Idea for a Truck Shotgun

[Skofnung]

Hey folks.

What do you think of this?

Take a single shot 12 gauge, ala NEF.

1)Cut the barrel back to ~ 19 or 20" and install a new bead.
2)Bore for choke tubes if possible (thickness of metal allowing).
3)Find a way to make the forend "snap on" and "snap off" instead of the slow screw.
4)Put on a "side-hinge" buttpad* and drill holes in the stock for the choke tubes and wrench.

You now have a simple, no-nonsense takedown truck gun that can not only take any game in the lower 48 provided with proper ammo and woodcraft, but serve to protect you from nere'do-wells in a pinch.

I used a cut down NEF (19") with no choke to good effect at a Field Trial I worked years ago and the idea stuck in the back of my mind. Everything above would just serve to improve the platform.

* I have only seen one gun outfitted with one of these. It looks like a regular buttpad, but the top "screw" is not a screw at all, but a recessed button. You press this button, pull the pad out slightly and swing it to the side. This gives you access to the wood stock. My late father had a Savage model 24 (.410/.22) with one of these that he made into a "survival gun". Can this type of gizmo still be found? Anyone know what it is called or where to get one?

 

[joab]

Here what I made
Old Warner SxS $65 at gun show
1) Barrels cut to 18.25
2)No choke tubes, but maybe could be done
3)Foreend snaps off, and breaks down in seconds
4)Side hindge can, and will be now, put on. If not for tubes then 2 extra shells, or cleaning supplies, or signal flares

 

[Dave McCracken]

There's been a fair number of shotguns made into something like this over the years. Good project, if you're handy with tools all the work is insourced and the costs low..

A couple things...

First, a 28" barrel isn't that objectionable on a break action gun, and these are frightfully light as is. Leave the barrel alone for simplicity's sake and work with the choke if needed. Modified may be the best compromise.

And tons of game have come into possession through the offices of fixed choke shotguns. Learn how to vary the pattern by changing loads and you'll be in better shape, IMO.

Older H&Rs come with a snap on forearm instead of the NEF screw on. These oft run cheaper than the NEFs too. Often they have better triggers to boot. Since both actions are pure heck to get into, that's important.

The side hinge has merit, but a few shells make as much sense as choke tubes, maybe more. One of these I had a while back had a slip on pad that gave access to two extra shells. One was buck and the other high brass 6s.

Good luck and let us know how this turns out.....

 

[Rupestris]

I recently sold a single shot 12ga that had a snap-on forend. It was made by CBC in Brazil and imported by FIE in Miami. You can find 'em for $50 - $60. The same gun is now produced by MagTeck and sold as their model 101. IIRC the price on new ones is onlt $99.

http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=21290188

The one I sold was like the one linked above, in like new condition. I sold it for $50 to a fellow THR member. If the seller gets $120 for that one I'll be suprised.

Good luck and have fun.

 

[Smoke]

I'm a little curious to your train of thought on a "Truck gun"....

I don't want a break down gun if it's something I might want to shoot in a hurry. I also prefer repeaters.

For me a truck shotgun is better represented as:

Remington 870 (or similar)
20" smooth bore
Extended mag tube
Rifle sights
some type of external ammo carrier (butt cuff, side saddle)

This is ready instantaneously, has different ammo available for load selection, relatively compact, (granted not as much as a take down) and is also a very good defensive gun.

Just food for thought.

Your gun sounds more of a backpackin/just-in-case type gun.

Maybe it's all just semantics.

Smoke

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

I have a 20 gauge set up like this that i use as a camp gun.

 

[Denny Hansen]

Model 97 Winchester, 18.5" bbl. in an overhead rack.

Denny

 

[sm]

Gee Denny - why don't you upstage us folks?

Yeah well ...What Denny said

I agree with Smoke , I have used a Stock 870 pump with a 18.5 - 20" bbl. Same for 1300's, or Ithica 37's

Now instead of getting all twisted and such on the single shots , My Mom's NEF 20 ga youth model is great right of the box. Mod fixed chokes throws some of THE best buckshot and slug patterns/ groups I have ever shot - seriously. PC correct and innocent looking.

