Best Folding Truck Guns
Looking for a little extra firepower in your vehicle? We cover several of the best trunk guns out there across calibers and budgets.
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I carry a concealed carry handgun, but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate a spare firearm. I mean, I have four tires on my car, but I keep an extra in the trunk, too.
The same goes for my guns, which is why I always have a truck gun.
What's that, you ask? A truck gun is one name applied to a simple concept. You may also hear it as trunk (with an n) gun, but the terms mean the same thing.
It’s a gun kept in the car to provide you with a little extra firepower.
With tons of guns on the market, it can be overwhelming to find the right one.
But you've come to the right place. We're going to talk about the purpose of a truck gun, some things to look for, and also our top recommendations.
Keep reading!
The Quick List
- Best Single Shot: Chiappa Little BadgerJump to Details ↓
- Best Takedown Rifle: Ruger 10/22 TakedownJump to Details ↓
- Best Pump-Action Shotgun: Mossberg Maverick 88Jump to Details ↓
- Best Folding PCC: Smith & Wesson FPCJump to Details ↓
- AK/AR Hybrid: Palmetto State Armory JAKLJump to Details ↓
- AR-15 Folder: FoldARJump to Details ↓
Table of Contents
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Best Folding Guns Comparison Chart
| Model | Action | Caliber | Capacity | Barrel Length | Overall Length | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kel-Tec Sub2000 | Semi-auto | 9mm, 10mm, 5.7x28mm | Varies by magazine | 16" | 29.2" | 4.2 lbs. | $429 |
| Chiappa Little Badger | Single shot | .22 LR, .17 HMR, .22 Magnum | 1 | 16.5" | 31" | 2.9 lbs. | $216 |
| Ruger 10/22 | Semi-auto | .22 LR | Varies by magazine | 18.5" | 37" | 4.6 lbs. | $410 |
| Mossberg Maverick 88 | Pump action | 12 gauge | 5+1 | 24" | 43.5" | 7 lbs. | $234 |
| Smith & Wesson FPC | Semi-auto | 9mm | 17+1, 23+1 | 16.25" | 30.4" | 5.02 lbs. | $599 |
| Palmetto State Armory Jakl | Semi-auto | 5.56mm | 30+1 | 10.5" | 29.5" | 6.6 lbs. | $999 |
| Fold AR | Semi-auto | .223 Wylde | 30+1 | 16" | 32.9" | 6.8 lbs. | $1699 |
How We Tested the Best Folding Truck Guns
For this article, we gathered a bunch of truck guns we've personally used in reviews, at the range, or own here at Pew Pew Tactical. The entire Pew Pew Tactical team, as well as freelance writers, contributed to this review to offer different opinions based on ergonomics, size, and experience.
For guns we have reviews on, we've linked those so you can read more. Every review gun undergoes 500 rounds of ammo at a variety of distances to assess performance, accuracy, and reliability. We also use a Lyman Digital Trigger Guage to measure the average trigger pull weight.
Best Truck Guns
1. Kel-Tec SUB2000 - Best PCC
Pros
- Affordable
- Glock and Beretta magazine versions available
- Thin and compact
Cons
- Gen 2 versions require workarounds to fold with an optic
Specs
- Caliber: 9mm, 10mm, 5.7x28mm
- Action: Semi-automatic, direct blow-back
- Capacity: Varies by magazine
- Barrel Length: 16"
- Overall Length: 29.2"
- Weight: 4.2 lbs.
Kel-Tec is a company that seems to produce some of the most interesting designs in the firearms industry.
The Kel-Tec SUB2000 is a pistol caliber carbine that comes in 9mm and 40 S&W and with multiple magazine options.
I own one of these and love it.
Mine is the Glock model and chambered in 9mm. The rifle folds directly in half, with the barrel locking in over the receiver and reducing the size to 16.25 inches overall.
This makes the Kel-Tec SUB2000 very compact, and it squeezes into the smallest packs. I keep mine in a Vertx Commuter bag, and it’s a perfect companion, especially with some 31-round ETS magazines.
It’s compact, lightweight, and cheap, and it's the perfect folding gun for your trunk.
2. Chiappa Little Badger - Best Single Shot
Pros
- Extremely affordable
- Ultralight
- Tiny profile
Cons
- Only available in rimfire
Specs
- Caliber: .22 LR, .17 HMR, .22 Magnum
- Action: Single shot, break open
- Capacity: 1
- Barrel Length: 16.5"
- Overall Length: 31"
- Weight: 2.9 lbs.
Let’s stick with folding guns, shall we? So, the first will be the Chiappa Little Badger. It’s pretty adorable.
The Chiappa Little Badger is a folding .22 LR, .17 HMR, or .22 Magnum rifle that is probably the simplest design I’ve ever seen.
It’s a single-shot rifle that utilizes a hammer. This gun sports a wire stock, four Picatinny rails, and some robust sights.
The Little Badger folds in half and weighs only 2.9 pounds. Its barrel is threaded for a muzzle device of your choosing. Not only is it a cool trunk gun, a cool folding gun, but it's excellent for teaching kids to shoot because of its small size.
It also only costs around $200.
