Best caliber for a lever-action "trunk gun"

[dev_null]

Leaving aside the pros and cons of a so-called car/truck gun, what do you consider the best caliber for a lever-action rifle, in terms of balancing cost, effectiveness and round capacity? (I'm thinking of a mix of urban/suburban/rural areas.) Assume no local legal issues (e.g. Sullivan Law, etc.).

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[The_Antibubba]

I chose .357. It's a very controllable round out of a 16" barrel, and most .38s are usable, too. I think any of the pistol rounds are a good choice, though.

 

[Mulliga]

I voted .30-30, though I suspect all of them would do the job. Not the greatest round capacity, to be sure, nor the greatest economy, but it does the job.

Just curious - Why a lever action for a trunk gun? My ideal trunk gun would be an SKS (cheap, reliable, and semiauto), or an M38/M44 (cheap, reliable, and decent range/power).

 

[Sunray]

For what purpose? A rifle in the trunk is useless for self-defense.

 

[Malamute]

30-30. Decisive power for road hit deer, and bad guys in body armor. Will shoot through car bodies fairly well also. Decent range (easy 200 yard gun when sighted a couple inches high at 100 yds).

 

[Aguila Blanca]

Tough question to answer in the absence of additional information. My direct answer to the question -- what's the *BEST* caliber -- would be 30-30. However, if I were buying a lever gun today I'd buy it in .45 Colt because I have several pistols in that caliber and it makes sense to use the same ammo I already have.

 

[dev_null]

Mulliga: Because I don't like SKSs (and didn't want a semiauto for a beater, to avoid functionality issues), and a lever action is generally smaller and lighter than a bolt.

Sunray, if you're not going to abide by the rules, we'll have to ask you sit on the bleachers. And the 16 rounds of .230-gr Hydra-Shok should allow me enough time to get the trunk open if need be.

 

[Essex County]

I voted 30-30 simply because if you ever have to use it it's the most socialy acceptable weapon this side of a single shot .22. It will also work very well. Essex

 

[ducktapehero]

I think any of them would work but I voted 30-30 since you can find old beater rifles for them a lot cheaper.

 

[RayO]

44mag.good Power,lots Of Ammo Choices,economical.

 

[berettashotgun]

I made a mistake on my only vote I shoulda' said a 22mag. Nothing else is even close in my book, well I voted 30-30, but didn't realize the 22wrm is a very logical choice for me. Rotary magazine is a lot of ammo in a compact space and is plenty powerful from any engagement range you would want to work within.

 

[DSRUPTV]

I voted .357 because it is possible with hot loads to get pretty impressive performance approaching that of the 30-30, with the advantage of higher capacity. My only problem is that I like a pistol grip as opposed to the straight stock and I haven't seen many .357s with one.

 

[GreenFurniture]

I voted for the 30-30, but I carry a .450 Marlin.

 

[Bwana John]

Id say 30-30 BUT,

I don't like SKSs (and didn't want a semiauto for a beater, to avoid functionality issues)

I respect that you dont like SKS's but I think that a SKS is WAY more robust than a lever action, in fact I find most lever actions to be rather delicate.

 

[jefnvk]

I'm going for the .30-30 with a slight edge over the .357

 

[MechAg94]

I already have a beat up .357 Mag rifle. It has an 8 round tube and is small enough to butt stroke someone in a narrow hallway. I don't carry it in my car though. It is a Rossi if memory servers. The sites are messed up, but it is plenty useful for home defense at short range.

 

[DMK]

I'd say .357 only if you can use the same ammo in a CCW pistol. You could keep some extra ammo on hand for both.

If you don't or won't CCW a .357, then go with the more powerful 30-30. After all if you want a rifle, might as well go with rifle power ammo.

 

[MechAg94]

I could suggest to go with my Marlin 1895 Cowboy 45-70 with 9 shot tube, but that certainly is NOT a beat up trunk gun. Not cheap either.

I guess I am a little confused as to what the purpose of the trunk gun is exactly. Don't the 30-30's mostly just have 4 shot tubes? You are not planning on spur of the moment road side deer hunting are you?

