The Best Truck Gun: Firearms for Your Vehicle Defense Needs

Famed Rough Rider and former President Teddy Roosevelt once famously quoted, "Speak soft and carry a big stick, you will go far." Roosevelt was speaking of American foreign policy, but we think this quote equally highlights what we think makes the perfect case for having access to a larger caliber truck gun in 2024.

Certainly, softly carry around a 9mm or Glock for your EDC needs. However, there is going to come a day where it is time to whip out the "big stick." Trucks offer the perfect mode of transportation and whether it is a coyote or a looter that needs to have a conversation with the "big stick", it will be there when you need it. Let's talk about guns and trucks. 

Why Truck Guns are Essential for Preparedness

When disaster strikes, it rarely comes with a courtesy heads up and you'll find yourselves with what is at your immediate disposal. This is the purpose of a truck gun. Typically a gun too large for EDC, but one you want within arm's reach when you need it most. 

Your EDC is designed to smoke the guy coming for your wallet. When you see the zombie hoards or your just your standard looting mob, it's time to make your way to your truck. Truck guns are excellent for all the reasons you can imagine. However, they are mostly excellent for all the reasons you never thought possible. 

Here at MIRA Safety, we preach safety and self-sufficiency. That is true of your personal body. That is true of your truck. That is true of your home. As the threat closes towards each, you need a new solution to counter the growing threat. 

When you have to retreat to your truck, the same weapon that failed to protect your personal body is no longer sufficient. When you've had to bug out back to your home, the same is true. A greater weapon for a greater purpose. 

Top Types of Truck Guns for Survivalists

Like any good gun debate, this list is not all-inclusive as personal preference weighs heavily in our minds. The gun you know and love is often better than the gun some guy on the internet recommended. However, we'll do our best to give you our four best types of guns for your truck. 

Lever-Action Rifles

Rifles like the Winchester have been defending modes of transportation since the pioneers had to circle the wagons and fight for survival. They are easy to maintain and reliable in rugged conditions. If they worked in the muddy wagons of the wild west, they'll work just fine in your fancy Tesla Cybertruck. 

Source: americanrifleman.org

Pump-Action Shotguns

Powerful and hard-hitting, the pump-action shotgun will offer some serious crowd control around your truck's perimeter. They're also great for home defense and offer great versatility. 

Source: By karrastock via Envato

Semi-Automatic Rifles

Platforms like the AR and AK make great options for the truck because you can easily conceal a longer rifle with a lot of firing capacity. Just remember that these weapons have a long reach. Firing at your attacker on 10th avenue and hitting the kid on 6th avenue would be a terrible feeling. Know your environment before heading this route. 

Source: Wikipedia.org

Pistol-Caliber Carbines

Perhaps a compromise would be to downgrade from a long semi-automatic to a pistol-caliber carbine. Effective in short range combat with less ability to drop a kid 5 blocks away. Something like the AR pistol or a version with a folding stock gives you a compact and gun for the truck. 

Source: PEWPEW TACTICAL

Best Truck Guns for Preparedness

For the sake of fun, we'll run through some of the top specific guns for consideration. Again, the gun you know and train with is always the right gun for you. We don't expect you to drop your beloved based on our recommendation. We just like to see what others pick and we give you the same courtesy. Here's what we got from a preparedness standpoint.

Palmetto State Armory 10.5" AR-15 Pistol

To be clear, there are AR-15 pistols we like better. However, we don't think you're going to find one of those at this price range. Easily between $500 and $600 bucks on any given day, this puts the AR-15 pistol in reach of anyone with a truck. Mainly because that's what you pay in gas for the week, but take the bus for 5 days and this weapon is good to go. Preparedness is about being ready today for the tomorrow most people dread. Don't let money be the reason you wait until the day after tomorrow. 

Source: PEWPEW TACTICAL

Smith & Wesson M&P15-22

This is another platform that we like not only for its performance, but its affordability. You're looking at the $500 to $700 range. It is a bigger rifle than the AR-15 pistol and depending on where you live, you may need something with more range. This is a great affordable option. 

