Overnight hotel tips when traveling for a match

[BootMan545]

Hello! Newbie here and I have a stupid question.

When you stay overnight at a hotel for a match, do you take your gun and gear with you into the room? Or leave it locked up in your vehicle? This weekend will be the first time I travel to a match and I'm just looking for some advice.

I feel compelled to bring everything in my room, but worry about freaking other people out. Obviously, I wouldn't just carry my gun out of its case through the main lobby. However, I feel like people would see the case, identify its a gun, and freak. So, does anyone have any guidance to share? Or am I just over thinking this?

Thanks!

 

[Landon4]

I’ve carried mine in the room with me, I usually leave my ammo in the truck. I’ll bring I’m my case with guns, and my spotter or binos and the important stuff such as suppressors or anything like that. Sometimes I’ll just check in and then go out the back Dior and bring it thru there.

 

[sleeplz]

I put a blanket over gun case and try to get a room near the side door on the 1st floor. I'll only bring the guns in once I know I'll bed down for the night and I'll be with the guns. There was a match where all the guys with gun stickers on their cars got broken into.

As long as you walk in and give everyone head nods like you belong, no one will care.

 

[Pappakap]

A lot of guys prefer a motel room they can see their vehicle from and be close to it as well. I guess it is even more valid an idea with a bunch of shooting gear involved. I’d bring the guns in and keep an eye on the rest. Use a motel so theres no lobby to walk through.

 

[blbennett1288]

Over thinking this.

Temperature difference and drive to the match usually make the decision for me. If there is time for ammo/rifle to get to outside temp on the drive ill bring them inside for the night.

 

[Sniperwannabee]

Always bring it inside with you

 

[THEIS]

Hi,

Do you leave your wallet and cellphone in the vehicle when staying at a hotel?

Hotels have signs in parking lots of "Please remove all valuables from your vehicle" for a reason...
1 in attempts to make them not responsible and 2 because it is something you should do.

Sincerely,
Theis

 

[supercorndogs]

Some fucktards broke into the trailer of some hunters, and stole their guns a couple years ago. The hunters were staying in the hotel, but at the bar that is beside it. The people who stole their guns were living at the hotel. The police department put out a press release about how smart fast thinking, and good police work found the guns that night. There were two sets of tracks in the snow, from the vehicle. One to hunters hotel room, and one to the robbers hotel room. I heard it was the hunters idea to track them, but can not confirm.

 

[napt0wnc1ty99]

Hi,

Do you leave your wallet and cellphone in the vehicle when staying at a hotel?

Hotels have signs in parking lots of "Please remove all valuables from your vehicle" for a reason...
1 in attempts to make them not responsible and 2 because it is something you should do.

Sincerely,
Theis

This.

I’ve had a pistol stolen from my truck at a Marriot hotel down the street from a JW Marriot while I was inside for an hour or so. Nice area too. Lesson learned a very hard way. I would never leave a several thousand dollar gun and expensive equipment in the car overnight.

Personally, who cares if someone freaks out about you bringing a cased gun through a lobby? You aren’t waving it around or intentionally drawing attention.

 

[napt0wnc1ty99]

Some fucktards broke into the trailer of some hunters, and stole their guns a couple years ago. The hunters were staying in the hotel, but at the bar that is beside it. The people who stole their guns were living at the hotel. The police department put out a press release about how smart fast thinking, and good police work found the guns that night. There were two sets of tracks in the snow, from the vehicle. One to hunters hotel room, and one to the robbers hotel room. I heard it was the hunters idea to track them, but can not confirm.

Hilarious

 

[davsco]

I'll only bring the guns in once I know I'll bed down for the night and I'll be with the guns.

i think this is key. don't leave the guns in your room unattended. at least in your vehicle there is presumably an alarm if someone smashes in while you're eating dinner.

 

[johnrice]

I put a blanket over gun case and try to get a room near the side door on the 1st floor. I'll only bring the guns in once I know I'll bed down for the night and I'll be with the guns. There was a match where all the guys with gun stickers on their cars got broken into.

