The Gran Torino School Of Self/Home Defense

[randy]

I've been thinking of finding a used Mossy 500 to fix up as a truck gun. Again, due to urban/close in suburban environment I normally work/live/travel in. A lot of the same reasoning as you wrote. I'm looking at a Escape and Evasion scenario if I'm on my own and want something useful for deterrence and breaking contact/discouraging pursuit.

Handgun is a Browning Hi Power, because HI POWER!!!!!!

Actually because it's my primary CCW for a lot of reasons discussed before (primarily it fits me well and I'm experienced and confident with it. Which also applies to the 500).

why mossberg over an 870?

Because the first shotgun I ever bought (over 25 years ago) was a Mossberg 500. I've used it over the years for skeet, trap and sporting clays and shot a few combat courses with it, so I'm familiar with it and comfortable with it. Same reason as my go to guns are BHP for handguns and AR-15 for rifles.

Picking a 500 over an 870 in the first place was a factor of timing and price point, and I wouldn't walk away on a good deal on an 870 now, but I prefer to stay with what I know.

[randy]

Oh, and I'm looking at a pump shotgun vs a rifle due to idiotic Ohio laws that treat loaded rifle magazines as loaded rifles. Transporting loaded magazines for say, an AR, even in a locked ammo can, is considered the same as transporting a locked and loaded rifle.

I have never been stopped and searched (except when entering and leaving military facilities, something I don't do routinely these days), and if it looked like the S will truly be HTF, then I might reexamine it, but I prefer to work within the limitation for now.

I'm much more comfortable in quickly and smoothly loading up a 500 from a bandoleer than stripper clips into my FR-8 or an SKS. Ideal for the task within those limitations would be a shortened ("tanker") Garand in .308, but that's way more money than I have, or would want to treat in the way a truck gun will be.

If that stupid law is ever dropped, I'll be looking at a low end M-4gery to fill that role.

[Aglifter]

What about stripper clips for an AR mag?

[308Mike]

Oh, and I'm looking at a pump shotgun vs a rifle due to idiotic Ohio laws that treat loaded rifle magazines as loaded rifles. Transporting loaded magazines for say, an AR, even in a locked ammo can, is considered the same as transporting a locked and loaded rifle.

I have never been stopped and searched (except when entering and leaving military facilities, something I don't do routinely these days), and if it looked like the S will truly be HTF, then I might reexamine it, but I prefer to work within the limitation for now.

I'm much more comfortable in quickly and smoothly loading up a 500 from a bandoleer than stripper clips into my FR-8 or an SKS. Ideal for the task within those limitations would be a shortened ("tanker") Garand in .308, but that's way more money than I have, or would want to treat in the way a truck gun will be.

If that stupid law is ever dropped, I'll be looking at a low end M-4gery to fill that role.

I too have been considering an M1 in .308. But if I was considering such for a truck gun, I'd get one of the lowest-grade surplus M1 Garands I could through CMP, then see if it would be worth modifying it to .308, or just use it as-is in .30-06. After all, these are ONE TOUGH RIFLE, helping to win WWII, and kicking a LOT of butt!!

But could you REALLY ask for more in a "Truck Gun"? It's a damned-tough rifle, seen LOTS of action, taken a LOT of abuse, and they STILL WORK AS ADVERTISED!

Otherwise, I'm still waiting for them to start selling de-milled M-16's from the 1960'2 & 70's.

[randy]

What about stripper clips for an AR mag?

That would met the legal requirements, but adds time and complexity to getting the weapon into action vs a stripper/en bloc clip into the action or pushing rounds in to the magazine of a shotgun. It's going to take long enough to deploy without adding that step.

[skb12172]

I've been thinking of finding a used Mossy 500 to fix up as a truck gun. Again, due to urban/close in suburban environment I normally work/live/travel in. A lot of the same reasoning as you wrote. I'm looking at a Escape and Evasion scenario if I'm on my own and want something useful for deterrence and breaking contact/discouraging pursuit.

Handgun is a Browning Hi Power, because HI POWER!!!!!!

Actually because it's my primary CCW for a lot of reasons discussed before (primarily it fits me well and I'm experienced and confident with it. Which also applies to the 500).

why mossberg over an 870?

Same here. IMO, 6 of one, half dozen of the other. I'm very familiar with the 870, having trained with one at the Academy, but the 500 is what I own. I'd feel comfortable with either. As for a "Truck" gun, let's remember that, per Kim's definition and rant on the subject, that term refers to the long gun you carry in your vehicle. He recommended it be tough, reliable, and cheap/expendable. For me, that would mean either my Mossy 500 or my SKS. For my environment, I believe the Mossy is the better option. YMMV.

[randy]

As for a "Truck" gun, let's remember that, per Kim's definition and rant on the subject, that term refers to the long gun you carry in your vehicle. He recommended it be tough, reliable, and cheap/expendable.

Which is why a shortened .308 Garand, if I was able to afford one, would most likely not end up on truck gun duty.

[skb12172]

As for a "Truck" gun, let's remember that, per Kim's definition and rant on the subject, that term refers to the long gun you carry in your vehicle. He recommended it be tough, reliable, and cheap/expendable.

Which is why a shortened .308 Garand, if I was able to afford one, would most likely not end up on truck gun duty.

As of late, I've also been intrigued by the Marlin Youth Model, lever-action carbines in either .30-30 or .357M. I guess for ammo commonality, I'd be better off choosing the .357M. Any thoughts on them?

[randy]

I've often thought about .357MAG lever action for a truck gun, but given the prices and scarcity of of used ones, I doubt it would ever get to that duty slot.

I liked it not only for commonality with my S&W Mod 19 (which I never carry CCW and is more of a house gun these days) and ammo flexibility (.38SPL, .38SP+P, Light loaded .357MAg, Full house .357Mag) that's easy to come by.

I see lots of used 30-30's at ELGS, some pretty beat up cosmetically and at reasonable prices, making them candidates for truck guns, But I really would rather not start with a new caliber to stock/reload.

[Yogimus]

I've often thought about .357MAG lever action for a truck gun, but given the prices and scarcity of of used ones, I doubt it would ever get to that duty slot.

I liked it not only for commonality with my S&W Mod 19 (which I never carry CCW and is more of a house gun these days) and ammo flexibility (.38SPL, .38SP+P, Light loaded .357MAg, Full house .357Mag) that's easy to come by.

I see lots of used 30-30's at ELGS, some pretty beat up cosmetically and at reasonable prices, making them candidates for truck guns, But I really would rather not start with a new caliber to stock/reload.

I have been looking for a 357 lever for 2 years now. $450 rossi-s are the cheapest I could find.