Suggestions for a truck gun?

[tombogan03884]

Thanks to everyone for the great discussion it really helped me out. Maybe I will make my mind up some time soon.

Maybe you will. Of course, then you will have to decide on a "house" gun 

[m25operator]

Bowtech your are getting a lot of good info, and I'm not going to disagree with any of it. I still did not see what you are going to use it for as far as smallest target at 200 and normal target at 200. Prairie dog at 200 with a lever gun, doubtful as a rule, coyote, definitely possible, white tail deer or bigger, yes.

Now here in Texas, a truck gun, is not going to get treated well, definitely no optics, and will get a good cleaning when it quits working. I don't know if this what you are thinking. I like sks's for rugged truck guns. Cheap, work, and accurate enough for 8" accuracy zones at 200. If you forget about it and it gets rode hard and put up wet, it will still work and get ugly, resale will go to zip, but your out little, and have lost little. The milsurp bolts proposed here are great choices as well, cheap and more accurate, with a simple sighting system, but rugged and have greater range. The 8mm and .303's do thump though.

The Remington auto's or pumps can be had used for sometimes ridiculously low money, and if bought for 2-300 bucks are available in stronger, longer range calibers, and are not a bad choice. The new ammo for 30-30, is expensive, but makes it a very viable 200 yrd cartridge.

The high end levers like the Savage or Browning, I like, and maybe your truck gun, sits in a protected place, where rubbing on the floor is not going to happen, getting wet and not attended to is not going to happen, that is what happens here to truck guns.

Good conversation.

[tombogan03884]

When I have owned Enfields in .303 I did not have the cash for lots of ammo so 20 rounds was about it, I have shot 75 or 100 rounds at a time of 8MM after about 60 I didn't REALLY want to shoot any more. But with the Mosin Nagant (belonged to a friend ) I shot 5 rounds and it was about 4 more than I wanted to. I think it has to do with the stock design.

[david86440]

When I have owned Enfields in .303 I did not have the cash for lots of ammo so 20 rounds was about it, I have shot 75 or 100 rounds at a time of 8MM after about 60 I didn't REALLY want to shoot any more. But with the Mosin Nagant (belonged to a friend ) I shot 5 rounds and it was about 4 more than I wanted to. I think it has to do with the stock design.

I shortened up an M-44 Mosin Nagant and put on a synthetic stock with a decent recoil pad and it makes it about like my 8mm as far as recoil. It would also make a great truck gun as it's dirt cheap and can withstand abuse.

[PegLeg45]

Bowtech your are getting a lot of good info, and I'm not going to disagree with any of it. I still did not see what you are going to use it for as far as smallest target at 200 and normal target at 200. Prairie dog at 200 with a lever gun, doubtful as a rule, coyote, definitely possible, white tail deer or bigger, yes.

Now here in Texas, a truck gun, is not going to get treated well, definitely no optics, and will get a good cleaning when it quits working. I don't know if this what you are thinking. I like sks's for rugged truck guns. Cheap, work, and accurate enough for 8" accuracy zones at 200. If you forget about it and it gets rode hard and put up wet, it will still work and get ugly, resale will go to zip, but your out little, and have lost little. The milsurp bolts proposed here are great choices as well, cheap and more accurate, with a simple sighting system, but rugged and have greater range. The 8mm and .303's do thump though.

The Remington auto's or pumps can be had used for sometimes ridiculously low money, and if bought for 2-300 bucks are available in stronger, longer range calibers, and are not a bad choice. The new ammo for 30-30, is expensive, but makes it a very viable 200 yrd cartridge.

The high end levers like the Savage or Browning, I like, and maybe your truck gun, sits in a protected place, where rubbing on the floor is not going to happen, getting wet and not attended to is not going to happen, that is what happens here to truck guns.

Good conversation.

+1

I hear the Hornady LeverEvolution ammo for the 30-30 really extends the effective range of that cartridge.

http://www.hornady.com/story.php?s=198


http://www.chuckhawks.com/leverevolution.htm
Gun #1 (25 1/4" barrel)

    * Hornady LEVERevolution 160 grain Evo - Average velocity 2326 fps; extreme spread 21 fps.
    * Federal 150 grain FP - Average velocity 2239 fps; extreme spread 13 fps.
    * Federal 170 grain FP - Average velocity 2062 fps; extreme spread 10 fps.

Gun #2 (20" barrel)

    * Hornady LEVERevolution 160 grain Evo - Average velocity 2236 fps; extreme spread 30 fps.
    * Federal 150 grain FP - Average velocity 2200 fps; extreme spread 5 fps.
    * Federal 170 grain FP - Average velocity 1993 fps; extreme spread 12 fps.

Gun #3 (20" barrel)

    * 10' from muzzle: Hornady LEVERevolution 160 grain Evo - Average velocity 2249; extreme spread 34 fps.
    * At 100 yards: Hornady LEVERevolution 160 grain Evo @ 100 Yards - Average velocity 1995; extreme spread 33 fps.

These results indicate that in a full length barrel the Hornady LEVERevolution .30-30 ammunition is averaging about 75 fps faster than the traditional Federal flat point ammunition. This is a welcome velocity increase. From the 20" barrel of a carbine the LEVERevolution ammo averaged a whopping 140 fps faster than the traditional ammo.

[Sponsor]

[r_boyette]

Have used the majority of rifles and carbines mentioned here at sometime or another. The remington pump rifles would be a good choice if they feel good to u. I have noticed on a couple new 7400 Rem autoloaders and a 7600 that the comb on the buttstock made it impossible for me to "get down" on the iron sights. I assume it was a change Big Green made b/c most people are using optics these days. I will say that I cannot reccomend the 740,742,7400 Rem semi-autos. They were the gun of choice for almost all hunters in my area since they decided to put away their shotguns. What most have found is that they are very unreliable especially when not kept extremely clean(most malfunctioned even then). Hence the "Jam-a-matic" nickname for the old 742 Woodsmaster. Haven't had the chance to try the new 750(and probably won't). Have always wanted a Marlin in 44mag for a good truck gun. There are most likely better and worse choices, but a lever gun companion to my Ruger Blackhawk 44mag has always "tripped my trigger!"

[PegLeg45]

Have always wanted a Marlin in 44mag for a good truck gun. There are most likely better and worse choices, but a lever gun companion to my Ruger Blackhawk 44mag has always "tripped my trigger!"

Amen, brother, Amen...............
I've been wanting a .44 lever-gun to compliment my Super Blackhawks for a while. Just haven't run across the right deal yet.

[1911 Junkie]

I would have to say to go with a good lever gun.

Come on, it's the original cowboy assault rifle. 

[r_boyette]

Amen, brother, Amen...............
I've been wanting a .44 lever-gun to compliment my Super Blackhawks for a while. Just haven't run across the right deal yet.

It just feels right don't it?! Ha

[PegLeg45]

Here's a couple of good threads on lever guns for serious work:

http://www.downrange.tv/forum/index.php?topic=4901.0

http://www.downrange.tv/forum/index.php?topic=1085.0