Help Me Choose A Truck Gun

[Sulaco]

I am without a truck gun right now after some gun swapping in and out.

I have had shotguns, leverguns, pistols, surplus rifles and everything in between.

I want to go with something that really fills an all purpose role more than doing any one thing well. My most important requirement is low cost and low maintenance. If this gun is stolen, I don't want to sweat it (financially speaking, of course, no need for the Dad speach with me).

I am leaning towards either an 870 or a 30/30 with a little more thought going into the 30/30. I also am not discounting a serviceable surplus bolt gun.

I want something durable, reliable, low maintenance, decent capacity but not a big deal and as much manageable power as is available in a package like this.

Does the 30/30 win?

Help me out guys, I know many of you have thought the same thoughts before.

Thanks.

PS The main use of such a gun would be for last line self defense and dispatching the ocassional half dead dog (car) or bothersome critter on a camping trip, etc.

 

[Chuck Jennings]

I believe you should give serious thought to an SKS rifle. They are very affordable, and meet you other criteria. Ammo is almost as cheap as 22lr!!

 

[George Hill]

Marlin 1894 in .357 Magnum. Yeah, an SKS would work nicely as well...

 

[Wil Terry]

FOR MANY YEARS MY TRUCK GUN HAS BEEN A

357MAG levergun. It has done everything I ever asked it to do and is powerful all out of proportion to what we think of when the 357MAG is mentioned. In addition all the most powerful 357MAG loads have all the recoil of a healthy beer burp. There is no downside here that I have ever found.
In the new RIFLE magazine there is an excellent article on leverguns. Some of the ammunition tested there is as powerful as the 30/30 and I am here to tell you , that ain't too shabby , friends !!

 

[Rupestris]

I picked up a Winchester 94 in 30-30 for $175. My son's Rem 870 20 gauge was $175 as well. Either one would make an outstanding truck gun.
If you'd rater go with something new and don't want to spend over $200 take a look at the Saiga rifles in .223 or 7.62X39. I don't think you'll find a more truck-ish gun new for $199 or less. Synthetic stock, AK reliability, cheap ammo, and Extra mags are available. Asside from Hi-Caps, what else could you ask for?

 

[Wildalaska]

Jungly carbine in 303

WildthatswhatIhaveAlaska

 

[deputy tom]

Sulaco,the cheapest way out is a Yugo SKS or a Mosin.Both will do the job and cheaply.tom.

 

[sitkablacktail]

I would get a Yugo mauser and paint all the metal parts, keep some FMJs for small critters and some soft points for the big game.

 

[Dionysusigma]

Mosin-Nagant M44. Tough gun, cheap ammo, inexpensive rifle too. It'll hit what you point it at, and if it gets bumped/scraped around, it'll be hard to tell.

Powerful round is good for squirells and (shot placement) bears alike.

$60.00 bucks for rifle + <$8.00 for 20rds of darn good SPs = Effective gun for under $100.00 (tax included, plus any shipping charges in case you have to order one)

 

[artherd]

Does the 30/30 win?

.30-30 levergun definately wins, esp in a state in which you can keep the tube loaded.

 

[Sulaco]

Lots of good info here.

I am still leaning more towards the 30/30 than anything else. It just seems to me like what a truck gun should be.

I will let you guys know what I decide for sure.

Thanks for the help!