Thinking about a truck gun, a general all purpose rifle to leave in the truck full time. I work in agriculture so all kinds of possibilities for use. I'm figuring out that I like lever guns - I have a Marlin Model 62 in .256 and a Winchester Model 88 in .308 and love both of those rifles. Thinking of a 336 in 30-30 but wide open for for suggestions. Thanks in advance!

Savage 99 in 250-3000

Not familiar with the cartridge but Savage 99 definitely on my list!

My AR has kinda become my truck gun, although I don't leave it in the truck. The reason being 223 is pretty useful. Detachable mag so easy loading unloading. Optics are mounted easily. Flashhider or muzzle break protect the crown. Downside is that it's loud. I have a lot of hearing damage due to them. Orange flange ear plugs are a NOGO.

Go for a longer barrel. I like a 23 or 24 on my pdog rifles. Always use muffs of course.

A Marlin 336Y is as good as it needs to be

For a truck gun, lever action, the clip seems like it would be an advantage for quick loading.

my truck rifle is a Ruger #1 220 swift reason it has a 26 inch barrel,but # 1`s have no reciever so this rifle is short like a 22 inch bolt rifle,here`s a couple of other reasons this # 1 works so well for me its very accurate ,loads and unloads very quickly that one shot that can be handy,i have a 6 rd. cartridge boot on stock.now 220 swifts shoot well out to 500 yards ,Swifts are fast too so you don`t have that much hold over or under much for a quick shot,mine is sighted in dead on at 250 yards. #1`s clean easy too if you need too. i have a few 99`s but i just like 99`s to much to beat up a 99 in my pickup,but they would work well too. good luck with your choice,Pete53

can you legally have a loaded rifle in a vehicle? Traditional levers are not handy to load and unload through the day, but are very handy to carry. A single shot like handi rifle, the new Henry, or the cheap Rossi might be just as useful as any tube mag lever.

Otherwise, I like a detachable magazine, in whatever type gun for a truck gun.

All very good thoughts to consider - I need a bigger gun budget so I can rotate! Now that I say that out loud, I like that thought...

Marlin 336 30-30
Ruger American Predator .308 18” barrel AI style mags
Henry Single Shot .243

All rifles I’m thinking about. There are others I’ve thought about - Ruger GSR, Savage Hog Hunter, others but we’ll see. Im liking the 336 and the Predator right now - can get both for the price of a GSR.

Are you stuck on the rifle concept? A pump shotgun would fit the bill out to 100-150yards, depending on what you are feeding it. Reliable, versatile, easy loading and unloading. Intimidating, if that's what's needed, shot, slug or flare.

What is your budget?

CDNN is down to their last few Marlin XS7s in 243 for $270. www.cdnnsports.com Being CM, not SS, it would require a little more attention to keep it from rusting, but hard to beat for the price. Regardless of what sort of firearm you decide on, I'd suggest getting a Preservall bag, www.preservall.com, to help with the dust and moisture that a person is likely to find in an agricultural pickup truck. I've used the old silicone socks for my truck guns with good results, but the Preservall brand claims to be a superior product.


EDIT: A Ruger American Ranch rifle in 223 or 7.62z39 might be worth a look. Compact and detachable magazine fed. Or,maybe even a used Savage 340.

Yup. That's how I rolled. The stock has a shorter LOP but the plastic buttplate is skinny, so I removed the buttplate and put a thicker pad on it. Tapped out the rear sight, and installed a Skinner winged sight on the action and a taller front sight, and its GTG! Handy and accurate! Next step is putting a butt cuff on it. So many projects so little time!

I think the real question to answer first is, "what do you envision the truck gun needing to do?" The hills of Appalachia, the mixed timber of Iowa, the grasslands of Kansas, wide-open west Texas... I think truck gun needs differ by geography and fauna.

I also have a Marlin 62 in 256 WinMag and a Winchester 88 in 308 but, My choice for a truck gun is the Marlin 336 in 30-30.

The 30-30 is a capable round and the 336 is a reliable action. The Marlin 62 and Winchester 88 are hard to find. If my Marlin 336 is stolen, it's no biggie. I have plenty more and they're relatively cheap.

