Pick My Truck Gun

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Wildalaska

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It used to be a bubba'd Swedish Mauser, but thats gone. My other Swedes really dont need to be in the truck all the time, so its time for a new one.

Lets here some opinions...so far I have narrowed it down to a Yugo SKS ($89) and a Enfeild No4 ($109)....

Keep in mind that the rifle is in my truck as an all around tool. Although I live in a city of 250,000, I travel out on the road system which can entail 60-90 miles plus between cell phone towers, phones and services (although I arm myself anyway when I do that)...also keep in mind earthquakes which may entail an immediate fleeing from the residience WITHOUT my BOB and AR15 ( I usually have limited supplies in the truck)

Also the rifle will just sit there, in cold as low as -40

Let me hear some thoughts and why, spend my $$$

WildopinionswantedAlaska
 
If I was looking for a C&R bolt action truck gun I'd seriously consider a MN M44. Primarily because of the size and the fact that ammo is redily available. Not sure about Alaska but I can get it off the shelf here in Michigan.
As for Semi-autos, I've never fired a SKS so I don't know much about 'em. I'd probably spend a little more and get a used Saiga for around $150. The synthetic furniture might hold up a bit better.
 
I'd got with the Yugo. You wouldn't have to worry about the bolt action if you every needed to get to it in a hurry, reloads should be quicker, too, with stripper clips. The temperature probably wouldn't hurt it any.
 
Chrome lined bore

Neither of the rifles you mention have a chrome lined bore. I would pick the #4 over the yugo hands down. The M44's should be chrome lined but the trigger probably won't be as good as the enfield.

Hey Them Yugo Mausers would be a good option for ya too. If you are gonna go SKS I would go for almost any country other than the yugos. That's Just me though.

good luck

-bevr
 
As far as damage to the rifle goes, I wouldn't worry too much. I recently had a VERY nasty experience at the Willow compound in which every single firearm I "protected" by keeping inside in special "rust proof" cloth got red freckles, while my knock-around M-39 truck rifle remains pristine in spite of deep cold and repeated shootins with limited cleanings. As long as the temp isn't changing too drastically in the cab it should be just fine even up here in the greatland.

So I'd suggest going with an M-39. The SKS lacks the needed gravitas for an Alaska truck gun, even if you load with the new heavy stuff from Wolf. 7.62x54R, esp in the 180 and 200 grain loadings, is a proven brown bear cartridge even over in the RFE where the bruins (so I hear) get 25' long and eat whole Russian villages for breakfast.

The Enfield is another option, esp. if loaded with the 215 grain Woodleighs that lay low the Africa game.
 
Which are you more likely to need?

[ ] Firepower

[ ] Range, accuracy, full-power round.

If the former, go with the SKS. If the latter, go with the Enfield, or another Mauser. Since you had, and disposed of, a Mauser, I'd go with the Enfield.
 
I dunno since I don't live in Alaska but here is my un-educated take.

I assume that the critters you are more likely to face in Alaska could very well be substantially larger than the ones I am likely to face in TN, especially my suburbia. Basically I am not going to run afoul of a PO'd bull moose or grizzley. You may not either so take with a grain of salt.

Ok that being said I think I would want something with a bit more ooomph then the 7.62x39 and the .303 is a pretty darn serious rifle cartridge. You have 10 rounds either way and even thought the enfield is a bolt it is the fastest bolt going so I don't think that would be much of a disadvantage unless you are targeted by those darn Snow Ninjas in body armor with fully automatic weapons.....they can be a pesky menace though.

I like SKSs alot. I think they are robust, cheap, accurate enough and fun. They are also cheap to shoot. An SKS would make more sense to me here in my mind then it would for you there.

I am also not sure what kind of temp extremes you have. Any semi-auto can fail if not lubed or greased properly in cold cold weather and we all have our bad cleaning days. This is a nother pro for the enfield in my mind.

All that being said my suggestion stands with the ole' Enfield. Although a nice Remington 870 with a few slugs, some buck, and some smaller shot along with a flare or two might make a nice survival gun as well that would cover all bases.