All I did was clean Mom's of factory lube, re-lube and shoot the darn thing to see what it liked for ammo. Stuck a Koplin elastic shell cuff on it and good to go.

Really gets anothers dander up when this thing shoots better than the tricked out high dollar gun the fella checking his out at the range - and he paid 7X as much for his.

 

[Hemicuda]

you men like the old "Bay State single shot 12 Ga. I bought for 25 bucks at a small gunshop? I paid a whoppin' 25 more to have a swivel silver-soldered to the barrel, and have it cut for "rem chokes"... it already has the "pull off" forend, and was cut to 20" when I bought it...

the only thing is, no tip-off buttpad... but I have since found that I really only need the modified choke tube 99.5% of the time...

 

[Skofnung]

Here is my train of thought...

In my truck, space is at a premium. I have a standard cab, bench seat, compact truck. I was thinking of an uber cheap stowaway gun that can do it all if need be.

I have pumps, doubles, autos and singles, but a small cheap stowaway gun for the truck seems like a good idea to me, as the other guns are bigger. Think of it as an "emergency gun". Perhaps that would be a better name for it.

As for quick access, that is what my pistol is for.

 

[sm]

Anyone remember the Ford Courier and Chevy Luv trucks ? Not much room - right?

Well " these" were trucks some folks used to commute to school and did duty on some farm land. Each had easy to reach 20 ga youth 870's . Aftermarket seat covers that allowed storage for "umbrella's and such".

Stoeger .410 breaks down and fits under seat next to floorboard. It too appeared to be a umbrella, at least the "umbrella' s case" was *watchman plaid* slugs kept on the butt cuff , and in he leather LLbean belt pouch.

Beretta made a great "Backpackers" shotgun - avial in all 4 gauges at one time...great gun.

 

[joab]

Anyone remember the Ford Courier and Chevy Luv trucks ? Not much room - righ

I had one each actuall had 2 couriers . Definitely were not made for the western framed male

 

[sm]

I had one each actuall had 2 couriers . Definitely were not made for the western framed male

Don't work for a 5'10" good looking blond either.
Poor girl - only extra vehicle the girls poor family had for her to use to attend college. Now jeans and such is one thing....with mini -skirts are the fashion or a lady needs to wear a little black dress....ain't no way to be lady like getting in a out of one of those things. Daddy gave her a J frame...and perhaps the shotgun "just kinda stayed in the truck" - It was afterall used on the farm.

Said daddy sees daughter "trying" to get out of this thing in a dress for a funeral. Momma "elbowed" daddy real hard. When the inheritance money came through, daughter got a nice used sensible vehicle. I think momma and daddy criteria was how a tall good looking daughter gets in/out of one...forget the other stuff one worries about.

She was a shooter, handled that shotgun, J frame - anything well...Couriers well...not her best skill.

 

[Dave McCracken]

IMO, there's a few things here to be considered. Truck guns can be defined as guns kept more or less continually in vehicles to be employed at need, though not necessarily instantly.

For years, mine was a Savage 22LR/20 Gauge combo kept broken down in a garage sale Saxophone case.

Before that, there was a 16 gauge H&R with a slip on pad. The butt was hollowed out enough to keep 2 shells in there handy, a 1 buck and a high brass 6. This fit nicely behind the driver's seat in a 66 Chevy PU. So did a H/S Flite King 20 gauge later. Ammo for either was near but not easy for unknowing folks to find.

Truck guns should be inexpensive and expendable, theft being what it is. Some pumpguns and singles, a few doubles, do qualify.

Beyond that, there's lots of latitude.

 

[lefteyedom]

This is a late post ...

I am converting a old Savage bolt 12 guage in to a TRUCK GUN

Cutting the barrel down to 19 inch and Dura coating the stock, adding a recoil pad Coke tube and a new front sight. Yes it will be a $100 saddle on a $7 mule but what the Heck

 

[mgkdrgn]

Holy ancient thread Batman!

 

[lefteyedom]

Quick to before PC crash backup cave Robin!