Posted on 09/06/2019 6:02:08 AM PDT by w1n1
When I was a boy, every truck you saw in Texas (even in urban areas) seemed to have a gun rack in the back window with two or three different long guns proudly displayed on it. A rifle or two and a shotgun were not at all uncommon to see inside vehicle windows, but that definitely is now quite rare. While not illegal, people are more conscious of concealing their firearms in vehicles due to theft and urbanization (people aren't as used to seeing firearms in plain sight these days).
That said, just because you can't see them doesn't mean they aren’t there. Many people I know have a designated "truck gun" that they don't mind being knocked around or subjected to lots of abuse, but picking one can be a little tricky. Several factors come into play when selecting one:
Are you in a rural or urban area?
Defense or pest control possibility?
Cost?
Likelihood of being stolen?
So with all these factored in, what do I keep in my vehicle? Before I get to that let me say that I am more concerned with seeing a bobcat or coyote on my land seeking to startle one of the calves (pretty hard for a coyote to get a calf, but a desperate hungry coyote may try) than I am civil unrest or "SHTF". Because of this I tote around a long gun rather than a pistol.
After all of this I found a pretty unique, reliable gun to use: A Madsen M47. Ok, I know many consider this rifle to be behind the times when it came out. A matter of fact an instant "obsolete".
The Madsen M47 was the last bolt action designed with general issue military service in mind and was touted as the “lightweight military rifle”. It features a recoil pad, muzzle brake, and excellent sights. Read the rest of Madsen M47.
Stolen ...
At least they gave credit to the writer at the beginning of the story at the link.
“The following is a story by Alex C of Firearm Blog on his findings.”
The problem with the Madsen is that it is so darned expensive to find one. Like 700 or 800 bucks on gunbroker.
Mine cost $400 and that was a bargain.
If I needed a truck gun, a Mosin-Nagant carbine or cut down rifle would fill the bill. Impossible to destroy.
A good friend of mine took a hacksaw to a mosin nagant barrel just past the barrel band and sawed off the entire stock until just a stumpy pistol grip was left. Looked like a bolt action pirate gun when he was done. We shot up an old muffler with it and WOW was it a fireball launcher! Shooting it at night was impressive
When I was in high school in the early ‘70’s a couple of kids drove trucks with rifles or shotguns in the back window. Imagine what would happen today.
I live in a rural county and I never even see a rifle rack in a back window.
My mother, who recently died at 102 road a horse to school. The boys who rode generally had a rifle in a saddle holster. If they shot game on the way home they had meat that night. If not, no meat. My, how times have changed. (This is about 1926 to 1935-ish in Medina, Ohio.)
Am a gun nut and never heard of it. So I have just got an education to a new (old) military battle rifle.
As for Scandinavian military rifles I am quite familiar with the Carl Gustaf Swedish Mauser and the Krag Jørgensen Norwegian rifles. I own a US Krag–Jørgensen in 30-40 Krag(until, sadly, that canoe accident) Very interesting magazine on that one.
Yeah, you can get a new major brand rifle for $3-400. Easy enough to find a used on for $200
I’ve always been intrigued by that side-box rotary magazine on the Krag-Jorgy. Slick bit of work that.
Yes, use a plentiful/robust/parts-available piece like a Mosin or a Russian-capture K98 (better still, a regular Winnie or Remmie or Sako) for a “working tool”. Leave a collector piece like this for display and special occasions.
I can’t even imagine the kick on that mule when you guys did that.
How accurate was it?
I carry a Marlin 30-30 lever action 336 behind the seats in my truck.....hidden, but readily accessible..........old faithful..........
The Krag is said to be the most finely machined rifle ever used by the U.S. military. You can see that when you open & close that box magazine.
About minute of 2 liter at 100. Not good, but not horrifying
Later on, he had the top of the receiver drilled and tapped to have a rail installed and stuck a 4 MOA dot on top seeing as he lopped off his front sight. And yeah, the recoil was a little on the drastic side. He called it the wristfuc*er
I’ve never shot a 7.62x54R before, but a buddy has one and he says the carbine version kicks way more than the long rifle version.
I can see how that could really mess up your wrist. If you could master the accuracy part, that would definitely be a one-stop shot.
I have 2 of the 91/30, long barrelled version. His was an M44 carbine, a stumpy version of the same rifle. That’s the only mosin carbine I ever shot, and I didn’t shoot it until after the chop, so I wouldn’t know. My 91/30s aren’t that bad. Not much more than my no.4 mk1 .303
I recall that during the early 60’s one would see the Madsen in the ads in gun magazines. It was probably the least expensive 30-06 one could find. It was still a bit higher than the various Mausers, Enfields etc.
It was a bargain because it was in like new condition. If I recall correctly, it had an unusual rear lock up. Also had a thick recoil pad.
Looks like a 98Kar. M-47 year? The Russians were at the point of producing their StG 47 and we are messing with bolt rifles?
I carried a Swiss K31 in my truck for years, It is a magnificent piece of machinery and dropped more than a few dear,
I also considered it useful if I ever needed materials to build a bridge out of or to drive across or build a cabin and it was great exercise carrying it
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