Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Caliber for walk around field rifle/ truck gun

I'm looking to fill a void in my stash. I've got hunting rifles in .257 Roberts, .308, .338 Federal, and .264WM

I'm married to the winchester pattern action, for this gun lighter is better, so a Montana, and Winchester are out, looking for short action kimbers

I was thinking about getting a montana/ mountain ascent to have as a lightweight truck/ 4 wheeler/ walk around rifle, mostly shooting at varmints, predators, hogs, whatever I see on the ranch during the daytime. Probably go with a Leupold lightweight 2-7 or fixed 6 power scope, most shots would be taken in the middle of the day, from unsupported positions (I shoot with a galco ching sling alot, or with a single/ double arm wrap on the sling for balance)

I was thinking of .223 as a good round, but then remember my days with the .22-250 and how much I like that round, but a .243 carries better and has a little more punch than the .22's for hogs and if I see an axis deer or other exotic, then again I love 6.5's and the creedmoor looks interesting (I've owned and sold 2 .260's one was twisted wrong for the bullets I wanted the other was a full custom that I never shot beause it weighed too damn much!)

But then again .308 would be a good backup rifle to my .308 Adirondack I could carry 2 rifles, and a few boxes of ammo in one pelican case on trips and be good to go for anything on the continent, and if one goes down, I'm not stuck without a rifle

Too many choices, what are your thoughts?

7-08 Adirondack for $1199 at euro optic is tough to beat fin you are wanting a short barrel and to mix things up as you don't have anything .284 yet

.223

There is a minty Montana in 257 Roberts in the used gun rack at Scheel's in Omaha for $900. You already shoot a 257 Roberts, so you could load the 100 grain BTs or 110 grain ABs for the Montana and go forth to shoot anything on your list.

Brother I've had taht thing in my cart more times than you know!!! I looove my adirondack in .308 and the montana in .338 I just cut down to 17" and have a titanium bolt handle in the mail for it. So I'm good on shorties, reallly looking at something that can push ballistics and shoot a little flatter with a 22" barrel... BTW I love the Typhon on your guns, reallly considering doing something similar at some point in the future!

Too many options, too little time/ money ;]

That is exactly where I started, and I have a Mossberg MVP that takes AR mags that I have been using for this purpose, it just doesn't shoot that straight, bolt feels terrible, and I can't live without my 3 position safety :]

That gun is gonna go up for sale to fund this next kimber purchase, maybea. Few others also...

Thats a great deal!!!! Evil ad tempting!!!

I like it!!!

You are just about as indecisive as the rest of us! How about thinking outside the box a bit? How about an AR with a 223 upper and a 6.8 upper? Quick follow up shots for those herds of hogs you may come up against or a flock of coyotes, or..... fill in the blank....
Shouldn't be too hard to find one with a good barrel and decent accuracy.

Bob

402-289-5666

The "666" in the phone number certainly has an evil connotation.

It keeps calling my name and I surely don't need it, so be a good guy and buy it.

Haha I hear ya there! I have had that bugger in my cart as well a time or two. But currently have a couple project rifles going on that I can't let my ADD get the best of me

Glad you like the Typhon, I like how they came out as well.

Now I got a close range shorty thumper in 358 win and then my open country thumper in 338-06.

.30-30 lever action.

Wholly smokes, if there was ever a perfect spot for s 280, this is it. Fast, flat, and a high BC???

It would be my first pick.

Used stainless 270 for a truck gun. 130s will serve you well.

I agree with ya there!

How about a Howa mini in 6.5 Grendel from our own SAS? Send the stock over to MtBoomer for a trimming. Add a rail and fixed 6 scope and you should be very light and versatile.

+1 on the .257 Roberts loaded with 100gr. bullets, I have a custom barreled pre'64 Winchester M/70 Roberts.

Get a Rock River AR varmint, 3x9 scope, 62 Barnes bullets. It will kill hogs with ease. Never thought I would own an AR but bought one cause I thought they would be banned. They are fun.

My truck/farm gun was a XS7 in .243. Great accuracy in a very inexpensive package that was good for about anything. I gave it to my stepson this Fall so he'd have a rifle to hunt with.

My truck gun is now a Wal-Mart 700 in .243.

The old Savage 24 combination guns in 223 or 30-30 over 20 gauge always seemed like what a woods loafing rifle should be.

It's hard to trump a 223 for a daily carry rifle.

This is the correct answer.

