Author Topic: Truck Gun (Read 4800 times)

turkeyeye · « **on:** December 09, 2009, 01:16:54 PM »

What in your opinion is the best truck gun?

I believe that a Handi can't be beat in this category, so what caliber do you think is the best for varmints, predators, and anything it is needed for.

22WMR, 22 Hornet, and 223 would seem tough to beat, what do you think?

Lazermule · « **Reply #1 on:** December 09, 2009, 01:19:49 PM »

First one that came to mind for me was the .410/45LC Survivor...limited on range though

LM

myarmor · « **Reply #2 on:** December 09, 2009, 01:31:51 PM »

Depends on where you are and what critters you have around you.
223 Hands down for me. I have owned several and for around the farm and in the truck they are great, ammo is easy enough to find, lot of options in bullet weight, and hits pretty hard on Varmints.

-Aaron

bigvarmnt · « **Reply #3 on:** December 09, 2009, 01:41:48 PM »

223 Syn Superlight like mine

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #4 on:** December 09, 2009, 01:45:55 PM »

Truck Gun.
Hands Down. 308Win.
Will do every thing from varmints to deer with 125 grain bullets. they are loading the 125 Reduced recoil loads if you do not reload.
Carry a couple 180 grain Round nose Soft points and you can take on any bear, moose, or elk
Add a couple 147 grain FMJ military rounds and you can take on excaped Ellephant from the Circus or zoo running rampant in your town.
Depending on the 147 grain FMJ ammo it my be cheap coyote ammo and possibly varmint if it goes where you want it to.
But if you are not looking for something that will handle deer than 223 Rem.

TxGun · « **Reply #5 on:** December 09, 2009, 01:47:15 PM »

I vote .223 also. Enough power for anything up to small deer; flat-shooting; zero recoil; ammo available almost everywhere and relatively inexpensive. There are other good utility calibers for sure, but the .223 is hard to beat.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #6 on:** December 09, 2009, 01:57:48 PM »

This is my "truck gun" in 223.

This is what it will do at 100 yds, a three bullet group;

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #7 on:** December 09, 2009, 02:33:52 PM »

I'll throw in on the 223 hand. Some states allow it for game up to deer as well, and with the right bullet, I might squeeze the trigger on one myself. DP

chutesnreloads · « **Reply #8 on:** December 09, 2009, 04:00:37 PM »

Using a .243 S.L....Works pretty good.If I had to do it again I'd probably go with the .223 though.Only grouch was the front sight getting caught on stuff getting it from behind the seat.Easy fix though.

petemi · « **Reply #9 on:** December 10, 2009, 03:12:47 AM »

My .357 Maximum with a red dot is my go to truck gun. .38's for small game, .357 for varmints and the Maxis for bigger stuff. I think I'm going to cut my other .357 to 16 and a half and put a youth stock on it to make it more compact.

Pete

GeorgiaDave · « **Reply #10 on:** December 10, 2009, 03:17:29 AM »

Hello from Georgia,

45/70 Handi.3X9X40. 350 gr. 1700 fps. 1" groups @ 100 yards. Excellent terminal performance. My definition of a truck gun is one that will hit what you want when you take it out of the truck. This gun fits my needs well as it is always predictible. Second choice. Marlin 30/30. no scope. 170 gr. RN.

Dave

fredster22 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 10, 2009, 04:50:56 AM »

At camp in NY 45/410 w/red dot and youth stock. At home in " Joisey " Tracker 20 smoothbore.

Swampman · « **Reply #12 on:** December 10, 2009, 04:59:18 AM »

There are 3 calibers that are very accurate and almost never give trouble.

.30-30
.357
.45-70

In your case I think I'd go with the .30-30

bilmac · « **Reply #13 on:** December 10, 2009, 05:00:18 AM »

I carry mine in a pickpocket, I don't know if they make them anymore. I had the wife sew me a couple out of canvas. Just a piece folded over to make a pocket to hold the gun and then screwed up high behind the seat. That system almost demands a flat sided gun like single shots or levers. Front sights hang up too. That keeps the dust off it and leaves all of the space at the bottom of the seat open for the usual junk.

I like the 357. When I hunt I carry a different rifle for deer and antelope, so I don't need a caliber capable of taking big game. With the single I have instant choice between power levels. Usually the rifle is only used to take an occasional rabbit for supper with rare shots at coyotes or foxes. Most often it is a stress reliever used for plinking at targets that sound off when hit. There is an old car body a couple hundred yards off the road on the way to my fishing hole that has a lot of 38 cal holes in it.

The beauty of the H&R is that I also have a 243 barrel that I can put on when I might be likely to encounter a coyote at an extended range.

eskimo36 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 10, 2009, 05:04:02 AM »

My dad carries my syn stocked (new style)357 max with 4 maxi's and 5 38 wadcutters in the stock sleeve with a 4 power shotgun scope. I carry a 16.5" 357 Herrett with a 2.5-7x NcStar pistol scope mounted scout style. I have wood youth stocks om mine. I also carry a very handi 32-20 quite a bit also.

jdwolf · « **Reply #15 on:** December 10, 2009, 11:32:37 AM »

You just can't beat a 223 Handi for a good truck gun.

jeepmann1948 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 10, 2009, 02:03:05 PM »

44 mag with 2.5 power scope soon to be bobbed to 16" to make it a little easier to swing into action.44 Special level 240gr loads work nicely.Foor more power I use a 94 Trapper 30-30.

Datil · « **Reply #17 on:** December 10, 2009, 02:18:54 PM »

Mine is for a 4 wheeler, 25-35 super lite. Good for every thing. 4X shoot gun scope!!

