What "truck" guns would you recomend

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To me a truck gun is a long gun not a side arm, or hand gun. I carry two, both can be used for survival and preditor dispatching. One is a Marlin 1894P, it has a 16.25" ported barrel and loaded with .44mag 240 jsp bullets with recvr sights. The other is a 12 gauge 20" coach gun loaded with oo buckshot
 
A Mossberg 500 resides in my van. Inexpensive, reliable and effective. When I leave the van for the evening so does the shotgun. Never leave a loaded gun in an unoccupied vehicle. JMHO
 
Mosin M-44

I didn't see it listed in 3 pages of responses. I paid $49.95 for mine from J&G several years ago. It's a clean one, basically indestructible design, and powerful enough to kill anything big enough to die. That's my truck gun.

I keep an M-16A1 in my car. Car and gun were free.
 
Bata

I think for your purposes you are probably on the right track with the H&R Handi-rifle or something like that. The heavy barreled guns can be very accurate and with a moderately priced scope you can reach out and touch a ground hog, prairie dog or, coyote at a couple hundred yards. I would go with something in 223 or 243, or maybe both if you can get one with two barrels. If you don't need that kind of accuracy and would like something with a little more power than a 22, I would consider a Saiga in 223 or 7.62x39.
 
Yes I was considering something in .223 just because I'm already set up to reload that cartridge.
 
It's funny the diversity that exists on this forum. For a long time I could never understand why anyone would want an M4 or some such for a SHTF or survival rifle. Then I realized that most people here live in town and their needs for firearms are different than mine. When I think survival, I think of feeding my family first, as in harvesting game, then defense second. The fact that I live in a rural area shapes my needs much more differently than an urban dweller.

Enter the "truck" gun. Folks who've lived in the city all their lives see this term and many envision some idiot driving up and down coutry roads looking for something to shoot with his "truck" gun. On the other hand, someone living on a ranch or farm knows a truck gun is a utility firearm; something used to pop a coyote, finish off an injured animal, etc.

My truck gun depends on the situation. Sometimes my "truck" is the tractor. If I'm on the tractor, I'll typically sling one of my Yugo SKS's over the light bar. In the truck it might be my Mini-14 or a Savage 22/410. When I help a friend on her farm/ranch, my truck gun is always my Scout rifle as it will handle just about any task from close to far.

35W
 
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My "truck gun" is whatever I happen to have in the truck at the time. It could be anything in my safe. I do not leave it in the truck when I am home or shopping because I live in the city. Once I move to east Texas or the UP, it will probably be left in the truck. However, I am not up on MI laws with respect to guns in the car at the moment.....chris3
 
For crying out loud, WHAT is a "truck gun?"
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It varies depending on who you talk to.

For me, its something I can toss behind my seat without worry of it getting scratched or beat up, no sentimental value, and not so expensive that I have to eat ramen for a month or two to replace. Handguns must meet my minimum requirements (accurate, dependable, 9mm luger or .38 special at least). Long guns must also be capable of handling Ford Ranger size game, as Peterbilts aren't a concern (being a gearhead, I really like that anology).

My Glock 19 was purchased NIB for beater/car/truck gun purposes, and when it comes to long arms my 7.62 Saiga and/or Mossberg 590 fill the role well. More often than not, my Saiga is used due to the detachable magazines.
 
...and by the way, I've thought many, many times about getting a Marlin Papoose to keep in the truck on a permanent basis. They're so short and handy.

35W
 
It's nice to know it's there, but it's a little slow to get into action. I think I'm going to Duracoat it so I don't have to keep such a close eye on it. There isn't much that needs done around here that can't be done with a 22, short of a coyote out in the field.
 
what are you keeping with you all of the time in your trunks
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Well, I only have a single particular "gun" that I carry in my trunks. And it's been with me from day one. ;)

In my truck, I keep a S&W Model 64 revolver loaded with hardcast 38+P semiwadcutters. It's not what I'd recommend to anyone else, but it suits me just fine. YMMV
 
When I was a young'un I hung a shotgun, 22, and during hunting season a 30-30 in the window of my Pickup. That was in Florida starting in the early 60's.

When America changed and became anti-gun, I put that Shotgun, and 22 behind the seat.

When I moved out west to Arizona, i began to carry a handgun and rifle most of the time. The handgun was a either a 357mag, SIG 228 or 1911. The rifle was almost always either a Winchester 94 or Marlin 336 both in 30-30. I do think the SKS is a perfect option too.

Now I only drive a car, and wear a Ltwgt Commander, with a pretty little marlin 16" stainless 30-30 in the trunk.

Each of us must first generate the equivalent of a mission statement. What is the purpose of the weapon, legal ramifications etc...., then choose. There really isn't any right or wrong.

As to the guy who keeps having weapons stolen out of his vehicle, I think he has other problems that he needs to fix. I have been driving with a weapon in my vehicle for 50 years, ain't lost one yet. Lived in the country, city, and suburbs. Big city's small towns, and no towns. Good neighborhoods, and bad. I guess some of us are lucky, and others...........

