The best ideas seem to be the most obvious ones and I stumbled across one the other day at my local gun store. The Peregrine MAGnet Gun Caddy definitely falls into the obvious good idea category. Basically it’s a piece of hard foam with a slot to hold a gun barrel attached to a magnet mounted in a sturdy plastic housing. This piece of gear is intended to provide you with an in-field gun mount that attaches to your vehicle or any other metal surface. For $6.99 ($9.99 MSRP) I had to give it a try.
Upon initial inspection I noticed what I thought was an oily residue on the magnet surface. It turns out it was a piece of tape with oil underneath. I assume this was supposed to be removed before packaging. The magnet’s edges seemed a bit sharp for use on a vehicle’s finish, but I grabbed my 20-inch heavy barrel AR and headed to my driveway for testing.
The first thing I noticed is my scope prevents the rifle from being mounted like pictured in the products packaging. If you’re using the MAGnet with a shotgun, this won’t be a problem. To use it with a scoped rifle you’ll have to rotate it.
Not a major inconvenience, but an angled rifle tends to want to rotate back under its own weight. This product is definitely more suited for shotguns or a rifle with no scope.
Three things concerned me about the MAGnet; a weak magnet causing my gun to fall, scratches on my car’s finish and forgetting the mount was still attached and driving away.
The magnet feels a bit weak, but it held the rifle in place well. To test the mount’s holding power I angled the rifle. Surprisingly it stayed put. I’d trust the MAGnet to hold a polymer stock hunting rifle.
The mount did, however, scratch my car’s finish. To be completely fair I did have to wiggle the mount a little bit to make a scratch. Removing the mount might cause a scratch if you don’t remove it carefully. Some sort of coating or material over the magnet would help prevent scratches, but might reduce hold capability.
Forgetting the mount is attached and driving away could be a serious problem, but wouldn’t be the fault of the MAGnet. That would be a stupid mistake and one I will probably never make. However I can see how it would be possible to forget the mount depending on how long you’ve parked your gun. A few long days on a hunt combined with a lack of sleep could cause someone to be a little forgetful. A simple note on the steering wheel could prevent this. Or be sure to mount your rifle on the driver side of the car.
Specifications: Peregrine MAGnet Gun Caddy
Weight: 2.2oz
Warranty: Limited Lifetime
Manufactured: Made In USA
MSRP: $9.99 (street price about $6.99)
Ratings (out of five stars):
Overall * * *
The MAGnet is a simple product that’s well made. It loses a star right off the bat for the scratch. I took another star off because the mount is a bit short to be used with a scoped rifle. It holds rifles securely and provides a convenient mounting solution while in the field. Then again it’s one more thing to pack before a hunt, and I’m not sure I’d miss really is it if I left it at home.
A piece of soft, thick, clear tape on the magnet will cure the scratch issue.
Check the tape isle at Staples or similar…
useless
As the Fonz would say, incorrectamundo! Highly useful. I’ve used them in the field and in my gun storage/work space area for years. Very handy around the cleaning bench or against the side of the safe when moving guns in and out. Out on the skeet field and on pheasant hunts, a couple in the back of the SUV are always a handy addition. They make great gifts for your shooting pals as well. That way they don’t steal yours after they seen it for the first time.
Never had one scratch the surface of anything I’ve attached them to.
That is what I have Sherpas for. What? They came free with my Holland & Holland. 😉
leaning your rifle up against your vehicle is a great way to end up driving over it. I’ve seen it done more than once.
As always, check your local hunting regulations. I’ve heard stories – and they may be urban legends – that some state wardens will bust you for leaning a loaded firearm against your vehicle out in the field. They consider that a gun leaning against a vehicle is the same as being in the vehicle which means you’re road hunting. I have no first hand knowledge of this and I may just be passing on bar room rumors, but if I was going to buy one of these devices I’d make sure that I wasn’t going to be in trouble with the wildlife guys. I’m not too worried about scratching up my 15 year old pickup but I don’t want to pay a fine and maybe lose my gun for a magnet and a piece of foam.
I wouldn’t be leaning my LOADED firearm against my vehicle, Magnet Caddy or no Magnet Caddy. And, warnings on their website and packaging advise not to use it with a loaded gun.
In CA simply laying your loaded gun on the tail gate of your pickup, or the hood, or anywhere on any motor vehicle is having a loaded gun in a vehicle.
They warn against it in the hunter safety course we are required to take. If I recall correctly a first offense is a 700 dollar ticket.
I was trained since childhood not to lean a gun against a vehicle even if it’s empty and legal. Drop the old mans model 12 in the dirt and he would get emotional.
What a bizarre law.
…welcome to our world!
*8(
Seriously, that is one of the most F’d up gun laws I’ve ever heard about.
This is a perfect solution for my gun safe that didn’t come with any sort of brace for rifles. I’ve been loath to drill holes in the sides to mount anything and this product will give me a chance to try different positions for the brace(s).
Love the loath usage!
*8)
Don’t get one of these to use on your new Ford pickup or a Chevy Corvette.
Or Lotus, Tesla, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Ferrari, or any other vehicle body other than steel…
There’s always duct tape.
Snort, chortle, guffaw.
Like. Would also be useful for SBRs that don’t reach the barrel resting locations in a safe or cabinet.
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