I have a 1957 Ford 641 tractor like the one in the photo, but that one is not mine. Mine is not that pretty. Mine is used weekly for mowing, bush-hogging, etc.. It is in good shape for its age. Yesterday while mowing I stirred up a decent size rattlesnake. I was not carrying at the time and he managed to slip away in the tall grass. I would like to mount a rack or scabbard to the inside of the right fender so that I can take my Maverick 88 with 18" barrel with me safely. I am looking for ideas or suggestions.
Shotgun rack/scabbard for tractor
- Thread starter Mike1647
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Weimar
US Veteran
Don't get off your tractor and the snake will leave you alone and eat rats 
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
I have seen some full-coverage hard plastic scabbards for mounting on ATV's or snowmobiles that could probably be adapted pretty easily. Have a look at the Cabela's or Gander Outdoors websites.
Another thought is police supply companies. We always used locking racks mounted to the floorboard of the cruiser to secure a pump 12-gauge shotgun. These typically lock up at the rear of the slide to prevent anyone from inadvertently chambering a round while in the rack. Some have key-locks, some use electronic locks. Might require making a bracket to mount it to your tractor fender.
As far as safety goes, we always referred to a shotgun as "cruiser ready" when the chamber was empty, magazine full, action cocked, safety on. To make the shotgun ready requires hitting the slide release, racking the slide to chamber a round, then disengaging the safety, then the shotgun is ready to fire. For an experienced person that all requires only a few seconds, but the shotgun is always safe to transport and handle without undue concern.
Another thought is police supply companies. We always used locking racks mounted to the floorboard of the cruiser to secure a pump 12-gauge shotgun. These typically lock up at the rear of the slide to prevent anyone from inadvertently chambering a round while in the rack. Some have key-locks, some use electronic locks. Might require making a bracket to mount it to your tractor fender.
As far as safety goes, we always referred to a shotgun as "cruiser ready" when the chamber was empty, magazine full, action cocked, safety on. To make the shotgun ready requires hitting the slide release, racking the slide to chamber a round, then disengaging the safety, then the shotgun is ready to fire. For an experienced person that all requires only a few seconds, but the shotgun is always safe to transport and handle without undue concern.
jrm53
Member
Get a good one I had a friend mowing with a brushhog, he had snake charmer .410 stainless shot gun that fell off and he ran over it with cutter it totaled it. Jeff
Don't get off your tractor and the snake will leave you alone and eat rats
Somehow, I knew this would be one of the first responses.
That’s all well and good unless the snake is in close proximity to a dwelling, a dog enclosure, or an area often used by humans, especially youngsters.
My King snakes and rat snakes are welcome, but the venomous snakes have to go.
OP
This was a rattler I'm almost positive. I don't let them be like I do other snakes. I have family that is out and about in these areas that it was seen in. Sorry but when it is snake or family snake loses. Thanks for the ideas I am researching them.
Any gun boot suitable for an atv should easily mount to one of your fenders. I am contemplating putting a rack of the roll bar of my John Deere to carry my AR15. I'm ALWAYS armed with a pistol of some sorts when using the tractor. MUCH FUN can be had shooting rats from the tractor seat with a 38 and shot loads when bush hogging.
Read somewhere a guy did the same thing with a pistol and a lawn mower.
Abbynormal
Member
Why didn't you just run over it?
Looks like your gun could bounce out of that on rough terrain.
SC_Mike
Member
Id sling it over your head and one shoulder. Not real easy to draw but secure. Or you could mount a 3-4 inch diameter piece of PVC pipe capped on the lower end and mounted near vertical in an easy to reach position with some padding inside at the muzzle.
I was bush hogging a couple days ago shooting rats with my Glock. Challenging to say the least.
I was bush hogging a couple days ago shooting rats with my Glock. Challenging to say the least.
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Gripgrabber
US Veteran
Hay, I thought about the pump trick on the tractor, but settled (against Rpgs warnings of a special place in hell) I went for the GOVENOR in a pancake holster with # 4s, works great, and won’t fall off, if it does I’m in big trouble, then I’m the pancake,lol.
Semper paratus
Semper paratus
For years guys around here mounted a piece of PVC pipe on
tractor fender. Some would cut a old soft gun case as a liner.
Most guys were using singl barrel shot guns or a beater Mil
Surp and didn't bother with lining. The gun nuts had some
rigged hard cases for scoped rifles.
tractor fender. Some would cut a old soft gun case as a liner.
Most guys were using singl barrel shot guns or a beater Mil
Surp and didn't bother with lining. The gun nuts had some
rigged hard cases for scoped rifles.
My tractor has a canopy and I have an overhead gun rack but I don't see why something couldn't be mounted on the fender.
Don't trust Velcro straps to hold the gun in the rack. Use straps with a buckle (dog collar, small belt). I had the Velcro straps to fail and the gun fell off and I run over it with the bush hog. I was super lucky and the receiver only had one small scratch and now I have straps with a buckle. Larry
Don't trust Velcro straps to hold the gun in the rack. Use straps with a buckle (dog collar, small belt). I had the Velcro straps to fail and the gun fell off and I run over it with the bush hog. I was super lucky and the receiver only had one small scratch and now I have straps with a buckle. Larry
Mike said:One day when I was bush hogging I decided shooting field mice was more important than mowing. I had a 9 shot HS .22 and I would follow and shoot until I killed them or shot 9 times and then stop and reload. I didn't kill too many and didn't get much mowing done but I shot several boxes of .22s. That evening when I quit my wife said she was glad that we don't have close neighbors that can see some of the things I do to amuse myself.Larry
I bought a set of the Kolphin Rhino grips and mounted on the ROP's of my Kubota. I mounted them so the rifle was vertical. They only lasted for a short time before they broke. On hindsight, they would have probably lasted longer had I mounted them so the rifle would be horizontal, but that really did not fit my application.
Tim
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BearBio
Member
During WWII, there was a jeep mount for Garands. Used to see them (or repros) on surplus sites. Should fit a shotgun. Or a saddle scabbard for a lever action.
Oldiron
US Veteran
Here the skinny snakes are mostly not to worry about. The fat ones, arm size, are RATTLE MOUTH COTTON MOCCASINS ,generic term, and must die. The smaller ones I don't see that much while on the tractor.
For cutting hay fields I used a scabbard like SC_MIKE's picture and put my .223 TC Contender in it. Since the TC is so short I turn up about 6" at the bottom and set it on the floor pan then secure the top to the hand rail on the Kubota. Never has moved out of place and the scope has never jared off zero. See a coyote, stop, turn off the pto if fluffing and set the rifle on my leg that is resting on the fender. Last one I shot was about 135 yds and I missed the tip of his nose by an inch and removed teeth and the side of his skull.
Larry
For cutting hay fields I used a scabbard like SC_MIKE's picture and put my .223 TC Contender in it. Since the TC is so short I turn up about 6" at the bottom and set it on the floor pan then secure the top to the hand rail on the Kubota. Never has moved out of place and the scope has never jared off zero. See a coyote, stop, turn off the pto if fluffing and set the rifle on my leg that is resting on the fender. Last one I shot was about 135 yds and I missed the tip of his nose by an inch and removed teeth and the side of his skull.
Larry
