The "truck gun"

[adcoch1]

I've used a h&r single shot 12 ga, an SKS, Mossberg pump guns, and my trusty 44 mag Redhawk for a truck gun. I think for most situations though an ar 15 pistol may be one of the better options.

 

[Elkins45]

I have two trucks. One is 21 years old and rarely gets driven more than 20 miles from home. I keep a 30-06 bolt gun in it in case I need to shoot a deer or maybe a coyote. The other truck is a year old and goes on out of state fishing trips. I keep an AR-15 in it in case something really bad threatens to stop me from getting back home.

 

[P5 Guy]

I do not own a truck, I never leave a firearm in my only auto.

 

[If1HitU]

My truck gun is whatever i'm carrying when i'm in it.

 

[mokin]

It's been several years since I regularly carried a "truck gun". Over the years (/decades), guns I've kept in my vehicles have been a Ruger 10/22, a pump 12 gauge, and most frequently, a sporterized SMLE No. 1 MkIII.

These days it's the gun on my hip.

 

[Snowdog]

Years ago, I kept an Enfield Mk4 No 1 wrapped in a towel in the back of my Grand Wagoneer. I kick myself as it did rust some, but I had just purchased it for $69 from a local department store, so at the time I wasn't too concerned. It's now one of the 4 Enfields I have, having been refinished.

Yes, i have a "truck gun". It's a Chinese SKS or sometimes, a Russian SKS. It's behind the seat loaded and with three stripper clips of ammo.

Those used to be cheap rifles... I bought mine (Norinco type 56) in the late 90's for $98, cosmoline in box complete with bandolier and cleaning kit in the stock. Now those once-inexpensive Chi-com SKS carbines draw quite the premium. They routinely sell for $400- $500 on auction sites. One could easily purchase at least an entry-level AR for what those Russian SKS carbine go for now.

Those Norinco SKS carbines are light in weight (compared to the Yugo 59/66), feature chrome-lines chambers and bore and would always go bang. I regret selling mine. I still have the tank-like Yugoslavian SKS though. It's just not the same.

 

[BSA1]

As the dreaded "p*****r" on THR over the last few years I have been evaluating and re-evaluating my guns and ammunition. Frankly I am disappointed in the holes in collection and am working on filling the gaps. My assortment of firearms reflect my shooting interests at the period of time when I got them. Some of them overlap and can be used in dual roles but that is more by accident than design.

For example my Single Action Revolvers. I originally got them for Cowboy Action Shooting. They also serve well when hunting, camping and hiking. Plus I just like shooting them. 45 Colt was a manstopper in the 19th Century and still is today but the Single Action Revolver is not a top choice for carry against the 2 legged type of varmint.

I quit shooting 22 Rimfire during the 22 Ammo Panic as I knew I could not replace what I had on hand. Now that Barry has quit selling guns and ammo I am renewing my interest in the 22's. One gun that keeps showing up on my radar screen is the Henry Survival Rifle. It checks a lot of boxes as a "truck gun." Compact for easy storage and security. Two magazines and 100 rounds of ammunition is a lot of modest firepower. It is highly unlikely I will ever be in riot / urban unrest but a long gun is more intimidating then a pistol and the main goal is to get to safety without firing any shots. Small game hunting, check. Plinking, check. Easy to carry, check.

 

[herrwalther]

I’m not sure a 9mm or .40 pistol or a shotgun would be the best tool to dispatch coyotes at 200 yards.

By the same token I’m not sure that a Mosin 91/30 would do me much good against a car jacker or a mob looking to cave my head in with bricks.

You are somehow assuming my idea as a truck gun cannot be changed. Very few firearms are effective at dealing with multiple types of issues from pest control to break down society control. Likewise lifestyle choices are a consideration. A truck gun for a farmer is likely not the same as a truck gun for someone living in a major metro area. To use your example, a 9mm handgun WILL kill a coyote, but not at 200 yards. Do something good enough is different from doing something exceptionally well.

Why?

Vehicle theft. Handguns are common and very inexpensive to secure in a vehicle in a small space. And I am adamantely against having my handgun in my car for any length of time if it can be avoided. By comparison a rifle or shotgun is much harder to properly secure.

 

[Browning]

You are somehow assuming my idea as a truck gun cannot be changed.

In my experience people rarely change their mind on things. Most times they have a gut level reaction to issues, if they research at all (they often do not) they collect data to support their gut level reaction and then they have a vested interest in supporting that opinion.

I’ve had several incidents that involved the defensive use of a gun. I’ve had an even greater number of incidents that could have if I had been armed (they were, I basically had to take it and like it and hope they didn’t murder me). What they all involved was that either I was at home or in or near my vehicle. We’ve morphed into a vehicle driving people. For centuries it was the horse, now it’s the car, truck or motorcycle.

You have a safe for your home to protect your guns don’t you? If not, you should. Why not do the same for your vehicle?

Very few firearms are effective at dealing with multiple types of issues from pest control to break down society control. Likewise lifestyle choices are a consideration. A truck gun for a farmer is likely not the same as a truck gun for someone living in a major metro area. To use your example, a 9mm handgun WILL kill a coyote, but not at 200 yards. Do something good enough is different from doing something exceptionally well.

Carbines are.

AR-15, AK, Tavor, ARX-100, SCAR, AUG, Daewoo K1/DR200, CZ 805 Bren, Saiga’s, SKS, M1 Carbine, Mini-14, FN PS90 etc etc.

Vehicle theft. Handguns are common and very inexpensive to secure in a vehicle in a small space. And I am adamantely against having my handgun in my car for any length of time if it can be avoided. By comparison a rifle or shotgun is much harder to properly secure.

Vehicle safe.


For rifles there are other safes that fit underneath the rear seats that slide out or do what I do and get a Pelican case and a Vulcan hardened security chain and padlock and chain it to your frame.

Even with all that I still take them inside when I get home.

As a result I generally have a second pistol in there (besides the one I’m carrying) and only take an AR, AK or Daewoo when going out to the deer lease. Otherwise going in and out and taking them in would be a pain.

The second pistol is out and readily available should I need it until I get to a destination, then into the safe it goes. If I reach some place where I can’t take my CHL piece then they both go in.

Most vehicle burglars use a flathead screwdriver and a punch. They aren’t cat burglars with a plethora of tools at their disposal.

 

[SwampWolf]

Nice set-up, Browning. I have safes in both of my vehicles (as mentioned earlier in this thread), cabled to their infrastructures and hidden from sight.

Even with all that I still take them inside when I get home.

Can't criticize anyone for that practice but mine stay in the vehicles.