What is a car/truck gun good for?

The premise of the question isn't much different from that of the average person who is opposed to handguns or "assault rifles": What on earth could you possibly need that for? Buried behind that question is an assumption that LEOs are (1.) always only seconds away, and (2.) will respond to virtually any call for help, regardless of its nature.

Wrong.

By necessity, your automobile or pickup is almost always no more than a short distance from wherever you are. Rattlesnake or rabid racoon got the maintenance man cornered at work? The solution is out in the parking lot. Relative calls you at 4:47 AM after seeing an intruder in the back yard? The solution is already in the vehicle you're driving to his/her house. A couple of Good Ol' Boys at the local boat marina wonder out loud what's to keep them from waylaying you and driving off with your new BassTracker? The answer is about 18 inches from where your right hand is, behind the front seat.

Truck/trunk guns are the CCW solution for situations where a handgun either isn't practical or isn't allowed.

I carried an AR7 in my car for many years. It served two purposes. One, if I decided on the spur of the moment that I wanted to shoot. And two, if I was shooting and decided I wanted to shoot a .22 rifle and didn't bring another one. One of these two occured frequently.
Now, when traveling the back country, I usually carry a Yugo Mauser. I plink distant rocks, or I might take a pot shot at a jackrabbit or coyote.
In both cases, I suppose if I needed it for some self defense senario, it was there.

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I spend a lot of time driving around Arizona, both on and off road. I never know what I'm going to run into--2 or 4 legged. There are some strange folks that have chosen to "get lost" in the big empty spaces of AZ. They might not have any bad intentions. Or they might be real unhappy to see me. I also never know if I'm going to break down or get stuck someplace and have to spend the night, or hike out.
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Works for me.
Specially if one of my shortcuts eats up an extra day or so.

Sam

Charles Whitman...
John Muhammad...
Luke Woodham...
Jonesboro, AK...
Columbine, CO...

Any questions...






(I also agree about the type of long gun. A NEF single-shot or ..30-30 lever gun would be enough, and easy to explain away to the LEO's--esp. during hunting season. If you need a rifle, you need it for accuracy--not "spray & pray".)

I'm not aposed to assault weapons and such but I'm just thinking if I'm spending $700 or more on a gun I want it to be of good use.

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No reason it has to cost $700. In fact, if theft or corrosion are concerns, the cheaper the better. With brand-new Saiga Sporters or like-new Yugo SKSs going for under $160, the gun's cost doesn't have to be a factor. (Want cheaper still? Give your vehicle a truely historical touch by throwing a $50 Mosin-Nagant M-44 in the trunk! )

Well, a factor in CA might be that it is one of the few things you are allowed to do. No "assault weapons" or loaded weapons, but I've not found anything in the regs that prohibits carry of an unloaded long gun and ammunition. From the CADOJ website (I AM NOT a lawyer!):

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SHOTGUNS AND RIFLES

Nonconcealable firearms (rifles and shotguns) are not generally covered within the provisions of California Penal Code section 12025 and therefore are not required to be transported in a locked container. However, as with any firearm, nonconcealable firearms must be unloaded while they are being transported. A rifle or shotgun that is considered an assault weapon in California must be transported in accordance with Penal Code section 12026.1.
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Of course this is only generic and certain commie municipalities "override" it. And 12026.2 (12) specifically states that State Parks can prohibit carry. Basically carry is expressly forbidden "except for" and then there are about three pages of exemptions to the prohibition that cover most areas. And yes I know the law should work exactly opposite of this. We ARE trying to kick all the bums out of office.

My wife & I keep a sidearm in the glove box and something similar to this:



in the trunk. And yes, it's registered & tax paid. For those special occasions when a pistol just isn't enough firepower.

Question: What about states that require ammo to be stored seprately from the gun? In AR, I have to have the ammo in a completely different part of the vehicle (if I understand correctly, if not please correct me).

I have a fairly expensive car and would like to protect it. While I cant CCW for another 10 months, I would like to carry something with a smidge more firepower.

