The Trunk Gun – Good Idea in 2023?

trunk gun

Photo by skyandsea876 / CC BY

The trunk and truck gun—what is it? And what is the point? Simply put, a “trunk gun” is a firearm kept in your trunk.

The general idea is having something more capacity and/or firepower than a handgun should the need arise. Alternative reasons might be because it’s too difficult to legally conceal carry and easier to store a weapon in your trunk. Therefore, why settle for a handgun when you get a bit bigger.

Of course, some will argue that there’s no point in keeping a weapon in your trunk where it’s not immediately accessible. The point of a trunk or truck gun, though, is not to replace your concealed or everyday carry. It is to provide extra firepower in a crisis situation. This situation could be something large scale such as a natural disaster or terrorist attack.

Smaller more personal situations might involve your vehicle being immobilized and you pinned down by attackers. In this situation you may end up using your car as cover and having access to a rifle could mean the difference between life or death.

Or if you travel for long distances in your vehicle in remote areas that weapon could be a survival tool and not just a defensive one.

Rifle, Shotgun, or Pistol Caliber Carbine?

Deciding what to carry in your trunk will depend largely on what you want to prepare for.

An AR-15 is a great general purpose rifle. With proper optics it could be used just as easily to hunt as it could for defensive purposes. In the case of a large-scale scenario involving some level of social collapse, an AR in .223/5.56 would by far be the easiest weapon to find extra ammo and magazines for.

Depending on the terrain you frequent the most, a larger caliber rifle or even a shotgun might make more sense.

With the variety of ammo types a shotgun can satisfy many survival and defensive needs. From buckshot and slugs to the varying birdshot loads you can hunt and defend yourself from just about anything with a shotgun.

Scout rifles, a lightweight .308 bolt or semi-automatic with long eye relief and sling, are excellent choices for truck/trunk guns for a large array of terrains. Of course the .308 is just a suggestion.

If you’re worried about being stuck on foot around large predators such as bears then a larger cartridge, or an AR-10 might make more sense.

But if we’re talking about having to abandon the vehicle in any situation then AR-pistols or pistol caliber carbines have a big advantage.

AR pistols and carbines in pistol calibers (mainly 9mm) are lighter with ammo that weighs less as well. Should you be forced from your vehicle and on the run these options will be a lot easier to travel with. 9mm ammunition should be one of the easier rounds to find as well in a larger scale situation.

Trunk Gun: Why you should carry one

Safety and Security Aspects to Consider

If you’re going to store a weapon in your vehicle long term, you obviously want to do it right. Personally, this would be an instance where I wouldn’t keep a round in the chamber first off.

Regardless of whether people can see into the back of your vehicle or not, your gun should not be in plain view, even when your trunk is open. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a vehicle that didn’t have a little storage spot for a spare tire or a jack and other extras. With a good case this is a great spot to keep your weapon stored.

In the event, this isn’t an option you may have to get creative.

While there are custom guitar cases made for holding rifle you could use a normal one to store a weapon in a soft case pretty easily and keep your weapon hidden in plain sight (for extra camouflage, be sure to throw some anti-gun stickers on there). There are also gun vaults/safes designed for trunk use depending on your budget.

It will all depend on the size of the weapon you’re trying to store. Either way it should be hidden, secure, protected from the elements, and not easily accessible.

Also take into account your local weather. If you live somewhere with high humidity, you’ll want to do whatever possible to keep the storage area moisture free. Whether you live somewhere humid or not, make sure to test and clean your weapon every few months. Time is not nice to anything, no matter the environment. Grease or lube that sits too long can gunk up and cause malfunctions, especially on rifles with more moving parts like AR’s.

There are those that feel a weapon should never be left unattended such as in the trunk of a vehicle. The reason for this is that cars can be broken into and/or stolen.

They make a very good point in my opinion. If your car is older or has poor anti-theft capabilities, you may want to hold off on a trunk gun. On the other hand, if your car is a target for car thieves despite having top of line security tech you have a similar problem.

Truck Gun Security

Final Thoughts

To me, some situations justify the need to have extra firepower available.

If your reason is to be ready in case of another mad gunman. I would ask you to reconsider. Picking up a longarm (rifle/shotgun) and heading into a situation that will soon have police all over it is a bad idea. Not to mention the visual for anyone currently involved seeing another person, not in a police uniform, enter with a weapon.

If you find yourself in this situation or make the decision to enter one you don’t want a weapon in view until absolutely necessary. Moving with your hand on it at the ready until you know where your target is would be best.

Everyone has their own feelings on the idea but regardless it should be done safely. Always make sure you check your local laws and adhere to them so you won’t have any issues at random traffic stops (hopefully).

Good luck!

  • Stephen Ball is a former U.S. Marine, blog writer, and gun enthusiast. He has 20+ years of experience hunting and handling firearms. He’s had the opportunity to work with nearly every caliber and model available on the market from 1911’s to P90’s. His favorite carry gun is the Glock 26.

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