Chris
 
I'd really think range and power are what's needed, which an M-N or Enfield could provide.
 
My prob with the MN is the straight bolt, it annoys me.

I guess I should add a Yugo to the mix, but 5 rounds only bother me.

WildecisionsdececisionsAlaska
 
Even a guy as erudite as youself should know the M-N 44 is the ultimate truck gun. It even has the toothpick for prying off bears and sticking salmon pre-installed.

You really haven't picked up a nice Hungarian or Pole for under $60 yet?

It doesn't care about cold, either. Look where it was born!

Mine loves the spot behind the seat in my '69 Ford F100. It keeps the jack and tire tool company as they're made out of the same metal.

Regards,
Rabbit.
 
My opinion, FWIW....

A Marlin or Winchester .30-30.
Lots of them out there at good prices (got mine, a generic Marlin, for $150).
Parts and ammo no problem to get.
Compact.
 
My choices are picked from what I have on hand
Mosin M38 or M44. I tend to favor the M38 cause of the lighter weight. However if the big bad critter keeps on coming the M44's bayonet might come in handy. The Mosin-Nagants are virtually indestructable. If they can survive the Russian Front they can handle anything you can dish out.

I have been known to use a 12ga slug gun as a short range stopper.

ZM
 
I'd go with the Enfield. Powerful, simple, reliable, and battle tested all over the world. Pick up a couple of extra clips, have one light load (150g), one military ball, and one heavy (200+g) for the heavy stuff.

rk
 
I'd go with a No.4 Lee-Enfield. If the length bothers you find one that somebody already sporterized and chop the barrel to 20". You could drop it into an ATI stock and it would be about as weatherproof as a carbon steel gun can get (L-Es are painted, not blued). If you can find a No.5 Jungle Carbine you can skip the barrel chopping part. (Be advised the issue Jungle Carbine stock magnifies recoil, though.)

You can keep the magazine loaded but out of the rifle, e.g., locked in the glove box, if you want.

You can keep extra ammo in 5-round stripper clips or you can get extra 10-round magazines. The Brits issues the Lee-Enfields with only one mag and used stripper clips, but there's no reason you can't have spare mags.

The sights on a No.4 or No.5 beat the pants off SKS sights.

The .303 packs a lot more wallop than 7.62x39, especially with a 180 grain or heavier bullet.

The SKS is dead nuts reliable. The Lee-Enfield is even more so. But stay the heck away from any Enfields that Gibbs Rifle Co. "gunsmithed." I've had them fall apart on me while shooting them. :uhoh:
 
Of the two choices given in the original post, I have to go with the #4 Enfield. Reliability is unquestionable, round is powerful, accuracy is great, options exist for synthetic stocks, scope mounts etc. I know several Canadians who use the .303 for moose, so it ought to handle anything you got in Alaska. Ten fast shots AND you can reload with stripper clips that, IMO, work FAR better than SKS clips. All major US ammo makers offer loads for the .303 as well as mil-surp stuff for plinking(or bears in body armor :D). Handloading components are readily available also. The idea of carrying a second mag with a diffenent load is an option tha the SKS and Mauser don't give you. Also being able to keep the mag seperate from the rifle if safety/security is an issue.

The MN is rugged and reliable, but ergonomically inferior to the Enfield. Even the Mauser is slower to work and only holds five rounds. The Canadian Rangers carry the #4 rifle and us it in all weather conditions, thus proving its suitability for cold weather operations.

For a reasonably priced beater rifle that offers, accuracy, hitting power, reliability, speed of operation and upgradability the Lee Enfield has all the right stuff.

Geez, now I'm going to have to go get one! Waidaminnit! I already have 20 of them! :neener:

SM38shotsin60secondswithaboltactionLE:D
 
My prob with the MN is the straight bolt, it annoys me.
Click to expand...
Straight bolts are very easy to operate with gloves or even mittens.

I guess I should add a Yugo to the mix, but 5 rounds only bother me.
Click to expand...
Two words: Stripper Clips

Can't beat a Russian Mosin-Nagant carbine for colt weather use. They were bred for it. It's a tough little rifle too.

17971AIM_M44-med.jpg
 
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