3. Ruger 10/22 Takedown - Best Takedown Rifle
Pros
- Reliable
- Easy to take down
- Tons of aftermarket support
Cons
- Not a true folder
Specs
- Caliber: .22 LR
- Action: Semi-auto
- Capacity: Varies by magazine
- Barrel Length: 18.5"
- Overall Length: 37"
- Weight: 4.6 lbs.
The Ruger 10/22 Takedown is just as reliable, fun to shoot, and easy to handle as the original 10/22. As a takedown rifle, it doesn’t fold, but it breaks into two pieces.
This allows you to carry the rifle in a small bag with ease. Ruger even includes a cool bag with the 10/22 Takedown. The 10/22, in general, is an amazing rifle.
It’s accurate, affordable, chambered in .22 LR, and highly customizable. The Ruger 10/22 is one of the most popular .22 LR rifles for a good reason. It’s basically the AR-15 of rimfire rifles.
The Ruger 10/22, when paired with some quality ammo, a few BX-25 magazines, and stored in the included bag, is an excellent platform for a truck gun.
Its small rimfire rounds aren’t the best for defensive use or for large game, but it's a solid working rifle.
4. Mossberg Maverick 88 -Best Pump-Action Shotgun
Pros
- Very durable
- 12ga is suitable for lots of tasks
- Affordable
- Good aftermarket support
Cons
- Requires an aftermarket folding stock
Specs
- Caliber: 12 gauge
- Action: Pump
- Capacity: 5+1
- Barrel Length: 24"
- Overall Length: 43.5"
- Weight: 7 lbs.
Shotguns are by far the most versatile weapon you can purchase for under $300.
The Mossberg Maverick 88 is like the store brand Mossberg 500, but it’s slightly different, made in Mexico, and costs less than $200 on average.
This model can take almost any accessory the Mossberg 500 can, so your ability to customize this gun is wide open. You can easily toss on a variety of different stocks to change the configuration of the gun.
As a pump shotgun, it's quite reliable. Mossberg makes good guns, and they back them with a lifetime warranty.
Toss a folding stock on this bad boy, and you have a serious piece of compact firepower.
What's your take on the 88? Rate it below!
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5. Smith & Wesson FPC - Best Folding PCC
Pros
- Folds with an optic mounted
- Better charging handle than the Sub2000
- M-LOK rail and threaded barrel
Cons
- Only uses M&P magazines
Specs
- Caliber: 9mm
- Action: Semi-auto, blowback
- Capacity: 17+1, 23+1
- Barrel Length: 16.25"
- Overall Length: 30.4"
- Weight: 5.02 lbs.
The Smith & Wesson FPC dropped to rave reviews and immediate KelTec comparisons.
The FPC is similar to the SUB2000 in the fact they are both 9mm folding carbines that use direct blowback operating systems.
Comparisons are easy to make. Both guns use pistol mags, and the FPC uses M&P mags and just similar designs all around.
What Smith & Wesson does differently is that their gun folds to the side instead of over the top. This design makes the gun much more optic’s friendly. Mounting a red dot, or whatever, isn’t tough to do and doesn’t require a special optics mount to make it possible.
The FPC has a few interesting and innovative features.
This includes an M-LOK rail, friction fit, quick-deploy folding system, and a stock that holds two extra mags. Oddly enough KelTec used a stock that held extra mags in one of their older designs as well.
It’s quite compact and admittedly quick to deploy when necessary. It’s faster to deploy than the SUB2000. The gun can spring into action quickly but also safely. It should be noted that it can’t chamber a round when folded.
The FPC acts as a rapid response tool that gives you a greater effective range, greater control, and more velocity than your pistol.
If you carry an M&P pistol, this is a great way to match your handgun to your rifle platform.
6. Palmetto State Armory JAKL - AK/AR Hybrid
Pros
- AR-style controls and ergonomics
- 5.56 NATO and .300 BLK versions
- Good suppressor host
- Excellent capacity
Cons
- Subpar accuracy
- Relatively large
Specs
- Caliber: 5.56mm
- Action: Semi-auto, long-stroke gas piston
- Capacity: 30+1
- Barrel Length: 10.5"
- Overall Length: 29.5"
- Weight: 6.6 lbs.
A mix between an AK-47 and an AR-15, PSA's JAKL brings a lot of firepower to the table for those looking for some oomph in their truck gun.
The JAKL sports the feel of an AR-15 pistol via the abbreviated receiver and piston operation. Its grip is an A2 style, and some people are okay with this, but it’s one of the first things I tend to replace.
PSA added a rail that is a good size and brings a 1913 rail on top. It also offers QD wells as well as M-LOK slots.
The only downside we found was accuracy. Shooting this, it came in around 3 MOA, which isn't the best. But up close, it would probably do fine.
PSA's JAKL is a pretty cool firearm that has a lot of features you’d want in a truck gun and it's small enough to be suppressed without weighing it down.
Want to learn more? Check out the video review below or head over to the written article.
