The best truck gun of 2026 is cheap enough that a scratch does not ruin your day, tough enough to ride over washboard roads for years, and versatile enough to handle whatever shows up: a coyote in the calf pasture, a snake at the gate, a hog in the headlights, or something worse at a lonely gas station. Words like inexpensive, rugged, portable, and versatile defined the ideal truck gun when we first ran this list in 2015, and they still do.
What has changed is the field. Budget AR-15s now shoot sub-MOA out of the box. Non-NFA pump guns with 14 inch barrels exist. Takedown rifles disappear behind a seat. We rebuilt this guide around guns our writers have actually tested, kept the best of the original picks, and dropped the handguns, since a truck gun is a long gun first. Every pick links to our coverage, from full reviews to launch news, and we tell you which is which. Prices are listed as they were at the time of review or launch.
One important note before we start. A gun stored in a vehicle is a theft magnet. Know your state and local laws on vehicle carry and storage, keep the truck locked, and use a lockbox or vehicle safe when you leave it.
Start with the buyer’s guide, then pick the truck gun that fits your country and your budget.
Table of contents
- Buyer’s Guide: How To Choose The Best Truck Guns In 2026
- Best Truck Guns Ranked: 2026 Product Roundup
- Ruger Harrier: Best for Overall Truck Rifle (2026)
- Mossberg Maverick 88 Security: Best for Budget Truck Shotgun (2026)
- Mossberg 590 Shockwave: Best for Compact Truck Shotgun (2026)
- Mossberg 464 Lever Action: Best for Lever-Action Truck Gun (2026)
- Zastava M70 ZPAP: Best for AK-Pattern Truck Rifle (2026)
- Stevens 320: Best for Ultra-Budget Pump Shotgun (2026)
- Ruger PC Carbine: Best for Takedown Pistol-Caliber Truck Gun (2026)
- Henry U.S. Survival AR-7: Best for Pack-Away .22 Truck Gun (2026)
- Final Thoughts On The Best Truck Guns Of 2026
Buyer’s Guide: How To Choose The Best Truck Guns In 2026
Choosing the best truck gun comes down to what you will use it for most and what you can afford to leave in a vehicle. Here is what to weigh.
Define The Job
Varmints and predators at distance call for a rifle in .223 or 7.62×39. Close-range defense and snakes point toward a shotgun. Small game and pest control can be handled with a .22. If you want one gun to do it all, a 5.56 carbine or a lever-action .30-30 covers the most ground.
Budget Matters More Than Usual
Trucks get broken into, and guns ride around in heat, cold, dust, and bouncing. A truck gun should be something you can afford to replace. Every gun in this guide was under about $1,000 at the time of review, and several were well under $500.
Size And Storage
A shorter gun is easier to store behind a seat, under a seat, or in a console vault. Look at overall length, not just barrel length. Takedown rifles like the AR-7 and Ruger PC Carbine pack small, and the Mossberg Shockwave is about 26 inches long. Make sure the gun fits the storage you have.
Ammo Availability
Stick with common calibers: 12 gauge, 20 gauge, 5.56, 7.62×39, 9mm, .30-30, and .22 LR. If you can buy it at any farm store, you can keep the truck gun fed.
Durability And Finish
Synthetic stocks and coated metal shrug off weather and scratches. Blued steel and walnut look great but need more care in a truck. Whatever you choose, wipe it down regularly and check it for rust.
Legal Considerations
Laws on loaded long guns in vehicles vary widely. Some states require the chamber to be empty or the gun to be cased. Also check whether your state treats a firearm like the Shockwave differently from a standard shotgun. Do your homework before you load up.
Best Truck Guns Ranked: 2026 Product Roundup
Ruger Harrier: Best for Overall Truck Rifle (2026)
Ruger’s Harrier is a brand-new budget AR-15 born from its purchase of Anderson Manufacturing, and it is exactly what a truck rifle should be. Our reviewer found it ran flawlessly and printed sub-MOA best groups with all four loads tested at 100 yards, even with wind gusting to 15 mph. Hornady 55-grain V-MAX averaged 0.58 inch with a 0.51 inch best group, and Black Hills 77-grain OTM turned in a 0.55 inch best group.
