OK, I know I am opening a can of worms but.... What gun do you use as a "truck gun" and why? What do you consider to be the characteristics of an optimum truck gun?

30-30 marlin, cheap and reliable

.35rem lever gun... easy to get up and out the window without hitting the steering wheel, windshield, or door... hard to break... holds a lot of rounds.. little maintenance needed... i may oil mine once a year

Mine is a ruger stainless in 22-250

Requirements are:

Synthetic stock

Stainless action/barrel

Easily scoped

Flat shooting/low recoiling caliber

Reasons being:

Wood scratches

Bluing rusts

It's rediculous shooting coyotes and hogs from the truck with a 7mm

NEF Handi-Rifle in 243. SS Fixed 10X Mil/ Mil

For my purposes I want to be able to hit a coyote I see out in the cultivated land or the brush near my place. I got clearance from the farmers around me to engage every hog or coyote I see on their land. My purpose is to be able to make hits at a moderate distance, have a rifle that when it gets dirty will still run, and a rifle/ scope combo that if stolen doesn't break my bank account to replace.

RIA 22TCM 1911 is the go to for short range, My other go to is Remington 600 in 243.

About 15 years ago DumbArse'd me traded off the best truck gun I ever had... a Stainless Stevens 200 30'06 in a RamLine Stock that I hated, but only had $200 in the gun. Pitiful OOOld Bushnell fixed 4x40 with bigtime bad paralax problems was the biggest accuracy issue but the Ramline & no pad kicked my silly self like crazy...but with factory Fed Bluebox/Wallyworld WW's it'd hold 1 1/2- 2" groups with the Bushy's hideous paralax & totally untuned trigger and bedding.

THAT's what I call a truck gun...light, weatherproof, cheap easy to find caliber to buy & load for & kill anything in NA ...just needed to spend some bux & upgrade the weak faulty spots but I got in a hurry and made a mistake that I won't make again.

Today if Ruger Americans came in Stainless I'd be all over one like white on rice at the $275/$300 + $20% for the SS prices I'm seeing...or any other No Fix'em's at up to $400 in a usable caliber.
Ron

357 Rossi 1894.

.308 Cetme, Short, Built like a tank, 20 rounds, shoots better the dirtier it gets. Run up on a bunch of hogs all I want to think about is target acquisition and pulling the trigger. Rides in my jeep and in my truck equally well.

I lean toward my Yugo 24/47 sporter in 8mm. It's relatively short, reliable, accurate and just goes boom every time you need it. There isn't anything it will not bring down from mouse to moose. My second choice is the venerable 30/30 carbine length with open sights.

I carry a Marlin 336Y 30-30 around in the Jeep, it's only 33-34 inches long.

I just bought me a 10/22 to keep in the truck when i am out at the ranches.

Rust and scratches is just character! As long as it cycles and shoots strait!

Already roughed up enough where more scratches won't bother me.

Cheap in case it gets stolen. Or in case it wasn't already roughed up I still won't care too much.

Synthetic stock is nice.


I used to have a $200 Chinese SKS with a folding stock and 30 rnd mag, that worked well for a truck gun, but I swapped it.

Four animals cause me the most grief. Armadillos, coons, possums, and skunks. We keep pump shotguns on our tractors, ATV, and in our trucks. Loaded with #2 HiVel high brass. Dead is dead when you are close enough.

Ruger American Rifle in 243.

Don't have hogs around our place so more after coons, skunks and snakes. Carry a cheap shotgun and a 22.in the trail hog all the time. Covers everything I need.

Playing with a CZ 527 in 223 right now but I'm sure I'll go back to my Styer or the old tang safety Ruger 243's.

16.5" Ruger m77 compact in 260 rem

I had one of those Ruger compacts in 260 and it was great. That said, the best truck gun I had was a Ruger 77V in 220 Swift, with a shortened barrel (20 inches). An absolute laser beam of a rifle.

AR 15

I wondered when someone would mention an AR.

I was thinking the same thing. Your M&P would be about perfect.

Yep.

Ruger Mini Ranch Rifle....Or a lever action 30-30. Iron sights.

Old 10/22 some times