Has anyone bought, or considered buying, a pistol / rifle combination specifically for use in the Jeep?
That is the question, isn't it. Where to put the long gun.Good question! I'd be curious where you could even mount a rifle in the TJ, being as small as it is.
That is the question, isn't it. Where to put the long gun.
Here's my solution. The TJ has about 43" of usable space next to the upright for the sport bar behind the seats. It's tight though, not a lot of room for magazines to stick out, scopes etc. I've decided to use a custom mount similar to what the police use for their long guns. A padded butt bucket and a padded barrel clamp. I've decided on purchasing a stainless Rossi M92 with a 20" barrel in 45 Colt to go in the mount. Fits perfectly, weather resistant, doesn't freak out the liberals and the round and rifle have been effective since 1873 or so. For a side arm, I've selected a stainless Ruger Redhawk in 45 Colt. Simple, strong, and effective. That's mounted in a cross draw holster on my weak side. It doesn't interfere with the seat belts carried that way, and is easily accessible both in and out of the Jeep. Both will use the same loads, since I reload and can work up a load that functions well in both. Both can use the same cleaning pull through. (Best re-invention ever, the bore snake.) A small bottle of solvent, a small bottle of oil and a box or two of cartridges and I'm good to go.
Here's the Rossi M92:
View attachment 180
Here's the Ruger Redhawk:
View attachment 181
They are both strong, well constructed firearms. The only caveat is that the Redhawk is a big revolver and you kinda need big hands for it to fit properly. Still, there is nothing there to freak out our more dependent friends and neighbors. Hardly anyone freaks out over "Cowboy Guns". But they have been getting the job done for over 130 years.
Sorry Chris, no pictures of the mount yet. Still fabbing that up. I've got to get the Rossi in hand so I know what dimensions I'm working with. I could find pictures of the police mount and note the changes though. Would that help?
I've come to appreciate the lever action rifle. Ever tried to reload a rifle when you're shooting? You have to dump a magazine and whatever ammo is left in it and slap in another. Bolt guns are worse yet. It's pretty hard to do, and mighty awkward. Very easy with a lever gun. Don't even have to look at what you're doing once you have some practice in. That one starts out with 10 rounds in the magazine, and you can reload on the fly. What's not to like? The 45 Colt can be loaded to commercial 45-70 load power if you have a strong gun to shoot it in. The lead costs me nothing. People leave it laying around everywhere they shoot. Powder and primers are cheap in the grand scheme of things and the brass lasts forever it seems if you get good brass to start with.
I can even reload on the trail. Everything I need will fit into a kids shoe box.
...aaaand we seem to have strayed into a subject even more controversial than hi-lift jacks. Please define optimum gun control for me.