Utility rifles

[northmn]

A utility rifle for me is one I carry with me a lot to take advantage of opportunites provided in hunting/non-hunting situations. I carry a 32-20 Marlin with me when I take a ride on my ATC or on the tractor when I put up wood. Generally I have the rifle with me all the time but am carrying it if an opportunity to say shoot a coyote or wahtever, presents itself. Ruffed grouse are good at disappearing when I walk my ____ off, but then beg to be shot off the tractor. Lately I have been laoding the 32-20 down closer to factory specs, a 100 grain bullet at about 1300 fps as that seems to fit its use best for my purposes. It has a williams 5D peep sight. Under the right circumstances, it could also be used to shoot a small deer during season.
Curious if many others of you have a rifle for similar circumstances, as in a truck rifle etc. This type of rifle always interested me.

DP

[zuke]

I keep a No4Mk1 Lee enfield in the trunk of my car.
I bought it used with the intent of chopping the 2 groove barrel to 19 inch's and putting the sling on the left side of the stock.A coat of Tremclad paint keep's it looking good.
Did that when I was 19, I'll be 45 this year.

[Canuck Bob]

I carry a takedown Winoku (Miroku Winchester) 92 32-20 in my luggage as an oilfield saleaman. All I've shot to date is factory and I agree it does just fine for me. After a day of work i just head out on a cutline or old logging road and put my rifle together. Back at the motel my suitcase doesn't scream guncase.

I am waiting on delivery of a 22 Hornet Handi that may take its place once and awhile. The Winoku is a deluxe and real pretty.

[excess650]

I like my Marlin 1894C in .357mag for a "utility rifle". As of late I've been working on load for my "utility shotgun". Its a 20" 12ga Baikal double. At 20 yards it shoots pretty decent patterns with 1-1/8 oz of 7-1/2s. My buckshot loads are pretty good at 15 yards, and my better single and double round ball loads will shoot fist sized groups at 25 yards with multiples of shots from both barrels. A single 69cal roundball or pair of 62s at 1200fps should take care of nuisance bears, and the 7-1/2 shot will just obliterate a snake at 5 yards. Yeah, I know that snakes aren't a threat at 5 yards, but I don't want ANY copperheads or rattlers hangin' around my property.

I do have another "truck gun". Its a cut down K Kale 8x57mm Turkish Mauser. The barrel is ~22", has a Williams ramp front sight and receiver sight. My normal load is pretty sedate with a 225gr gc over 18gr AA5744. Its not particularly fast, but accurate enough to get the job done.

[6.5 mike]

Post 64 win 94 30-30. Williams 5-d rear, green fiber optic front, sling & parkerized, factory wood.

[puddledog]

Mod 94 and a M44 mosin

[looseprojectile]

magnum with a scope for when something in the yard needs whacking.
For a walk about gun the Rossi 92 .357 SR Carbine goes with me.
If it is a bump in the night the Winchester model 24 12 gauge is in hand.
Sometimes when I need to arm myself quickly I get confused and grab the handgun that is closest. That would probably be the Kel Tek PMR 30.
I figure thirty shots of 22 magnum ought to handle it. The PMR 30 has become my carry gun also. I would bet my life on it.
Use enough gun!


Life is good

[jwhite]

My favorite utility rifle would have to be my 25/20 Marlin Classic, got a Williams receiver sight and an ivory bead up front. That little rifle has covered a lot of miles and accounted for a pile of rabbits and squirrels. Easy to carry, easy on the ears, easy on lead and powder, how can you beat it? A close runner up would be my Handi-Rifle in 357, same sights and loaded with the 190gr ranchdog @ 1200fps.

JW

[jmsj]

Over the years I have had a few utility/truck guns.
I have used a Savage 99A in .308 Win, multiple winchester 94's, a souped up Mini-14 Ranch rifle, a sporterized Springfield 1903A3 and a Remington 870 12 ga.
The one one my father was most upset about was a very low serial # Marlin 1894 in 25-20, it was his.
Currently I have been using a Winchester 94 "homemade" trapper loaded with 311008's and unique.
jmsj

[Chamfered]

My primary utility gun is a Post 64 94 AE in 30-30 also with 3X9 on see thru rings with 170 gr RNGC water quenched cast, running a little over 2000fps. Not the most versatile, but plenty accurate enough for coyotes at the edge of the pasture, and I don't feel too bad when it falls in the mud.
What I'd realllllly like for an all around the utility gun is one of the old Savage 24D combination guns in .223 over 20 gauge. Keep a .223 to 22rf adapter with it and your hunting squirrel to deer.
Alright, now I got to go look on Gunbroker again and see if one has showed up.

[excess650]

My primary utility gun is a Post 64 94 AE in 30-30 also with 3X9 on see thru rings with 170 gr RNGC water quenched cast, running a little over 2000fps. Not the most versatile, but plenty accurate enough for coyotes at the edge of the pasture, and I don't feel too bad when it falls in the mud.
What I'd realllllly like for an all around the utility gun is one of the old Savage 24D combination guns in .223 over 20 gauge. Keep a .223 to 22rf adapter with it and your hunting squirrel to deer.
Alright, now I got to go look on Gunbroker again and see if one has showed up.

My brother bought one (Savage 223/20ga)last fall, and my cousin bought a Baikal .223/12ga. I like the Baikal much better.

[kenyerian]

Sacage has a new combo out . Model 42.http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2012/01/chris-dumm/new-from-savage-model-42-combination/. Lookks interesting. The gun I use now for a utility gun is a TC Conteder in 7MM TCU.

[Chamfered]

I didn'tknow Baikal made any, I will have to take a look, also cool that Savage has resurected the idea, the example they had in the link was sure ugly enough to be a utility gun.

[izzyjoe]

if you find yourself a beat up sks, that is the perfect truck/trunk , utility rifle. they are hard to beat. and ammo is dirt cheap!! but i love my 30-30 marlin.

[excess650]

I didn'tknow Baikal made any, I will have to take a look, also cool that Savage has resurected the idea, the example they had in the link was sure ugly enough to be a utility gun.

The Savages were always BUTT UGLY except for the Valmet made guns.

I just took a peek over on gunbroker and see 12/223, 12/6.5x55, and 12/30-06 at a minimum. The also make SXS and O/U double rifles. The combination guns are generally $550-$600 new.

[northmn]

During bird season I also admit to carrying a break open single shot shotgun on my tractor. I carry birdshot and #4 buck with me. Can't even say for sure what my one shotgun is as I got it a auction for $40. Have a few of them but generally the 12 bore is carried.

DP

[Boerrancher]

My all around carry gun is my Rossi 92 Carbine in 45LC. It holds 10 rounds and is light and easy to carry for long distances. I have wacked deer out to 150 yards with it and countless coyotes.

[ajjohns]

Walking for smaller quarry, Win 92' 25/20. Bigger game in mind, I think my new gun in mind is my Steyr 95. I sporterized it myself, light and powerful. Before it, Remington 14, 35 Rem. Otherwise I walk around the yard mostly with one of my 22 LR's.

[Te Hopo]

My truck gun tends to be my .22WMR "scout rifle"
Made from a Norinco JW23 bolt action, cut down and modified, it carries a 2.75x30 scout scope and a Williams FP-GR peep sight.
At the moment I'm still looking for a cheap fiber optic front sight and that will be it sorted.

Light handy and with a few 5 round mags I can take down anything locally on offer from rabbit to deer.


A good friend of mine uses a suppressed Rossi 1892 in .357, the barrel and mag have been cut down to 16inches for the barrel and a 5 round mag, he has also fitted a long eye relief scope, 2-7x32 in his case.