Lot's of them out there at reasonable prices in a choice of practically any configuration you may desire.

drover

For a truck gun that will see plenty of abuse, can't imagine spending much coin. I bought my son a savage axis in 223 this year for deer. Will shoot a little better than moa with cheap American eagle fmj's, and better yet with hornady and Remington ammo. Plastic stock is ugly but it's a shooter for sure. I'm tempted to duracoat to rustproof the action and barrel, just haven't got around to it yet. Total investment with duracoat $250.

Ruger Ranch in 5.56 is my beater knock around gun. $330 and shoots less than 1" every time.

223....unless there's a chance you might run into something that want's you for dinner. In that case, get a 223 AR, so you can spray and pray.

A good knock-about rifle that you wouldn't have much $$ in would be the Marlin XS7s in 243 or 7mm-08 that CDNN is closing out for $280.

223 Montana would make the most fun.

6.5 Creed Hunter would make the most versatility.

308 Montana would make the most sense if you are serious about duping your Adirondack and using the two rifles to hunt the continent.

Sounds like you need something other than a bolt action. A lot of people get stuck on them though.

As much as i really like my Ruger Compact 260, I would think for what you describe a Compact 243 would be tough to beat.

One of the reasons i bought my .308, 16.x Ruger Scout was to have a light, handy carry rifle that could take abuse and function if the scope took a header. It has a 16.1" barrel and I swapped the factory laminate stock for the synthetic one, which Ruger claims brings the weight down to 6.25 pounds.

Velocities are reduced due to the barrel length (an acceptable trade-off in my world for being light and handy). My chronoed velocities are:
2868fps = 130g TTSX/CFE223
2699fps = 150g BT/Varget
2296fps = 208 A-MAX/Varget

Both the 130g TTSX and 150g BT were about .7 MOA loads in the range sessions where those velocities were measured.

Another mod was to remove the factory flash hider and install a $30 muzzle brake I found at a gun show. The point was to test how bad the flash and bang might be if I opted for a Silencerco brake/suppressor adapter as my intent is to do so down the road. The results were the flash and bang increased but not as much as expected and recoil was reduced significantly. My hunting buddy said "there is no recoil", an exaggeration, but he was comparing it to his 7mm RM.

one other thing I did was to purchase a 3-round and 5-round synthetic mags to use in place of the factory supplied steel 10-round nag, which rattles and is obnoxiously long for my current uses. Mostly I just use the 3-round mag, which, by comparison to the others, sits almost flush with the stock.

Next step is to purchase a scout-type scope and mount it in quick-release rings.

Howa Mini in .223 or 6.5 Grendel, or an AR for either cartridge. CZ 527 if you want wood.

A truck gun is the one place where I can suspend my intense dislike for detachable magazines on sporting rifles.

Another interesting option, available in May, is the new Henry single shot. I've been consistently undewhelmed by all things Henry, but this time they appear to have a winner. Think H&R, but with a nicely contoured receiver and decent walnut. .223, .243, .308, .44 mag, and .45/70. Assuming you're not anticipating a fight, a single shot is trim, light, handy, and convenient.

+1

I carry my 1894 in .357 mag more than anything (except maybe my hatchet) while out for a walk.

I think your criteria describes perfectly the uses for a 243 with 223 a close second.

CDNN has a lot of different Ruger American Rifles on sale for under $400. The RAR stainless compact in 22-250 for $350 looks like a good, rugged, and low maintenance, option.

My truck gun is a .243 ( Remington 700) put together from parts. 21" barrel HS precision stock and various sourced factory remington parts. with 6x Weaver it weighs under 8 lbs. and with three main loads will kill bunnies to eat up to deer sized gun.
Loads:
55 gr Nosler Shots bullet Loaded to 2400fps with Unique
55 Gr Nos. Varmagedeon HP with IMR 8208 to 4000fps
95 gr Berger VLD with RL -17 3175fps.

These three loads cover all I ever need from a truck gun and more. Only bad thing is the Varmagedeon load is very destructive on fur or edibles.
But a Kimber( your choice) in 243 is a good choice.

Kimber Hunter (has a clip, good for truck gun) in .308.
Maybe cut bbl to 18 or 20".

I built a 22-250 with a fast twist barrel for the same purpose. Shooting 62 grain TTSXs or heavier bullets, I have no reservation about shooting varmints, deer, hogs, etc. My rifle has a 24 inch Rem standard contour and is very handy. It fits nicely in the truck and is great to carry.

My truck gun is a 243 Montana.

If Kimber ever makes a fast twist 22-250 that will become truck gun #2.

You mean 'detachable magazine' not 'clip', which is altogether a different thing.

