Keep a Close Eye on your Shotgun

It happens. I went to my first IDPA DMG match last month and grabbed someone's AR and walked to the next stage. It looked exactly like mine from the stock/flash hider and eotech. He caught up to me and thanked me for carrying his gun to the next stage so he did not have to.

I was embarrassed and will be very careful to pick up my own gun in the future...:)
 
I exchanged some thoughts with some local cops and in the future:

- If someone picks my gun out of the rack and goes toward the line or another field, I think I will treat it as an understandable mistake.

- But if the guy is on his way to the parking lot and out of the shooting park, I will most likely let him explain things to the police. Should he turn out to be a bad guy, the risk of harm to myself and others attentding the range is just to great given the availability of guns and ammunition. If it turns out to be a loser with two strikes, it could get nasty. Should it turn out that the guy made a mistake, too bad for him if he has to spend some time explaining things to the man.

That is how I would likely handle things, but given the exact circumstances I might do differently.
 
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You might want to invest about $20 in a gun sleeve/slip from Bob Allen or similar. When you're done for the moment, put it in the gun sleeve/slip and no one can tell it isn't theirs. Also helps keep it free from dings and nicks. I use one to transport my assembled gun to the club, since nothing sits on top of it in the back of the car
 
My Rem 870 and Rem 1100 have our names on them from a Brother label maker. Works great, no mix-ups.

My Browning O/U isn't as common a gun, but there are a few others from time to time. All I need to do is look at the recoil setup on mine, no one else has that setup, yet..............

I do keep an eye on that gun, cost too much to lose.
 
I like oneounce's gun slip suggestion. It not only makes it impossible for someone to confuse my gun with theirs, and there are a lot of Citoris around, but it protects the gun from dings and nicks. I can even print my name on it with a marker.
 
Another little trick from long ago.

Print your name and phone number and part of your SS# in a piece of paper. Poor man's laminate is scotch tape on both sides. Conceal this in the gun, say, in the stock bolt hole, inside the forend on an autoloader,etc.

And of course, you have the serial numbers and descriptions of ALL your guns in a safe place, correct?.....
 
And of course, you have the serial numbers and descriptions of ALL your guns in a safe place, correct?.....
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^^+1^^
These days, take advantage of technology: List your guns on your cell phone (or pocket device). It's hard for someone to argue that it's not your gun if you can show him a pic and the serial number.
 
Dave, the paper in the stock is a good idea. One thing about Cali is my guns are registered with the state's Department of Justice. The good part of what may be a bad thing; gun registration. I have the original paperwork in a fire safe.

I looked at what oneounce meant by a gun sleeve. That would do it but I was thinking of just using a gun sock so the gun can be set in a rack. Would a sleeve work and what is the differemce between a sleeve and a soft gun case?
 
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Zippy, Pic on cell phone isn't a bad idea, but if you want to talk technology, what about a little device that can be secreted in your stock that works similar to a low jack? If your gun disappears, it can be immediately traced.
 
what about a little device that can be secreted in your stock that works similar to a low jack?
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That would work after the gun clears the club and the tracking device fired up. I was just thinking of convincing some pocket shooter that he has the wrong gun.

I guess you could have a device in your gun, and you'd be immediately alerted if it was moved. Someday they may have an app for that. My buddy and I use iPhones in the bluetooth WalkieTalkie mode while at the range (cell coverage is sparse there).
 
The slip isn't as heavily padded as a gun case - it was originally designed foe shooters to easily carry their gun between pegs on a driven shoot or between stations at a sporting shoot that kept it dry, secure and easy to manage.
 
A friend of mine had a couple of guns stolen while he was at the club. The club parking lot is adjacent to a wooded area and dirtbag(s) hid there until things were quiet and broke into his truck. The thief(s) were never caught and the guns not recovered. :mad:

The days of me leaving a gun on the rack while I go for lunch are long over. I keep a close eye on my gun at the club and lock it in my vehicle when I'm not shooting and park it away from the trees if possible.
 
One of the tricks that gangs use now is to got to events where gun owners will be , gun shows, competitions ,etc. They mark tires of the cars ,then leave. Later , days or weeks , when they see a marked car they break in and have a good chance they will find a gun !!
Most stolen guns are from vehicles !!
Never put stickers that are gun related on your car , NRA, gun club ,etc. !
 
"Another little trick from long ago.

Print your name and phone number and part of your SS# in a piece of paper. Poor man's laminate is scotch tape on both sides. Conceal this in the gun, say, in the stock bolt hole, inside the forend on an autoloader,etc."

How many of us don't get too many printed return labels that get thrown out each year? They fit (and stick) nicely under stocks, buttstocks, handguards, and recoil pads.
 
oneounce.

I'm probably wrong, but I took it that he was referring to your Aldo Gucci quote.
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Maybe so, but since it is a signature line, it shows up on every posting. Oh well, he'll just have to get over it
 
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