Datil

Specklebelly · « **Reply #18 on:** December 10, 2009, 03:36:51 PM »

My thoughts are if you want a "truck gun" you would want one without a scope. To easy to bang the scope around and out of sight.

My vote is the 22 Hornet.

Couger · « **Reply #19 on:** December 10, 2009, 03:54:44 PM »

Quote from: turkeyeye

What in your opinion is the best truck gun?

I believe that a Handi can't be beat in this category ......

??!! Huh??

My idea of a truck gun is a walk-me-home gun, in the event of a 'SHTF' situation would be an SKS, or modified boltgun like an S.M.L.E. in .303Brit or similar. Actually I've been looking for an Indian Ishapore S.M.L.E. ln .308W, that could be modified into a nimble rugged carbine.

Now would I want a Handi for a camp or trail or survival gun? Probably! (with 3X or 4X barrels: .22LR Versapack, 12 or 20ga bbl, .223 varmint bbl and a BG barrel). However if I knew I'd need the Handi only to shoot rockchucks and an occassional 'yote,' or perjhaps that opportunistic deer hunt, maybe only one barrel would be needed.

A 'truck gun' to me is a rainy day kind of 'preparation.'

Ole Man Dan · « **Reply #20 on:** January 26, 2010, 03:48:40 AM »

20'' 12Ga. (2 legged critters)

knight0334 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 26, 2010, 04:48:29 AM »

I've got one of these in my truck right now.. lol More for two-legged critters and zombies than anything else.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #22 on:** January 26, 2010, 04:52:51 AM »

I really hate zombies, don't you. I like my .357s in the truck.

Lefty Dude · « **Reply #23 on:** January 26, 2010, 04:59:06 AM »

Quote from: mcwoodduck on December 09, 2009, 01:45:55 PM

Truck Gun.
Hands Down. 308Win.
Will do every thing from varmints to deer with 125 grain bullets. they are loading the 125 Reduced recoil loads if you do not reload.
Carry a couple 180 grain Round nose Soft points and you can take on any bear, moose, or elk
Add a couple 147 grain FMJ military rounds and you can take on excaped Ellephant from the Circus or zoo running rampant in your town.
Depending on the 147 grain FMJ ammo it my be cheap coyote ammo and possibly varmint if it goes where you want it to.
But if you are not looking for something that will handle deer than 223 Rem.

Amen;
this is my choice also, with the 2-6 compact scope, it can't be beat.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #24 on:** January 26, 2010, 05:11:31 AM »

357 first choice
because i carry a 357 mag pocket gun
also the quiet 38 loads if i need to be discreet

12ga next choice raw power and versatile

223 not bad choice

handi is a good truck gun because
it is not in high demand from those that like to steal

44 Man · « **Reply #25 on:** January 26, 2010, 06:54:38 AM »

As much as I LOVE my Handi's, I have to vote with Knight0334. My AR15 rides behind the seat of my pick-up, with a Colt semi-auto pistol in the center console. I guess it depends how you view a 'truck gun'. Most of us think of the ocassional opportunity to take a Coyote. My thought is also that, but there is the possibility of running into illeagls back in the boonies. A friend of mine had quite a problem with 5 of them one day. His pulling his .45 auto got him out of it without a shot. I might never have a problem, but I'm sure my AR would work just fine! (or the 9mm on my right hip) If I had no AR, it would be a lever gun in .357 for all of the same reasons. For a Handi, my beloved 30-30 would get the nod, (loaded with 125 gr bullets), and a .223 second. The .223 would likely see more use, but I would like the extra power the 30-30 has available for larger critters. 44 Man

moorepower · « **Reply #26 on:** January 26, 2010, 07:10:34 AM »

Without knowing exactly what you are speaking, it would be kind of hard to answer. If yotes and prairie dogs are it the .223 if fine. If your talking mt lion a .243 might be better, and also could be used on deer. I would put a low profile lowered power scope on if it were mine, such as a 2.5 or 2X7.

ironglow · « **Reply #27 on:** January 26, 2010, 07:29:08 AM »

Turkeyeye;
  I am going through that plan at this very moment, and I have Handi-Rifles in the very cartridges you mentioned, plus .22 LR. The .22LR, though cheap to shoot, won't be enough for coyote, while the magnum may be adequate for song dogs at moderate ranges.
  The Hornet may be fine for 'yotes....but the .223 is legal, and IMO...adequate for big game, primarily deer.
  OK, so the .223 is centerfire and more costly to shoot than .22LR and likely,the .22 mag. Due to the fact that the .223 is the current military round and case life is better, it may cost no more than the hornet to reload..and should I need to buy new rounds, the .223 is probably lighter on the budget than most.
   Specklebelly says iron sights are the way to go..alas these old eyes need the help of a scope. and with centerfire..it allows full use of the cartridge capabilities. For durability though, one could stick with a fixed power and those very durable 2.5X20 scopes designed for shotgun slugs and black powder, sure are compact.....and handy.
  Still thinking, but I think perhaps I answered some of my own questions right here.

blind ear · « **Reply #28 on:** January 26, 2010, 08:55:52 AM »

A 2 gun rack and I had 2 guns. A 20 ga h&R with a rifle choke. A 14 inch pattern at 6 or 7 yards and a 22lr with a 4x scope. No muskrat was safe from 2 to 60 yards.

eddie

FLNT4EVR · « **Reply #29 on:** January 26, 2010, 09:26:39 AM »

Because I live in a shotgun only ,during deer season, county in NY ,my tracker 1 in 20ga goes where I go .After that it's either my 223 or 30-30.