Read our full Ruger Harrier review here.
It has 7075 forged receivers machined to mil-spec dimensions, a 16.1 inch 4140 chrome-moly barrel with a 1:8 twist and A2 flash hider, a nitrided bolt carrier with a properly staked gas key, and a free-floated handguard. The base model weighs 6.6 pounds. The weak points are a trigger that broke at 7 pounds 12 ounces with plenty of creep and a small, non-ambidextrous charging handle. MSRP was $699 for the base model and $749 for the upgraded version he tested at the time of review.
Key Specs
- Action: Semi-auto, direct impingement
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Barrel: 16.1 inch, 1:8 twist
- Weight: 6.6 lb (base), 6.8 lb (upgraded)
- MSRP: $699 to $749 at time of review
Pros
- Ran flawlessly
- Sub-MOA best groups with every load
- Mil-spec parts for easy upgrades
- Affordable
Cons
- Heavy, creepy trigger
- Small non-ambidextrous charging handle
- One magazine included
🛒 Check Current Price for Ruger Harrier on GunsAmerica
Mossberg Maverick 88 Security: Best for Budget Truck Shotgun (2026)
If you want a pump shotgun you will not cry over, the Maverick 88 is it. Our reviewer picked the 20 inch model for its seven-round tube over the five-round 18.5 inch version. It weighs only 6.5 pounds, and he expected it to beat him up, but found the recoil heavy and manageable. Birdshot, buckshot, turkey loads, and slugs all ran reliably.
Read our full Maverick 88 Security review here.
The cross-bolt safety sits in front of the trigger guard, which takes some getting used to, and the trigger is a bit heavy at 7 pounds. The action release is behind the trigger guard, so you do not have to shift your grip to work it. He called it well balanced and said the build quality is exceptional for the price. It was $230 at the time of the 2023 review.
Key Specs
- Action: Pump
- Gauge: 12
- Barrel: 20 inch (18.5 inch available)
- Capacity: 7 (20 inch), 5 (18.5 inch)
- Price: $230 at time of review
Pros
- Very affordable
- Ran every load tested
- Light at 6.5 lb
- Easy action release
Cons
- Safety in front of trigger guard
- 7 pound trigger
- Stout recoil
🛒 Check Current Price for Maverick 88 on GunsAmerica
Mossberg 590 Shockwave: Best for Compact Truck Shotgun (2026)
Our reviewer called the 20 gauge Shockwave Mossberg’s ultimate truck gun, and it is hard to argue. It has a 14 inch barrel but is not regulated under the NFA because it leaves the factory with a Raptor pistol grip and an overall length of about 26.37 inches. The 20 gauge weighs 4.9 pounds and holds six shells. At 12 yards, all of his buckshot pellets landed within an 18 inch spread.
Read our full Mossberg Shockwave 20 gauge review here.
Recoil is the catch. With no stock, your hands absorb it, and he found even 20 gauge No. 4 buckshot less than comfortable, with the forend strap rivets biting his hand. He tended to shoot high without a cheek weld. Our separate 12 gauge Shockwave review found light loads easy to control and had all rounds in the A-zone at 7 yards. MSRP was $455 for both at the time of review. Check your state laws before buying.
Key Specs
- Action: Pump
- Gauge: 20 (tested) or 12
- Barrel: 14 inch, cylinder bore
- Overall Length: About 26.37 inches
- MSRP: $455 at time of review
Pros
- Very compact
- Proven 590 action
- Light at 4.9 lb (20 ga)
- Non-NFA under federal law
Cons
- Sharp recoil without a stock
- Takes practice to shoot well
- Restricted in some states
🛒 Check Current Price for Mossberg Shockwave on GunsAmerica
Mossberg 464 Lever Action: Best for Lever-Action Truck Gun (2026)
The 464 was on our original truck gun list, and it earns a spot again. It is a .30-30 lever gun with an 18 inch barrel that blends the reliability of the Winchester 94 with the strength and smoother function of the Marlin. Our reviewer called it extremely handy as a truck gun, a brush gun for deer, hogs, and coyotes, or something to keep on a golf cart or ATV.
Read our full Mossberg 464 review here.
