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Posted: 6/25/2022 9:48:02 PM EST
[#1]
Grew up with an M1 Carbine and two mags of 110 soft points in the butt stock pouch. An SKS paratrooper wouldn’t be a bad rifle either.
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Posted: 6/25/2022 9:52:44 PM EST
[#2]
Quote HistoryQuoted: M1a cut down version. Scout/Squad. Traded my cousin my SOCOM16 for a Loaded and he uses it as his ranch rifle. It rides in the back of the truck or on his saddle/horse rig. It probably has killed more deer, coyotes, and hogs than most people kill in their entire life time hunting. Speaking of that he recently asked me for an optic that was rugged enough and had some magnification. It now has a Vortex Viper PST2 2-10x on a Sadlak mount. He keeps asking me for a good way to mount a high lumen light and I told him I could put a rail section into the stock but he has not followed through on that yet. |
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Posted: 6/25/2022 9:53:11 PM EST
[#3]
Honestly we have a herd of cows cross our property so I’ve been carrying a 12 gauge with #6 shot so as not to hurt a $3000 cow if I miss. I’m mainly worried about snakes, not people.
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Posted: 6/25/2022 9:56:19 PM EST
[#4]
Well, firstly, it was a 2500 acre farm not a ranch. The farm was in probably the most remote area of Montana. No power, no running water. It was heaven.
Every truck had a .22 for dispatching skunks, porcupines, prarie dogs/gophers, and the occasional rattlesnake. Some foxes were taken as well. My eldest brother had a Ruger 10/22 which was the only non-bolt .22. He also carried a pump 12 gauge, and a Winchester 94 in 30-30. All rode in a triple gun rack in the truck. Never saw either the 12 gauge or 30-30 ever get deployed for anything but hunting. Two other brothers occasionally carried identical Remington bolt guns in .222. Those killed lots of varmints. I just acquired the Winchester 94 and am in the process of restoring it. It was the first gun my dad ever gave his boys. It’s a pre-64 my oldest brother got in 1956. It’s killed lots of Montana deer and has a great history. |
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Posted: 6/25/2022 9:57:20 PM EST
[#5]
Browning BLR in .308
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Posted: 6/25/2022 9:59:30 PM EST
[#6]
90+% of the time it's a scoped AR, mostly 556 or Grendel. Occasionally it's a 94 in 44 mag, or a myriad of other choices.
For me, a dedicated truck gun should be cheap, accurate, dependable. Nothing beats an AR for that. Cans are absolutely out, because now and then I have to go to town for feed or whatever, and I'm not leaving a can on a rifle in the truck. I once carried an M14, but the world was a much different place then. There is no way I would leave a $1500 rifle in a truck now. Same thing with an M1 carbine, they aren't accurate enough, but they were great everywhere else, but now they're just worth too much to treat the way I treat a truck gun. Plus they have soul. Short barrels and muzzle breaks are out, because when a coyote crosses the road 200 yards in front of me, I'm not taking time to put on ears, and shooting either this way is painful. A scope is a must, as I might have to shoot something smaller than I can see at distance. I much prefer something with a detachable mag with decent capacity. If I jump out of the truck and chase down a sounder of hogs I don't want to have to grab spare ammo first. Back in the day you could possibly use an SKS or WASR for this role, but you gave up accuracy. Now both are significantly more expensive, and still suck. Same story with lever guns and mini 14s, just not as severe of a price change and they're slightly more accurate. Then we get to the possibility of having to defend oneself from any kind of attack, and we get yet another place the AR outpaces the competition. There's really not anything else that comes close to checking all the boxes. YMMV. |
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Posted: 6/25/2022 10:00:31 PM EST
[#7]
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/934833335
Keltec RDB Hunter. Doesn't look scary, pair it with federal fusions and it will do well on 2 or 4 legged critters. |
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Posted: 6/25/2022 10:02:39 PM EST
[#8]
Quote HistoryQuoted: 336 in 30-30? Ding ding ding |
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Posted: 6/25/2022 10:12:00 PM EST
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Browning BLR in .308 Mine never goes in the truck because I'm afraid I'll scratch it. 
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Posted: 6/25/2022 10:26:15 PM EST
[#10]
I loved my 336. It was a great rifle (stolen).
