The Best Truck Guns for People Who Drive Through Remote Country Regularly

Photo credit: Academy Sports

If you drive long stretches of two-lane with no cell service, or you’re checking fences before daylight, you already know the “truck gun” idea isn’t about looking cool. It’s about having something that works when a busted gate, a downed calf, a wounded coyote, or a sketchy roadside situation shows up where the sheriff is a long way out.

Before the list, a hard truth: the best truck gun is the one you can legally have where you travel, that you actually shoot well, and that you store safely. Hot cabs, dust, vibration, and bouncing around beat equipment up. If a firearm can’t live through that without turning into a rusty, grit-filled paperweight, it doesn’t belong behind your seat.

1. Glock 19 (Gen 3/4/5)

If you want boring reliability with magazines you can find in the middle of nowhere, the Glock 19 is hard to argue with. It’s small enough to carry on your person when you step out to fuel up, but big enough to shoot well when your hands are cold and you’re rushed.

It’s also one of the easiest pistols to keep running. Parts are everywhere, holsters are everywhere, and most shooters can get back on target fast with it. Nothing fancy about it, and that’s kind of the point.

2. Glock 20 (10mm Auto)

When remote country includes big predators and you want more than 9mm in the console, the Glock 20 has earned its reputation. Full-power 10mm hits harder, and the platform still gives you capacity and weather tolerance that a lot of pretty pistols don’t.

It’s not for everybody. Some loads are snappy, and it’s a big grip if you’ve got small hands. Still, for a “one handgun does a lot” setup, it keeps ending up in serious folks’ trucks.

3. Smith & Wesson Model 10

There’s a reason old service revolvers keep hanging around ranch trucks. A Model 10 is simple, dependable, and it doesn’t care if you’ve been neglecting magazine springs or worrying about limp-wristing.

It’s also a gun you can hand to a new shooter without a long lecture about safeties and slide manipulation. Downside is capacity and reload speed, but for a glovebox revolver that just works, it’s still a solid pick.

4. Ruger SP101

Small, tough, and built like a little tank, the SP101 is a legit “live in the truck” revolver. It rides well in a console or a daypack, and it doesn’t mind getting knocked around like a fancy blued revolver would.

In .357, it’s loud and it’s sharp in the hand with hot loads. With .38s it’s easy. Either way, it’s a dependable companion when you’re checking traps or poking down a two-track to see what’s on the other end.

5. SIG Sauer P320 Compact

The P320 Compact is one of those pistols that points naturally for a lot of shooters. The trigger is usable, accuracy is usually better than folks expect, and you can find mags and support without hunting the internet for two weeks.

It’s a good “do most things” gun if you want something modern and modular. Just don’t treat it like a magic talisman. You still need a holster that covers the trigger and a storage plan that doesn’t involve sliding it under a seat.

6. Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Compact (9mm)

This is the pistol I see most often in hands of people who actually shoot regularly but don’t want to be married to one brand. The grip texture is aggressive, which helps when your hands are wet, cold, or covered in dust.

It’s also a pistol that holds up to abuse better than its price tag suggests. If you’re the kind of person who ends up with grit in everything you own, the M&P 2.0 is worth a look.

7. Ruger GP100 (4-inch, .357 Magnum)

If you want a revolver that can live in a door pocket, handle heavy loads, and not shoot loose, the GP100 is the classic answer. It’s heavier than the SP101, but that weight makes real .357 loads more manageable.

For remote travel, it’s also a decent “camp gun” that doesn’t feel like a compromise. It’s not small, and it’s not light, but it’s steady and it’s durable.

8. Ruger 10/22 Carbine

Folks laugh until they need to pot a rabbit for the pot, deal with a nuisance critter, or teach a kid to shoot safely at camp. A 10/22 is light, handy, and about as easy to keep fed as anything out there.

In a truck context, it’s also a low-drama tool. Ammo is everywhere, recoil is nothing, and the rifle is familiar to most shooters. Keep it clean and keep the magazines decent, and it’ll do what a .22 is supposed to do.

9. Henry Lever Action .22 (H001)

There’s something about a lever .22 that just belongs behind a seat. The Henry H001 is simple, accurate enough for small game, and it doesn’t scare people the way a black rifle sometimes does when you’re stopping at a rural store.

Tube-fed isn’t as fast to reload as a detachable mag, but it’s also one less thing to lose in the cab. It’s a quiet kind of useful that grows on you.