(Sorry, pet peeve of mine. Lik the misuse of term 'caliber' for 'cartridge'.)

The "void in your stash' is yuuge and it's in the shape of a .223....

RAR predator in .243
80gn ttsx at 3200-3300 will work for just about anything

Model 99 in 250 SAV

I shall hereby consider myself reprimanded, and will try not to show my ignorance of the English vernacular from this point on.(shame emoji turned on).

Living on a farm, and being a hunter as well, I've had a "truck gun" for 40 years. My first was a Remington 788 in 243. It was the kind of rifle that could stand up to hard use, and it wasn't expensive, so it didn't matter if it got banged around some. I killed a lot of stuff with it. For some reason or another, I sold it and ended up with an Interarms Mini Mauser in 223. It did the job, until someone figured out I had it in the truck, and stole it. After that, I used a 10-22 for my truck/ATV/tractor/farm rifle for a while. I also used a Ruger 17HMR as well. My current truck gun is a Howa Lightning 20 inch barreled 204. I bought it because I had a bunch of 204 brass and bullets, but I've killed a few coyotes and crows with it. If I was doing it all over again, I'd take a hard look at the Howa Mini in 223. You have a 10 round mag, and a cartridge that will take care of most anything. An AR would be just the thing, if I didn't take some shots from the truck.....but, I don't like that brass being flung on the windshield. Haven't broken one yet, but I don't like taking the chance.

Since you said you are married to the Winchester pattern, how about a Kimber Hunter in .243 Win.? They only weigh about 5 1/2 lb. and have a detachable magazine which would make loading/unloading quick & easy. Plus they are stainless steel for ease of maintenance.
Then if you decided you didn't like it you could sell it to me for half of what you have in it!

Yall are hilarious!!!!

Alot of the same ideas I've had (except for losing my ass in a gun to sell on the forum)

Mini mausers and their clones ar cool, I've always preferred short/light/ handi rifles. When I foud kimbers I knew Id foud my grail. Ive got a few model 70 featherweights as well, but they can't compare to the kimbers.

I'll keep thining aobut it, yall keep pitching your piece, It's good to hear and think about....

I just picked up a Ruger 77/44 to go along with my new 629. Have only had it to the range twice but it's been very fun to shoot! My buddy's little boy called it a "Big Nasty" one when we were out on Sunday and I let him know he just came up with it's new name.....LOL!!!

If it has to be the Kimber platform, then make it the Hunter style for truckin'.

The 243 is not twisted tight enough to be truly fun.
The Creedmoor is.

If SAS actually gets them to make an 8 twist 22-250, that would do you very well.

I'm having my truck gun put together as we speak. In fact, I should ring up my Smith to see how it's going. I probably could get by with spending less, but I really don't intend on abusing or neglecting it.

Stainless Remington model 7
6mm Creedmoor
Bansner High Tech Stock
#2 Schneider barrel (20-22")
Factory trigger tuned by 805
Bolt fluted by Feldkamp
Gre-Tan firing pin assy.
Leupold 2.5-8 w/B&C reticle

IF they do that, I'll buy that one straight away. I've loved the .22-250 for a long time, and my daughters first rifle was a .22-250 M-70 featherweight compact. great little gun, having one that I could handload heavier medium game bullets in would be fantastic!

I was using a Sako AI Hunter in 223 Rem. but recently switched to a RAR-Predator in 223 Rem., it fills the utility rifle role very well so far.

StarchedCover

I have Model Sevens in .223 and .243. Either works well as a walkaround package. And if the ranges you want to cover are inside 150 yards, might give consideration to a .22 WMR.

243 Win would be My choice of cartridge for a walk around/truck gun................Hb

I picked up a Kimber hunter 243 this fall. Wanted to try a Kimber and the cheaper stock and clip made sense for a truck gun, etc.

As long as it makes a good headrest.....

One of my truck guns is an old adl .22-250.. On its 3rd barrel, it has killed everything from gophers though deer.. Illegal for elk here, but if it were, I might try stunt shooting one with it..

BRAD are you ready for a shock ??

Instead of a 243 for the OP's purpose.....

I suggest a 308 W !!!!!

***In the same rifle a 308 will be 'lighter' than a 243--- the HOLE is larger in dia. from the case mouth ALLL the way thru the bore !!!

Larger hole = Less metal = Less weight.

This is one of a FEW times I'd suggest a 308.


Jerry

That's what I'd do based upon what you have.

An 84M Montana seems like just the ticket....

