Truck gun

[bandit1250]

I am planning to do a rifle for in my pick up. I want it to be a 223 Rem.(no AR's) I want it to have a barrel 22" or less and I don't care if it is wood or a synthetic. I want something that I don't have to worry about marking it up and a synthetic I could paint would work for that. Would like something that I can work the trigger to suit me on weight of pull. It don't have to have an adjustable trigger as the way I look at it if they put it together it some how comes apart and can be worked on. Working on some of these triggers can be a hassle but it usually can be sorted out after studying how every thing in it works. I already have a rifle in mind that won't break the bank and are known to be good shooters. I once said I would never own one as I never liked how they looked. I always thought that if you looked up "ugly" in the dictionary there would be a picture of this rifle there. By now I know some members here already probably know which rifle I am leaning toward for this project. Any ideas which one?

[Henry88]

When you said ugly, I immediately thought Hi-Point, but they don't make a .223.

So it has to be the Ruger mini-14?

[bandit1250]

Henry88, That Mini-14 would be a good guess except Pa. is still operating the game commission from the dark ages and semi-auto rifles and semi handguns are not legal to hunt with. I should have said this will be a beater hunting rifle for varmint-small game to be kept in my truck. I was thinking last night about maybe painting the entire rifle and scope camo. I won't even have to wipe it off then and just keep the bore and the firing mechanism clean. I would like to have a case that fits the back of a pick-up seat but I heard at a LGS they stopped making them because they are illegal in some states and are considered carrying a weapon concealed. Sure don't want it in the back window to advertise it either.

[clovishound]

If you are willing to go an additional 2" on the barrel length the Savage Model 11 would be an excellent fit. I have a modell 111 VT. It has the bull barrel, and Accu trigger. Very accurate, plastic stock that laughs at bumps and knocks, and is ugly as homemade sin.

[Sir Henry]

I would get a CZ 527 Carbine.

http://cz-usa.com/product/cz-527-carbine-223-rem/

[bandit1250]

I would get a CZ 527 Carbine.

http://cz-usa.com/product/cz-527-carbine-223-rem/

To nice and to much money for what this rifle will be put through between the truck and the four wheeler. I also have a bad time buying a 527 after a few duds I had in accuracy. The Hornet was fair the 204 and the Fireball were worse. If I was to get another one it would be a 7.62x39 and leave the open sights on or go with a peep. I have much better luck with the Remington and Savage rifles in center fire for really good accuracy. I like the 527 rifles for their build quality but I don't want one for a beater class rifle. I think I found a beater truck gun and I am leaving now to go and maybe pick it up.

[Steve51]

I already own what I would consider to be a good "truck rifle." A rifle that does not cost too much. One that is accurate. One that can get dinged up and beat around and still function as need. For my situation the Braztech (Rossi) R92 lever action in .38 spl/.357 magnum would serve that purpose quite well.
I don't carry it in my truck on a regular basis but I do carry it (uncased) often on the 4 wheeler when busting through the brush. With my older eyes, it is good to 75 yds (prefer 50yds). I do sometimes carry a Henry rifle on the 4 wheeler but always in a case.

[White Squirrel]

Sounds like a rifle I picked up a few weeks ago, a Ruger American Ranch. Short barrel, light weight, 5.56/.223, 5-round magazine and shoots great. Slapped an inexpensive Bushnell 3-9x40 scope on it and it is a winner in my book.

[Sir Henry]

I already own what I would consider to be a good "truck rifle." A rifle that does not cost too much. One that is accurate. One that can get dinged up and beat around and still function as need. For my situation the Braztech (Rossi) R92 lever action in .38 spl/.357 magnum would serve that purpose quite well.
I don't carry it in my truck on a regular basis but I do carry it (uncased) often on the 4 wheeler when busting through the brush. With my older eyes, it is good to 75 yds (prefer 50yds). I do sometimes carry a Henry rifle on the 4 wheeler but always in a case.

