Affordable Truck Gun Build Under $900

I spend a lot of time in my truck. It’s my primary everyday driver.

The reason I chose the truck that I did is that it can do nearly anything I need it to do.

Ensuring that my truck is as capable as possible also involves being equipped with the necessary firepower for a variety of situations. That firepower comes in the form of a truck gun.

The situations include self-defense, the defense of others, and general sporting opportunities. If I want to go to the range on the spur of the moment, I can since I have everything in my truck already.

What Are Truck Guns?

A truck gun is a vehicle-based weapons system that offers a larger capacity than a carry pistol, features a shorter length barrel than your 26″ hunting shotgun, and is lightweight.

It is easily manageable, provides short and long-range accuracy, is easy to operate, and is easily accessible.

Truck guns are capable of eliminating threats in a survival situation (active shooter, societal collapse, violent protest, or predator control on your property).

What is the best caliber for a Truck Gun?

Buying a truck gun is as personal as buying a concealed-carry pistol.

People want their truck guns to be able to handle a variety of situations.

Some need their truck guns to pull ranch duty which may involve the removal of predators, while others may need the rifle to protect their homes.

In other words, we need our truck gun to do just about everything because honestly, we never know what the hell is in store for us when we leave the safety of our homes.

With that said, the best caliber to handle just about any situation we’ll find ourselves in is the 5.56 cartridge. As for the specific loads, we’ll get into that below.

My Truck Gun Build

My truck gun needs to be easy to feed, easy to shoot, reliable, and absolutely convincing when I need to drop the hammer.

When I considered this concept, the first gun to jump into my head was an AR-15 chambered in 5.56 NATO.

I’ve got extensive military experience with them, they are reliable, easy to feed, and have plenty of knock-down power for what I need it for.

There’s no shortage of good enough manufacturers these days, but if I had to pick one, I’d go with the Andro Corp Bravo 16.

The Rifle | Andro Corp Bravo 16 chambered in 5.56

The Bravo 16 is one of the best mid-range guns, in terms of cost, on the market. It’s not a cheap piece of junk that is going to fail me when I need it most, nor is it a high-end gucci gun.

You can get your hands on the Andro Corp Bravo 16 for around $700. I picked mine up during a sale for $400! Even at $700, the quality that you’re getting is insanely good.

You can also find them used on GUNS.COM for around $636 (as of the time of this writing).

Some of the specs that stand out to me the most are the 1:7 twist rate in a Ballistic Advantage barrel, mid-length gas system, and M16 BCG.

Bravo 16 Features and Specs

• 16″ 4150 CMV Melonite BARREL
• 1/7 Twist
• M4 Feed Ramps
• QPQ Corrosion Resistant Finish
• Mid Length Gas System with .750 Low Pro Gas Block
• A2 Flash Hider
• 1/2×28 Threaded Muzzle
• M16 BCG
• 15″ MLOK Handguard
• 7075 T6 Mil-Spec Dry Film Lubed Upper w/ T-Markings
• MIL-SPEC Charging Handle
• Forward Assist & Ejection Port Assembly
• 7075 Forged Lower
• Type 3 Hard Coat Anodized
• Mil-Spec LPK
• M4 Stock
• Includes 1 Mission First Tactical 30 Round Magazine

Benefits of the 1:7 Twist Rate

If you’re looking for a MIL-SPEC clone, the 1:7 twist rate is it. The U.S. military adopted this setup in the 1980s for its M16A2 service rifle running a 62-grain M855 round.

Also found in the M4, M16A4, Mk12 SPR, and HK416, the 1:7 barrel twist rate can stabilize up to a 90-grain bullet, and handles the popular 77-grain bullets across a wide spectrum of velocities.

Benefits of the Mid-Length Gas System

Mid-length gas systems are known for providing a better shooting experience compared to a carbine-length gas system.

The mid-length gas system is also more reliable across a wide range of ammunition and running suppressed or not.

Benefits of using an M16 BCG

The M16 bolt carrier group serves two functions over the standard semi-auto bolt carrier group.

1. The firing pin is fully shrouded so that the hammer is cocked by the carrier and not the firing pin itself.
2. The M16 bolt carrier is heavier and therefore increases “unlocking delay” (or the amount of time that the empty case remains in the chamber after the primer is struck by the firing pin) which aids in extraction.