10. Ruger American Ranch (5.56 NATO)

If you want a compact rifle that takes AR mags, the Ruger American Ranch in 5.56 is a smart blend. It’s light, accurate, and you can feed it with common magazines you may already have.

It’s not a “battle rifle,” and it’s not trying to be. For coyotes, ranch chores, and a general-purpose rifle that doesn’t take up the whole back seat, it’s hard to beat for the money.

11. CZ 527 Carbine (7.62×39)

The CZ 527 in 7.62×39 is one of those rifles that makes you wonder why more companies don’t build handy bolt guns in practical cartridges. It’s trim, balances well, and it carries like a real woods rifle.

Ammo is common, recoil is mild, and it’s capable enough for a lot of real-world tasks. The only downside is they’re discontinued, so if you find one you like, don’t drag your feet.

12. Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Rifle

The Mini-14 is the rifle that keeps getting called outdated, then keeps getting used anyway. It’s handy, generally reliable, and it doesn’t scream “tactical” the way some rifles do, which matters in certain small-town gas stations.

Magazines are the make-or-break point. Stick to good mags and the Mini behaves. With junk mags, you’ll think the rifle is cursed. Ask me how I know.

13. Smith & Wesson M&P15 Sport II

This is a straightforward, no-frills AR that does what most truck-rifle owners actually need: it runs, it’s light enough, and it’s easy to mount a simple optic or irons that you trust.

ARs also win on parts and support. In remote country, the ability to find magazines, slings, lights, and replacement bits without special ordering is not a small thing.

14. PSA PA-15 (16-inch 5.56)

Palmetto State Armory rifles are common because they’re affordable and they work well enough for real use. Not every one is perfect, but the value is hard to ignore if you want a rifle that you won’t cry over if it gets scratched up.

For a truck gun, “good enough” isn’t an insult. It’s a compliment, as long as you verify function with the ammo you plan to keep on hand.

15. Ruger PC Carbine (9mm)

A 9mm carbine that shares magazines with a pistol is one of those practical ideas that actually pays off. The Ruger PC Carbine is soft shooting, easy to hit with, and it’s a friendly rifle for new shooters around camp.

It’s also a smart choice if you’re trying to keep ammo types simple on a trip. One caliber to stock, one caliber to find in small-town stores, and a platform that’s not picky.

16. Mossberg 500 (12 gauge)

A pump shotgun is still one of the most useful long guns you can keep in a rural vehicle, and the Mossberg 500 has probably ridden in more farm trucks than any “tactical” scattergun ever will.

It’ll handle snakes with light loads, predators with buckshot, and it can do real work with slugs if you’re in thick country. It’s not delicate, and it doesn’t need to be babied.

17. Remington 870 Police Magnum

The 870 has taken its lumps over the years as quality shifted around, but an 870 Police Magnum is a different animal than the bargain-bin versions that soured some folks. It’s smooth, solid, and built for hard use.

If you find a good one, it’s a “buy once, cry once” shotgun that you can set up simply and leave alone. Keep it lightly oiled, and it’ll keep doing its job.

18. Benelli M2 (12 gauge)

For the driver who wants a semi-auto that runs in bad weather and doesn’t mind getting dusty, the Benelli M2 is a strong choice. It’s not cheap, but it’s the kind of shotgun that tends to work when you’re tired and not feeling patient.

It’s also lighter than some gas guns, which matters when you’re grabbing it one-handed while you manage a dog or a gate. Expensive? Yes. Useless? Not even close.

19. Marlin 1895 Guide Gun (.45-70 Govt)

This one isn’t about being practical for everybody. It’s about being practical in the places where close-range problems can be big, heavy, and mean. A Guide Gun carries well, comes up quick, and hits like a hammer.

Ammo is the drawback. It’s not always easy to find, and it’s not cheap. But if your remote travel includes serious bear country, there’s a reason .45-70 lever guns keep getting chosen by folks who don’t like gambling.

20. Ruger Redhawk

A Redhawk is not a dainty revolver. It’s a heavy, strong handgun that’s made for serious loads and long-term use, which is why it ends up in rigs that spend their lives on gravel roads.

It’s also a revolver you can shoot a lot without it loosening up the way some lighter guns can. If you’re the type who wants one sidearm that can ride along for decades, this is one of the safer bets.

No matter what you pick, the real “truck gun” secret is boring: keep it clean enough to function, keep the ammo fresh, and don’t store it in a way that invites theft or a negligent discharge. Remote country is already unforgiving. Your gear should make life easier, not add new problems you didn’t have before you turned off the pavement.