With Hornady LeverEvolution ammo, a cold 464 shot about 1 inch groups at 100 yards, and that group repeated whenever he let the gun cool. Like any lever gun with a barrel band, accuracy wanders once the barrel heats, but the first five shots are what matter on a ranch. A separate trigger safety tied to the lever backs up the tang safety, so a branch in the trigger guard will not set it off. The review dates to 2011, so verify current models and pricing.
Key Specs
- Action: Lever
- Caliber: .30-30 Winchester
- Barrel: 18 inch (2011 review)
- Capacity: Tube magazine
- Safety: Tang plus lever trigger safety
Pros
- About 1 inch cold-bore groups
- Handy and light
- Legal almost everywhere
- Made in America
Cons
- Accuracy drifts when hot
- Shallow scope mount holes
- 2011 review
🛒 Check Current Price for Mossberg 464 on GunsAmerica
Zastava M70 ZPAP: Best for AK-Pattern Truck Rifle (2026)
An AK is about as rugged as a truck gun gets, and our reviewer called the Zastava ZPAP an AK for AR guys. It has a cold hammer-forged, chrome-lined barrel, properly seated front sights, and the heavier bulged trunnion that reinforces the receiver. His rifle wore ergonomic ArchAngel furniture with a five-position stock and cheek riser, and newer models add QD mounts, M-LOK slots, and a top Picatinny rail.
Read our full Zastava ZPAP M70 review here.
It performed flawlessly without a single failure on Magpul polymer and South Korean surplus steel magazines, and he rang steel silhouettes and 8 inch gongs at 277 yards. Recoil is typical AK, present but not overbearing, and he did notice the weight on the move. Street price was around $1,000 at the time of the 2021 review.
Key Specs
- Action: Semi-auto, gas piston
- Caliber: 7.62×39
- Barrel: Cold hammer-forged, chrome-lined
- Receiver: Bulged trunnion
- Price: About $1,000 street at time of review
Pros
- Flawless reliability
- Chrome-lined barrel
- Modern furniture options
- Hit steel at 277 yards
Cons
- Heavier than an AR
- Priciest gun here
- Short review
🛒 Check Current Price for Zastava ZPAP on GunsAmerica
Stevens 320: Best for Ultra-Budget Pump Shotgun (2026)
The Stevens 320 led our original truck gun list, sold back then as a Field and Security combo with both 18.5 and 28 inch barrels. Our reviewer later tested the Field Grade and called it ridiculously affordable while delivering expected Stevens quality. It uses a four-lug rotary bolt reminiscent of the Winchester 1300, which gives it a tight, consistent lockup.
Read our full Stevens 320 Field Grade review here.
After four or five boxes of target loads it never malfunctioned, and patterns were respectable through the modified choke. The 6.5 pound trigger is a little mushy, and the safety sits in front of the trigger. The 28 inch Field Grade weighs 7.45 pounds, so for truck duty look for the shorter security barrel. MSRP ranged from $238 to $273 at the time of the 2017 review.
Key Specs
- Action: Pump, four-lug rotary bolt
- Gauge: 12 (tested)
- Barrel: 28 inch tested; 18.5 inch security barrels offered
- Capacity: 5
- MSRP: $238 to $273 at time of review
Pros
- Extremely affordable
- No malfunctions in testing
- Tight lockup
- Interchangeable barrels
Cons
- Mushy trigger
- Long barrel on Field Grade
- 2017 review
🛒 Check Current Price for Stevens 320 on GunsAmerica
Ruger PC Carbine: Best for Takedown Pistol-Caliber Truck Gun (2026)
A 9mm carbine shares ammo with your handgun and is pleasant for anyone in the family to shoot. The Ruger PC Carbine adds a takedown barrel that breaks apart with the flick of a switch, the same system as the 10/22 Takedown, so it stows in a small bag. Our coverage notes interchangeable magwells for Ruger SR and Security-9 magazines or Glock magazines.
Read our full Ruger PC Carbine launch coverage here.
It has a 16 inch fluted, threaded barrel, a 10/22-pattern fire control group with a huge aftermarket, a peep rear sight, and a full-length rail for optics. Suggested price was $649 at launch, with real-world prices starting around $500 at the time. Our coverage is a launch article rather than a full test. For more 9mm carbines, see our best 9mm carbines guide.
