Time was, the role of “truck” or “trunk” gun could safely be delegated to that old Mosin M44 that you picked up at a garage sale for $30. Time was.
Nowadays, even the skunkiest Mosins can only be had for $500 or more (!!!).
So then, if these are the times we live in, allow me to offer an alternative to a rifle which needs a mallet to work the bolt.
Such as the very handy and practical 1895 Oviedo Mauser, which has a much smoother bolt, and which shoots the 7mm Mauser cartridge (which will not dislocate your shoulder like the Mosin’s 7.62x54mmR).
I actually owned one of these, once upon a time, and I can’t remember why I got rid of it. Stupid me.
Anyway, one rumor I do need to dispel about this lovely little carbine is that the metal used is inferior to modern steel, and which therefore makes it “weak”.
It’s completely untrue. The steel is every bit as fit for purpose than any other, as Chuck Hawks wrote many years ago.
I’d have one of these excellent little carbines in the trunk of my car any day of the week. It’s just too bad that today’s gun prices have made the whole concept unworkable.
When I looked into a truck gun, Lee Enfield prices were going through the roof. I used to pick them up for about two benjies out the door. Can’t find ammunition for them very easily and when I do, it’s pricey. Also the rifles themselves are up around five benjies from what I see. I thought an Ishapore 2A in .308 would have been a fine rifle for a truck gun. They’re gone. I thought a lever action would do the trick then Marlin was sold to Remington and I heard their quality was spotty. Used Marlins starting increasing in price to over five benjies. The Mosin I bought for one benjie is now selling for much more and it’s just too long to fit in on the floor of the truck. I guess my solution is a handgun and more ammunition.
JQ
Even better, the 1909 Argentine mauser carbine.
98 action, German made, 7,65 x 53 Mauser ammo may be somewhat more difficult to find.
They also had an engineer short rifle version I think.
Gotta tell you, Pierre, I love them Argies, but the ammo is made of unobtanium.
Long barrel .357 revolver with a spare box of ammo, in the gun vault installed in the truck console. No room to carry a rifle, and the long barrel revolver is a better shooter than the micro-9 on my belt. Plus, as Tackleberry said, if you want penetration, the .357 will crack the engine block of a truck. I can see where that’d be useful.
No argument from me on that one.
The small ring mausers are perhaps the most graceful of military surplus rifles. The pre WW1 are made like a Luger pistol as far as fit and finish. For years, the 1895 Chilean rifles were a true bargain, available from beat to pristine, with the odd Boer war contract 1893 mixed in when the canny Germans took the interdicted rifles the Brits returned to them, and used them to fill out the Chilean contracts.
7×57 out of a 29″ barrel is a sweet easy shooting round.
“7×57 out of a 29″ barrel is a sweet easy shooting round.”
I love it when my Readers talk dirty.
All these deals happened before I was old enough to take advantage of it.
I had (before the unfortunate canoe incident) a Spanish FR-8 in .308 NATO I picked up for, IIRC under $200 back in the 90’s.
Nice, handy little rifle with a very nice action (as to be expected from a Mauser design).
Just did an online browse and finding them selling for $4-600.
Kim,
The recoil on the M44 isn’t so harsh. The muzzle blast is another matter. If I could find a beater m44 for very short money, imagine removing the bayonet, then cutting the barrel down to 16.1 inches .. to further ‘enhance’ the impact.
Heh heh heh heh heh ….
I’ve never owned a Mosin, but I’ve put a few hundred rounds through several different guns over the years and never found the recoil all the hard to handle. Lightweight hunting rifles in .308 and similar calibres are much more unpleasant to shoot in my experience.
The Swedish M-94 would also be a good candidate except it has also been priced out of the affordable market.