As long as you walk in and give everyone head nods like you belong, no one will care.

i agree ,do not put gun stickers on your car. a big match in town and gun stickers on your car, you are now a target, happens more than you think.

 

[acudaowner]

A black light only if you don't mind seeing what you are about to see a crime seen inside the motel room , oh and sweet dreams ....

 

[300Norma1959]

Hotel parking lots are breeding grounds for criminals.

 

[300Norma1959]

...guys with gun stickers on their cars ...(at a hotel parking lot with guns left in the car)

There is the definition of stupidity

 

[napt0wnc1ty99]

i agree ,do not put gun stickers on your car. a big match in town and gun stickers on your car, you are now a target, happens more than you think.

Completely agree. Hate thieves and it just paints you as a future victim.

 

[Dthomas3523]

I have specific insurance for mine, so they get left in vehicle a lot.

If I didn’t, they would go to the room.

 

[napt0wnc1ty99]

I have specific insurance for mine, so they get left in vehicle a lot.

If I didn’t, they would go to the room.

Insurance or not, you aren’t worried about needing it for the class or competition you’re traveling to?

 

[b6graham]

travel from New England to the WARS PRS match last year down south.

Friend left his shit in his car in his pack. rifle in the room.

next morning. welp...he's not shooting the match anymore. instead he needs a new window and to replace everything that was in his pack.

take the shit inside

 

[300Norma1959]

Insurance or not, you aren’t worried about needing it for the class or competition you’re traveling to?

You would think that would be a priority

 

[supraguy88t]

I would not leave any valuables in your car and maybe even make sure your hotel of choice is gun friendly.

 

[jgsh1375]

Leaving the guns in the car, your chances of shooting the match are 50/50. In the room 100 percent. Just saying. Good luck at the match.

 

[napt0wnc1ty99]

You would think that would be a priority

Different strokes I guess. Or he’s got one hell of a protected vehicle.

 

[Doug k 042414]

I stayed at a hotel where most of the “mechanized” division stayed at this year for bushnell. The running joke was that we all were there for a teachers conference. The staff was excited until we all started dragging tons of rifles in. No issues though.
For most matches, I use an in cab inflatable mattress for my truck. The range owner lets people stay on the property and it is awesome.

 

[LostInJersey]

I put a blanket over gun case and try to get a room near the side door on the 1st floor. I'll only bring the guns in once I know I'll bed down for the night and I'll be with the guns. There was a match where all the guys with gun stickers on their cars got broken into.

As long as you walk in and give everyone head nods like you belong, no one will care.

Just a FYI, rooms on the first floor of a hotel are the most burglarized. And the probability increases the closer you get to an entrance/exit.

 

[Simonsza1]

If you walk through the hotel lobby with a pelican case or similar no one even has a clue what your walking in with and the ones that might wouldn’t blame you.

 

[jgsh1375]

If you've never had your vehicle broken into and valuables stolen, it's one of the most depressing, aggravating, upsetting, disappointing, costly and self-punishing times you will go through. I've learned my lesson.

 

[Sniperwannabee]

I have specific insurance for mine, so they get left in vehicle a lot.

If I didn’t, they would go to the room.

it’s not about insurance it about criminals having Guns

 

[b6graham]

If you walk through the hotel lobby with a pelican case or similar no one even has a clue what your walking in with and the ones that might wouldn’t blame you.

you've apparently never been to a match where everyone has 30 stickers on their pelicans

 

[308pirate]

When you stay overnight at a hotel for a match, do you take your gun and gear with you into the room?

Absolutely. No question about it.

Or leave it locked up in your vehicle?

Not unless there is absolutely no other choice

I worry about freaking other people out.

Fuck them

Or am I just over thinking this?

