Does the vehicle play into a “truck gun”

[WestKentucky]

A couple weeks ago I traded off my truck gun, and today I traded off the truck. 40 mile commute, 1 income family, and 2 little ones with lots of needs (hence the 1 income) pushed me towards a sensible family vehicle, and that’s exactly what I got. But now I’m thinking that since I’m not going to be running around in the hills and hollers I probably don’t need something quite as powerful, but then again I have room in the trunk for much larger kit.

“Truck gun” in the truck was a AR pistol.
“Trunk gun” in the Accord...m4gery? Smith Model 10? Taurus pt99? I’m kind of at a loss, and no I don’t expect to need it, but I would like to have something handy just in case I need it.

THR, does your choice in vehicle play into your choice in “truck gun”?

 

[DannyLandrum]

Choice of vehicle / type of compartment and method of security come into play, yes, but above all, your state laws on vehicle carry and envisioned possible uses are the most important parts of a vehicle long gun decision.

These days, I like a beater bolt action with a full power bottle necked round - chain goes around seat base and padlock through the trigger guard. But I also have a handgun in the pickup.

 

[Wisco]

I tailor my EDC to my clothing, but vehicle guns are the same no matter the vehicle - SBR and G19. If my vehicle doesn’t have doors on, it’s just the pistol.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I've always just carried my gun. Never felt the need for a vehicle gun.

I think my choice would be the same no matter the vehicle though. Probably a 9mm CZ scorpion with an arm brace.

 

[Browning]

Yes, to me it would change.

Different needs require different guns.

Someone isn't going to need to shoot a hog that's stuck half in/half out of a trap that they just swung by to check if they're driving a Lamborghini.

Different locales (assendofnowhere, rural, suburban, urban) tend to have needs.

 

[Old Dog]

I live in an area where the 10.0 earthquake is predicted as a matter of not if but when; we also have couple live volcanoes within 50 miles as the crow flies. (Didn't take long for the miscreants to start looting after Hurricane Florence, eh?) I also live in semi-rural tweakerville where meth labs and home invasions are not uncommon and often encounter livestock or wildlife on the roads after they've encountered motor vehicles. So yeah, I keep guns in my vehicles 24/7, but the vehicle type itself doesn't play into the equation. Pick-up, sedan, SUV, whichever, there's a cased M-4 with at least three mags and a pistol with at least three 17-round mags. You may call me paranoid; I call myself prepared.

 

[WestKentucky]

When I carried the AR pistol, I carried about 300 rds. 110 rds was in magazines ready to go. I may just buy a couple pieces to finish my carbine rebuild and keep carrying an AR...or I may start looking for a beater 30-30 for the same purpose. I wouldn’t want to use a nice gun or a sentimental gun for either purpose.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Carjackings are surprisingly rare here, but business and home robbery is not uncommon. We have also had waves of demonstrating/looting so civil disturbance is a real possibility here. Thirdly, well, I believe in Murphy's law above all others, so for me it's an M9 in the glovebox with 2X15 rounders and an M4 in the trunk with 6X30 rounders.

The M4 is in a lockable softcase, which is legal here. Since I drive minivans, I'm fortunate to have a glovebox large enough for the handgun and all the spare mags- Florida treats ammunition the same as firearms so it must be "securely encased" and inaccessible to minors.

Also pack a Kabar, Buck folder, flare gun, Surefire Taclight, MedKit, 12/5V jumpbox, tire inflator, and basic tools.

Oh, and a towel. If you've ever read Douglas Adams, you'll know why.

 

[Hasaf]

I think my choice would be the same no matter the vehicle though. Bribably a 9mm CZ scorpion with an arm brace.

I considered this; but I can not find any vehicle mounts for the CZ Scorpion, have you?

Right now I just keep it in a soft case.

 

[JR24]

Since I always have a full size CCW on me anyway, I dont find a point to truck gun as a CCW option, I would get way to paranoid about someone breaking into my truck and stealing it since that's far more likely than getting stuck in civil unrest/zombie apocalypse in my rural setting.

I do keep a mag or two spare in the console of my truck for my CCW.

Plus, my wife doesnt have her CCW so a loaded gun in the truck is a no go as she uses my truck all the time as well, and needs one to have a loaded gun in the vehicle in WI.

Also, between the medical kit, tow rope, jumper cables, kids toys, blanket, car seats and empty coffe travel mugs, and occasional dog. I'm not sure where I'd even put an M4 plus mags.

ALL THAT SAID IF I did a truck gun and transitioned to a car, I think it would likely remain the same, either a carbine or pistol AR, probably in. 300 BLK in the trunk.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I considered this; but I can not find any vehicle mounts for the CZ Scorpion, have you?

Right now I just keep it in a soft case.
View attachment 805933

No I haven't found one either, but like I said I've never really felt the need for a vehicle gun.

If I do find one, I'll let you know.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I would get way to paranoid about someone breaking into my truck and stealing it since that's far more likely than getting stuck in civil unrest/zombie apocalypse in my rural setting.

That's it for me too. I'm just really unlikely to have any need for one.

My car was broken into when I was in college and the CD player and some other items were stollen. I won't leave valuables in my vehicle for any length of time.