Key Specs
- Action: Semi-auto, blowback
- Caliber: 9mm
- Barrel: 16 inch fluted, threaded 1/2-28
- Magazines: Ruger SR/Security-9 or Glock via magwell
- MSRP: $649 at launch
Pros
- Takedown for compact storage
- Uses Glock magazines
- Big 10/22-style aftermarket
- Mild recoil
Cons
- Pistol cartridge limits range
- Launch coverage, not a full review
🛒 Check Current Price for Ruger PC Carbine on GunsAmerica
Henry U.S. Survival AR-7: Best for Pack-Away .22 Truck Gun (2026)
The AR-7 is the truck gun you forget is there. The barrel and receiver unscrew and, along with two eight-round magazines, store inside the stock, which floats when capped, at least for a while. Stowed, it is 16.5 inches long, and it weighs 3.5 pounds. Our reviewer said it hides well in a car or truck and will not take up much room.
Read our full Henry AR-7 review here.
It is a simple blowback design that he found works reliably, even when wet, dirty, or fouled. He called it head-shot-on-squirrel accurate, though he thought narrower sights would help, and the trigger breaks at 7 pounds. It is a .22, so think small game, snakes, and pests, not defense. MSRP was $290 at the time of the 2014 review.
Key Specs
- Action: Semi-auto, blowback
- Caliber: .22 LR
- Length: 35 inches assembled, 16.5 inches stowed
- Weight: 3.5 lb
- MSRP: $290 at time of review
Pros
- Stows inside its own stock
- Floats
- Very light
- Reliable when dirty
Cons
- .22 LR only
- Wide front sight
- 7 pound trigger
- 2014 review
🛒 Check Current Price for Henry AR-7 on GunsAmerica
Final Thoughts On The Best Truck Guns Of 2026
For most people, the best truck gun is a reliable budget AR like the Ruger Harrier: accurate, light, and cheap enough to live in a truck. If you prefer a scattergun, the Maverick 88 and Stevens 320 are hard to beat on price, and the Shockwave packs a 590 into a tiny package. The Mossberg 464 is the classic answer for lever gun fans, the ZPAP is the toughest rifle here, and the PC Carbine and AR-7 disappear behind the seat. If you want an AR with more features, see our best AR-15 rifles by price guide, and for guns that fold even smaller, see the best folding firearms. If your truck doubles as a ranch truck, see our guide to the best ranch rifles.
Whatever you pick, lock it up when you leave the truck, and check it often. Find new and used truck guns on GunsAmerica.com. Train hard, shoot straight, and stay dangerous.
is the News Editor of GunsAmerica.
Ok, I see this thread is 3 yrs old now. Screw it. As a Deputy, I keep my personal gear in my POV. I keep an extra of the same hand gun as I’m issued… Sig P220. Wish it was a Glock 17, but it isn’t. I keep 5 loaded mags and another 100 rounds for that gun. This also includes my turnout bag with OC, handcuffs, knives, radio, ASP, first aid (tourniquet, gunshot patches and other bandages). I keep a Sub2000 hidden in the back compartment with 6 mags that hold between 15 and 30 rounds of .40 S&W. I also keep another 200 rounds in the front cab. If we go on vacation, I throw in my .380 and spare mag, which are kept on me with another 100 rounds in the cab, and my 16″ AR with another 5 mags and 200 rounds. I also keep a go home bag at all times with food, water, Sawyer filters, gas mask, KCl pills, and all other kinds of ppe, first aid, and survival gear (hatchet, knives, matches, fire steel, lighters, mylar, compass, whistle, machete, 550 cord, full body Dupont Tyvek suits, and much more to mention. This all fits in my center console, back storage compartment, and turnout bag that sits in the back of the vehicle behind tinted windows. I am in the process of setting up wife, daughter and my vehicle GHB to all be clones of each other.
I live in Australia, in the far north where we have actual tropical jungle, can’t say I ever needed a gun while in a vehicle or heard of anyone who did either.. Once a snake got into the vehicle but that’s one o those infinite things a belt knife is for. Any problem that needs a gun that’s folded and in the back some place is over before you get your gun and likely your dead for heading for a gun instead of for a quicker and safer solution to the problem using your noggin. Seems pretty senseless unless this article is written on purpose to encourage people to encourage car break ins and provide free weapons to thieves and criminals with your prints on them in which case .. carry on !