Yes

 

[Simonsza1]

you've apparently never been to a match where everyone has 30 stickers on their pelicans

Actually too many times for matches and conventions where there’s gun cases flying around the place like a samsonite. I meant it more along the lines of most of the non gun people in a lobby are so non gun they don’t even know what there looking at there just sheep baa baa around the place and don’t have a clue even with stickers but I see your point. Most that know what’s in there don’t even give it a second thought or just sleep better at night knowing there’s more people armed in the hotel. From my experience it feels that way. The best is a couple guys sharing a room at a big 3 gun bringing in all there crap on a valet cart at the same time

 

[Keel Haul]

Anything with more value than my phone charger gets brought into the room with me. Last course I took in March I was walking through the lobby with a plate carrier and a hard case followed by a case of ammo to gas up my mags before class. The one of the counter girl at this fine Texas establishment always gave me a look but nothing was said for the four days I was there and the rest of the staff and the occasional guest I walked past didn’t have a problem.

 

[flyfisher117]

Bring it in. I bring anything of value in. People get dirt bikes stolen out of beds of pickups at hotels. A gun or other expensive accessory would be even easier.

 

[Simonsza1]

Bring it in. I bring anything of value in. People get dirt bikes stolen out of beds of pickups at hotels. A gun or other expensive accessory would be even easier.

My friend had his dirtbike stolen out of the bed of his truck with it backed up snug against his own garage door didn’t even so much as leave a scratch. We road Saturday got home in the evening and we’re going to ride again on Sunday that was a sad morning.

 

[flyfisher117]

My friend had his dirtbike stolen out of the bed of his truck with it backed up snug against his own garage door didn’t even so much as leave a scratch. We road Saturday got home in the evening and we’re going to ride again on Sunday that was a sad morning.

I saw one where they backed the truck up to the fence, parked a snowmobile trailer on one side, parked a car or something on the other. Came out bike was gone. No finger prints, no shoe prints zero damage to the truck or car or trailer. All I can figure is they had a knuckle boom or a big ass dude to lift the bike haha

 

[acudaowner]

you could always ship your guns to the event if you felt like not having to carry them with you is a better option . there are companies that could do that for you like this its just another option .

Gun Shipping - Fast, Legal, Affordable

www.shipmygun.com

 

[Va_Gentleman]

Many times if you are going to a large match, there will be other competitors. Probably the Hotel Staff is well aware.

We were checking in at a Hilton one time and the 6 of us load up the luggage carts and walk in. The Manager was sweet country girl that said good luck.

Match was the same time as University Commencement and people that are not normally used to seeing this amount of firepower asked if we were Cops/Military. "No ma'am, we are not, but there is a large DMM this weekend, and many people are VERY Active military"; she was a little concerned so I put her at ease.

"Ma'am, you are in the safest hotel in America right now", which her Husband got a kick out of and smiled.

 

[fencewire]

One of my jobs involves doing some work where it is not advisable to be readily identifiable. This goes from marking up your cars with stickers, to your bags with patches and the like. If you just look like another person and don't draw attention to yourself, you will be that much better off.

I don't put stickers on anything external, when I go into a motel/hotel, I bring my gear in a side door, go up the stairs. Not because I am worried about anything, but I don't like questions. Same with my job, I'd rather no one know why I am there, so I don't advertise anything. They may guess... but they don't know.

Taught my son the same lesson about stickers on trucks/cars. He wanted to put a sticker on our truck, so the next time we went driving around, I pointed out the various cars/trucks and how much you could tell about the people driving them, simply by looking at the stickers that adorned their autos. He eventually understood that putting a gun related sticker on an auto was an advertisement to bad actors of what "might" be in the car when no one was around.

 

[ross2068]

Always bring it in. Not worth the risk.

 

[Nik H]

I travel a lot for business and stay in hotels all over this rock...

NEVER leave anything of any value in a hotel parking lot or hotel garage unless you are willing to lose it. Fucking thieves have no issue with smash and grab. Stuff doesn't needn't to be valuable. If it is in a bag or case or pack....it is worth the chance for a payday to these scumbags

 

[Pvt.Donut]

When asked by hotel staff I've used "Survey Equipment" or "Photography Equipment". Of the 2, photography got way more additional questions and I've had to BS my way through conversations about birding. So now I just stick to Survey Equipment since no one knows enough to ask follow up questions and they probably get plenty of construction guys through most hotels that it's not unusual. Generally, no one says anything anyway.