Best truck gun kind of depends on purpose. Shooting jackrabbits in the headlights is a little different from fighting off a squad of ninjas, shooting a varmint, or fending off a bear attack. I’ve carried everything around from a .22 pistol to a 45-70. Single shot, bolt action, lever, revolver, semi-auto… all of them are useful. I know it’s against your OP, but honestly an AR is extremely versatile in that role. If I had to make an oddball pick, it’d probably be a Sig 716. |
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Posted: 6/25/2022 10:29:25 PM EST
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted: https://www.gunbroker.com/item/934833335 Keltec RDB Hunter. Doesn't look scary, pair it with federal fusions and it will do well on 2 or 4 legged critters. “Doesn’t look scary”  You care what people think of your gun? |
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Posted: 6/25/2022 10:38:41 PM EST
[#12]
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Posted: 6/25/2022 10:41:58 PM EST
[#13]
My grandfather had either his father's sporterized Springfield 03A3, or an old single shot 12ga in the truck with him around the farm depending on if it was deer season or not.
He never got a pistol permit, but my Dad and my uncles all carried .22lr revolvers of some flavor when they were doing chores, my dad carried a S&W Model 17. Dad said when they were closing up the barn before dinner they'd all step out the back door and take turns to see who could ring the disk hanging on the other side of the pond first, it was probably ~100 yards out. If I needed a rifle and it couldn't be an AR it would be some flavor of lever gun, probably in .30-30 I would probably settle for .357mag though. |
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Posted: 6/25/2022 10:47:40 PM EST
[#14]
Quote HistoryPure sex |
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Posted: 6/25/2022 10:50:27 PM EST
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted: AK? SKS? It's a ranch rifle, it doesn't need to be "the best". It just needs to put bullets at lethal velocity more or less where you aim it, atleast most of the time that you pull the trigger. This^^^^^^I like the 74 but ammunition is becoming a thing for them. |
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Posted: 6/25/2022 11:07:00 PM EST
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted: AK underfolder, 30rd mags, and compact. At least back when they were cheap. Pretty much this out in the Dakotas. Fits under the seat, don’t care when it’s all dusty and gets knocked around from all the bouncing around down dirt roads. But out here, the number one selling centerfire rifle is an AR according to both local sporting goods store owners. |
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Posted: 6/25/2022 11:12:57 PM EST
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Grew up with an M1 Carbine and two mags of 110 soft points in the butt stock pouch. An SKS paratrooper wouldn’t be a bad rifle either. That's exactly where my mind was going. When I think ranch rifle I think something that's rode hard and put away wet. Lever action in 357 or similar would be handy and light as well. |
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Posted: 6/25/2022 11:22:01 PM EST
[#18]
since you specified rifle, I'll go lever action .30/30 win. The best gun however would be a 12 gauge shotgun, due to the versatility. Cue the Biden memes, but if I only have one gun it would be a shotgun.
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Posted: 6/26/2022 3:10:37 AM EST
[#19]
Honestly, probably a scoped semiauto .22 mag.
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Posted: 6/26/2022 3:19:29 AM EST
[#20]
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Posted: 6/26/2022 4:06:53 AM EST
[#21]
Marlin 336 or AS30
Winchester '92 Henry in 30-30 |
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Posted: 6/26/2022 4:24:18 AM EST
[#22]
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Posted: 6/26/2022 7:25:17 AM EST
[#23]
CZ 527 Synthetic in 7.62x39, .223, or 6.5G. Mine is light, easy to manipulate w its 16.5” barrel, and accurate. Sweet little bolt gun w a 5 round detachable mag.
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Posted: 6/26/2022 7:38:24 AM EST
[#24]
Basic AR, iron sights, 20 round mag.
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Posted: 6/26/2022 7:40:53 AM EST
[#25]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Mine never goes in the truck because I'm afraid I'll scratch it. Mine was pretty well worn when I bought it |
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Posted: 6/26/2022 7:49:41 AM EST
[#26]
Why not a bolt action Ruger American Ranch in 556? Takes AR mags and has a reputation for being stupid accurate.
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Posted: 6/26/2022 8:15:35 AM EST
[#27]
Based on my lifetime of experience in Texas, if I’m not using an AR, I will be carrying a stainless Winchester Model 70 featherweight sized rifle in 30-06 with a 3.5-10x scope.
That rifle is light and handy, kills extremely well and if you carry it enough you will be capable of engaging multiple targets quickly as you will have gotten sufficient practice on pigs. |
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Posted: 6/26/2022 8:21:08 AM EST
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Why not a bolt action Ruger American Ranch in 556? Takes AR mags and has a reputation for being stupid accurate. https://www.ruger.com/products/americanRifleRanch/images/26965.jpg Agreed. RAR in 5.56, 7.62x39 or .300 BO with a RDS or LPVO. |
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Posted: 6/26/2022 8:23:59 AM EST
[#29]
Used to carry an HK91 around the hay lease back in the 80's.
