Showing ammo and magazine, is it legal ?

[j1132s]

Hi,
I don't see any reference regarding ammo and magazines in the CHL handbook. So, using my common sense: if it isn't outlawed, it's legal.

Basically, when I go to the range these days, in order to save time, I've been loading my mags in my car while enroute during traffic light stops. Since I drive a regular car, I'm worried that other people in higher vehicles SUV/Truck/Motorcycle/etc. can see me loading.

Just wanted to make sure I'm truely legal; in case I missed something in the books. Also, in case somebody reports "seeing a gun", I put my gun in the trunk.
Thanks.

[HighVelocity]

While it may or may not be "legal", this is just like talking on the phone or putting on make-up. Unnecessary distractions while operating the biggest weapon you own are NOT a good thing.

[longtooth]

+1 from the older generation to what HV said. You do not give a location nor the mags you are loading at the traffic signals either. 8 rd pistol mag in you lap or 20 rd AR. or do you have one of those 30's Though it may be legal by virtue of not being "illegal," do want the experience of some Brady Babbler calling the metroplex police & saying some guy is loading 5 banana clips to an assault machine gun on interstate 99. I could certainly see the possibility of missing an evening at the range visiting on the side of the road w/ an officer answering the same 42 questions 26 times so he knows he is hearing the same story. If they need to be loaded before you get there, do it the night before instead of TV.

[MoJo]

What highvelocity and longtooth said - - - me too.

[sparx]

+1 here, too.

I always keep my magazines loaded and ready anyway. Only one of the mags for my defense handgun is loaded with self-defense ammo, and the others are loaded with FMJ "target" rounds. That way, while I'm packing up for the range all I have to do is swap out the rounds in that one mag if I want to use it, or just tuck it away in the range bag when I get there and use the other mags for the duration.

Whe I return from the range, I'm usually cleaning the gun(s) and mags anyway, so after cleaning the mags I load them up and I'm ready for next time.

With regard to your question, though, no it's not illegal, but I do agree with most everyone else that in loading your mags while stopped at a light, you might attract the wrong kind of attention that may wind up causing you more of a headache than having them loaded and packed away before you leave for the range.

[j1132s]

Thanks for the advise guys. Yes, I've been thinking along those lines too, and definitely any calls to the police from other motorists would probably delay me a lot.

I shoot much more often now and just wanted to save some time. But probably not worth the risk.

BTW, I just load small pistol mags. I almost always load rifle and rifle mags at the range.

[j1132s]

[quote="longtooth
...
You do not give a location nor the mags you are loading at the traffic signals either. 8 rd pistol mag in you lap or 20 rd AR. or do you have one of those 30's ...[/quote]

The locations have much traffic and generally on the highway entrance and a shopping center entrance. There are 5 lights between me and the range and 2 of them can get kind of long (enough to load 2-3 mags of 10 rounders).

I only load preload pistol mags.

[isa268]

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ ... MBI+LOADER

get one of those.

i have something like that for my 1911 mags, loads them in about 5 seconds. i only have 4 mags and they are always loaded with my carry load so i have to unload and then reload at the range.

[j1132s]

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ ... MBI+LOADER

get one of those.

i have something like that for my 1911 mags, loads them in about 5 seconds. i only have 4 mags and they are always loaded with my carry load so i have to unload and then reload at the range.

Do you mean loading your 4 mags in 5 secs? That's amazing.
Or is it 5 secs/mag ?

[AOPAPilot]

Basically, when I go to the range these days, in order to save time, I've been loading my mags in my car while enroute during traffic light stops.

Thanks.

Quit being stupid and keep that activity to the range or a private environment (i.e, your home) If you dont have time to load a couple mags at the range then you need to try managing your time a little bit better.


You are welcome

[j1132s]

Basically, when I go to the range these days, in order to save time, I've been loading my mags in my car while enroute during traffic light stops.

Thanks.

Quit being stupid and keep that activity to the range or a private environment (i.e, your home) If you dont have time to load a couple mags at the range then you need to try managing your time a little bit better.