This is the dumbest comment I have ever heard of. Keep drinking your commie kool-aid… I have used my truck gun several times to take care of business. I am a Sheriff’s deputy, so I don’t slink away when shit happens.
In my truck is the gun I carry when getting in the truck and getting out of the truck. I never leave any gun in my truck nor do I proclaim my membership to any pro gun organizations by putting bumper stickers all over my truck. That said I carry my Baretta FS Inox compact with my Italian leather holster on the cross draw position just to the front of my left hip. No rifle, no shotgun but plenty of fully loaded mags for my FS compact Baretta..
Usually when I leave the house my KSG-12 is in the trunk, Glock 19 on my hip, Glock 43 on the ankle. Why a KSG? Its about $700 so its on the pricier side, but its just over 2ft long (smaller than any long gun listed above) and its 13 rounds of 12 gauge. Why not? I can access my trunk from the cabin, so it is never out of reach. Will it be the first thing I reach for? Definitely not, but if a situation looks like its getting out of hand, it can make an appearance quickly and handle whatever animal is present. 2 legs or 4, it won’t matter.
A good truck gun should be compact, as by its nature you’ll be pulling it out of an enclosed space. Folding stocks are great for this.
Living here in Virginia. My combo of choice is a..243 and my 9. There isn’t anything that I can’t put down where I hunt or.work with that.
My truck gun is a 20ga 870 (18.5 inch tube) with a Choate side folding stock. I keep it in a discreet bag with a few boxes of slugs and some buckshot. I store it in the bag with the the barrel off (take down style). I put the barrel on when I get in the truck. It’s compact, handy and files under the radar. I have cable locks set up to deter smash and grab (it’s out of sight) but I don’t leave it in the truck overnight. The bag is about 20 inches. I always have a pistol on me so the truck gun is more of a just in case. It’s reassuring when traveling in meth head country.
Cheap Bersa 380 w/ 2 mags of HPs in the console, easy to reach for self defense of my truck and family. Henry survival rifle under the back seat in case we’re ever stranded in the middle of nowhere and McDonalds isn’t close for dinner. SW 9mm w/ 2 high capacity mags in the hiking backpack under the back seat to fend off the Bears, wolves, and banjo players while hiking state parks.
Maybe overkill but not unprepared.
Agree with folks that chose SKS as semi-auto. Truck rifle should be cheap, and cheap to shoot. I would have said Ruger Ranch Rifle, but since 2013, even a used mini-14 is pricey, and .223 has gone up as well.
Thing is, with a pick-up truck, no need to carry pistol grip shotguns, a full stocked shotgun will fit behind the seat. And, with a truck gun the point is it is utilitarian, like the truck. You can stop and shoot the coyotes that have been harassing the livestock, on the way to bust clays with your buddy. I think a Mossberg 500 combo is a little better quality than the Stevens, at around the same price point.
Instead of the Mossberg lever action, go with a used Marlin 336. Look for one made in New Haven. You can pick them up for a song sometimes, and the quality is much better than the Mossberg, and probably better than the Marlins Remington is putting out today. Nothing more fun and relaxing than blasting water jugs with a .30-.30 on a Sunday afternoon.
Again, you have the room in the pick-up. Don’t go with the Charter Arms UC Lite. Pick up a used S&W 686, or Ruger Security Six. Much less punishing to shoot, you can still find them for about $300, longer barrel is more accurate. Go compact with your semi-auto pistol. Ruger 10/22 is a No-brainer.
Always a 10mm hand gun in my truck. Two mags – one in the gun with 135gr hollow points at 1500 fps, and another with 200gr flat nose hard cast at 1200 fps, for penetration. Yeah, they’re hunting guns doing double duty. I don’t carry in public because I’m only in public in my truck and on other people’s property.
As for the rifle it’s the KelTec SU16c – 25 1/2 inches long with 30 rounds of 5.56 is nice to have. I keep the 100 round mag in the truck too. In Texas it has to be visible in the truck, so behind the seat and loaded is more than questionable – it’ll get you in trouble. Hence why gun racks in the window have a long Texas history. You can make a rack for your ceiling or standing up from the floor, if you wish.
