Truck gun.

[1 old 0311]

Looking for a cheap rugged truck pistol. I see the Russian Nagant going for $89.00. Surplus ammo looks like $18.00 per 50. For $200.00 you would have a rugger pistol, and 300 rounds of ammo. Am I missing something or does this sound like a pretty good set up?

 

[nelson133]

The Nagant is pitifully underpowered and the trigger tends to be very stiff. I'd look at a Hi-Point 9mm before that gun.

 

[Plink]

On the positive side, you can use .32 H&R magnum ammo in the Nagant. There's some respectible loads available.

 

[ccw9mm]

"Good" options ... meaning what? Quality, reliability, availability?

What purpose, that "truck" carry? If to save your life, I'd opt for something known to be those things (reliable, of good quality and generally available (ie, not relying on cheap surplus ammo)).

If it's a plinking thing, then practically any cheap option will work.

If self-defense and your life is the goal, I'd suggest a more mainstream option, in 9mm or larger caliber. A decent Ruger or larger S&W revolver is fairly rugged, as is a Marlin or Winchester lever-action rifle. What works for me: a CZ P01 9mm pistol that's utterly reliable; a KelTec P3AT for backup; and a Marlin 1894 .44mag lever-action rifle with 16" bbl.

YMMV.

 

[Geno]

Get a used Glock.

 

[DawgFvr]

Truck gun? Hmmm, when I think of truck gun, I think of a rifle...something inexpensive like a SKS w/ a few 10 round stripper clips. As for a side arm, well, I would imagine any kind of pistol/revolver I would be carrying that day.

 

[bluetopper]

The first firearm that comes to mind is a Makarov, but they are not so cheap anymore and will get higher.
For a truck gun that I wouldn't mind getting dinged up would be a Hi-Point. I've had a few of them. Some are very reliable and some are not and require tweaking of the magazine. The Hi-Point 45 I had operated flawlessly.

 

[SaxonPig]

A Military & Police S&W revolver (Model 10) in .38 Special caliber can be found in "shooter" condition for $100-$150 and I can't think of a better knock-around revolver.

 

[Walkalong]

Model 10...Yep, or a 15.

 

[armoredman]

Ditto Smith used revolver. Far better sidearm than the Nagant, and surplus ammo in 7.62 Nagant is pushing $1 a round, when I saw it. Another excellent choice is the Yugo SKS, with a chest rig of 200 rounds on stripper clips stashed, too....but do you really want to leave a firearm in such an easily stolen condition? Chance of your vehicle being stolen/broken into, and your gun being then used in a crime are how high??? What does your state and local law say about your responsability? Some areas file charges against YOU in that occurance, so I'd think again. If you must, then get either a bolted on Gun Vault, or some other way to easily and securely store the firearm out of sight.

 

[M2 Carbine]

For a handgun I use stainless Ruger .357 Security Six revolvers in my vehicles and usually have an extra 2 inch 38 in the glove box, plus whatever I'm carrying at the time.

My idea of a truck handgun is something bigger and more powerful than you normally carry. I want something that will most likely go through vehicle doors.

A friend was involved in a driving "drive by" last year and felt undergunned with his Glock 19.

The CZ 52 might serve as an inexpensive truck pistol.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'll add my voice to the S&W Model 10. You can get a Police trade-in for ~$150 and not worry about beating it up.

 

[Texas Colt]

Any quality used .357 magnum would make an excellent truck gun - S&W, Colt, Ruger, with stainless steel being the best choice for rust resistance. Choose to spend $300 and there are plenty of used 357s out there.

I just sold a Colt Trooper .357 for $275 last month and then bought a Colt Peacekeeper .357 for $300.

 

[Gustav]

Isn't it illegal to hunt trucks with a gun?
Seriously any Smith & Wesson K or L frame model 10 13 15 581 586 blue steel or 64 65 66 686 stainless steel should fill the bill as many nice police trade ins are out there to be found.
Stainless has the advantage over blued steel for better wear and tear.
In semi autos a used surplus Walther P1 (alloy frame P38) would work as would a new Argentine made Browning P35 High Power or a used police trade in Smith & Wesson Sig Glock or Beretta available in 9mm or .40 S & W at reasonable prices.
Big difference between cheap made guns and inexpensive surplus or pre owned.
If the need ever arises to use it price will be that last thing on your mind.
I have never regretted spending a little extra for quality I have learned to regret spending money twice because something was "cheap"
Good luck on your search.

 

[GrandmasterB]

S&W model 10 or pre-model 10 M&P are great guns and can be found well under $200. These folks often have them for sale: www.vivasandson.com

 

[gripper]

I'd go with any decent used Ruger GP100 or Security Six. Or 9(insert favorite whhelie here).
Nagants are interesting ,but MAN that is some slow reload time.

 

[rchernandez]

AK Pistol in 7.62x39 with a couple of extra 30-rd mags

 

[Rex B]

Model 10 in the console, SKS in the trunk
$300 total including ammo

 

[Lou22]

I own an EAA Windicator .357 snub. Holds 6 shots and cost me new about $200. It is kinda ugly but feels real solid and shoots full bore .357 loads with no problem. It's heavy enough at 28oz to make shooting those loads a pleasure. Because of its looks you wouldn't mind the finish getting scratched up. It's also got decent accuracy shooting double-action at 20 feet.

Lou

 

[BADUNAME13]

Handle a Nagant... you'll change your mind.

 

[kmrcstintn]

my current vehicle stash gun is a 3" barreled stainless Ruger SP101 with Winchester WWB Personal Defense 110gr sjhp .357 magnum...not the most high tech setup, but both the platform and the ammo have been around a good amount of time and are proven to work;

been tossing around the idea of a used .30-30 lever gun or a Mosin-Nagant M44 or M38 for tromping through the woods to keep in a locked case in the back of the vehicle

 

[ArchAngelCD]

kmrcstintn,
Keeping a rifle locked in a case inside your trunk is like having no rifle at all. Also, while a great revolver, a Ruger SI101 is way over his intended budget.

 

[tinygnat219]

The Nagant is a great truck gun if you are reenacting the Soviet vs. German battles of WWII. It's definitely not something I would trust my life with. It's underpowered, horrible DA trigger pull, and a horrible reload time (worse that a SAA, at least the SAAs had springs on their ejector rods).

If money is an object, look at a Hi-Point. Great inexpensive ugly gun for a little more cash, a lifetime warranty, and ammo that can be found anywhere not just under an apartment complex in the Ukraine.

 

[Ichiro]

Smith & Wesson 10 with FBI loads.

 

[security6]

Try to find a beatup model 10 that takes 38 special only. I've seen a bunch of them pretty cheap.

You might take a look at a PA-63 or one of other makarov caliber surplus pistols.