Stupid question: Firearm laws for "on campus" excursions are broad enough that carrying locked firearms in the trunk is still verboten, ja?

Question: What about states that require ammo to be stored seprately from the gun? In AR, I have to have the ammo in a completely different part of the vehicle (if I understand correctly, if not please correct me).

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I assume you're referring to handguns, Mike. You'd be hard pressed to find a single vehicle without a loaded long gun in my Arkansas hometown.

My truck gun is not a "Combat style" gun.

It is usually one of the following:

45-70 Handi Rifle
30-30 Win 94
Ruger .223 Bolt


They will handle almost anything that comes up. Most often is the need to dispatch a coyote. I have shot deer (in season) as they showed up or meat was needed.

Good for defense if the need was there. So far it hasn't.

seeker_two, VERY Good!

To those I would add the

North Hollywood bank robbery (this could have ended much sooner)
any number of gangster era events with folks like Dillinger

IMO one of the main reasons to have a long gun in vehicale is so you can have something more than a CCW at night when staying in hotel or camping or such.

We all know handguns are weak compared to a shotgun, carbine, or rifle.

I keep a rossi .357 lever gun under the rear seat of the truck, out of sight. It's backup to the 5" kimber in the console.

Little more smack, little more range, little more accuracy.

I dont' spend much time on paved roads so my truck gun is /has been used to dispatch various animals,but mostly coyotes when the 17hmr won't reach.and the synthetic remmy in 30-06 and scope is kinda tactical.

just a thought...

or two...
Here's a scenario for you. You are outside your place of business, work, whatever, in a rural or sparce suburban area. Someone runs out of the building screaming that a disgruntled whack job is inside shooting people. The police are several minutes away. You may or may not want to go into the building dependent upon your assessment of the situation, but wouldn't you want to have a rifle, if the oportunity to stop the killing presented itself? These situations are not confined to urban areas any more. (this is of course based upon the assumption that you have the sense to know that it is dangerous, and that the police are going to show up shortly and suspect anyone with a gun is the shooter).

But the real reason for a truck gun...

It is just a gun that you have along for no particular reason.
Many I have seen were single barrel shotguns or the well known Winchester 94.
Mine is usually whatever is on my hip at the time.
It will depend on where you live.
In my area, no one would bat an eye if they saw a riot gun in the back window of your pick-up. Hell, some of them would probably want to shoot it.
In some areas, it will be a handgun by necessity.
They are typically inexpensive and durable. They will be abused and neglected. They will be cleaned infrequently and banged around constantly, and they will still have to work flawlessly.

does anyone have a link to a site that might list state laws regarding having a long gun in the trunk

I'm not yet able to get a CCW permit in KY, so having a long gun in my trunk is my only option should the need arise- yet I'm not positive on how I can transport it ie loaded/unloaded etc(and or if I can keep a loaded handgun in the glovebox as I'm only 18, and you must be 21 to purchase a handgun[I got my mother to buy my handgun for me])
I checked packing.org but couldn't find satisfactory answers.

thx

Welcome to THR, Ridgeway

This is the best website for carrying laws!!!

http://www.packing.org/state/index.jsp/kentucky

how would a long gun in your car help you better than a proper CCW?

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#1 A rifle has more Stoping power than a pistol. North hollywood the cop 9mm DID NOTHING. This why thay got the ar-15 in .223 from the gun store.

#2 range of fire, If you need shot over 25 yards!

#3 Most CCW gun only hold 8 to 10 shots. In a rifle you can have 30 rounds.

#4 You don't need to be so close to the danger.

#5 Fear, i would be more scared facing a rifle then a pistol.

So no one else envisions a terrorist type individual carrying a satchel charge into the oil refinery?

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That has actually happened here. Bomb attached to tanker truck going into oil storage facility. Truck blew up, but, luckily, automatic extinguishers did their job. If they hadn't, over 30,000+ people would be dead.