Open carry of long arms is legal in Texas – but OPEN means visible, can’t hide your loaded rifle/shotgun under your trench coat or the behind your truck seat.
All the long guns mentioned in the article are too long for my liking and too limited in capacity. Quickly retrieved, wielded and lots of shots are qualities I demand. I wouldn’t get any of the recommendations in this article.
“In Texas it has to be visible in the truck, so behind the seat and loaded is more than questionable – it’ll get you in trouble. ”
That is completely wrong. Texas has NO laws regarding transport of a long gun in a vehicle.
Best truck gun is cheap, easy to conceal and scary to anybody messing with you. Best truck gun is a shotgun with pistol grips fore and aft, 12 or 20 gauge slugs or buckshot.
Mag Daggit
You can’t take down a truck with a pea shooter …Oh yeah… maybe one of those little ole varmint Mitsobitches or nikons.
But a real rip snortin Dually wheeled Truck ain’t gonna stop fer anything less than a BMG fifty right between the water pump and the alternator.
Or maybe a five hundred magnum .
I have to dispute this. I have stopped cars, trucks as well as two semis using nothing more than an M-4. If a truck is heading straight at you, you don’t have to worry about stopping the truck as much as you do the driver. Pop the radiator and the driver and the truck will stop fairly quickly.
Kel-tek Sub 2000 and corresponding handgun to interchange mags with. That to me is the perfect truck gun(s).
Now someone else beat me to it , But I see a truck gun as a rifle , ot less so a shotgun. I happen to be a fan of the tried and true 38/.357 mag family of cartridges . From low power of a target round for small game up to a . 357 with a 200 gr bullet for medium size game. one of the many reproductions of a model 1892 Winchester rifles or carbines is a very nice choice . Match that with a nice double or single action revolver with a four inch or plus barrel and you have a nice little combination that uses one ammunition. Yes I know the that old hundred plus isn’t as sexy as the newer simiauto rounds or the WOW look at the size of that bullet ! cartridges . but it’s still accurate and a couple hundred rounds takes up ver little space . I have had rifles shotguns , and handguns in an assortment of calibers Many of them obsolete . I have to say , after I reloaded and fired some of those obsolet calibers , I wondered why they went to the wayside
A good .22 long rifle combonations seems like a good choice as well. Then there are all the fine short rifles on the used firearms market. A bolt action in .308 (7.62) or even in 7.62X39 would make some fine truck gones . As would the older 30-06 sixes such as the Enfield or the Springfield , both fine and accurate rifles . I guess the are just so many choices .
One thing I saw on the list , was a snubby . Why ? It’s in a truck. Get something with some barrel length for a good sight radius . Keep the Short barreled ligh weights in your pocket or waistband around town.. That is their function concealment .
that’s about it for me . I do know if I am just going to go out in the desert here in Arizona for a day trip, or a few days
one of my .38/.357 mag combinations will be going with me . out her it can do anything I need them to . from killing a can . to self protection or taking up to a deer or javalina . and I can do it all by just picking the right .38 cartridge .
Just because they’re calling it a “Truck Gun” doesn’t mean it has to stay in your truck, but to be in the truck when you’re in it.
I always have my carry gun on me, always. So I guess a Springfield Armory EMP in 9mm. is my truck gun year-round. Of course during hunting season it has company. Rear window gun racks and hunting related stickers plastered all over your truck are for idiots. You may as well ad a “Guns on Board” sticker for all the destitute junkies out there.
Here in Colo. where the bears are trained to break into vehicles, a short action BLR in .308 is a nice truck firearm.
What level of Idiot leaves a Gun in a Truck these days? Maybe the Feds should include this question on the application form? To help weed out the idiots?
Fifteen years ago when there were only three houses within a quarter mile of mine I was one of those idiots you speak of.
People living on farms and ranches as well might be some of those idiots as well.
Not every gun owner lives in close proximity to others.
An idiot lives in an area where he might expect his vehicle to get broken into.
I live on a fairly busy intersection in a well populated area, Id feel ok leaving a gun in my truck. Just an old Tahoe, not something anyone is willing to get shot over.