You are welcome

Actually, I load about 10 mags on each range trip and bring only 1 pistol. And try to keep my door-to-door range trip times to ~30 minutes. Sometimes, I'd load in the range's parking lot, but generally I really hate being inside an indoor range.

Usually, my range trip goes like this these days:
1. load about 5 or 6 mags on the road;
2. load the other 4 in the parking lot;
3. try to shoot just 1 target (to safe time)
4. leave

All that, my record is 30minutes door-to-door (i.e. leaving my house's front door and coming back). Usually I get it in about 40minutes.

I hardly ever clean my guns anymore. New guns gets cleaned after each trip for breakin, etc. But I find that they function just fine w/o cleaning after a many trips (each trip runs about 100 rnds thru them). I now only shoot 2 pistols, so they are getting a lot of use (trying to become proficient).

The problem I have is that my gun stuff is in the garage and it's really uncomfortable to work on them now. I cannot generally have guns in the house... although I sneak them in sometimes to clean at night when wife is sleeping... like now :)

It is so humid and uncomfortable in the garage.

[sparx]

I hardly ever clean my guns anymore. New guns gets cleaned after each trip for breakin, etc. But I find that they function just fine w/o cleaning after a many trips (each trip runs about 100 rnds thru them). I now only shoot 2 pistols, so they are getting a lot of use (trying to become proficient).
<snip>
It is so humid and uncomfortable in the garage.

With the humidity in the garage, I would certainly advise keeping any gun kept in the garage properly cleaned and oiled at all times. Fouling buildup can attract moisture, and if not removed can lead to rusting on the metal parts that are fouled. Guns that are well cared for appreciate in value, and rust is a major factor in degrading the value of those assets.

The problem I have is that my gun stuff is in the garage and it's really uncomfortable to work on them now. I cannot generally have guns in the house... although I sneak them in sometimes to clean at night when wife is sleeping... like now :)

I'm sorry to hear that, and wasn't fully aware of your circumstances at home. I would still advise loading your mags elsewhere than while stopped at a traffic light, or at least be VERY aware of your surroundings while doing so.

It's really none of my business, but is there any particular reason that your wife doesn't like you to bring guns into the house? I'm sure you've tried to reason with her, as an unloaded gun is nothing more than metal and wood/polymer and no more destructive than a hammer (but sure is a heck of a lot prettier!)... I'm just curious.

[apowell]

Quit being stupid and keep that activity to the range or a private environment (i.e, your home) If you dont have time to load a couple mags at the range then you need to try managing your time a little bit better.

So much for an armed society being a polite society

[j1132s]

[quote="sparx]
... is there any particular reason that your wife doesn't like you to bring guns into the house? I'm sure you've tried to reason with her, as an unloaded gun is nothing more than metal and wood/polymer and no more destructive than a hammer (but sure is a heck of a lot prettier!)... I'm just curious. [/quote]

Actually there is, and it isn't entirely my wife's decision. We have an autistic son who's really curious about new things. In fact, he's the reason that I always use a locking gun case as a range bag (very difficult to stuff too many things in, not convenient).

For matches, I use a soft range bag because I can put more things into it (like my ear muffs, some cleaning supplies). I usually pack everything into the bag and leave it in my trunk the night before. However, one day, it was very late, so I left the packed bag next to the front door instead of the car's trunk.

Well, the next morning, my son's sitting in the foryer with my entire range bag emptied. There's my gun (still in its holster) and loaded mags on the floor. He was more interested in the boxes of ammo. It was very scary, so as a punishment to myself and to help calm wife down: no more gun stuff in the house.

[j1132s]

Actually, even before the above incident, most of my spare guns are already kept in the garage.

The good thing about having _all_ your stuff in the garage is that you'll spend some time making improvements to the garage... like me :) The first thing you'll do is put in good lighting, next comes the shelves and closets (initially to block the public's view of my gun safe when the garage door is open), then comes a really nice work bench.

Right now, I'm trying to decide if I want to replace my garage door w/ one that have windows...