223 or 243 in a kimber sounds like what you are after. Either Montana or hunter model

You mentioned calibre only but Bob the sheister gets my vote for a semi auto platform, especially if you will be taking shots seated... no need to work that bolt, and fast follow up.

One thing a right handed American and a left handed Australian/South African has in common is the driver side shot favours both. On the carrot farm behind my place, this has become a popular option .. but I still need to work a bolt due to politics ... miss those days in South Africa when I had a Colt 223..

How about a Ruger American in 300 AAC Blackout. Light, handy and deadly accurate.

My truck (1971 F150) guns growing up were always an older beater of some sort. They were mostly used for running trap lines in South East Wyoming, and Northern UT.

A buffalo scout .22 revolver and some old beat up rifle. Once it was a borrowed Winchester 1892 in 25-20. Sure wish I had that thing today.

You're now posing a question for something new. But do not state if you want high end quality, or entry level shooter.

For me, something south of $500.00. Ruger American, Savage Axis, Marlin X7 would be a truck gun. I'd probably scour the BackPage ads for something used.

Caliber ? What are you going to use it for ? Rodents, varmints? predation on live stock ?Jack Rabbits? Coyote? Bear?

For me, I'm using a Ruger American .223 compact with a vortex 4-16x50. As the previous poster said, a self loader might be nice too.

Have fun in you're quest for a new right seat companion.

If you're going Kimber, I'd go 223 Montana.

It's my favorite combo ever...

They said no on the 1 in 8" 22-250.
They didn't say no on the 1 in 8" 243. They didn't say yes either, but I think it may happen. I'll know soon. It would be in the Montana, not the Hunter.

All I'm gonna say for now!

I use y dad's 1927 manufactured '94 in .30-30 for walkabout, for the most part, here in Alaska.

Haven't killed a thing with it since '66.... That was a whitetail doe in North Dakota, as a senior in High School.

I came north in '68.

I probably should blood the thing again...

25-20 if only edible small game is legal. Deer and up: 223 and up. possibly with a very accurate handgun for small game.

I bought that usd one off your site a few weeks back. Thank you for the great deal! Got is scoped up and plan to sight it in this weekend!

Mjduct - looked thru this post several times to ensure I didn't miss something...saw all the suggestions i.e. .223 /.243 and others. What I didn't see mentioned was the geographical area
your "walk" takes place in. IMHO - what works on So.Florida
deer would probably "insult" an Alaskan moose. Just my $.02 worth. Homesteader

I'm not a .243 fan, but your scenario might just be the place for one. I'd look at something in the .243, 6mm, .250, .257 area in the bolt gun of your choice. Or a .250 or .243 savage 99. Some of the traditional dual purpose varmit/medium game cartridges.

I like my 223 Montana, light, low muzzle blast, accurate and a sensible cartridge for this application. A dead Coyote at 550 yards solidified my choice.

Texas Hill Country, low fence place about 2500 acres. deer get up to about 150 if your lucky, hogs 250ish at their fattest, this gun would be for mostly coyotes, turkeys, foxes, raccoons, other varmint type things. With hogs and exotics like axis and fallow deer being possible and one giant trophy red stag at 450ish seen on the place in the past decade. But I'm not betting on that ever happening again. The exotis are opportunist at best. I'd hate to see one in July. When I'm in snake boots and shorts and know I didn't have a chance at them. (I'm shooting at hogs when i see em, reguardless of what I have on me too damn many on the planet) I wanna be able to kill the little stuff with ease and no recoil, while being able to make an ethical kill on the exotics,

I'm happy with being able to terminally would the hogs, if they run off for a few hundred yards first thats fine with me... let em run I just miss out on the $25/tail bounty. If I need to start practicing head/neck shots I guess I can start going that route.

This would be a nice pack around rifle.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/11893057/all/***RUGER_77_HAWKEYE_COMPACT_SS

If you get it in the Kimber, we can hear about how good of a score it was for you. 5 1/2 pound 18" barrel varmint/hog rifle.
Enjoy

A purpose built lightweight hunting AR would work pretty well for everything up to and including deer.

Howa Alpine rifle with detachable mags in 6.5 Creedmoor or 308.

Why is the difference in weight between a 308 and a 243 barrel an issue in a truck gun?

Mjduct - "deer get up to about 150 if your lucky, hogs 250ish at their fattest". IMO - the .223 is just tickling 'im while the .243 makes your hog go "huh"! Up caliber from there and you're
golden. But bounty/control shooting is a whole different situation. Tuff call...hogs up the wazzzou, exotics in between and you're in shorts and snake boots. Choices, choices - LOL
Homesteader