 

[jmorris]

For me it’s what I am in, where am I going and what I think I might be killing.

Not going to drive into town for an afternoon of shopping with this setup but it’s the quickest way to get a coyote I have setup.



Wouldn’t be as easy to set that up in something that doesn’t already have a roll bar in it though.

 

[entropy]

I have an AR Pistol I could use for a truck gun, as I have a CCW, but have only had it in the vehicle to and from the range. Being able to do so is one of the reasons I built it, but it is just another option/possibility. I did keep a $30 Mosin behind the seat for a while, but took it out after WI had CCW.

 

[FL-NC]

A Glock 9mm w/ 2 extra mags lives in each of our vehicles (G19 in my truck, G17 in my jeep, G26 in emergency backpack in wife's Jetta). These are in addition to our CCW guns. A H&R clone of Remington 870 lives in the jeep as well. Need another cheap scattergun for the truck. This is what we do, YMMV.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

I drive my Subaru Forester all the time and just keep the Taurus snubbie 38 in the center console. It clips IWB when I get out. In the under the floor rear tire compartment there is room for a rifle should I choose to carry one there. I do have a hatchet, shovel, rope and large trashbags stashed in it.
An "up side" is that, at least around here, nobody expects a driver in a Subaru to be armed..

 

[coloradokevin]

For me the vehicle does play some role. I typically keep a rifle (AR-15) or a shotgun in my 3/4 ton diesel truck, but I don't do so in my Buick or Toyota sedans. A lot of it has to do with where I typically travel with these vehicles. The truck is the vehicle I take into remote areas where help is hard to come by, and threats may come in the form of animals or humans. In my cars I typically just rely on my normal CCW handgun, because those are mostly driven around town (and are also often parked in the areas where I'd be more worried about a gun being stolen from a vehicle).

 

[Deus Machina]

If I drove around in the woods, I'm sure it would.
As it is, I'm unfortunately stuck to town and city, the latter of which I avoid.
No room for a carbine in easy reach, but either glovebox (it has two!) are more than big enough for my carry guns, which are in there if they're not on my person.
Of course, I drive a Nissan Versa. If I get carjacked, I could probably catch up on foot anyway.

 

[bassjam]

For me it wouldn't matter what vehicle I was driving, but then again I don't keep a "powerful" gun in my truck either. I keep an old 10/22 and a j-frame which typically get's carried with me when I leave my truck. It was the same way when I commuted in a sedan for a few years.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I don't tell anyone what I currently do but I used to carry a folding-stock SKS in the truck as well as a pistol of some sort (in rotation). Before that it was a M1 carbine folder, before that was an old Winchester saddle carbine.

 

[Bfh_auto]

A couple weeks ago I traded off my truck gun, and today I traded off the truck. 40 mile commute, 1 income family, and 2 little ones with lots of needs (hence the 1 income) pushed me towards a sensible family vehicle, and that’s exactly what I got. But now I’m thinking that since I’m not going to be running around in the hills and hollers I probably don’t need something quite as powerful, but then again I have room in the trunk for much larger kit.

“Truck gun” in the truck was a AR pistol.
“Trunk gun” in the Accord...m4gery? Smith Model 10? Taurus pt99? I’m kind of at a loss, and no I don’t expect to need it, but I would like to have something handy just in case I need it.

THR, does your choice in vehicle play into your choice in “truck gun”?

For me it depends on the day. Usually a bolt-action and a handgun. Bird season it's a short shotgun with turkey choke.

 

[Alte Schule]

I usually have my EDC but occasionally have to go to places that prohibit firearms so I always keep a Beretta 84 FS Cheetah double stack.380 with an extra mag in the glove box.
My extended family has communal property in deep and very rural SW Texas. I used to put an AR or SKS in the trunk when I went there (9 hour drive) but recently put this together. A Freedom Ordnance AR pistol in 9mm that accepts the Glock extended magazines and trade my EDC from .38 SP Colt for my 9mm Hi Power.

 

[chicharrones]

THR, does your choice in vehicle play into your choice in “truck gun”?

Yep. My last vehicle had very nice compartments that would hold a short rifle and a backup handgun. All hidden deep from any passengers, and no one drove that car but me.

My current vehicle was purchased without consideration of those types of compartments, so I can't carry guns in this vehicle day-in and day-out like I could in the first car. So, the only gun that gets carried in my current vehicle is my carry gun that is on me. Which has worked out just fine for what I do these days.

 

[JR24]

My car was broken into when I was in college and the CD player and some other items were stollen. I won't leave valuables in my vehicle for any length of time.

I had a similar thing happen in college as well, then I lived in a town where few people respected the whole concept of personal ownership. I just kept nothing interesting in my trucks and didnt bother locking the doors. Probably saved me some window damage and gave, what I suspect was my neighbor, a place to sleep occasionally when he was locked out of the house.

 

[chicharrones]

My car was broken into when I was in college and the CD player and some other items were stollen. I won't leave valuables in my vehicle for any length of time.

Every car I've experienced having break ins (girlfriends, wife) were due to the nice aftermarket stereo in the dash. Any car that I've left the factory stereo in has never had a break in. Of course, I don't leave anything nice on the seats or on the floorboards either.