Carbines as self defense or just plinking.

[Doug Add]

I also love my Marlin 1894c in .357, but use it mostly for dispatching cans and milk jugs. I hope 9 rounds of 00 buck (4 in the Remington 870 tube, 5 on the stock) will suffice for home defense, but I can see how 9 rounds of .357 could be useful.

 

[USSR]

With my cast bullet load of 12.5gr of 2400, it's a joy to shoot.

Don

 

[M29since14]

The other rifle I am looking at is the Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle while not pistol caliber it also looks fun.

It probably would be, especially if you handload for it. But that box magazine looks at little...

Years ago I bought a Lightweight Model 70 in .308, whittled the barrel down, and made up some special bases to mount a scout scope on the barrel using Warne QD rings. It was a fun little rifle, but loud with factory-level .308 ammunition.

I eventually changed over to using #311041 cast bullets and a small charge of Nr. 2400 powder (no filer), producing around 1600 FPS. I shot this load for long time out of the rifle with no real leading/cleaning problems. It was always very accurate - and cheap.

I can also be added to the list of long-standing admirers of the M1 Carbine, and these days I have finally started to admit to some fondness of the M4 Carbine, too. Admittedly neither is a pistol caliber. I have nothing against pistol caliber carbines, but will admit I was amazed at how hard they can kick! (Browning 92 reissue in 44 Magnum )

Here in Indiana, quite a few pistol caliber carbines are deer-legal, so there is quite an interest in them. I rather like the little Ruger 44 Magnum bolt action, but am not a deer hunter.

 

[DeathGrip]

What was the reason for the carbine?Think about urban warfare.Think about trench warfare.Think about the Calvary.Think about the Huns bow.
Of course a carbine makes a good HD weapon.Compact,powerful enough and handy.

 

[ditrina]

My Rossi lever action .357.. next up a lever action .44..
pretty much would cover it all.. Plinking.. Hunting.. Defending..
Of course.. the Colt 6940 would fit in there someplace..

 

[stantheman86]

A 16" AR15 loaded with frangible ammo is a fine HD weapon.

An M1 Carbine is also ideal, it was in fact designed as a personal defense weapon for "non Infantry" personnel like truck drivers who needed more than a pistol, but something more portable than an M1 Garand. I have an M1 Carbine and I wouldn't hesitate to use it as a "zombie carbine". With 30 round M2 mags it's a formidable close range weapon that can still reach out and touch to 200 yards.

 

[jkc]

I got a chance to handle a Ruger Gunsite Scout rifle at Sprague's gunshop in Yuma last week, and was more impressed with it than I'd expected to be, it's odd, but satisfactory in fit, finish, feel, balance, &tc., and, its chambered for a does-all cartridge. An alternative to the lever guns and pistol-caliber semi-autos is the Ruger K77/44, a bolt gun offered in stainless/synthetic style, chambered in .44 mag, and equipped with a not-very-QD rotary magazine. It's BB gun weight and short barrel lend it to HD duty. Mine's mission is as an adjunct to sidearms for bear defense in camp. I'm hoping it doesn't see much use...

 

[oldRoger]

A friend of mine has a Ruger 99/44 Deerfield which looks very like an M1 Carbine but in .44 Magnum.
Only a four shot Magazine but easy to switch.
I confess I am warming to the idea.

 

[doublesharp]

Here's an IMI Timberwolf .357 pump and a Highway Patrolman

Ruger pc9 and p95 9mm use same mag

 

[roundgunner]

I got this Beretta CX4 in 40 S&W.

It is easy to shoot, 17 round mags, and a 180 JHP at 1316 FPS will work just fine on things that go bump in the night. Mine is my poor mans MP5 on steroids.
Simple power factor calculations are impressive.
AR-15 55gr X 3000 FPS = 165,000 PF
40 S&W 180gr X 1300 = 234,000 PF

 

[ACP230]

I have an M1 carbine and a Marlin 1894FG in .41 Magnum. My wife bought me the carbine so it's a sentimental favorite. The .41 Marlin is a sweet shooter and would also work well as a home defense gun.

