Truck gun on the cheap?

[Loggerlee]

I voted Mosin,though when I'm in my truck I can either run over,or run away from any trouble I can Imagine,I've got a CCW for ID though,and I carry a handgun for the occasional critter that don't get across the road fast enough.

About the same power as a 06' and cheap,stripper clips make loading/reloading fast enough,just in case you want to get somewhat "tactical"

I used to pack my Mini 14 most times,but tough times struck

 

[Dr.Rob]

Find your self a used but not abused Marlin or Winchester (sears) brand .30-30 lever action. Better close up sights than a Moisin Nagant and effective enough for precision shots at 100 yards. The average Russian rifle throws a pattern out there rather than a tight group. No one really 'blinks' at a deer rifle in most suburban/rural places. Practice with it. A LOT. Before you load it up in your truck 'just in case'.

 

[jeepguy]

so you can have a pc carbine in ohio with loaded mags, as long as the rifle happens to take the same mags/ammo as your carry gun? being from ohio i went with a vz 58, becuse of the stripper clips & folding stock. although the stripper clips it will take some getting used to. big plus is when i take someone shooting with me & they ask for a clip i will finally be able to give them one.

 

[ThomasT]

Around here the common truck guns have been 30-30s, 22s and shotguns. You don't see guns in rear windows of pickups much anymore. Maybe a few in far west Texas. Now that you can legaly carry a handgun in your vehicle l suspect ther are a lot of pistols and and revolvers tucked away in glove boxes and center consoles. lts funny because hiding a handgun would get you arrested a few years ago. Now it is required that they be put where they are unseen.

I carry a S&W model 65 and a marlin model 60 in my truck. I just bought a ruger ss/synthetic that I think will replace the model 60. I like the idea of being to load and unload it with the magazine. I got it cheap enough that if it gets stolen it won't be a huge loss money wise.

 

[Lawman]

Truck gun

I am quite happy with my Marlin 1894 in 44 Mag. 16" barrel. Speaks with authority.

 

[gunnutery]

I don't really have a problem with the Mosin for a "truck gun." It's cheap enough you don't have to worry too much about it being abused (weather wise). Although everyone else has mentioned very low price-high quality guns as well. Lord willing none of us will be in a situation that requires the use of a truck gun. It really comes down to what you're most comfortable AND accurate with.

I guess if I were to have a truck gun I'd probably go with a 30-30, but if I chose the Mosin it'd probably be an M44 for the compactness.

On a side note, I knew nothing of Portmouth, OH before I read your post, looks like a nice place with great scenery.

 

[LRS_Ranger]

Lever gun, 30-30. My truck rifle is a Marlin in 45-70.

 

[RonBernert]

Ratshooter: "Around here the common truck guns have been 30-30s, 22s and shotguns. You don't see guns in rear windows of pickups much anymore. Maybe a few in far west Texas. Now that you can legaly carry a handgun in your vehicle l suspect ther are a lot of pistols and and revolvers tucked away in glove boxes and center consoles. lts funny because hiding a handgun would get you arrested a few years ago. Now it is required that they be put where they are unseen"

I was just thinking about this very thing the other day.. I remember when I was younger and spent a good part of the summer in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
My Grandfather would take me to Lewis' Department Store, and when we'd get there he'd open his trunk of the Ford, get out an old Ithaca 12GA side by side and sling it over my shoulder. There was nothing like walking around in a department store with a shotgun broken open and for all to see.. I felt 10 feet tall and almost like it was the old west... Out in the parking lot there would be Pickups with the windows down and a lever action in the back window on a 3 or 4 gun rack.. Noone would bother touching or stealing them....
Now, even in Sioux Falls, if there's a gun in the back window the cops meet you at your car!
I'm still not sure if the changing times are better or worse.....

 

[arkansashillbilly]

I like how Palehorseman thinks. I have two that I consider truck guns that I've thrown in the cab on occasion on our old farm. One is a sporterized SMLE that I gave 30 for. Put a cheap scope on and it was good to go. The other is a sporterized k11 Schmidt Rubin in 308 winchester. It was one of those "Pioneer" or whatever professional sporter jobs from the 60's. I traded an old desktop computer for it. I've got way more in the scope setup on it than in the rest of the rifle and so far all I've bought for the setup is the mount. It was already tapped and drilled. I killed a deer a few years ago with it. I'd look for a bubba'd cheap anything. Afterall you know it's gonna get knocked around and you don't want to have to worry about keeping it uber clean or getting any scratches or knicks. IMO that's the only thing a bubba'd mil-surp is good for.

 

[Strahley]

A used Remington 870 can easily be found for $200

 

[oldbanjo]

I personally carry a mossberg 500 w/PG, mag loaded, I'm in a van so I use a bicycle lock to lock it to a seat if I get out the van, also when I take it out of the van it's in a bag that folding chairs go in. I leave the bag hanging on the strap almost always. If I walk out the house door with the strap on my shoulder it looks like I'm carrying a chair. In the area where I am the shotgun would be more inteminating than a rifle.

