Ideas for a Utility/Trunk gun.

[MistWolf]

Ammo for .223 that is hunting worthy is far more expensive than anything soft point or hollow tipped in 762x39. I know, cuz I hunt with both. That being said (which you did, thank you) the capability of the 762 is superior to the .223 past 200 yards, and in the SKS or long-sighted AK, quite devastating.

Not so much when the .308 is thrown in. Good point.

For those suggesting KT sub 2ks: they have a checkered history of unreliability, experienced by myself, and if you suggest it, at least give opinions of what ammo function well in the rifle. By itself, it's not a really good choice, not compared to the 995ts.

The 223/5.56 has better range and flatter trajectory than the 7.62x39 or the 7.62x54. It's been found overall the 5.56 has better terminal performance than the 7.62x39 comparing FMJs. Terminal performance of the 308 beats the other three hands down.

I have found hunting ammo for the 223 at Cabella's in 100 round packs that costs less per round than most other calibers. (What surprised me is that 22-250 cam be had in 100 round packs for a decent price as well.)

A lot of 7.62x54 ammo is corrosive and I don't want to deal with that. Both the SKS and the Mosin are clumsy, crude and uncomfortable to shoot. Don't want any of that in a rifle I might have to trust my life to

Come right down to it, my $300 truck rifle would be used Remington 700, Ruger M77 or Winchester Model 70 in 223/5.56, 308 Winchester or 30-06. If I could find a sporterized 03-A3 in the right configuration in 30-06 within that price range, that's what I'd go with.

Since I can afford more than $300, truck rifle duty rotates between the M14, FAL and AR. They are sometimes accompanied by a 10/22 sporter or a Marlin lever action .22. But a $300 Remington, Ruger or Winchester is a good place to start

 

[ZGunner]

I'm in love with my 10/22. Cheap and fun to shoot, and it's fairly rugged. It has a mag but it's internal so it won't get snagged on anything. I got a 10/22 carbine from WalMart for $214 sticker. Down side is no sling swivels.

If you want a centerfire rifle I'll be another to throw in a vote for an SKS. My fiance got me one with a shortened bbl (~16") from a pawn shop for $250. Ammo is cheap and it's accurate enough for general use (you wont be punchin' any note-worthy groups at the range). It can take a lickin' and keep on... firing.

 

[meanmrmustard]

The 223/5.56 has better range and flatter trajectory than the 7.62x39 or the 7.62x54. It's been found overall the 5.56 has better terminal performance than the 7.62x39 comparing FMJs. Terminal performance of the 308 beats the other three hands down.

I have found hunting ammo for the 223 at Cabella's in 100 round packs that costs less per round than most other calibers. (What surprised me is that 22-250 cam be had in 100 round packs for a decent price as well.)

A lot of 7.62x54 ammo is corrosive and I don't want to deal with that. Both the SKS and the Mosin are clumsy, crude and uncomfortable to shoot. Don't want any of that in a rifle I might have to trust my life to

Come right down to it, my $300 truck rifle would be used Remington 700, Ruger M77 or Winchester Model 70 in 223/5.56, 308 Winchester or 30-06. If I could find a sporterized 03-A3 in the right configuration in 30-06 within that price range, that's what I'd go with.

Since I can afford more than $300, truck rifle duty rotates between the M14, FAL and AR. They are sometimes accompanied by a 10/22 sporter or a Marlin lever action .22. But a $300 Remington, Ruger or Winchester is a good place to start

What hunting are we talking about? Varmint? Deer?

I've deer hunted with both. The 7.62x39 was devastating. The .223 was acceptable. A lot of 762 is corrosive, a lot is not. Buy accordingly.

Having used both for this purpose for over a decade, and being a miser in truest form of the word, have never paid less for .223 than a comparable amount of 762. Ever. The .223 is good, but the 762 is for when you absolutely positively have to kill what you're firing at.

As for range, you are correct. However, the path from Point A to Point B doesn't concern me when either round hits the intended target. Dead is dead is dead, no matter the arc it took to get there and do it.

