What exactly is a "truck gun?"

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jim in Anchorage

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I often see the phrase here. Discussion's bring up every thing from street sweepers[handy if you drive into a riot} or accurate bolts [good if while crusing down the road you spot a wolf at 300 yards.]
So what do you call a truck gun?
 
Just a relatively inexpensive, yet effective gun you keep in the truck, usually means a long gun, as a just in case.

So it means what you want it to basically. One guy might consider his M4gery under the back jump seat the perfect truck gun while another might think short barreled 12 gauge single shot break action as a truck gun. I considered an M-1 carbine my truck gun until it got to be worth more than the truck.

There was a time when some of us were around when pickup trucks just were not complete without a gun rack in the rear window. I have considered hunting one up to hang one or more of my canes or picker uppers in.

The guns in those racks were of course truck guns and usually where not your best shotgun or rifle, but one that would do. Amazing the number of those racks that held M94 and 336 "thutty-thutties" given how seldom they get mentioned as truck guns these days.

Down in the shotgun section it generally means a short barreled shotgun, there may be pages and pages on single shots with barrels cut back to as close as the owners feel comfortable to 18 inches, but you also see shortened pumps and even a few bolt action shotguns and even the rare semiauto, seem to recall someone giving life to a retired A5 or clone as such last year or the year before.

Several of us have been over the years been known to discuss a handy .22 rifle as a truck gun, even single shots.

Others seem to think a truck gun needs to be able to take buffalo, trucks, or the 43rd Mongolian Horde and so go with other stuff.

But we all know what it means.:rolleyes:

Most folks tend to think "Car Gun" means handgun all the time. But can mean either, but usually it does seem to mean handgun. I once had a two door car that allowed me easy access to the back seat floor boards between the bucket seats, not all my car guns in those days were handguns.

have fun, be safe and find out what your local laws are about tossing a gun in the car or truck before doing so.

-kBob
 
jim in Anchorage said:
I often see the phrase here. Discussion's bring up every thing from street sweepers[handy if you drive into a riot} or accurate bolts [good if while crusing down the road you spot a wolf at 300 yards.]
So what do you call a truck gun?
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A truck gun is the same thing as a trunk gun. It is a gun you tend to have in your vehicle, with the implication seeming to be that it is a long gun. It is usually a gun with no sentimental value and that you wouldn't mind getting scratched or beat up.

What you intend to do with it varies depending on your location and personal wants/needs/perceptions/whatever.

For some it will be a pistol caliber carbine that uses the same cartridge, and maybe the same magazines, as a carry pistol. Something with more practical accuracy, range, and general effectiveness, in case they get stranded, or have to walk home, or things just go south overall in a big way, whatever.

Or perhaps it's just an inexpensive rifle. It might be real inexpensive like a surplus bolt action, maybe a Mosin, whatever, or perhaps it's an SKS. Maybe even an AK or an AR. Might even be a shotgun. Who knows.
 
Typically a "truck gun" to me is some old beater, be it rifle, shotgun, or handgun, that while it might be cosmetically challenged on the outside, you at least know it's 100% reliable on the inside. Should also be something that you won't shed too many tears over should it come up missing some day. Just sayin'.
 
jim in Anchorage said:
But aside from that, why do you have the gun in the truck in the first place? What use do you think it will have?
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That depends on the person. You would have to ask each individual.

One big use is something we don't talk about on THR. Given how long you've been around I think you probably already know this.
 
Dispatching critters seems to be a prime use.

Other uses would include being something that you take comfort in during a time of duress while on the side of the road.

I suppose another use would be self defense from those who wish to do you harm.

Maybe another use could be impromptu varmint hunting?
 
You probably came as close to me with your 300 yd wolf scenario, right now my truck guns are a 788 in 22-250, 10/22 Ruger, MK1 Ruger.
Those vary and at times it's a large bore centerfire, shotgun, AR. My primary use is putting down food, fur, varmints but having a good accurate long gun would serve one well on the drive home if something like the San Bernardino shooters had planned ever come to pass.
 
This is my truck gun. Not much of a place to put a rifle in an extended cab 2014 F150 with the factory sub woofer. Fits under the passenger back seat in a baseball bat bag and you can't even tell its there.

DlEs9y.jpg
 
why do you have the gun in the truck in the first place? What use do you think it will have?
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We've had a number of threads which detailed, discussed, debated ... and flat out argued ... over the "why?" question.

A few reasons seem to float to the top:
1) I drive a lot of back country miles and like to kill animals that I see out in the wild while driving -- and it is legal to pull off the road and shoot them in the state where I live.

2) I am very afraid of riots and I drive into the city each day, so if I'm trying to drive home and I'm bogged down in a rioting crowd I'll get out of the car, go to the trunk, get my rifle and load it up to protect me from the rioters swarming my vehicle.

3) I enjoy a little target practice from time to time and there's a range that's on my way home from work, so if I keep my gun with me I can stop off and shoot any old time I like.