 

[car15bill]

go around to pawn and gun shops and look around for a crappy(ugly, not dangerous) old jc higgins or mossberg bolt action shotgun. I am partial to the JC higgins, as it has a tube mag that you can't lose. Try and get one with a polychoke, so you can shoot a wide variety of loads, and adjust it as you need without having to carry extra choke tubes.

I got lucky at a garage sale, for 30 bucks, i got a JC Higgins 20 gauge in decent shape with a stock that was split at the forend. a bead of gorrilla glue and a small c clamp around the front of the forend fixed that.

It has a decent recoil pad on it, a flip up rear rifle sight, a hi viz neon front bead, a poly-choke, and a 4 round magazine.

Best of all, if you shop around, i bet you can find one for under 60 bucks. Throw in a box of assorted shells, and you are set for whatever, birds, deer, bear, squirrels, people.

The problem with keeping a nice gun in your truck, is either A) its going to get beat up and rusty, or B) someone might like it more than you and steal it. But, if you buy an un-tacticool old cheap guy gun, no one will ever take it, and the only thing you will have to do is wipe it down with the motor oil off your dipstick....

 

[mljdeckard]

SKSs aren't as cheap as they used to be, but they are still a very capable rifle for a very good price.

 

[azyogi]

Model 99 Ariska 7.7 X 57 JAP with a ground mum and sporterized stock have little collecter value and ammo can be fireformed from 30.06. I paid 40 for my last one but this century they seem to go for more like 140. Strippers can be hard to find but 03 springfields will work.

 

[Onward Allusion]

Lots of used pump shotguns can be had for under $200. If you're willing to go the Maverick 88 or NEF Pardner Protector route, you can get new for under $200 OTD - shipping, tax, & transfer included.

 

[Realbigo]

right now mine is a H&R single barrel, but I'm hopping to get a m92 knock off again, in .357. Or better yet a IMI Timberwolf in .357. I like the MN's and SKS's, but too much weight for my tastes

 

[wideym]

I'd look for a cheap bubba'd or beater SKS without the detachable mags. My cousin used to keep on behind the seat of his truck but the mag always seemed to get hung up on something when he tried to get it out.

Otherwise I'd go with a carbine lenth Mosin that was either bubba'd or sporterized. No need to scratch and ding a perfectly good rifle.

 

[FROGO207]

I voted for a NEF Handi Rifle in 308, Iron sites. Works for me. Lite, Quick to point and not too slow if you practice reloading any at all.

 

[stuckinsocal]

I voted "other". An SKS would be a great option. It's cheap, accurate (enough), has plenty of power, easy to mod, and very reliable. I've carried and SKS as my truck gun on many occasions. It won't be the fastest to get into action, but a truck gun really isn't used for immediate threats unless you're able to carry some type of SBR at the ready. The old Chinese chest rigs are available; you can carry up to 200 rounds on stripper clips in it.

 

[Averageman]

I did a little work and tried to find and rework some long guns to come up with the perfect truck gun.
I was lucky enough to find both a Marlin 336SC and a Remington 870 for $150 a piece. If you have the knowledge, time and a little money you can find bargain and build fine truck guns for next to nothing.
I have learned a lot about both systems as I worked on them and feel I gained a great advantage in the ability to repair my own guns.
My theory was choose a good platform, shop hard for the best value, then get to work.

 

[Z-Michigan]

SKS or a factory stock Saiga.

 

[jpwilly]

Dear OP,

Some great choices have been presented.

I've asked a couple of questions knowing enough about the laws and terrain...that haven't been answered.

You make a choice yet?

You have any input?

You still checking your thread?

 

[publiuss]

I have 3 guns that stay in my truck. A marlin model 60, Rem. 870, and a Mosin 44 with a scope. I think it makes a good truck gun.

 

[hirundo82]

My thoughts for an inexpensive trunk gun:
1) used .30-30 lever gun
2) SKS
3) Maverick 88 or inexpensive used 12 gauge

One of my criteria is that a trunk gun be able to do things my carry gun can't--one of the primary ones is being able to penetrate soft body armor. That's why the shotgun is third on the list. The .30-30 is preferred over the SKS because of perception concerns. For better or worse, a gun that looks like Grandpa's deer rifle would look better than an "assault rifle" (as the prosecutor would spin it) should the case end up before a jury.

Caveat: I'm in Texas, where carry of long guns in any condition is pretty much completely unregulated. Legal concerns may dictate different requirements in other states.

 

[millertyme]

I say the MN. $100 for the rifle, ammo on the cheap, shoots minute of scumbag, killed lots of Nazis with them.

I'm a little surprised we went from a $100 Mosin to a $300+ SKS. For a little over $300 I cold get a Mosin and over 1,000 rounds of ammo plus a decent buttpad. Yeah, we'd all prefer semi-auto in 7.62x39, but that's a different ballgame than what was originally asked.