms to it already. I did several away shoots last year living in there for three or four days with no issues. I pull the passenger seat forward and lay it down, lay the passenger side of the rear seat down, then a cupboard door goes in the back. With a two-inch mattress it's very snug and comfortable.

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The bike I've only measured one tank so far, at a poor 14kpl (the same as our other two cars). The fueling is terrible though so I want to rebuild the carbs and then get it dynotuned.

[bladeracer]

Cant help with rifles as the only thing i pack on the motorcycle is my pistols and a broken 12ga. Ive got lockable side boxes for the pistols and range gear, and a fairly big top box for the shottie which I drag out on occasion.
Many years ago, when you had to take your purchase to the local old firearm cop shot for sighting and verification, I packed them in guitar softcases strapped on my back. Padded to resemble somewhat of a guitar. Until one day when I walked into the cop shop , the local constable looked up and said nice guitar, pointing the Sterlings muzzle that decided to poke out.
i woouldn't carry them on my back for long rides, not only unsafe but the wind buffeting you'll get becomes tiresome after a while.
That hard case looks nice, I bet I could fit my traveler guitar in there.

When I was a kid on the farms I would lay the rifles along the seat and sit on top of them
The soft guitar case is not a bad idea, I'll investigate that further.

I had my tripod in my 45L patrol pack yesterday to do chronograph work at the club. It's right on 2kg with a rifle clamp on top, and 720mm long, but much bulkier than a lever-action rifle. Otherwise, essentially the same as a rifle without the buttstock. It didn't stick above my head and there was no buffeting, or anything else to let me know it was back there. But it was visible as it sticks about 200mm out the top of the pack. The rifles would easily disappear inside my 65L packs. I could probably just roll them up inside my swag.

The GunBoots are a neat solution I guess. They're lined with padding and they simply slide into a bracket, so you just remove the padlock and either pull the end cap off to get the rifle out, or just pull the entire case out of the bracket to take it inside. They're longer than I need but I could cut six-inches off the end and block it off.

[Finniss]

Cases for takedown bows, arrows, might be worth a look. I use a lockable arrow case for discreet and easy travel, barrelled action goes in it. Stock in backpack or i leave a second stock at a mates interstate.

[alexjones]

No idea about your pistols or longarms but just remember NSW bans some pistols because the magazine is crimped. Like a sig p320 as an example. Also those 30 round pmags that a blocked to 10 rounds are cat D in NSW.

Also folding stocks are cat D.

[bladeracer]

No idea about your pistols or longarms but just remember NSW bans some pistols because the magazine is crimped. Like a sig p320 as an example. Also those 30 round pmags that a blocked to 10 rounds are cat D in NSW.

Also folding stocks are cat D.

Good info to have in this thread for others, but I'm primarily interested in lever-action rifles at the moment. My pistol mags are manufactured at 10rd.

[GQshayne]

I am a long time shooter, but rarely to a club, and never to an organised event. I am long time motorcyclist too. About the same time actually. Got my first rifle in about 1978, and my first mini bike in 1981. I still have the air rifle.

As much as I love my two bikes, if I need to transport a firearm, I will use my Patrol. I cannot offer any suggestions at the moment, but will give it some thought.

[alexjones]

No idea about your pistols or longarms but just remember NSW bans some pistols because the magazine is crimped. Like a sig p320 as an example. Also those 30 round pmags that a blocked to 10 rounds are cat D in NSW.

Also folding stocks are cat D.

Good info to have in this thread for others, but I'm primarily interested in lever-action rifles at the moment. My pistol mags are manufactured at 10rd.

Yes all good mate I just don't want people getting caught out being unaware.

Most of my rifles have collapsible stocks which sucks cause my mate in NSW has hundreds of acres to blast on but I can only take a few of my guns.

Sometimes I take the collapsible stock off and put a gay stock on so I can use it in NSW.

Using a 12 gauge with no stock on wakes up the old shoulder. Haha

[alexjones]

NSW also has this gay law about 16inch barrels. Even if the firearm is a certain length the barrel must be 16 inches. Where in Queensland a barrel can be any inch so long as the gun is 75cm.

[bladeracer]

No idea about your pistols or longarms but just remember NSW bans some pistols because the magazine is crimped. Like a sig p320 as an example. Also those 30 round pmags that a blocked to 10 rounds are cat D in NSW.

Also folding stocks are cat D.

Good info to have in this thread for others, but I'm primarily interested in lever-action rifles at the moment. My pistol mags are manufactured at 10rd.

Yes all good mate I just don't want people getting caught out being unaware.

Most of my rifles have collapsible stocks which sucks cause my mate in NSW has hundreds of acres to blast on but I can only take a few of my guns.

Sometimes I take the collapsible stock off and put a gay stock on so I can use it in NSW.

Using a 12 gauge with no stock on wakes up the old shoulder. Haha

Yep, I have collapsibles, folding, and folding collapsible stocks. Can't take them to NSW.

[bladeracer]

NSW also has this gay law about 16inch barrels. Even if the firearm is a certain length the barrel must be 16 inches. Where in Queensland a barrel can be any inch so long as the gun is 75cm.

