Truck Guns

[MrGiggles]

I think I've found a justification for another gun.

Lately I've been thinking it would be nice to have a truck gun. Something to dispatch coons, possums, skunks, menacing stray dogs, coyotes, or whatever I may run into. I help manage a lrage cattle ranch and am running around all the time.

Im thinking a 22/410 combo rifle would be pretty neat and versatile. 22 WMR would be better.

Short length for swinging around a Ford Ranger is desirable, as is a low price, 300 bucks or so. I don't mind buying used.

Suggestions?

 

[Duster340]

Hey, any reason to buy a new gun is a good one! LOL That sounds like a neat, versatile little combo MrGiggles. Outta get the job done. Post a picture or two if/when you get it!

Here's my little "truck gun". So ugly it's cute.
Be well

 

[Forsaken]

i found what you are looking for, but around 400 dollars

https://www.cheaperthandirt.com/pro...do?green=1333F408-986D-5596-92F2-D2291E624DE4

Other Options are
https://www.cheaperthandirt.com/pro...937.do?sortby=ourPicksAscend&refType=&from=fn

https://www.cheaperthandirt.com/pro...495707835.do?sortby=ourPicks&refType=&from=fn

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

Savage also makes one with a 3030 and a 12 gauge I have a 20 gauge with a 22 on top makes a great little squirrel gun

 

[chicharrones]

I think I've found a justification for another gun.

22 WMR would be better.

Short length for swinging around a Ford Ranger is desirable, as is a low price, 300 bucks or so. I don't mind buying used.

Suggestions?

A short .22 WMR carbine?

How about a Ruger American Rimfire Compact? About 3 feet long with a 18" barrel and a 9-shot flush magazine. Comes with a short LOP, but can be changed.

In my area, using Davidson's Gallery of Guns, the gun I mention can be had for as low as $300.00 out the door. If Ruger still offers new owners a 20% discount at ShopRuger, that would save some coin if you need to buy the longer length of pull butt stock attachments.

EDIT: Fixed broken links and added details.

http://www.ruger.com/products/americanRimfireCompact/specSheets/8323.html

http://shopruger.com/Modular-Stock-System-Bundle-Standard-Pull-Kit/productinfo/26055/

 

[Armored farmer]

I think I've found a justification for another gun.

Lately I've been thinking it would be nice to have a truck gun. Something to dispatch coons, possums, skunks, menacing stray dogs, coyotes, or whatever I may run into. I help manage a lrage cattle ranch and am running around all the time.

Im thinking a 22/410 combo rifle would be pretty neat and versatile. 22 WMR would be better.

Short length for swinging around a Ford Ranger is desirable, as is a low price, 300 bucks or so. I don't mind buying used.

Suggestions?

I have a savage model 24 .22/410.
It is a good gun but maybe a bit light for coyotes.
I think it is a great gun for your ranch work.

 

[LoonWulf]

I almost bought a savage 24 in .22mag .410, but they arnt legal to hunt with here, which means not even legal to shoot on public land. Really liked the idea tho, when i move home it might be the gun that rides in my truck.

 

[WestKentucky]

I'm building my ultimate truck gun now. Far away from what I would have thought about a few years ago. It's an AR pistol with A2 upper and standard A2 front sights. 8.5" threaded barrel with an attached flood type flashlight, all in 5.56. I figure it's a lot smaller than a shotgun and plenty accurate and powerful enough for dispatching varmints or dropping food should I ever need it to do either.

 

[MachIVshooter]

IMO, with the price of ARs anymore, it's pretty tough to find an argument for something else as a "truck gun" (AKA knock around utility rifle).

That said, a $300 budget is a bit below even the cheapest of ARs. If it were me and that max price, probably a Savage Axis in .223 for the purposes you mention.

Im thinking a 22/410 combo rifle would be pretty neat and versatile. 22 WMR would be better.

I can't think of any rifle/shotgun combo that is anywhere near your budget.

 

[Inebriated]

22 WMR would be better.

Short length for swinging around a Ford Ranger is desirable, as is a low price, 300 bucks or so. I don't mind buying used.

Buds has Henry Small Game .22 WMR's for $430. The carbine model has a 16" barrel, plus it comes with peep sights already.

For the same price, however, you could get a Savage Hog Hunter in .223, which also comes with irons and a 20" barrel, or for about $50 or so less, you could get one of their Axis .223 packages with the scope. I think the Youth models have 20" barrels. I personally would use .223 over .22 WMR for anything larger than racoons or skunks, but that's just me.

If your budget is strict, the Hi Point 9mm carbine jumps to mind... VERY short overall length if you're actually using it from within the truck, generally reliable, and no more than $300 with irons onboard.

 

[WestKentucky]

Why not run a pair of cheaper guns, like a pawn shop special $100 22LR and a NEF or other cheaper pump shotgun...

 

[ontarget]

What about a 9mm carbine like the Hi Point 995? It would be effective and is in your price range.

 

[ZGunner]

The CVA Hunter break action is a compact little package with its 16" barrel. I've seen them in .223, .243, 7mm-08, and .308, any of which would be good for bigger stuff.

I personally prefer a centerfire semi auto like an SKS. I have one with a 16" barrel that works perfect. I spray painted all the metal to help protect it from moisture. To me a truck gun will be reliable, yet somewhat expendable. Iron sights and able to carry at least 10 rounds on board, that way I don't need to worry about a pocket full of shells.