 

[aprocast]

I carry my stuff in a golf bag, really embarrassing

 

[Dragonscout25]

Check the state firearms regulations where you are gonna be stopping and staying. Some of these still retarded states have REALLY dangerous laws that can get your firearms confiscated if you don't know them. I ALWAYS recheck briefly before a trip to ensure that something didn't change since the last trip. My cousin didn't and it cost her almost $20K in legal fees alone. But the firearms ALWAYS stay with me. They wanna bust the car, there's insurance and I don't get the side eye from my insurance agent. She's cool and we've had "the talk" on the company's position so I know ahead of time. my dos centavos...

 

[newgunguy3]

True story, honest to goodness.

Was staying at a Hilton Garden Inn for a training class last year. Decent neighborhood in Las Vegas. In the morning, the car seemed “off” as I walked towards it. Thieves stole all 4 tires off the car! Left it on blocks. Seriously.

Cab’ed to Hertz to get a replacement car. That’s a whole other story but finally got one and drove to class about 4 hours late. no one in the class believed me until I showed them the pictures. Much laughter followed

Came back that night and Hertz had a tow company pick up the car. By the divots in the asphalt it looked like they dropped the car off the blocks then dragged it onto a flatbed. So much for those brake rotors!

went back 6 months later for another class and had several instructors come by asking if I was the guy with the stolen wheels. Showed pictures for more laughter.

btw, never left a gun or anything valuable in the car. Ammo but that’s it.

 

[BravoXray]

Take it in the room with you. Secure with a cable lock, trigger lock, or any other means. Anytime you can avoid not being within eyesight or reach of it, then avoid not being within eyesight or reach of it. All things such as weapon temp, convenience, etc . are poor excuses. Unless you have a dedicated vehicle lockbox or safe that is securely attached to a point in your vehicle's frame or pillar, take it in the hotel with you. Screw the dirty looks. If the looks bother you that bad, ditch the tacticool shit and buy a LAX bag or two. Trust me your rifle and bipod will fit unless it is longer than the shaft on a d-pole and I highly doubt it.

I've been to only a few classes and competitions where I have had to check into a hotel/motel. But for work, I travel for training so the mindset is the same. I will check in briefly with my vehicle in front of the hotel to get my room key and if need be wait till it is dark to load my gear out of my truck using a back door as someone already suggested. Once I'm in, the do not disturb sign stays on the door till I'm gone, screw housekeeping. When I leave I don't leave empty ammo boxes or anything else likewise.

When someone from my profession has to respond to said incident to find that there is a weapon capable of inflicting tremendous serious injury as one of these rifles are, and it can possibly be in the wrong hands, because of perceived inconvenience, recklessness, or ignorance there is no amount of justification you can come up with that will suffice. Sure you can get away with it and nothing may not happen 99% of the time, but that 1time it does happen and it is you that's 1 time too many.

I don't care if anyone accuses me of "victim shaming". I've spent over 22 years in a career where I spent countless hours upon hours on either a crime scene, a trauma unit or the M.E.s office with real victims of firearms being in the wrong hands.

Just my $0.02

 

[BravoXray]

BTW to the OP, that's not a stupid question at all!

It's a responsible one!

 

[Jolliec]

At some of the large events like the nationals in Texas I was told that they mark cars in the event parking lot and then troll the nearby hotels at night to locate them and break-in.

 

[338dude]

I have specific insurance for mine, so they get left in vehicle a lot.

If I didn’t, they would go to the room.

Insurance will not help you in your match the following days

 

[Simonsza1]

Screw the insurance money it’s more about an amazing firearm or any firearm for that matter being stolen and ending up in the wrong hands.

 

[brianf]

next time i travel with my rifle(s) im picking up SKB or alike hard shell golf club bag.
usually 45-50" long, ill pad it out inside
can go anywhere with out being noticed, especially if you put a golf sticker or 2 on there
handles, wheels etc
ive gone places that my cases have boot prints and alike when i pick them up on the luggage belt

only reason we buy rectangle cases is because thats what weve been taught to buy