For my purposes I usually always have a handgun that stays in my pickup. I chose a Taurus PT 111 Gen 2. It’s realatively compact, offers above average mag capacity, is reliable, and at the price of $200.00, I can afford it’s loss which to me is a consideration when it comes to “Truck Guns”. As to long guns, probably my 10/22 stainless with the Butler Creek folder. Shotgun wise, my 1925 A5 Browning with a 20″ barrel and a 8 shot tube.
I used to leave a nickle plated makarov in my truck till it was spotted by a mechanic and soon after disappeared from it right in my driveway .
That was 15 years ago and I never leave any weapon in my truck now.
Yea Joe, I’m with you on that. Had a nice dbl barrel 20gauge stolen out of truck years ago and I won’t leave a gun in truck again. I always CC but rarely keep anything else in the truck unless I’m traveling but I live in a suburban area now so too many people to trust to leave anything valuable in truck..
It seems like everyone is thinking thugs, muggers and terrorists with their wide array of choices. Maybe that’s because the pickup truck has become as common in town as in the country.
I’m just an East Texas good ol’ boy that happens to live in the country. It’s one mile from my front door to the mailbox out on the county road and 10 miles to the closest store when I need milk and bread. When I think pickup truck I think of utility, hay bales, miscellaneous tools and rusty barbed wire and maybe a sun bleached cowboy cold Budweiser. And when I think of truck guns I’m thinking of things on four legs or things that slither. When I think of two leggeds that might hurt me I think of the pistol on my hip.
For my needs I choose two long guns, one that shoots way out there and one that scatters. That’s the consensus of most everyone around here. When it comes to choice it’s different strokes for different folks. Mine is a forty year old Remington 1100 and a just as old Remington 788 in triple deuce (.222 Remington). I’m lucky to have one of the early 788’s with a nice walnut stock, not sassafras. I keep these handy in a gun rack mounted behind the seat (not in the window).
All in all, nothing fancy, nothing to go to war with, just something to fit everyday needs.
Well said Gary; that’s classic “truck gun” defined where I live too (Texas Hill Country).
My exception to the pistol and take-down are the Taurus Millennium Pro II, 9mm, and the Henry Survival Rifle. The Taurus is found at Academy on sale for $299.99 all the time, and the Henry costs about at least $175 cheaper than the Ruger. You can take the difference and buy a Mossberg 500 12 gauge, and have money left over for ammo. I don’t have a pickup anymore, but the Henry fits in my toolbox in the back. If broke own in another state, I can put it together quickly, and I have 5 magazines total of 22 stingers for use. Takes little space, but can help you survive for a long time. Taurus holds 12 + 1, and has second strike capability, and is a very realable weapon.
sadly, not everyone lives in a free state but everyone should roll with some portable defensive capability. if a handgun isnt allowed if one crosses unfree state lines frequently, then how about:
1. a single shot h&r/nef break action 20 or 410 gauge shotgun. cheap at $100 used but reliable. see youtube: with practice and a buttstock shell holder one can put 5 rounds downrange fast. 12 gauge is a bit too stout here. while they can be broken down with one screw, better to cut down the barrel to legal minimum to keep it ready. i suggest not get the survivor stock, it is more awkward to quickly reload.
2. marlin 70 papoose. 22lr, good and bad well discussed. unscrews completely, making it more portable and unobtrusive, but less ready.
3. turkish or italian folding shotgun. hard to find but the turkish khan 410 is a real gem.
Still live at your parents too?
My “Truck” gun is actually a “Trunk” gun. It is an Ishapore Lee Enfield in .303 caliber with a 10 shot magazine along with a box of cartridges. It originally cost me $100.00 plus the cost of an ejector to repair it. It is powerful and much more effective than a handgun if I need to leave the confines of my vehicle. It is fast to operate and it can be recharged with stripper clips. Best of all, if it is lost, stolen or destroyed I am not out much money!
My SKS with the folding Monte Carlo stock and Mag conversion installed is perfect for truck gun status, as is my old Armalite AR7 take down rifle.
Both easy on the pocket book.
One good for little critters and one good for larger ones and both deadly in their missions.