Reminds me of a report I saw a while back saying gangs were starting to use lever action rifles like the 30-30 because they were still small and coneilable, but had more power and penetration than most pistol ammo. They were cheap also. Maybe I answered my own question above.

 

[GigaBuist]

Don't the 30-30's mostly just have 4 shot tubes?

Ehhh... most are 8 shots, IIRC, presuming a 20" barrel.

 

[dev_null]

> I guess I am a little confused as to what the purpose of the trunk gun is exactly.

Well, this was more of a general purpose question than for specific place or purpose. I realize that in order to answer any question that begins "What gun should I have for..." one needs to narrow down what the owner's purpose is for said gun, but I didn't want to get into the pros and cons of a car/truck gun, which has been gone over plenty of times before, so I tried to make this a generic question. That means it covers as wide a range of potential uses for a weapon carried in your vehicle (as opposed to on you, or only carried to and from a specific place whether range or hunting grounds or combat zone, etc.): self defense when you have time to get to it, dispatch a wounded yeti, repel a host of angy undead, take down UFOs, take out angry Al Qaeda suicide bombers holding the tollbooth hostage, whatever...

I picked leverguns because my Marlin was quick and accurate as well as compact, light, easily stowed, and felt good in my hands. I figured they pack flatter and smaller than most boltguns, and would avoid potential problems with lint and dirt fouling a semiauto mechanism. They are also less expensive than an AR or FAL (though not as cheap as the SKS, which as I've said I don't care for).

I also wanted to see what was a popular round for this platform. Mine was in .45 Colt, but that's because I bought it for SASS shooting and my c'boy pistols are in that caliber.

I appreciate the responses, which have been informative and thought provoking. I think, based on what I've read so far, I'd probably go with the 30-30 as a good balance between power and round count, especially since I don't own any pistols in .357. It was interesting that the .44 Mag was fairly unloved, btw, I expected to see more votes there.

Thanks!


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[seeker_two]

If you're already carrying one of those calibers as a CCW or inside-the-vehicle pistol, I'd stick w/ the same caliber for the levergun. If you're carrying something else (esp. in an auto), go w/ the .30-30. Or find a semi-auto carbine in your auto's caliber (IIRC, you're carrying a .45ACP) like a Camp Carbine or PC-9.

Of course, you could even skip the levergun route & go for a 12ga. shotgun. Pumps are nice, but I often carry my SxS Coach Gun in my truck. What you give up in range you gain back in compactness & versatility....

 

[klover]

Levers are too cool for a truck gun.
M38's are as short, and will shoot through a Mac truck engine for only $75.00 per carbine.
Your mileage may vary.

(I didn't vote cause I love ALL levers equally)

 

[Commissar Gribb]

and didn't want a semiauto for a beater, to avoid functionality issues),

functionality issues??? when it comes to SKS's there are no functionality issues, unless you can't figure out how it works. I've shot hundreds of rounds through mine and have never had a single malfunction and I've shot all kinds of ammo.

I've never heard of anyone having a problem with SKS's before. I consider the SKS to be as forgiving if not moreso than the AK.

I can see the size of an SKS being a problem though and your unexplained dislike for them.

personally, for a "trunk gun" I would go with a ruger deerfield carbine in .44 mag. Light, compact and simple to use with 6 round detachable mags.

 

[Selfdfenz]

I voted contrarian and went 45 Colt. The 357 and 44 offered more options but all three calibers would offer the option of a matching revolver.
S-

 

[MechAg94]

I was thinking most 30-30's I had seen had tubes shorter than the barrel. I don't have one myself. Maybe I haven't been looking enough.

I didn't mention the 44 Mag since I don't see many beat up lever guns in that caliber.

Why do want the same ammo in the trunk gun? To me, if you want the same ammo, just carry more reloads for your pistol and don't worry about a rifle. If you are going to the trouble of setting aside a trunk gun, get the best gun and caliber for your purpose. Something that compliments your pistol. Of course, I might be talking myself into suggesting an M1 Garand. I guess it all depends on how serious the need. I guess a lever gun also would create less fear or concern in any LEO's.