When I think "truck gun", I'm think compact in length, firing a fairly stout round and a fast rate of fire. Not everything you pull out your rifle for is a deer or yote. This, IMO, negates the use of a Mosin due in part to length. He'll, for me, that would keep me from toting your FAL or M14 in my cab (albeit both are chambered in one of my favorites). The AR is out; I don't shoot at four legged critters I intend to eat past 200 yards with 223/556, and I personally don't trust ARs en todo but that's me.

For what I'd need to be pulling a rifle outta the back seat for on my MO farm, an SKS is the most effective choice.

 

[stubbicatt]

Maybe stop by a well stocked gun store and fondle a few, and see what YOU like. As far as truck guns, I have carried several over the years. My present choice is a M38 Mosin Nagant with sling and ammo pouch on the sling. Heck a full pouch on strippers is 30 rounds, which near as I can tell, if you get to the point where you run out of ammunition, yours is indeed an unforseeable circumstance!

As far as ungainly and clumsy to shoot, I seem to shoot it well enough.

Same for the SKS. Only my SKS is worth more to me than to be bounced around in the back of the truck getting rubbed and dinged.

But the variety and price range of what is available to us these days is unsurpassed in my lifetime. So many to choose from. --Neat thing is, if you buy it right, it is unlikely that you will ever lose money on a firearm. So if you don't like your first choice, or find that you like something else better, you can always sell what you have if you need the $$$.

Have fun, welcome to the hobby/addiction.

 

[Bushpilot]

A good used Savage 24 might be handy. Something like 22lr, 22mag or .222 over 20 ga.

 

[motorcycle_dan]

+1 on the .22 Mag suggestion. Cheap, Light, lots of ammo available. Good out to 150 yd easily. Add to that truck gun with a Kel-Tec PMR-30 and you are set. Ruger single six in .22 Mag. would be another option. makes a nice mercy kill when hunting or wrasslin with weasels.
SKS would also be good choice, Kel-Tec SU-16 if you need to reach out further. Assuming this would be your moving gun. If on the move, go light weight. If you are hunkered down, go heavy.

 

[MistWolf]

What hunting are we talking about? Varmint? Deer?...

The 223 with the right bullet works fine on deer. Guys are also using it to successfully take hogs, which I was surprised to learn. I will agree that the 7.62x39 would be a better choice with proper bullet selection. (Please use the complete caliber designation. I'm uncertain as to which caliber you're referring to when simply using "762" as three are involved in the discussion. Thanks.)

The FAL & M14 both being fullsized aren't the perfect truck rifles. The Para FAL with it's 18" barrel and folding stock is much handier. In any case, I enjoy shooting all three. The AR carbine is the handiest but for coyotes. If I needed something with more oomph than the 5.56, I'd get a 300 BLK upper. There would be no savings on ammo, but I shoot the AR much better than an AK or SKS. Or maybe I'd start packing my 18" Marlin 45-70. None of my current truck rifles are within the $300 limit set in the original post, however.

Bottom line for me is that the rifles available in 7.62x39 or 7.62x54 are clumsy to use and while they can be fun to shoot at the range, that's not something I want in a rifle that might be pressed into life-saving duty

 

[Inebriated]

Chamber your AR for 7.62x39.

 

[MistWolf]

Chamber your AR for 7.62x39.

Ah, no. More trouble than it's worth. If I want to shoot 7.62x39 that badly, I'll get an AK

 

[MrDig]

Get an SKS, a Carcano or a Chopped Enfield 303. Ammo is cheap, they are available and you don't have to care if they get beat up riding around in the vehicle.
Another option is a used Mossberg 500 or Remington 870 with a smooth bore 18.5 inch barrel. again inexpensive and cheap to feed and you won't care if it gets banged up.

 

[Revoliver]

Get a Ruger 77/357.

 

[RPRNY]

I like the Ruger 77/357 suggestion above and there are lots of other good ones but I will make a case for a lever action 30-30.

• Unless you just came into your Trust Fund, you don't have a lot of money just lying around right now. A high quality Marlin 336 can be had for $300;
  
• If you're not reloading, again, money is a factor and 30-30 150 gr Rem Corelokt can be had pretty cheap and is a good all around choice;
  
• Aperture sights will give your young eyes accuracy out to 150 yards;
  
• You save money not having to buy optics that may then get tossed around pretty hard in your Jeep;
  
• It gives you 6 - 7 shots in pretty rapid succession without any of the legal antics that our beloved legislators have placed on "assault rifles";
  
• They are pretty rugged and don't need all that much TLC. If kept in a silicone gun sock in the truck, all will be well
  
• Chicks dig them.