By the way, I have now lived in Arizona for over 35 years. I want to know where I get some of that ammo that shoots further in the desert. My ammo for some reason shoots just like it did, most every where else I have ever used it.

Merry Christmas, and may peace find all men.

Fred
 
Saiga 5.45x39 loaded with 60gr Vmax and FMJ


M
 
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right now? a no 5 jungle carbine. But for it to be effective I should probably put some ammo in the truck too. Usually my truck gun is whatever pistol I'm carrying that day.
 
I am in the woods almost every day for my job, I like to have a rifle with me all the time. I have had a lot of different guns that I have used. One of my favorites was a marlin bolt action 22mag. I also carried a model 94 Winchester 45 colt trapper, it was a very handy little gun. I think a good pick up gun should be multiple purpose tool, used for hunting ( at least in my neck of the woods) and as with about any gun, to protect if needed. As of now my pick up gun is a ruger scout and it is about as handy as it gets. I take it with me every were I go and I do know that it will get lot more wear and tear for this reason but that is what I bought it for.
The advantage to having a gun like this is that you get to use it more than one that you keep in the safe and take out now and then. If it is with you all the time you are more likely to take a little time and get some shooting in, plus if you have it and you get the chance at a coyote or what ever you will have the tool to get the job done. You get very familiar with the gun you have with you every day and that makes you effective with it. I also think it all depends on were you live and what you need the tool/gun for, as was said here before the diversity of the board is great.. I like the different opinions and use people have on here. I think it would be impossible to put your finger on the perfect pick up gun but the self searching one needs to do to come up with what they think is best for them selves is a lot of the fun. Swamp Rooster.
 
It depends on todays "mission." Could be a pistol, rifle, shotgun or whatever. However, the old SKS is a handy, deer caliber, dependable battle rifle. I got my first when it was fired at me in Viet Nam. I was quicker, and luckyer than my adversary. An SKS can be bought fairly cheeply, has a good cheep ammunition selection, and can provide good dependable defensive fire if needed. It usually doesn't scare hell out of the local law enforcement folks unless tricked out. I never did like the "squirrel rifles" we were provided anyway. If you have to shoot something three or more times....... get another caliber!!!!!
 
chieftain said:
Each of us must first generate the equivalent of a mission statement. What is the purpose of the weapon, legal ramifications etc...., then choose. There really isn't any right or wrong.
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Quite sage advice and really the answer to what a "truck gun" is. I too have lived in most parts of the US (active military) and the definition and mission of a "truck gun" could range anywhere from a .22LR pistol to your seasonal deer hunting rifle or fowl bird gun or even an AR carbine type rifle.

I consider the "truck gun" to mostly be a long-gun, but I could see the need is some situations where it could be just a .22LR pistol/revolver. Theft is a concern, but that really depends on where you live, where you work and what you do.

Defining the mission will determine if you really need one and I don't think a gun dedicated to a vehicle is for everyone. My reasons have been everything from a hopefull opportunity to do some hunting after work to traveling for the job and wanting a little insurance if something bad happened. In central Texas, wild dogs were such a nuisance that shooting them on sight was acceptable practice outside city limits; the same was true of coyotes up in WA near the Canadian border.

I personally never left a long gun in my truck where it wasn't "moderately" secure. Sure it's a risk, but everyone must conduct their own risk analysis to include the legal ramifications as chieftain mentioned before considering a dedicated truck (or any vehicle) gun.

If you're not in an area where pest control is the norm or you're not carrying a hunting firearm for those chance opportunities of hunting time, than your reasons are most likely more towards insurance against an event that might require serious self-defense. I consider that last scenario one of the least likely, but everybody needs to assess their own situation and make their own decisions. I really like the idea of a cheap 12 gauge pump shotgun...even the two-barrel combo's can be found quite cheap. If it's not hunting season, you can always be prepared to shoot skeet or clays; either way, a shotgun can be an effective tool against pests, deer hunting opportunities (legal of course), a couple hours of skeet after work or self defense under the worst possible scenario.

Another consideration is if your vehicle breaks-down. I would hate to leave any firearm in my truck where I knew it wasn't under any type of moderate security. I live out in the country with a long drive way and I work on a secure installation; never any troubles with a firearm stored and out of sight. Even if I broke down a few phone calls and you could get the wife, friend or relative to come meet you (that's my plan if the truck needed to be towed). Again, define your need, assess your situation relevant to your environment and activities and make informed decisions on what's best for you and your interests after taking all aspects into account.

I've had ammunition stored in my vehicle for exteneded periods in extreme heat. I never had an issue, but my rule of thumb is no more than six months and it gets rotated out. Corrosion is also a concern, especially in the high-humidity areas and seasons. I've never had any issues, but I've seen what salt water can do to "boat-guns" that my father-in-law keeps on his fishing boats...a little surface tarnish isn't a mission stopper, but corrosion can jack up your internals if you're not careful.

ROCK6
 
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