Source: PEWPEW TACTICAL

Mossberg Maverick 88

Durable, easy to handle and, you guessed it, affordable. For around $250 bucks, you can have this shotgun behind your seat ready for action. It's great to take out in the woods or back to the house for some home defense. 

Source: PEWPEW TACTICAL

Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle

We know we're breaking with our affordability theme here as this rifle will set you back anywhere between $1,500 to $3,000. However, prepping for the day should be a little fun along the way. We love the idea of circling the wagons and making your stand with this classic firearm. 

The Truck Gun Concept is Subservient to a Higher Cause

Before we get back to the truck gun, let's talk about why we focused so much on affordability. The subject of this article is one piece to your entire preparedness package and it is subservient to a higher cause. 

If you have spent the bank on the most expensive AR style firearm on the market for your truck, but you lack the gas masks to get you and your family to the truck in a hazardous emergency, you've missed the point. 

Comprehensive preparation is essential if you are going to survive the day that most people dread. We recognize our niche market here in the preparedness and simply try to own that space with as much passion as possible. 

We have quality gas masks like the CM-8M that will get your family to the truck. We know it and believe it with all of our hearts. We've got the body armor that will take a hit and keep your heart ticking. We believe that. 

Even in our own categories we sell less expensive options and more expensive options. That's because the body armor you can afford is better in a fight than the body you couldn't purchase. The same is true with gas masks. 

Friends, for any stage of the prepping process, find the price point that allows you to have a comprehensive plan. Don't blow the bank on any one part of it if you can't afford the rest of it. Safety and self-reliance has a different budget for every family. Find yours and get ready. Now, back to the subject at hand. 

Safe Storage Solutions for Truck Gun vs Handgun

The great thing about an EDC handgun is that you can take it out of the car with you along with a couple of mags for a quick fight. The bad thing about guns designed for your truck is that they are partially designed to stay in your truck at the ready. Without some form of safe storage solutions, the gun will be equally as ready for the scumbag who busts out your window as it is for you. 

If you have a cute little Ruger LCP in your car, the amount of safe and quick access options are almost endless. Center console, rear seat, behind the seat and beyond, you can store your gun safely. When you start storing a long gun in your truck, your options start to dwindle considerably. 

It varies by truck model and design, but your primary two choices are an under the seat safe or something in the trunk. Personally, we don't like the idea of the trunk. Inside the vehicle proves some cover and concealment while you are accessing the gun. Yes, it's going to take time to access. 

If you find a truck safe on the market that will pop up the Mossberg Maverick 88 at a moment's notice, shoot us an email. Most secure gun safe options for larger weapons will take a moment to access. Remember, your everyday carry is your immediate response. This gun is your next phase line. 

In reality, the chances of you getting into a firefight are low. The chances someone looks to rob your vehicle are substantially higher. Do the math. Having a gun in the truck is a great option. We love it. It just can't be your quick response option. 

Look, get your family in on the training. While you are engaging with your everyday carry gun, have your family open and access guns designed to be stored in the truck. It used to be in a rural area in any high school parking lot that you would see countless shotguns and hunting rifles in the rear truck window. Those days are gone. Find a solution and remember that the gun designed for your truck isn't the entire response plan. It is part of a comprehensive plan. 

Training and Handling of Truck Guns

Finally, as with any firearm, train, train, train, and then train some more. Gun owners who don't train are a problem for those of us who do. That's because it is going to be one of them who pulls out an AK Pistol and empties the mag for a threat at 50 yards and hits the family running away at 100 yards. 

Truck guns are designed to be a step up above everyday carry. If you don't train with it, maybe not as often as your everyday carry, you won't be ready for the day you need it. Please train with whatever it is that you decide to carry in your vehicle. Train yourself. Train your family. Train often. That's our take on the late, great, "truck gun" debate.