Carrying a rifle on an ATV

chaza402

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jul 23, 2013
Messages
112
Location
Longmont
I drew a nice 3rd season rifle tag in CO. This unit is best traveled on an atv/ sxs. I only have my trusty 97 Foreman 400. I’ve never had to worry about long rides hauling a rifle in this state as I’m usually in the truck or out hauling it with my pack.
CO requires it be in a case during travel. Do you guys have any suggestions. I have a nice SKB case I could strap on the racks but I hate leaving it around unattended while I’m off glassing or chasing an animal.
I was thinking about a soft case slung over my back but they are either extremely expensive or cheap AF.
Do any of yall have any recommendations?
Thanks!
 

jolemons

WKR
Joined
Mar 16, 2013
Messages
1,052
Location
MT, USA
I used to use a cheap soft case and bought a CaribouGear sleeve to try this year. I just needed something to keep mud and dust controlled when on the front of an atv. Haven't tried it, but I like the concept and the quality seems good.

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Joined
Sep 10, 2014
Messages
2,768
Location
hawai'i
I either bunjeed it in a single hard rifle case to the front of my Polaris sportsman or I'd have it strapped to your pack (so when you stand up to go over rough terrain it's not getting jarred around) since you can't strap it to you pack I'd bunjee it in a hard case. (Although does one of those kuiu rifle sock type covers count as a case ?if it does you could strap that to you pack using that
 

hiker270

WKR
Joined
Nov 5, 2022
Messages
534
I used a relatively inexpensive soft case that had a sling on it the other year. I just felt my rifle had a softer ride on my back than strapped to the rack of my atv.
 

akn300wsm

FNG
Joined
Feb 20, 2023
Messages
10
Not a four wheeler/atv, but when we use snowmachines I just strap it to my back.
 

RWT

WKR
Joined
Jul 4, 2022
Messages
341
What scope are you using? I had my rifle in a well foamed hardcase stapled across the rear rack. The scope lost zero by 18” after 3 miles on rough roads.

After that I would only carry on my back. I’ve now upgraded scopes thanks to this forum.
 
Joined
Apr 14, 2015
Messages
536
I used a relatively inexpensive soft case that had a sling on it the other year. I just felt my rifle had a softer ride on my back than strapped to the rack of my atv.
This but I have the rifle on my front side. If on my back, the butt would hit and jar on the rack of the four wheeler.
 
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chaza402

chaza402

Lil-Rokslider
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Jul 23, 2013
Messages
112
Location
Longmont
What scope are you using? I had my rifle in a well foamed hardcase stapled across the rear rack. The scope lost zero by 18” after 3 miles on rough roads.

After that I would only carry on my back. I’ve now upgraded scopes thanks to this forum.
I’ve got Leupold VX-6. I trust the scope to hold zero but man after long rides sometimes things just seem to get loose and I’ve waited a long time to burn these points. If there’s any missing going on it better be on my shoulders and not something getting tweaked. I’m going to go the route of a cheap soft case.
 
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chaza402

chaza402

Lil-Rokslider
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Jul 23, 2013
Messages
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Location
Longmont
I carry mine in a kolplin gun boot.
We used to use them back down south and they worked fairly well for a few seasons. The drives were short and slow though. Out here I feel like I may look back and see the thing missing. How’s the construction of them these days, esp the mounting brackets?
 
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chaza402

chaza402

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jul 23, 2013
Messages
112
Location
Longmont
I carry mine in a kolplin gun boot.
We used to use them back down south and they worked fairly well for a few seasons. The drives were short and slow though. Out here I feel like I may look back and see the thing missing. How’s the construction of them these days, esp the mounting brackets?
 
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chaza402

chaza402

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jul 23, 2013
Messages
112
Location
Longmont
I used a relatively inexpensive soft case that had a sling on it the other year. I just felt my rifle had a softer ride on my back than strapped to the rack of my atv.

I used a relatively inexpensive soft case that had a sling on it the other year. I just felt my rifle had a softer ride on my back than strapped to the rack of my atv.
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Joined
Aug 30, 2024
Messages
44
We used to use them back down south and they worked fairly well for a few seasons. The drives were short and slow though. Out here I feel like I may look back and see the thing missing. How’s the construction of them these days, esp the mounting brackets?
I haven't had a problem at all with them. As far as it breaking off, I keep mine attached to the 4 wheeler while it is on the trailer doing 80 down the interstate and it is a 3 hour drive each way to the camp.
 

landman650

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Feb 5, 2021
Messages
189
It’s pricey but I use a Kolpin. It has a soft case inside of it and is detachable. Doubles as a gun case. I bought the one large enough for an AR15. Not for everyone but I like it.
 
Joined
May 1, 2018
Messages
61
Location
North Dakota
Trying to find a hard case set up for my side by side. Almost went with the Kolpin stronghold but after doing a little more research it seems that those with 50mm scopes are having a difficult time fitting them in this case. For reference, I have a trail version UTV so it is only 50 inches wide and I can't use a rack inside of the enclosed cab. Use the UTV late season and there is a lot of snow getting thrown around so a soft sided case is out. Any suggestions on a hard case that is designed to fit rifles with bigger optics and mounts solid to an ATV/UTV?
 
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chaza402

chaza402

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Jul 23, 2013
Messages
112
Location
Longmont
Man I was watching one of the elk hunts that the guy from Huntin Fool went on and he had a hard case mounted to the roof of the sxs. Looked like a pelican or something. I don’t know how wide your rig is or long your gun is but it looked like a great solution.
 
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chaza402

chaza402

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jul 23, 2013
Messages
112
Location
Longmont
I ended up purchasing a scoped padded rifle case off Amazon for $24. 52” long to accommodate my rifle w/ brake. I also purchased a red kettle sling and I put the gun in the case upside down and zip the two zippers as close to closed as I can. It’s actually pretty comfortable and the gun doesn’t touch anything but my back.
We will see how this idea holds up over the many miles I’ll be cruising each day!
 
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