Kingcreek
Member
My truck has an old single shot Hercules 12g with the barrel cut down to 23" and no choke and no bluing. I fashioned a recoil pad from a flip flop sandle I found on the road. It's as beautiful as the spare tire.
Does the vehicle play into a “truck gun”
- Thread starter WestKentucky
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I have a friend who took his family for a weekend trip to St Louis. After doing a touristy thing they got in their car only to discover there were riots happening only blocks away from them. (Ferguson) About then he started to feel awful naked with only a 9mm and a couple dozen of rounds of ammo.
So what you carry in the vehicle depends on what you want to be prepared for. That random coyote/hog you may come accross? Civil unrest that springs up unexpectedly? A prolonged hike out of a sudden disaster area to safety?
In my normal everyday "range", yes my EDC is probably sufficient. Go into downtown metropolis, or on an overnight trip I'm feeling a bit more firepower to insure my return home isn't a bad thing.
In my path finder I carry a very stripped down AR in a yoga bag. It's simple and rugged. 16" barrel w/ no muzzle device and a cut off hand grip. A light weight stock. Fold down iron sights. (New pictures later this week)
(Full disclosure: It started life as a 12" pistol, but I decided to make legal matters simple to go to a 16" barrel and a real stock. It also started out life in the bag from a 1 man tent. I upgraded to a yoga bag to look less suspicious if I carry it into a motel.)
So what you carry in the vehicle depends on what you want to be prepared for. That random coyote/hog you may come accross? Civil unrest that springs up unexpectedly? A prolonged hike out of a sudden disaster area to safety?
In my normal everyday "range", yes my EDC is probably sufficient. Go into downtown metropolis, or on an overnight trip I'm feeling a bit more firepower to insure my return home isn't a bad thing.
In my path finder I carry a very stripped down AR in a yoga bag. It's simple and rugged. 16" barrel w/ no muzzle device and a cut off hand grip. A light weight stock. Fold down iron sights. (New pictures later this week)
(Full disclosure: It started life as a 12" pistol, but I decided to make legal matters simple to go to a 16" barrel and a real stock. It also started out life in the bag from a 1 man tent. I upgraded to a yoga bag to look less suspicious if I carry it into a motel.)
coloradokevin
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The biggest issue I think a lot of folks need to worry about with truck guns in urban areas is theft. We see a lot of guns stolen from cars around my metro area, and I sure don't want to lose my AR that way. Personally, I keep mine cable locked in the truck... basically I run a bike cable lock around the seat supports, and then secure that to one of those cheap chamber locks that I attach through the ejection port and mag well of the AR. It's not going to stop anyone with a cutting tool from stealing it, but it might stop some teenager or crackhead who smashes a window and just tries to grab the gun out of there (assuming they find it to begin with).
You're definitely correct in saying that having a rifle is a much more formidable option if things go really badly.
RedlegRick
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I used to keep my old 12 gauge Topper in the back of my car, but after some consideration and a few break-ins around town, she now lives inside.
I carry unrestricted in my state and should the **** hit the fan, I feel it would make more sense and be far easier for my fat disabled self to make my way home not carrying a long arm. The most I'll store in there is a spare box of 9mm and .22 in my emergency kit.
I carry unrestricted in my state and should the **** hit the fan, I feel it would make more sense and be far easier for my fat disabled self to make my way home not carrying a long arm. The most I'll store in there is a spare box of 9mm and .22 in my emergency kit.
theotherwaldo
Member
-And yes, the vehicle matters.
When I drove an International Harvester Crewcab I could carry almost anything and have it in easy reach.
When I drove a Chevette I was doing well to have a pistol handy.
When I drove an International Harvester Crewcab I could carry almost anything and have it in easy reach.
When I drove a Chevette I was doing well to have a pistol handy.
Shanghai McCoy
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Dunross
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To my way of thinking "truck gun" implies some type of long arm. Handguns can be carried in pretty much any sort of vehicle with an enclosed cabin.
So, yes, the vehicle type can affect the sort of truck gun carried. I drive a newer Tacoma which hasn't got any place to easily store a long gun which I find annoying. I'll be rectifying that this fall when I do some "behind the rear seat" surgery to open up the space. Until then I'm having to forego my usual FR8 truck gun.
Same problem with my wife's last several vehicles. No place to easily store a long gun. I'm still thinking about this, but as of yet cannot come up with any way to stash a rifle or shotgun that isn't too visible and can be gotten at without having to move stuff such as the spare tire. If ever I do come up with such a space I'll fill it with at least a pump shotgun.
I like the idea of having a hand gun and a long gun in each vehicle, if one can come up with a place to put them that isn't visible through the windows.