7. FoldAR - AR-15 Folder
Pros
- Folds smaller than a separated upper and lower
- Easier to conceal
- Sub-MOA accuracy
Cons
- Most expensive on the list
Specs
- Caliber: .223 Wylde
- Action: Semi-auto
- Capacity: 30+1
- Barrel Length: 16"
- Overall Length: 32.9"
- Weight: 6.8 lbs.
AR-15s are inherently packable because you can separate the upper from the lower. However, with a 16" barrel version, the upper can still be just over two feet long.
FoldAR attacked the problem by putting a hinge at the front of the receiver. This means the barrel and rail fold back along the receiver from the middle of the gun.
The end result is receiver and collapsed butt stock measuring just over 15" and the barrel and rail section coming in at 18". This makes it a little easier to stick inside a normal sized backpack.
The rifle design utilizes a lever to lock the barrel and rail into place and it's a little faster to assemble than connecting an upper and lower with take-down pins. Plus, the lockup is extremely solid.
The full review revealed sub-MOA accuracy even after multiple take-downs and reassemblies. In addition, reliability was outstanding.
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A Note About AR Pistols/Pistol Builds
An AR-15 pistol is basically a short AR without a stock. Most sport a pistol brace and offer rifle-like performance but in a smaller, shorter package.
The law is rapidly changing regarding these builds.
As of 2023, the ATF ruled that AR pistols constitute a short-barreled rifle that falls under the National Firearms Act.
Pro 2A groups filed suit and secured an injunction, meaning that the ban on braces is on hold.
To stay up to date on the latest happenings, check out Pistol Braces & The ATF.
What Is a Truck Gun?
Why would someone want to keep an extra gun in their car? In general, it’s to pack something a little better than a handgun for whatever the world throws at you.
A truck or trunk gun can be used in a survival scenario where you have to leave your vehicle behind and huff it back on foot. They could be carried and kept just in case you face a serious threat.
I keep a truck gun because I live in an extremely rural area. It’s a 30-minute commute from home to work, and 24 of those miles is a highway in the middle of nowhere.
There is no cell service, very few homes in between, and lots of potential for trouble.
I want something a little easier to shoot, with a lot more capacity and range for dispatching animals like coyotes, hogs, and feral dogs. A rifle can deal with most threats because of how much easier they are to shoot.
Want to see more survival guns? Check out our recommended Survival Rifles.
What Makes a Good Truck Gun?
A good truck gun needs to be a few things.
First, it needs to be compact and lightweight—nothing too big or too heavy. There are a few guns that fold in half to reduce the overall size.
This makes it easier to store the gun and reserves a little extra room in the trunk.
Also, if the rifle can fold or be taken down, it can be easily stored in a discreet case.
If you have to ditch your vehicle, you can grab the gun in your bag and still be carrying concealed. There are several options by popular manufacturers for takedown and even folding rifles.
Preferably it needs to be a long gun.
Having a handgun for a truck gun doesn’t make sense to me. I can already carry a handgun; if I have an entire vehicle to store a gun, why wouldn’t I choose a long gun?
Also, long guns are harder to snatch and grab.
Further, the gun doesn’t need to be a tac’d-out rifle with a dozen different gadgets. It doesn’t have to be designed for traditional defensive use. A bolt-action rifle, or even a single-shot rifle, could solve plenty of problems.
Because the gun will be riding around in the back of a truck or car, it’s also better to spend less than more...to a degree.
Still, get a dependable weapon, but we aren't shopping for a Benelli M4 here. It’ll likely be banged around, exposed to moisture, dirt, and a kick or two.
Simple is better.
I would also stay away from guns like the Mossberg 590 Shockwave and Remington Tac 14. Yes, they are small, powerful, and light, but they’re a bit too powerful for their small size, and they lack a stock.
They are difficult to shoot well and take some real practice to master. A standard shotgun with a folding stock is a much better option.
Before we dive into our suggestions for truck guns, I want to say one last thing…
Do not leave your gun in your vehicle overnight or for extended periods of time. The easiest way to steal a gun is to break into a car and take it.
It’s common, and if you allow it to happen, you are responsible for it.
Meet the Experts
Travis has spent a lifetime shooting that started in a family that hunted every season they legally could. From there, he joined the United States Marine Corps and spent five years as an infantryman. In the middle of his Marine Corps career, he began writing about firearms and never stopped. He holds an NRA instructor certification and has authored articles across several publications, including Pew Pew Tactical.
Pew Pew Tactical Content Producer Sean Curtis edited and added to the original article. Sean spent over two decades in law enforcement, where he became a POST-certified handgun instructor and NLEFIA Red Dot Instructor and received CLEFIA Advanced Firearms Instructor Training and AR-15 armorer training. He has since attended a variety of training, including Tactical Performance Center Handgun Mastery & Carbine Mastery, and earned USCCA rifle instructor certification.
Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers. She is a National Rifle Association Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.
Final Thoughts
A trunk gun isn't going to be for everyone, but for many of us, they are essential. Hopefully, I've given you the tools to choose the one that is right for you!
While we’re on the topic of things to stage in your car, don’t forget a First Aid Kit for your trunk too!
Do you have a truck gun? Let us know all about it in the comments below. Looking for more defensive-style firearms? Check out the Best Home Defense Gun or the Best Home Defense Tactical Shotguns.