4) If I'm ever in a place like a mall or school or other public area and an active shooter/mass killer starts taking people out, I can run to my car, get my rifle, and go back in and shoot him.

5) I drive a lot during the winter in very remote areas. If my car becomes disabled or slides off the road I could be stranded. I keep all the survival necessities like warm clothes, water, shelter, fire-starting gear, and durable food goods in my car but I think I could be stranded so long, <removed for clarity>, that I would run out of MREs and need to hunt for food in order to stay alive.

6) Because I can. That's it. Just because no one can stop me and I can't think of any good reason not to, so I do.

7) I don't trust a handgun very much for real self-defense, and if I'm ever stranded along side of the road at night I will get out my rifle and prepare to defend myself against any bandits which might try to rob or kill me instead of help me get a tow.

8) I have a cool gun and it is so compact or compact-able that I can fit it into a small spot in my car or truck. This becomes a "needful thing." Because it CAN, it MUST.

9) I am a traveling salesman or representative and live out of hotel rooms much of the year. I carry a handgun, but when I'm in my room at night I prefer the firepower of a rifle or shotgun for defending myself from anyone who kicks in the door of my 10'x14' room.

Those seem to be the primary reasons.
 
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Put down an injured animal, shoot a coyote (or other vermin), signaling device in case you are stranded, self defense, etc.

I'm sure there are quite a few other reasons out there, but these are the main reasons I keep a truck gun.

I've only owned 4 truck guns over the years, but am looking at retiring my current one.

1: Bubba'd .303 Enfield. Someone turned a No. 5 into a $50 gun by cutting off the flash hider, hacking away part of the front sight and messing with the wood, along with a few other items.

2: 1916 Mauser 7x57, also customized by Bubba. Barrel cut back (crooked of course), missing front sight and wood hacked up. Sweated a front sight onto it and cleaned up the muzzle, worked fine after that.

3: SKS, bought for under $100, worked well.

4: Wards Western Field .30-30 (Marlin 336), current truck gun. Looking around for a replacement, as this one is still in decent shape and the older models are getting harder to find.
 
Well Sam, you've probably got me hands down on at least 4 of those. Kind of a cynical, condescending way of description IMO but it's to be expected.
 
Speaking of, xrap, I didn't realize that all "very remote areas" had highways/people only ever drove in highways, and never backroads or trails or anything else.
 
Let's call it realistic and pointed. Condescending would be too harsh. I have my list of more condescending reasons, but there's no need to take this into a negative direction. He asked for the reasons, and I gave them.

You may notice that some of the reasons seem to raise other, deeper questions if you read them carefully. Those are up to you to ask and answer for yourself.

I would never say that a truck (or trunk) gun doesn't make sense for some people and certain circumstances, so please don't infer anything I don't mean.

(To wit: "I didn't realize that all "very remote areas" had highways/people only ever drove in highways, and never backroads or trails or anything else." I'll edit that so it makes the question easier to ask and answer for yourself.)
 
bottom line........any gun you will not miss when its stolen...but serves a purpose while you have it
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Ayup.

My company did not allow handguns in the office, so I had a 9x19 Star BM (careful :scrutiny:) locked in the glovebox of my two (garage-kept) vehicles.

2nd thing that I did each time I entered the vehicle when going home was to unlock the glovebox (1st thing is to lock the door ... and prior to opening the door I eyeball the inside of the vehicle, JIC).
 
In my book "truck gun" is the vehicular long gun equivalent of CCW on person. The most effective and utilitarian gun that fits the method of transportation unobtrusively and is at hand when needed.
 
I live in New Mexico. If you drive county roads here, you may see 1-2 other vehicles per hour during the "busy" time of the day. It's nice to have some type of protection as you never know who you may meet on those roads. I carry a SIG P229 in the door pocket.

I have some land in Silver City, NM in the southwestern part of the State. If I'm traveling south of Silver City (Lordsburg, Hachita, Rodeo) and into Arizona I usually will take an AR15 as you're near the Mexican border.

The Border Patrol officers in that area look like they're on infantry maneuvers with rifles, several side arms and body armor...you don't exactly have to be Sherlock Holmes to figure out why...
 
Truck Guns?

Take the scope off this .454 and it makes a great anti-carjacking gun, shoot right thru the door and give someone a real lift.

454SRH-1.jpg

Now this 12ga/5.56 combo, Crossfire MK1 is great for riots or hunting. It's a pump, so legal in CA.

CrossfireMK1.jpg
 
Buckhorn, I know what your saying about that area, I've spent a fair amount of time in those parts and when you head south from White Signal, Deming, Hachita, Animas your on your own. Love that country, especially in the winter during quail season.
Traveled much of the Butterfield Trail. I've spent days down there where you never saw or heard another soul unless they were traveling with you.
Does the Buckhorn come from the saloon up in PA? Had my wedding reception there years ago.
 
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