Truck gun...

[Dorrin79]

Finally got my new truck (a 2003 Ranger Edge).

That, of course, means it's time to get a "truck gun" (yeah, I know, any excuse will do)

I want something cheap (and I mean cheap, like under $150), light, small, and hard-hitting.

I was thinking about a Mosin-Nagant M44 carbine.

Any thoughts?

 

[Soap]

If you're patient, you can find people who sell their old .30/30s cheap after deer season. I've seen good ones as low as $175. Whenever I get rid of my Mercedes (already boring...and not my style), I'm going to get an F-150 Supercrew and a Marlin 1894P in fo-tee-fo mag.

 

[Okiecruffler]

That M44 do look good in a gun rack, you could get a 91 or a 91/30, but they'd have to stick out the window a bit.

 

[bad_dad_brad]

A 20" lever action Winchester Ranger 94 in .30-30, is I think, the perfect truck (or trunk) gun. Robust, accurate, handy, hard hitting, politicaly correct, and surprisingly ergonomic for a design over 100 years old.

New ones are cheap ($300) but you can probably find a used one in your price range if you are patient. Used 94's are practically indestructable, even when abused. A little gun scrubber, and some CLP, and they work as brand new.

 

[Navy joe]

Nagant and a bag o' stripper clips, that's a truck gun. Love mine.

The upgrade for when you get a real truck is a M-1 Garand and 4 bandoliers of enbloc.

The truck gun du jour was a 870 police with a full tube and sidesaddle tossed on the backseat of my GMC 3500 dually.

 

[HIPOWER]

An SKS or a Mini-14 would make a fine truck gun.
I use an SKS. Good luck.

 

[firestar]

I think the M-44 was made to be a truck gun. I have an M-44 but no truck so it is just my beater gun for now. I hate to be a cliche but I want to get a truck for hauling stuff. It would be for use and not for looks.

 

[CZ 75 BD]

Ranch rifle

will be my truck gun. Looking for a "roof rack" or shelf for out-of-sight carry.

 

[Turk]

I'm not a big fan of AK/SKS types but I think the SKS is the perfect truck gun for the following reasons.

Rifle and Ammo is cheap.
If the truck is stolen you don't loose a lot of money

Semi-Auto firing

Stripper clip loading.

7.62x39mm is better than any pistol round. I believe if you know you're going to a gun fight take a rifle.

The SKS is pretty quick handling especially a para model.

My first choice is the Colt SP1 but I'd hate to lose it if stolen.

Forget the gun rack carry it behind the seat if legal.

Turk

 

[Forseti]

This looks like an interesting truck gun from Keltec...mostly because it folds in half legally.

http://www.kel-tec.com/pr04.htm

.223 caliber, the handguards become the bipod if you are firing from prone. Magazines can be stored in the stock. Uses standard AR15 mags.

Of course, it has not been released yet (I think) so I don't have any practical experience with the gun. I have no idea if it is a good shooter or not. But the design is interesting
.

 

[Dorrin79]

interesting replies...

a lever thutty-thutty would be a good choice, but I don't know if I want to spend that kind of money (I know, I'm a cheapskake)

SKS is a good choice... but I've already got one (and half the point of this is getting a new gun! )

I definitely don't want a shotty for this purpose - too short-range

The SU-16 would be cool, but it'll probably be too pricey for what I'm wanting - and I don't particularly want to be a Kel-Tec guinea pig if the SU-16 turns out to be not-so-good

I think I'm still leaning towards the M44...

which means I need to open a new thread.

 

[Smoke]

If you opt out of the Win 94 30-30....

Then NEF 45-70

 

[Dr.Rob]

I'd vote for a Marlin 336 .30-30, but then I'm a traditionalist.

 

[john l]

I would get something that I could manipulate in a hurry, since truck gun implies needing a gun quickly-or semi quickly.
I would consider if you are a lever gun guy to get one of those or if all you shoot are autos then consider a cheapy thumbhole stock chinese AK 47,(used) they are as reliable as all the other AKs, and cheaper than the SAR 1's ( @ $360 ) and mags can be found in 5-10-20-30-40 round versions.
JohnL

 

[Art Eatman]

Everybody's got their own notions, but "truck gun" to me means in part that the incidental dings and scratches don't matter, and that what is really important is that the sights can't easily be knocked off sight-in. And, of course, relatively light and short for ease of handling...

, Art

 

[RustyHammer]

I like the ole .357 revolver and lever gun combo .... but switch off with others from time to time. A box or two of JHP shared between the two is a handy thing. However,

Within your price range, I'd go with a used 30/30 lever gun ...

 

[FNFiveSeven]

Nothing, but nothing screams truck gun more than a Winchester 30-30.

 

[Matthew_Q]

Why not an Enfield #5? Or maybe one of the Gibbs remakes in .308?

Handy little rifle, mucho power...

or heck, an M1 Carbine with a folding stock... light, compact, decent power for a small package...

 

[Dorrin79]

a lot of these are great ideas, but I'm trying to stick to a price of <150$

Is it possible to get a level 30-30 for that low? If so, that would be pretty much the ideal choice...

 

[pinetree64]

Why not a Yugo Mauser? Personally, I have a short 20g O/U riding in my truck as well as a Kimber 45 with me.

 

[yesterdaysyouth]

if you can find an old sears and roebuck 30-30 copy it would probally be in your price range...

 

[Shalako]

My future father-in-law has the perfect truck gun. (It may even satisfy Art's criteria above.) It is a sporterized Persian Mauser carbine in 8mm with peep sights. The controlled round feeding, Mauser durability, and shorter barrel would make one heck of a handy 'truck gun'.

But is it a big enough caliber to take a truck with?? Hmmm...

 

[dude]

I would use a sporter-ized shorty SKS like the Navy Arms 'Cowboy Companion'(like the one in my safe).


...........if I was not already using my IMI pump-action .357 Timberwolf rifle!

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

last month I took posession of my inheritance from my grandfather- a 1969 Frod F100 that has a mere 60k miles and is strictly business- AM radio (no pushbuttons- there was no 'delete option' radio) add-on air conditioning made in Foat Wuth, Texas, automatic, power steering and non-power brakes. He used to keep a Benjamin .177 pump behind the seatback. Now that it's mine, it'll have a M44. I doubt I want one that starts out as nice as the Polski M44 I bought my wife; instead I'll probably get a Russian, maybe a Romanian or Hungarian. It'll just come down to who throws in the most goodies with it when I get it.

Any which way, I'm way under a C note. Leaves more money for surplus ammo.

Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[Nightcrawler]

I would use a sporter-ized shorty SKS like the Navy Arms 'Cowboy Companion'(like the one in my safe).

Navy Arms doesn't list any SKS on their website. What's it like?