 

[Fat_46]

My trunk gun is an Ishapore Enfield. Uses 308 ammo, which is very common and easy to find. Also, if my vehicle gets broken in to I'm not out alot. I have $150 into it including a synthetic stock.

 

[savage1r]

Face it, you're getting an sks.

 

[MCgunner]

I've got SKSs for a truck, knock around gun. One's got a sporting stock on it and a 5 round mag, my favorite, the other a 16" paratrooper with a folder and a 20 round chicom fixed magazine. I also like a lever gun, M92 in .357 magnum, but it can't handle much blunt force if I hit a fence post with it or something. The SKS were cheap and they're military rugged and more accurate than an AK. The caliber is sufficient for hogs, too, which there are a lot of in my neck of the woods. .223 is a bit weak for my tastes.

For .22s, I have a 10/22 stainless that's a nice knock about and a very accurate M597 in .22WMR if I need more range, never do. I don't really keep a "bug out gun" as such, but I guess the closest thing I have to that is the paratropper SKS as it's in an assault rifle case with about 150 rounds in the pockets in stripper clips.

BTW, that bull pup wouldn't work for THIS lefty.



I've taken the scope off....

 

[mac66]

A Ruger 10/22 is a great little all around rifle. The take down version is pretty cool as well. I have a number of 10/22s and they are my favorite, however, my stash in the truck gun is a Marlin 795 with Tech sights on it, not really necessary, I just like peep sights. The 795 is inexpensive. I keep it in my van and it is set up to grab and go whenever I need a rifle or want to do some informal plinking. Everything I need, ammo, cleaning gear, ear plugs, magazines is in the butt stock or attached to the rifle. There is also a survival kit in the stock. It is my woods walker gun as well.



Buttstock is hollow. It is wrapped in 10' of duct tape and 30' of para cord. Inside is cleaning and survival gear (first aid kit, small Swiss Army Knife, fire starters, small compass, small flashlight, chem lightstick, survival blanket) and 50 rounds of ammo. The butt stock pouch holds 5 loaded mags (50 rounds) and some other stuff.





There is also 30 rounds (10 rounds are quiet subsonic) wrapped in foil under the barrel.



And a fishing line and hook in the pistol grip cap

 

[Inebriated]

Now that is cool! I might do that with my 795!

 

[morcey2]

How about a savage/stevens 325/340 or however they're designated? Bolt action 30-30. Not the greatest combo, but they're fairly cheap. Ammo is readily available, and you can reload w/ spitzers to extend the range a little.

Matt

 

[wlewisiii]

A nice cheap beat up .30-30 lever action. Put a Williams peep on and a stock cuff full of your preferred load and forget it.

Only other thing I'd bother with is if I could find a 20 gauge/.30-30 Savage 24V.

 

[meanmrmustard]

The 223 with the right bullet works fine on deer. Guys are also using it to successfully take hogs, which I was surprised to learn. I will agree that the 7.62x39 would be a better choice with proper bullet selection. (Please use the complete caliber designation. I'm uncertain as to which caliber you're referring to when simply using "762" as three are involved in the discussion. Thanks.)

The FAL & M14 both being fullsized aren't the perfect truck rifles. The Para FAL with it's 18" barrel and folding stock is much handier. In any case, I enjoy shooting all three. The AR carbine is the handiest but for coyotes. If I needed something with more oomph than the 5.56, I'd get a 300 BLK upper. There would be no savings on ammo, but I shoot the AR much better than an AK or SKS. Or maybe I'd start packing my 18" Marlin 45-70. None of my current truck rifles are within the $300 limit set in the original post, however.

Bottom line for me is that the rifles available in 7.62x39 or 7.62x54 are clumsy to use and while they can be fun to shoot at the range, that's not something I want in a rifle that might be pressed into life-saving duty

I know this, as I said I've used it for over a decade.

I use 762 rather than full designation as in my first comparison post, I steered far from the Mosin Nagant. It's an implied understanding this far in what caliber I speak of.

Define clumsy. You say this, but how is an SKS "clumsy". My uncle didn't find them clumsy in Vietnam. They were scary.