So, yes, the vehicle type can affect the sort of truck gun carried. I drive a newer Tacoma which hasn't got any place to easily store a long gun which I find annoying. I'll be rectifying that this fall when I do some "behind the rear seat" surgery to open up the space. Until then I'm having to forego my usual FR8 truck gun.
Same problem with my wife's last several vehicles. No place to easily store a long gun. I'm still thinking about this, but as of yet cannot come up with any way to stash a rifle or shotgun that isn't too visible and can be gotten at without having to move stuff such as the spare tire. If ever I do come up with such a space I'll fill it with at least a pump shotgun.
I like the idea of having a hand gun and a long gun in each vehicle, if one can come up with a place to put them that isn't visible through the windows.
Some people carry a pocket pistol or snubbie of some sort and then have a larger pistol (.357 or .44 Mag, 1911 Govt model, Glock 20/21/34/35 or semi pistol copies of sub-guns like MAC 10's or 11's, Tec-9's or CZ Scorpion) in their vehicle.
I've seen that done.
smithnut357
Member
It definitely depends on the vehicle for me. My truck has a .357 Blackhawk in a soft case under the seat, and a .357 levergun behind the seat. The Jeep is usually whatever is on my belt or in my pocket. Since it doesn’t ever wear the doors, I get nervous about leaving anything in there. I’ve mentioned this here before, the 74 IH Scout get a Ruger scout rifle. Because there is no denying it’s a real scout rifle. “No, that’s not a truck gun, it’s obviously a scout rifle!”
BlueHeelerFl
Member
I've thought about having a dedicated car gun, either handgun or rifle, but my car is on the small side which complicates things. The car's computers are under the front seats, so there's no storage space there.
I have a stack on lock box with a steel cable wrapped around a seat frame where I keep my carry gun if I'm going into a restaurant or sports bar. FL law prohibits carry into establishments that serve alcohol.
I have thought about getting a less expensive gun, like a Taurus G2C or a budget revolver, that I would worry less about when left in the car.
Maybe an AR pistol could handle the rifle duty if the s**t hits the fan since it would fit better in my trunk
I have a stack on lock box with a steel cable wrapped around a seat frame where I keep my carry gun if I'm going into a restaurant or sports bar. FL law prohibits carry into establishments that serve alcohol.
I have thought about getting a less expensive gun, like a Taurus G2C or a budget revolver, that I would worry less about when left in the car.
Maybe an AR pistol could handle the rifle duty if the s**t hits the fan since it would fit better in my trunk
In my opinion and what I practice.
If I’m traveling to an urban environment I carry a handgun within reach and an AR or similar setup with irons or a low power optic somewhere in the vehicle. Trunk locked up would be fine. Lots of ammo for it.
For rural daily life I carry an ar10 with a big scope and an open sights carbine ar15. 1000 rounds of ammo between them +\- depending on when my last loading session was. Covers all classes of varmints I run across and I’d be well prepared for the worst.
If I’m traveling to an urban environment I carry a handgun within reach and an AR or similar setup with irons or a low power optic somewhere in the vehicle. Trunk locked up would be fine. Lots of ammo for it.
For rural daily life I carry an ar10 with a big scope and an open sights carbine ar15. 1000 rounds of ammo between them +\- depending on when my last loading session was. Covers all classes of varmints I run across and I’d be well prepared for the worst.
MedWheeler
Member
I've had some difficulty with planning long-gun storage in vehicles. I drive a mid-size, quad-cab pickup truck and a 4x4 SUV, neither of which, of course, has a trunk. In the Jeep, I could store a cases LG behind the rear seat, but the pickup truck leaves no options because the rear seatback does not fold forward, and because my daughter is often in the rear seat. On top of that, I drive the pickup truck far more than the Jeep these days due to the latter's advanced age and mileage.
I've been looking to stow a .22LR rifle, probably my Mossberg 702, along with the two additional magazines I have for it. I'd probably remove the buttstock cap screws, keep the magazines in there, and rig the buttstock cap to fit snug, but be able to be pulled off.
Where I live and work, so-called "civil unrest" of any magnitude is extremely less-likely than in other areas, so that's not a real concern. What could be include hurricane evacuations (which offer plenty of notice) and the remote possibility of a problem with the nearby nuclear power plant, about eight air miles from my house.
For the time being, I may simply start stowing another handgun somewhere within each vehicle. It could be used to arm my wife, or just to be there in case I expend the one on my person (or have to surrender it to LE after an incident.) The center console in the pickup is remarkably deep; a Hi-Point .45 would disappear in it easily.
I've been looking to stow a .22LR rifle, probably my Mossberg 702, along with the two additional magazines I have for it. I'd probably remove the buttstock cap screws, keep the magazines in there, and rig the buttstock cap to fit snug, but be able to be pulled off.