The heavier carrier also reduces the felt recoil impulse which in turn provides a smoother operation and reduces wear and tear on the AR15.

Features of the Andro Corp M16 BCG

• High Pressure Tested (HPT)
• Magnetic Particle Inspected (MPI)
• Carrier machined from 8620 alloy, full auto profile, heat treated, Nitrided
• Gas Key machined from 4130 chromoly steel alloy, heat treated and Nitrided
• Bolt precision machined from 9310 alloy; carburized/case hardened, shot peened and Nitrided
• 4140 Tool steel Extractor alloy, hardened and Nitrided
• Extractor Pin, AMS6440/52100 Bearing grade steel retaining pin
• 5 coil, Extractor Spring, ASTM Grade A 228 wire stock, stress relieved, Tensile Strength of 393,000 PSI Max, 80 Durometer Per AMS-R-6855 black insert
• Extractor Spring O-Ring, Viton (FKM) Fluoropolymer Elastomer
• S7 shock resistant tool steel alloy Ejector, hardened, shot peened per ASTM B851/SAE AMS2430, manganese phosphate
• ASTM Grade A 228 wire stock Ejector Spring, heat treated, stress relieved – Tensile Strength of 376,000 PSI Minimum
• Gas Rings, Steel Corrosion Resistant Per AMS 5906 – X3
• Firing Pin, precision machined 8740 steel alloy, heat treated, precision ground & hard chrome plate
• Firing Pin Retaining Pin, carbon steel ASTM A510, heat treated & manganese phosphate
• Socket Cap Head Screw, steel, grade 4037 per ASTM, heat treated & manganese phosphate 2x
• Gas Key is installed with Permatex aviation gasket sealer, torqued to 55-foot pounds, pneumatically steaked
• Cam Pin, precision machined 4340 chromoly steel alloy, heat treated and Nitrided

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KLjtrz6oks

Sights | Midwest Industries Combat Iron Sights

You’re probably wondering what the hell I’m not running some type of red dot. While I do have a few red dot sights and holographic sights such as the EoTech 512, I wanted to keep this build as simple, durable, and cost-effective as possible.

In addition to that, I don’t want to have to worry about batteries. With this rifle living in my truck in varying temperatures, battery life would be a liability.

I qualified in the Marine Corps on iron sights out to 500 yards and am very comfortable and confident in using them. I can confidently take shots out to 100 yards which is about the farthest I’m going to be engaging targets realistically.

The Midwest Industries Combat iron sights for the AR15 are a modern take on the old-school M16 iron sights. They are easy to install, use, durable, and affordable.

Sling | Magpul MS1 2-Point Rifle Sling

In keeping with an affordable build without compromising on the quality I chose the Magpul MS1 rifle sling.

The MS1 Rifle Sling is the most versatile addition to the Magpul line of rifle slings. The MS1 slider system provides rapid adjustments to either lengthen or shorten the sling with no slipping once it’s set, with no excessive tails, loops, or other potential snag hazards.

Reducing snag hazards are something to keep in mind with a truck gun. You don’t want it getting wrapped around or hung up on something when you need it fast.

Ammo Selection

Although 55 grain is widely available and the most common load, I prefer to go with a heavier projectile for the purposes of the truck gun.

Although I do prefer a 75 to 77-grain projectile they can be more difficult to find. Why the heavier weight? They tend to buck the wind a little better, have a little more ass behind the projectile, and have better terminal ballistics.

Next up after that would be some type of mid-weight round such as the 62-grain M855 Green Tip.

 

Lastly, if I had no choice but to roll with a lighter 55-grain projectile, I would choose the Hornady Frontier 55-grain hollow point match ammo.

Conclusion

This truck gun build with the Andro Corp Bravo 16 rifle, Midwest Industries sights, and Magpul sling came in at roughly $870! Not too bad for a very capable platform.

If you have a truck, heck, any type of vehicle for that matter, It’s in your best interest to make sure it’s equipped to handle whatever situations you may find yourself in.

Having a capable weapons system or two (including your concealed carry pistol) that’s easily accessible, and hidden from prying eyes is paramount to your safety once you leave your home.

Remember that your truck gun can be a force multiplier in a self-defense or survival situation.

This article by Scott Witner was originally published by RE Factor Tactical.