Truck Gun 2025: Lever-Action vs. PCC (Which One Rides Shotgun?)
The best truck gun for 2025 comes down to your use case: lever-actions shine for simplicity and cross-season utility, while pistol-caliber carbines (PCCs) excel at fast follow-ups and magazine commonality with sidearms. Rural ranchers and backcountry campers benefit differently—choose accordingly.
October 17, 2025 — “Truck gun” means different things to different people, but the core is the same: a compact long gun that’s easy to stow, quick to deploy, and up to the mixed tasks of ranch work, trail duty, or roadside wildlife encounters. In this deep dive, we compare two leading approaches—classic lever-action rifles and modern PCCs (pistol-caliber carbines)—to help you pick the right truck gun for how and where you roll.
The Trend
Over the last month, interest in truck gun setups has leaned toward compact levers chambered in classic straight-walls and lightweight PCCs that pack into small cases. Lever fans like the strong reliability story and the “no-fuss” manual action that runs clean in dusty ranch environments. PCC advocates point to lower recoil, quick follow-up shots, and the convenience of shared magazines with common carry pistols.
Spec Highlights & Standouts
- Size & handling: Many lever-actions keep overall lengths trim with 16–18″ barrels, making cab or ATV storage straightforward. PCCs can be even shorter with folding stocks/braces and threaded muzzles for compact bags.
- Controls & maintenance: Levers stay tolerant of grime and temperature swings; PCCs minimize recoil and often take modular AR-style controls for easy familiarity.
- Ammo & logistics: Levers excel with field-proven straight-wall loads for deer-legal states; PCCs win on logistics if you already carry a 9mm sidearm and want mag/round commonality.
Comparisons
Lever-Action (e.g., Henry, Ruger/Marlin): Simple manual action, strong reliability, and classic ergonomics. Great for mixed ranch chores and deer-camp season. If you favor a timeless manual gun that shrugs off dust and rattles, a lever fits. See our brand pages for Henry and Ruger options.
Pistol-Caliber Carbine (various makers): Soft recoil, fast follow-ups, and mag sharing with popular 9mm pistols streamline your kit. If you prioritize rapid engagement on pests or varmints and pack-friendly length, a PCC is compelling. Explore current semi-auto rifles to filter by caliber and features.
One quick quip: Levers bring the cowboy hat; PCCs bring the spare mags. Pick your vibe—both get the job done.
What to Watch Next
As hunting seasons ramp and travel picks up for the holidays, look for more compact factory offerings with threaded barrels, improved sighting options (red dots and low-power optics), and pack-in furniture that collapses or folds. Expect continued interest in straight-wall calibers for midwestern deer and in 9mm PCCs for range-friendly practice that mirrors carry-gun ballistics.
Browse related models on lever-action rifles and semi-auto rifles on GunGenius.