I also have ARs but, if I get stopped by a cop, I think he/she will be a lot calmer with a lever action hunting rifle in back as opposed to an AR. I like for the LEOs to be comfortable. :-)

I carry mine in a saddle scabbard behind the back seat of my F250.



T.S.

A run of the mill .30-30 lever is an ideal truck gun. A good balance of price, replace-ability and capability. Find a good deal and run with it.

^^^^^

This is the correct answer.

drover

my 1894 44 marlin lives under the back seat of my truck

Same here but the stainless version.

My grandson call it the Muslim buster.

Got a box of hand loads that have bullets with a meplat of a Peterbuilt.

the ultimate truck gun. Also if you had to handle a situation I think you look less like the bad guy with a gun like that. a while back I did some simulator training in a 270 degree video screens, with pistols and different situations. its the same training police use. We responded to active shooter situations etc. I found that clothing and gun type played a huge role in what my snap view of the threat was. lighter clothing such as whites etc made me examine the threat. a fully loaded up 336 isn't under armed by any stretch. its the original assault rifle.

For me it depends on where I am at, time of year and what it's potential use is. Urban setting, give me a 16" AR to compliment my always in the truck handgun. A road trip here in Alaska when it is not hunting season, the Marlin 45-70 holds 7 rounds and that should handle most situations, along with the Glock 19 that is always in my truck. Hunting season, the Husky 1640 Light in 30-06, in case some moose decides to show it self when I am driving where ever, a long with the Glock 19.

When it comes to just wanting a long gun in my truck for what ever. A Mod. 94 Win. in .44 mag. is a go to truck gun. Light in weight, short in length with a 20" barrel and it holds 10 rounds. The always there Glock 19 holds 15 rounds, as do each the 4 spare mags.

If I lived in the states, it would be a custom light weight 21" barreled Tikka that holds the 10 round CTR mags. and fires the 6.5 Creedmoor round. Scope would be a 1-6x24 of some flavor, maybe SWFA.

I wish my wife would buy me the little 9mm Banshee pistol carbine with a 9" barrel and a red dot, don't for get the Binary trigger!

Agreed, I found a 1950 year model '94 30-30 for 350 bucks with no blue or finish left on the wood, perfect mechanical condition, would make a perfect truck gun, the 170gr partitions at 2150 should handle anything else.

I recently bought a 1983, 336CS in 30-30 that somebody has cut 2" off the barrel. The barrel is around 17" from the muzzle to the front of the receiver now. I would never have thought to do that, but I have to admit, it makes a really handy rifle for a vehicle.

Synthetic Remington 7600 in .270 Winchester with VX3 2.5x8 scope and a sack full of Triple K 10 round magazines. This has turned out to be the best compromise I have found. The 130gr will not tear up a coyote and it is still more than powerful enough for the bears, mountain lions and wolves we have. The rate of fire, 10 round capacity and 2.5 low power make it usable as a tactical weapon. 8 high power and MOA accuracy gives you the opportunity to reach out if the situation requires it.

Hmmm. Interesting. Well thought out. I guess the only two ways I can think of to improve on that would be a) to have a wood stocked version (or paint the synthetic in a wood finish) to reduce "scary black gun" biases, and b) to set up the optic with QD rings so you could go to the irons if you had to.

I plan to stick with my .30-30 though. I'm out East.

Truck guns, you want very low maintenance because you will probably not want to wipe them down on a weekly basis.

get something stainless or you will have a rust bucket depending on what part of the country you live in.

I have two RARs, a .22LR and a stainless .22WMR. Our trouble-causing critters are raccoon-sized or smaller, and are easily handled by rimfires. No need for anything longer-ranged, but if that occurs, I have a 16" AR.

Marlin 1894C 357mag is my urban and ranch rifle in the pickup. Good for predator, 2 legged critters and deer.

Make sure you insure your truck gun in the event it gets stolen, as truck guns often do.

Anyway my truck gun currently is just a Glock 17 right now (also my CCW so it leaves the vehicle with me), but once I finish doing some necessary changes to my WASR-10, that will become my primary truck gun. I would hate to bring my BLR and have it stolen.

I use a moisture wicking gun sock designed to prevent rust. My rifle sits in my truck in Houston,Texas for months without wiping it down. Whenever I inspect it, there is no rust.

T.S.