For the past couple months my synthetic/blue Mini 14 has been under my back seat. I keep trading out optics on it but can't figure out what I want. I keep going back to irons only.

 

[SARuger]

I keep a Winchester 290 in the Powerstroke. I got it cheap at a yard sale. The 290 has a crappy trigger but is a reliable and accurate little .22lr. I also keep a Maverick 88 20g in there.


Neither of these guns will ever be worth anything but are worth their weight in gold if needed, pure utilitarian.

 

[MrGiggles]

Thank you for the suggestions.

I'd like to stick with 22LR or Mag, it will be more pleasurable to shoot without hearing protection, should the need arise. 17 HMR would be fine as well, and ammo is a little easier to find for it.

I have two ARs, but I don't like carrying them around, too much of a loss if they were stolen. Like SARuger said, something that will never be worth anything, but works when you need it to.

 

[ranger56528]

Can't go wrong with a Marlin 60 or the 10/22,won't blow your ears out if fired from inside a veh and you have lots of rounds carried in a small area of veh,still have my 60 I got back in 1976 and it still shoots fine.

 

[GAF]

Whatever your choice of truck gun include some hearing protection.

 

[greyghost01]

I allways have a 40 cal pistol with me but keep a sawed off 181/4 " single shot 20 GA beside the rear seat various loads from 71/2 to 2 buck in the buttstock ammo holder it tucks between rear seat and cab wall, You cant even see it in my Tundra,

 

[Casefull]

Kind of depends on answering the question: What do you want a truck gun to do?

 

[murf]

gunbroker has a savage model 24dl for sale. bid is $420. barrels are 22wmr over 20 ga.

murf

 

[Dr T]

For ranching, a good truck gun is an essential tool, and like all tools have to be tailored to the specific working environment. My comments reflect my experiences on our ranch in West Texas. But what works well in West Texas may not work in East Texas, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, New Mexico, etc.

For general ranch work, I think that for almost all things smaller than a coyote a 22 LR will work. But don't use hollow points. Solids tend to work better.

Handguns. I prefer revolvers because I don't like carrying a semiautomatic with a round in the chamber if I am working. If you fire it, then you will have another live round and have to trust the safety. (If you have ever had a handgun snatched out of your holster while on horseback in brush, you will know what I mean). I've used a Ruger Single 6 with 22 WRM cylinder (4 5/8 barrel) off and on for years for this--but it depends on what you are working on. If I am away from the truck and working on fences or water gaps, I will generally take the Ruger or a S&W 617 22 LR (with Remington Viper or another HV Solid). I am allergic to snakes, particularly when they are real close. (Every current and former working cowboy from West Texas has at least a dozen snake close call stories, so I won't bore you).

The 22 WMR is an outstanding choice for a compact rifle. The shotgun (I prefer 6 shot) will work better on snakes if you are not at close quarters or have to worry about ricochets. (NEVER use rat shot especially if the snake is on rocks. Been there, done that, picked #12 shot out of temple--thankful for shooting glasses. And ratshot will not reliably kill a big snake with one shot: It won't penetrate).

The Model 24 22 WMR/20 ga would be a good choice IF you can find one. In our area of West Texas, the rattle snakes tend to be tough and in deep brush so I prefer something larger than a 410. The 22 WMR is hard to argue with for general ranch work. I prefer to use solids in case you have to put sick or injured livestock down. Something like a Marlin XT-22M (clip or tubular) or Savage 93 would also work well. The Ruger is the shortest, but I never had much trouble in the cab with a standard length (except during deer season when I would not be using a 22--I have a Ruger Frontier and Marlin 336 BL for that...)

 

[Olympus]

It would be hard to beat a Ruger American Rimfire in 22WMR for a truck gun. Iron sights, polymer stock, the ability to scope if you decided later. You get 9 +1 capacity and the Ruger rotary mags are excellent in my opinion. I like 22WMR quite a bit and it hits a lot harder than you would expect when you see the round. The biggest downside that I see is ammo cost, and more importantly availability. I'm seeing 22WMR selling for close to what you can buy bulk 223 ammo for. And availability of 22WMR is like hen's teeth in my area. So I think it's a great choice if you don't mind the price for the ammo and you can find some for sale.

If not, then you might also look at the Ruger American Ranch Rifle in either 223 or 300 Blackout. Essentially the same gun as the one above except in centerfire. They are inexpensive and exceptionally accurate.

 

[loose noose]

I've got a Savage Model 24V with a .222/20ga, I know it came in handy when the coyotes started to over run the quail population out here in Southern Nevada. The 20ga was very effective on quail and vermin, and the .222 was very effective on the coyotes. Used to carry it constantly in my Jeep when I was out in the boondocks.

 

[z7]

An AR pistol will most likely serve you very well, having worked land and needed a "truck gun" a 22lr works really well until you get larger targets like coyotes, stray dogs or pigs

I cant think of much out there i would not shoot with a 223 round unless you have rocky soil and need to shoot snakes regularly

You could piece together a beater ar pistol for around 400 if you catch psa with the correct sales

 

[Peter Gun]

Don't know if this is an issue where you live but here in VT and also NH we have laws against keeping loaded long guns in vehicles. The courts have ruled that you can have loaded mags. That means any truck long gun must have detachable mags to be practical. Of course, here in VT we have no permit carry for hand guns so it generally makes handguns the most practical truck guns. Just call us the Desert Eagle State!