I had a Rossi .357 lever which didn't much like to feed .38 Specials. No issues with the Marlin 1894 though. I put XS peep sights on it and they work real well for me.

 

[imjin138]

My buddy Rick would love to find a marlin in 41 to go with his ruger single action. I have more places and time to fire the CX carbine, the Scout Rifle would need to be shot at an outdoor range and I don't have regular acess to one of those.

I will probably order something this weekend.

 

[Faulkner]

I've carried a M1 carbine with me in my patrol car for over 15 years. I have found it to be a fine patrol long gun and an excellent home defense firearm. With 110 grain soft nosed hollow points it has a record as a proven one shot stopper, and I've taken several whitetails with mine plus I've disposed of a couple of bovine.

I've recently transitioned to a Ruger PC4 police carbine in .40 S&W for duty carry. Very handy little carbine, plenty accurate and uses the same ammo as my Glock 23. While the M1 carbine exhibits very little recoil with it's gas operated short-stroke piston, the PC4 is blowback operated and surprising does provide a little punch to the shoulder. Nothing significant, but definitely noticable, but it is still a fast shooting with great ergonomics.

And for those who think a revolver/lever gun combo is the way to go, I couldn't agree more. At home, my .357 lever guns and revolvers are my go to guns more times than not. The .38's are great for dealing with critters and coyotes around the place and I've taken a number of whitetails with my lever guns using .357 magnum rounds.

 

[Badkarma 1]

I'm rather partial too the M1 Carbine as well. I have found the Winchester 110gr. "hollow soft points"(Their wording) to be very effective on varmints.
On my "want" list is a Win. 94 Trapper in 30/30! I like short rifles! Dale

 

[stantheman86]

The old "thutty thutty" is a nice round and often overlooked in this new world of plastic pistols and rifles. One of my "needs" is a Magnum Research BFR 30/30 revolver.

I have an older Winchester carbine from the 60's in 30/30 and it has some punch, and it can reach out and touch to 300 yards. Roughly the equivalent of a 7.62x39 with a lot more class It has enough power for almost any realistic job you would need a rifle for, it won't kick the heck out of you and very accurate.

 

[Snapping Twig]

Just a side note, and I didn't read all the posts here so forgive me if this has previously covered.

When you shoot a magnum out of a 1894, you pick up some velocity. This means that if you get 1200fps out of a .44 in a 6" barrel, you'll get an additional 3 to 4 hundred fps, depending on the load/powder.

So, if you subtract the 200 fps a flat nosed bullet looses at 100 yards, you're still 100 to 200 fps faster at 100 yards than a magnum is at the muzzle.

That's quite a gain in horsepower.

 

[Brian41]

I also have the Ruger PC4 with ghost ring sights and the Ruger P94 pistol that share the same mags. Both have been dandy plinkers with the not so expensive .40 cal ammo.
They'd make a good combo HD or vehicle guns I'd think but don't believe are in current production, the carbine at least.

 

[imjin138]

Ruger stopped making the PC carbine, but I did see one at the Gun show yesterday for around 500. I called Shooters and they are telling me it is a 4 to 5 month wait on the Scout rifle.

 

[Smith Man]

My Ruger 9mm Carbine

Here is my Ruger PC9 9mm carbine. Rated for +P+ ammo. Keep it loaded with Ranger 127gr +P+ ammo. Had a Kel-Tec SUB2000 and it jammed. Got rid of it. This Ruger puts the Kel-Tec to shame.

 

[stantheman86]

Ruger has a habit of coming out with super-neat guns......and then dropping them

Those Scout Rifles are selling like hotcakes......in a year I bet Ruger drops them.

I like the Scout Rifle, the fact that it's not available in 30-06 has made me just want to look for an older M77 instead. I may still have to get a Scout Rifle though.....