The PMR 30 by Kel-tec is 30 rounds of 22 Mag that weighs almost nothing even when fully loaded.
Much like others who commented my idea of a truck gun is a gun you would put on a gun rack in the window. I don’t want to spend much but I want a gun to take care of business. I would go with a Hi Point carbine or a Maverick 88.
My personal favorite truck gun is a 12 gauge Mossberg 500 tactical , black on black. I converted both for end grip and the butt stock to pistol grips. I use slugs and double 0 buck shot. With my concealed carry weapon which is a S&W mod 642 air weight, I feel as though I’m pretty well covered.
Although not as popular, don’t overlook military surplus and oddball calibers. I love and constantly carry an M57 pistol in 7.62x25mm. The round is hard hitting and flat shooting. The firearm is all steel construction and the easiest semi-auto to clean that I have come across. With the Zastava factory still churning them out, the M57 is the best firearm you can buy (in my humble opinion) for under $300.
What he said. A pistol round that will penetrate both sides of a vehicle body is my kind of a truck gun, with cheap platform and ammo to boot.
May need to wear shades, though, those Tok’s spit some fire, at night a follow-up shot might be difficult without tinted eyewear.
To me, a “truck gun” is something that in the old days you would put in the rifle rack in the back window of your pick up. Which means a shotgun or a rifle, or both. Pistols are EDC, car or truck, and therefore don’t meet my personal definition. A lever action is perfect, or an M1 Carbine or Ruger Mini14, something for close up, within 100 yards, for coyotes and hogs, or an occasional deer. 30-30 is a bit much; .357 or .44 mag would do, but it seems Mossberg doesn’t make the 464 in any caliber but .30-30. Or you could opt for an inexpensive bolt gun in .223 or .243 for such tasks, many of which run between $400 and $500, e.g. a Savage or Stevens.
May we agree to disagree? Truck gun (TG) has two basic distinct categories AND may be very limited by State/Local Laws.
a. If you don’t have cwp or open carry status, you may want a handgun in your vehicle instead of a long gun.
b. If you have CWP or open carry and do carry a handgun, a long gun in your vehicle augments and enhances your capabilities.
A TG needs to be reliable above all other factors. Price is what it is to achieve this with the firearm type you chose.
Any firearm carried in a break down configuration is useless in an emergency.
TG is not just what you chose to carry in your vehicle but what you can use from the inside the confines of that vehicle.
The TEST. When seated in the vehicle the TG as carried: how long to get it locked and loaded?
With what ease or difficulty can you transition your point of aim from left to right, front to back.
This IMHO eliminates all takedown stored guns and all long guns that do not have folding stocks (also excludes collapsible stocks). As always, any gun is better then no gun. But why would you limit your firepower to a revolver or a lever action? Why limit a TG to a handgun caliber on a long gun?
Good points Will!
I like this article but there are 3 guns that are more suitable than these in my opinion and even though I’m a glock fanboy I’m not going to add any pistols, I generally think of a “truck gun” as something in the long gun category, but that’s just me
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1. SKS, a good norinco or yugo will only run you about $300-400 has better accuracy and stopping power than the .30-30, (in most cases) and ammo is way cheaper, plus none of us feel bad about dinging up an old surplus rifle, and to top it off a couple stripper clips loaded up gives you fast reloads with 10 rds at the ready, pretty substantial.
2. KelTec Sub 2000, pick your favorite common pistol caliber and pistol maker and you’ve got a pistol carbine that in most cases (glock, Beretta, sig, maybe more idk) will work with your carry or duty gun! Plus the small boost you get from a 16 in barrel is nice, and recoil is lower, pretty solid and one of these bad boys is only about 400-500, plus you should already have mags if you have a full size handgun!
3. Last but not least the Ruger American Ranch Rifle, available in .223 and .300 BlkOut this little bolt action rifle sports a youth sized stock and a 16 inch barrel, plus an already installed aluminum optics rail, this gives you storage capability, fire power, accuracy, and range potential beyond everything else that you or I listed! (Maybe less power than the 12 iron but still) and considering the polymer body and rugers rugged steel innards this rife paired with even just a red dot gives you amazing versatility and all under 500! Minus the optic of course!
That’s just my 2cents, hope you guys agree/enjoy