If I had another farm or ranch probably carry my FAL Para in the truck/ATV. |
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Posted: 6/26/2022 9:50:35 AM EST
[#30]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Why not a bolt action Ruger American Ranch in 556? Takes AR mags and has a reputation for being stupid accurate. https://www.ruger.com/products/americanRifleRanch/images/26965.jpg A rancher here just bought one. |
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Posted: 6/26/2022 10:03:01 AM EST
[#31]
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Posted: 6/26/2022 10:25:19 AM EST
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted: “Doesn’t look scary” You care what people think of your gun? Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: https://www.gunbroker.com/item/934833335 Keltec RDB Hunter. Doesn't look scary, pair it with federal fusions and it will do well on 2 or 4 legged critters. “Doesn’t look scary” You care what people think of your gun? Also that looks just as scary as an AR |
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Posted: 6/26/2022 10:29:52 AM EST
[#33]
I'm on the hunt for a beat up lefty Savage bolt or break barrel single shot in .17HMR to keep on the tractor. The most I'll need it for is meadow grizzlies or maybe a coyote and the 20 grain gamepoints are fantastic for both out past 100yds.
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Posted: 6/26/2022 10:30:28 AM EST
[#34]
Quote HistoryQuoted: .30-30 lever action - preferably Winchester 94 Yup. |
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Posted: 6/26/2022 11:17:30 AM EST
[#35]
 Compact Mauser in 308 with silencer mount and LPVO. |
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Posted: 6/26/2022 11:53:15 AM EST
[#36]
I use a SKS for carrying on the quad, not worried about it getting beat up. For hiking around the property I bring a stainless Rossi trapper length lever action in .357. The Rossi is light, short, and easy to carry around with enough stopping power for anything I might run into.
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Posted: 6/26/2022 12:01:30 PM EST
[#37]
Winchester 94 in 30.30. Or really any lever action. I’ve got a Henry in 357 that would fill the role nicely as well. I just bought a Mini-14 GB Was a LEO gun. Haven’t shot it yet, but I’m sure it would work well too. Light and handy.
When out on the farm in Arkansas, I’ve got an AR on the 4-wheeler or side by side. The AR works well for me. Use it to shoot armadillos, the occasional coyote and for target shooting. 30 rounds of 75 grain Gold Dot is plenty for the farm and it has a red dot and flashlight. Not afraid of tossing it in the bed of the SxS or strap it to the 4-wheeler. It’s been tossed around between truck and SxS, dropped off the 4-wheeler, shot in rain, summer heat, and really cold winters. And works fine each time. Not afraid to get it scratched up or dirty. I know OP said ranch guns excluding AR’s, but for me, the AR is about the most perfect platform for the farm role for me. |
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Posted: 6/26/2022 12:07:42 PM EST
[#38]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Grew up with an M1 Carbine and two mags of 110 soft points in the butt stock pouch. An SKS paratrooper wouldn’t be a bad rifle either. Used both. Liked both. A Jungle Carbine in .308 or a Mosin M44 would be good too. |
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Posted: 6/26/2022 12:14:31 PM EST
[#39]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Grew up with an M1 Carbine and two mags of 110 soft points in the butt stock pouch. An SKS paratrooper wouldn't be a bad rifle either. Way back, the M1 Carbine was my mom's favorite, and will do the job well. Too bad their too valuable now to have as a toss around gun. |
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Posted: 6/26/2022 12:15:40 PM EST
[#40]
Quote HistoryHK really needs to bring these back. |
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Posted: 6/26/2022 12:19:22 PM EST
[#41]
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Posted: 6/26/2022 1:24:45 PM EST
[#42]
Where's the farm/ranch?
How big are the bears? How big are the deer? In west TX the power required will be different than in Montana/Idaho. |
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Posted: 6/26/2022 3:46:57 PM EST
[#43]
Quote HistoryQuoted: AUG AUG, SG 551, or G36 are all fine ranch rifles.   Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 6/26/2022 3:51:39 PM EST
[#44]
Growing up on a family farm, my uncles had mini 14s in their trucks. The second most common rifle was a SKS. We usually had a couple of 22 revolvers floating around or 22 rifles in the larger tractors
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Posted: 6/26/2022 3:52:49 PM EST
[#45]
SKS
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Posted: 6/26/2022 4:01:21 PM EST
[#46]
FAL
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Posted: 6/26/2022 4:02:42 PM EST
[#47]
45-70 Marlin. We have yogi & snagglepus here. I'm not chute'n gophers or rabbits (that's 22).
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Posted: 6/26/2022 4:17:52 PM EST
[#48]
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Posted: 6/26/2022 4:22:46 PM EST
[#49]
Quote HistoryQuoted: AUG Or Tavor. It can't be overestimated how handy these are. |
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Posted: 6/26/2022 4:42:00 PM EST
[#50]
I kill more things on the homestead with an old Stevens 24 in 22/410 than anything else.
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