He wanted it in .223 or I would have made the same recommendation except I would have suggested a Ranch Hand.

[bandit1250]

I picked up my "Truck Gun" Friday. They had just put it on the rack that morning at the pawn shop. It is a ugly Savage Axis but they seem to have a good accuracy record on the forums. Bad reports on the triggers with this plain model with out the accu-trigger which I block out any way. I don't like extra things you have to pull on triggers. I think this rifle will be a good truck gun and no worry about beating it up a little. This is a youth model 223 Rem. that makes it shorter overall and has a 20" barrel. The trigger is some thing that can be improved on with some work. I got it to a little under the weight I was hoping for. I need to stop at Harbor Freight and get a cheap feeler gauge to cut a piece from to J-B on the sear after I get a good measurement on the thickness I need. Here is the rifle before I do any mods to it other than the trigger. It was $225 OTD and will get the 3-9 Nikon on it.

I made some mods to the trigger. Removed the factory spring (left spring pictured) and got a lighter wire spring. Got a 10-24NC thread screw and made a trigger stop screw that the spring will be held in place by. The factory spring is a two different size spring that screws in to the 10-24 thread. I cut the 10-24 screw off and it has adjustment now for the over travel and I used blue loc-tite so it stays put. I also put air craft grade aluminum tape on the sear to get a measurement of how much thickness I will need to use from a feeler gauge and J-B it on. You have to allow .002 for the thickness of the J-B along with the feeler gauge material. I am now a little under three pound and that is O.K. for a hunting trigger.

2 3/4lb. but goes to almost three when in the stock because of the design of the trigger housing.

[White Squirrel]

Looks like that will make a good truck gun.

Congrats.

[clovishound]

Savage makes a great bolt action rifle for the money. Hard to beat their accuracy out of the box. The finish they put on their barrels holds up to abuse much better than traditional bluing IMO.

I need to get some more quality time with mine. It's been feeling a little left out since the Henry BB hit the safe.

[Sir Henry]

That Savage is a good choice for what you wanted.

[Catherine]

Congrats on your Savage rifle!

Cate

[RetiredSeabee]

"It's not so bad....It just needs a little love Charlie Brown"
Looks like the perfect truck gun. And I am sure it will shooting just fine once you get done.
Now if it was a "Muddy Girl" stock I would have to say it was downright ugly.

[bandit1250]

I am just about to the final work being done on my Savage Axis "truck gun". I mounted the Nikon scope on it today with Weaver rings and bases. I then decided with the weather being nice to take it back apart and give the stock a little makeover. I may get a few laughs from this but I like it better than the black plastic look. I then laid it beside my friends and took a picture of them for my friends here to see what they think. The last little project before shooting it will be to Acra-glass a 3/8" dia. aluminum rod in the barrel channel to give it some extra strength to take any flex out of it. I will have to Dremel a groove in the plastic gussets in the stock to get it low enough so the barrel won't hit it. Should not be to bad a job. Here is my Savage in front of my friends. You can say it is uglier now than before and I won't get mad. Replies welcome.

[White Squirrel]

I think that looks pretty good. Nice work on the camo job.

[daytime dave]

I got a Remington 7615 that was a police trade in. I think it would make a great truck gun.



This isn't mine, but It's exactly the same.

[bandit1250]

I think that would make a good truck gun. I would scope it with a Leupold 2-7 or a 3-9 compact. How does it shoot?

[daytime dave]

It is great with the set up I have. It has a rear ghost ring. It had the pistol grip, but I put the traditional stock on it. I can shoot great out to 75 or 100 yds with only the iron sights. That Leupold would really be an asset I think.

I like it because it is so like my beloved 870. That's really the reason it came to be. It was a patrol rifle that would need little extra training for police already schooled on the 870. Now, it seems the AR platform is all the rage. Oh well, the department that traded it in is at a loss that is now my gain.