That's what I want. Scary.

 

[SlowFuse]

In my Jeep, I took a handi-rifle that had seen better days. Put a new barrel on it (500 S&W) and cut it down to 17" and had a friend recrown it. I chose 17" just to be safe (legally) since it wasn't made to that length to begin with.

There was always a chance the firearm could get wet or muddy, or could fall out if I flipped (rockcrawler) so I didn't even want to chance ruining an sks or other milsurp that I paid more than $150 for.

The only time I ever had to use it was every now and then to scare off crows, squirrels etc that were eating corn out of deer feeders or just blasting cans and water jugs. You may not feel like a single shot is best, but I always felt that it was adequate. I usually also had a 22lr revolver in the dry box with snake shot in it just in case I came across any slithery types!

 

[mac66]

Slowfuse's handi rifle is a good idea as well. Single shots whether shotguns or rifles are greatly under appreciated. They can also be pretty cheap in pawn shops.

I bought a H&R Topper 12 ga at a garage sale missing the butt stock for $17. I cut the barrel to 18". I bought a cut down 357 mag barrel and a butt stock for it cheap as well. Between .38s, 357s and bird shot loads it covers most things pretty well. I've even killed deer with it using handloads.

Whether as a shotgun or rifle, they make a pretty good beater gun. Choate makes a plastic survival stock that you can store stuff in.

 

[ThomasT]

What I'm looking for is a rifle that is light weight, cheapish ammo so I can practice with the rifle,( Ex. .30-.30 is out of the question being a dollar a pop.) preferably a manual action (Pump, bolt, lever, etc.), and something that does not need a magazine. I'd really like to be able to manually reload being as this is not meant to be involved in any firefights and so I'm not worrying about a bunch of magazines. it'd also be great if it were under $300, I'm a full time student and work full time at a truck stop so cost is a big factor!

The OP stated the 30-30 is too expensive for his budget and he doesn't want detachable mags.

Too bad about the mag rule. A ruger 10/22 is about perfect and with the new ruger made 25 round mags would make a great close range defense gun. His choice of a marlin model 60 is a good one.

I also agree with the 22 mag rifle choice others have suggested. A used tube fed marlin would be perfect. I just looked at sportsmans guide and they have Armscor 22hp ammo priced at $70 for 500 rounds. Armscor also makes 22 mag ammo for Fiocchi. Its good stuff. Not as cheap to shoot as a 22lr but one heck of a better round.

The Handi Rifle is good too. I have one in 223 and its a shootin' dude. I reload so ammo is cheap for me. The Handi can also be had in 22lr and 22 mag but you will have to order them. I have never seen one in stock anywhere. But I did handle one. They are neet little guns.

 

[CoyoteSix]

I like the wealth of information I'm getting!

For clarification I do have an SKS, Yugo M59/66. as well as a MN91/30.

Both are great guns. Both have alternated as my Kit gun. However the first problem with these is that they are my only fighting rifles. Losing either one would hurt me more than a bit. Although the Mosin is currently with my Misc. tools in the back along with a Chinese chest rig of 200rds or so, it is a rifle I'd really like to keep safe as a back up fighting rifle if things ever get bad here in Idaho.

On a second note, although theres been a little dispute of whether or not MilSurps are horribly clumsy, I'm sure we can all admit that they are usually LONG AND HEAVY!

Now I'm a well built guy, but if I had to lug my MN or SKS 30 or so ish miles along with a survival pack AND a comfortable supply of ammo I wouldn't be the happiest camper.

Its no lie that American made guns are usually lighter than the MilSurp competitors, which is what I'm leaning towards.

It's also not supposed to be able to hold off a crowd or do street fighting, but should be able to hold its own against an attacker or two. I'd rather it not attract un wanted attention with my weapon. I don't need to look like anything tactical or intimidating. I'm not likely to encounter wolves or black bear on my way to my countryside home. So it only needs to do a good job of stopping a two legged attacker.

I like the .22mag bolt action idea. Don't like the loss in stopping power though.l

 

[David E]

You need to decide what, exactly, you want the gun to do for you.

You are all over the place, but highlight defensive ability often....yet want the ability to.....

see?

For the money you're talking, get a second/backup SKS. This will free up your Mosin for truck duty.