Where I live and work, so-called "civil unrest" of any magnitude is extremely less-likely than in other areas, so that's not a real concern. What could be include hurricane evacuations (which offer plenty of notice) and the remote possibility of a problem with the nearby nuclear power plant, about eight air miles from my house.
For the time being, I may simply start stowing another handgun somewhere within each vehicle. It could be used to arm my wife, or just to be there in case I expend the one on my person (or have to surrender it to LE after an incident.) The center console in the pickup is remarkably deep; a Hi-Point .45 would disappear in it easily.
You can put an AR that has been broken down into two chunks in a small case in not much room. Personally, I am not real thrilled with the idea of leaving firearms in ones vehicles anyway. I think the chances are much greater that your vehicle will get broken into and the firearm stolen than you will ever actually need it.
Speedo66
Member
A Keltec S2000 folding 9mm carbine might fit your needs. No pistol permit required if someone else is driving your vehicle. A few Glock 33 round mags and you should be good to go, with very little space needed for the gun itself.
I'm in accord with the above post though, I don't leave guns in my car.
I'm in accord with the above post though, I don't leave guns in my car.
I've looked at these a few times. Luckily the rear seat in my pickup truck folds down and there's built in storage behind it.I've had some difficulty with planning long-gun storage in vehicles. I drive a mid-size, quad-cab pickup truck and a 4x4 SUV, neither of which, of course, has a trunk. In the Jeep, I could store a cases LG behind the rear seat, but the pickup truck leaves no options because the rear seatback does not fold forward, and because my daughter is often in the rear seat. On top of that, I drive the pickup truck far more than the Jeep these days due to the latter's advanced age and mileage.
I've been looking to stow a .22LR rifle, probably my Mossberg 702, along with the two additional magazines I have for it. I'd probably remove the buttstock cap screws, keep the magazines in there, and rig the buttstock cap to fit snug, but be able to be pulled off.
Where I live and work, so-called "civil unrest" of any magnitude is extremely less-likely than in other areas, so that's not a real concern. What could be include hurricane evacuations (which offer plenty of notice) and the remote possibility of a problem with the nearby nuclear power plant, about eight air miles from my house.
For the time being, I may simply start stowing another handgun somewhere within each vehicle. It could be used to arm my wife, or just to be there in case I expend the one on my person (or have to surrender it to LE after an incident.) The center console in the pickup is remarkably deep; a Hi-Point .45 would disappear in it easily.
So while more secure than what I have now (hidden in a compartment behind the seat and then secured with a cable lock) I don't absolutely need it. I'll probably eventually get one of these anyway though.
https://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Organizer/Du-Ha/DU60063.html
https://www.tuffyproducts.com/p-512-2015-ford-f-series-supercrew-under-rear-seat-lockbox.aspx
There are other ones that are made of sheet metal and slide out on rails. I forget who makes those.
I was wondering the same thing
It's from an ATF decision letter on AR
https://www.franklinarmory.com/XO-26_Letter__c_.pdf
This explains it a bit.
https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2011/10/foghorn/gun-review-franklin-armory-nfa-defying-xo-26b/
rskent
Member
Yes, it does, you can’t have a truck gun unless you have a truck.
It’s a personal choice what you use for a truck gun, but you gotta have the truck.
How can you not have a truck? What the heck are you thinking?
OP
OP
WestKentucky
Member
Tired of $600 a month payment and $250 a month in gas. The car I traded for is paid for and should be about $120 in gas.
That’s a turnaround of $730...part of that might be gun money.
Alte Schule
Member
Negative if it's more than 26" with the Shockwave brace fully extended. Mine is 27".
https://johnpierceesq.com/can-you-add-a-vertical-fore-grip-to-an-ar-pistol/
Also have a thread on this subject on this in the legal forum
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/ar-15-style-pistols-and-vertical-foregrips.840013/
In my state, Texas, it's allowed.
If you're running a truck and your "truck gun" fits a car, even a compact, then the vehicle doesn't matter. If you're running a compact and you want to cram a .50bmg in it , you're a little short on vehicle...so no.
I carry what I carry.
I carry what I carry.
rskent
Member
Or you could save it up to buy a truck to go with your “truck gun”.
Just messing with ya. Family has to come first. But having to sell your truck is a bitch.
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rskent
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OP
OP
WestKentucky
Member
Didn’t have to, but it was the right thing to do. The truck was a 16 Tacoma TRD Off-road. I bought it to go and play off-road. As soon as I got it I did a little rearranging in life and ended up with nowhere to go play. I loved the truck, but just the sight of it made me mad because it was a $37000 toy that I couldn’t play with. It took me 1 trip from work to home in the car to get over the truck. 34mpg be 17.5 warms a cheapskates heart. The plan is to buy a beater 4x4 in about a year.
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