So I want a truck rifle.

[wnycollector]

I have a keltec sub2k...what a sweet little rifle! the 16" barrel does wonders for velocity (155gr magtech JHPs clock in @1400fps/675 lbs). COM hits on an IPSC target are easy at 75-100 yards, plus if you carry a glock 22 you can share mags! Lest we not forget...it folds in 1/2!!!

 

[Mp7]

anything that does not look like an AK ... and is not tooo expensive if stolen should be the answer.

 

[Badlander]

Marlin 30-30 is about $347. At wally world or Dicks. You can have the barrel cut to 16.5 and still be under budget. I prefer A more politicaly correct rifle for my truck gun. I would rather not have A cop pull out my FAL should I be checked out for something.
I know it should not make any difference but it may.

 

[Col. Plink]

Lots of good choices!

I say a Remi 760/7600 in 308 or 30'06 would make your suv more of a truck, but I figure carbines are more of a truck gun in terms of barrel length. Go semiauto with some knockdown power (SKS will definitely do in those ranges, the original Yugos [M59] lack the grenade launcher so the length is minimized; Saiga makes carbine-length semi's in lots of calibers, 308 comes to mind).

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I think the Remington pumps are cool too and you definately couldn't go wrong with a .308. I personally wouldn't choose a bolt action for a gun I was planning on using for personal defense. I have a Vangaurd in .30-06 and love it, but defense weapon it is not. You wouldn't go wrong with a marlin lever action in any caliber either. You listed some good choices.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

IMO, these type of rifles make the best "trunk/trunk" guns, whether "sporterized" or not:

-Swiss K31
-SMLE No. 4
-SMLE Ishapore 2A
-Other cheap turnbolt with a detachable mag

particularly in states where the gun must be carried "unloaded" to be legal, such as my state. With a detachable magazine, the rifle can meet this legal requirement, and still be loadable much pronto if necessary. More so than a levergun or turnbolt with non-detachable mag.

 

[islandphish]

I think you need to look more closely at your potential uses. Things are kinda murky when you say 23-150 and big boom. One shot stops should be perfectly achievable on unarmored bad guys with a medium caliber assault rifle ala SKS.

Between the .308 and the other Weatherby. I'd take the .308.

Terminally they will perform pretty much the same, in that if you make hits it's over.

The big guns are for big animals or big ranges.

 

[chauncey]

Saiga in 308 or 762x39, depending on what range you want

pump shotgun if you are on a tighter budget

 

[MistWolf]

In most cases the 308 would be a better choice than the 338- Unless you're expecting real big bears. In the case of bears, I'd want a Marlin 45-70 because I trust mine

 

[ole farmerbuck]

After shooting my Stevens .223 with the two Savages, i'd say go with the Stevens. Price is right.

 

[Avenger29]

If I could afford a Weatherby Vanguard, I think I'd buy A ruger mini in .308.
Just my zwei centavos

What is this non-existant rifle that you speak of? Ruger made a .308 Mini (it that would be the proper term, they called it the XGI) prototype, but it never went into production. They also made the Mini 30 in 7.62x39

 

[Pony Express]

Any reason not to have a shotgun? A good ole 12 gauge would be my first choice for a truck gun-endless possibilities for ammo, cheap, etc.

 

[Mags]

buy A ruger mini in .308

What you mean the Mini 30 in 7.62 x 39? I Ruger made a mini 308 I would be interested.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Weatherby Vangaurds can be had for under $400 brand new. Where are you getting a Ruger mini for that price?

 

[AndyJ]

This thread confused me for a time. I think you are looking for a defensive SHTF rifle to carry in your truck. Around here a "truck gun" is a reliable sometimes beater used to dispatch 4 legged critters and other flying/crawling varmints.

 

[Gelgoog]

The way I see it, is if your at your vehicle, then you have no need for a weapon much past 100 yards. If a target is further out then you need to be using that vehicle to escape and evade.

This is why I think a cheap shotgun will do the trick. a mixture of slugs and buckshot will take care of any threats within 100 yards. The gun itself can be had for less than 300 and it has a pretty high fear factor. It also is not very suspicious having a shotgun in your vehicle as you can tell the police it is for hunting.

 

[Isher]

Andy -

+1

 

[Uncle Mike]

I used to carry a SKS, later I put a Tapco pistol grip stock on it, cut the barrel back to 16.25"...sweet little truck gun. Plenty powerful enough for critters up to and including deer.

Then I got a hair and started carrying a No.7 Jungle carbine(Enfield SMLE) in .308.

Now, it's back to the SKS...so my vote after use of them both goes to the SKS...with the Tapco Pistol grip, 6-position adjustable stock.

 

[DougW]

My truck gun is a Daly 1911A1 backing up the Bersa Thunder .380. Can't quite fit a long arm unless it is in the floor of the back seat.

 

[mljdeckard]

Here's what I did.

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=453341

 

[sledhead76]

I agree with a few of the earlier posts, I don't think a bolt action lends itself to the "truck gun" idea. Marlin 336 is pretty versatile, and you should be able to find a used ruger mini well within your budget.

 

[Ignition Override]

A Norinco SKS.
If a break-in is a real possibility, a MN 44 might be less attractive to a thief and costs less to replace ($150 for very good ones at our Sept gun show).

mljdeckard might have mentioned a new rear sight which can be added to the SKS, which lengthens the sight distance.

 

[rondog]

Jeez, I don't know what you're planning on defending against, but I'd think an M1 carbine would tackle anything smaller than a bear, and I'd also bet one would put a decent hurtin' on an average bear.

Small, lightweight, quick-handling, high enough power, high enough capacity, extra mags easy to store, and still affordable. That would work for me!

And they have class.....

 

[memphisjim]

wouldnt a mini14 in 308 no longer be a mini and therefore a m14

 

[John Parker]

A surplus bolt-action rifle or a lever action would fill the requirements of a truck gun nicely and would be far less likely to provoke a hysterical reaction by a cop on a traffic stop, car theives looking to score, or a soccer mom who happens to see it as she passes the car... (I know you'll have it hidden, but sometimes Murphy gets bored.)
I'll vote for the Mosin. And at $69.95, if it gets stolen, who cares?