In Vic we can own 16" (400mm) barrels, but we can't shorten a barrel to less than 20" (500mm) - I can't make it make sense

[Finniss]

Yeah that 16 vs 20inch thing is very stupid. I managed to swing that example into my Engage Vic submission re the Ken Lay review.

Public confidence in laws is more likely if they aren't stupid. Barrel length for rifles isn't recorded but you need a gunsmith to lop.....sigh

[Wapiti]

Does the gunsmith give you a "Barrel's been lopped from XX" to XX" certificate?
If so, why, when you register a long firearm, there is NO barrel length recording option anyway?
If not, who'd ever know?
How very pathetic.

[alexjones]

NSW also has this gay law about 16inch barrels. Even if the firearm is a certain length the barrel must be 16 inches. Where in Queensland a barrel can be any inch so long as the gun is 75cm.

In Vic we can own 16" (400mm) barrels, but we can't shorten a barrel to less than 20" (500mm) - I can't make it make sense

I think Vic can have 14inch too as they sell those tacsaurs 14inch scrub version and the warick 14inch there.

I am assuming It must just have to come from factory or a licensed armourer with a shorter barrel?

[flashman]

Bugger the motorbike i kneed a mounting system for john deere ride on for my D-B shot gun !!!!!!!!!!!......

[Wapiti]

Would one of the range of "Kolpin" bolt-on gun mounts suit your tractor?
I've got a set in mine, wouldn't go out without a rifle in there, that's for sure. Or any other vehicle. Found that out the hard way.

[bladeracer]

Would one of the range of "Kolpin" bolt-on gun mounts suit your tractor?
I've got a set in mine, wouldn't go out without a rifle in there, that's for sure. Or any other vehicle. Found that out the hard way.

We don't use the tractor much, but when we do we have to travel on the road between the blocks. As long as the rifle is concealed from view that wouldn't be an issue, but we always leave the tractor in the paddock we're working in until we need it for another job, so I'd be walking home with the rifle. Doesn't really work for us. We prefer to walk around the properties rather than taking vehicles in unless we need to.

[bladeracer]

I think Vic can have 14inch too as they sell those tacsaurs 14inch scrub version and the warwick 14inch there.

I am assuming It must just have to come from factory or a licensed armourer with a shorter barrel?

I've heard that we can but I've never seen one here so don't know for sure.

[bladeracer]

I am a long time shooter, but rarely to a club, and never to an organised event. I am long time motorcyclist too. About the same time actually. Got my first rifle in about 1978, and my first mini bike in 1981. I still have the air rifle.

As much as I love my two bikes, if I need to transport a firearm, I will use my Patrol. I cannot offer any suggestions at the moment, but will give it some thought.

I'm similar background, started shooting in 1980 (started riding in '85 and driving in '87). Shot competition with air rifles with PCYC, and smallbore with Army Cadets, then went bush. Had never shot at a rifle range from 1983 until 2023 when I went to NSW for a .303 shoot. I shot the ANZAC shoot at Little River last year (which I would consider a rifle shoot, despite having a pistol section), but those are the only rifle shoots I've done at ranges since '83. The only shooting I do at ranges is pistol, because we have to by law. All Cowboy shoots must be held at approved pistol ranges by law because of the pistols, but we also use rifles in these matches.

I started pistol shooting in 1990 and rode my bike just about every time. But my pistol club only shot IPSC and no other disciplines at all, so I didn't need a lot of pistols. Now I'm shooting ISSF disciplines, as well as Cowboy and IPSC, so I need lots of different pistols. I only shot three matches yesterday, but took six pistols with me, and still forgot one. I'm holding a pistol for another member that is still waiting on his licence, and I'm taking pistols in for two other shooters to use. I forgot one of my pistols though so used one of those and got them a club pistol. Then I had issues with my air pistol and had to use a club air pistol for that match. I was also testing ammunition in another pistol (for today's match) and wanted to get thermal video of mag dumps in several so I forgot one pistol, and the thermal camera, so I'll do the video on Monday.

I don't really mind driving to my local club as it's only ten minutes away, it's the longer trips that I'd prefer to be on two wheels than inside four. But those are also the ones where I need a lot more gear. The state titles is a four-day shoot, three-hours from home. Go up Thursday, shoot Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, come home Monday evening. In Cowboy we move between maybe twelve different stages around the range, so we need a gun cart, like a pram that carries our rifles and ammunition from stage to stage. Mine breaks down into a wooden crate, 21"x14"x9" which should be able to strap onto the bike somewhere pretty neatly. Generally, it's possible to book a spare club gun cart ahead of time so the cart may not be required for all trips. I'll sleep alongside the bike, so I'll need my swag/sleeping gear (especially in winter). I want to be able to carry twenty litres of fuel, and ten litres of water, but some of these shoots supply bottled water for free (particularly during summer), and some trips have places where I can make a fuel stop at minimal risk of any interference, so fuel and water won't always be essential luggage.

One of the more difficult pieces is the cowboy hat, which is required, we can't shoot without a hat