Carbines as self defense or just plinking.

[imjin138]

Recently I have been toying with the idea of a pistol caliber carbine, I have been looking at the CX4 Beretta that uses the 92 magazines. I think it would be enjoyable to shoot and may be able to double as a home defense tool.


The other rifle I am looking at is the Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle while not pistol caliber it also looks fun. Haven't bought anything yet just looking for now

 

[redlevel]

I use my lever-action pistol (revolver) caliber carbines as plinkers, and in the case of the .45 Colt Winchester Trapper, for hunting. In a HD situation I could keep up a helluva racket with one of my Marlin .357 carbines or the .45. I would say they are very viable for HD.

 

[mgjohn]

I love my Kel Tec 2000 9mm carbine (uses Glock 17 mags) . They also make one that takes Berretta 92 mags.

Light handy and folds in half.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I want to second the Marlin lever carbines. No worries on mags, better pistol ammo than most mag fed carbine’s have, and they make great companions to your revolvers. I’m eventually going to get a stainless Marlin .357 but right now I have a Winnie in .357 that is just too pretty to take out and risk messing up. I’m such a putz for not wanting to scuff up pretty guns.

 

[feralmerril]

The winchester 92 clones do it for me. I have a puma in 357 and a browning 92 in .44 mag.

 

[Andy Griffith]

I've got two of the Rossi 92's and they are very fast, accurate and also very affordable.

 

[max]

I have a 92 clone in 357 and a Win 94 in 44. They are both fun to shoot, but the 44 kicks like a mule. I shot my M-1 carbine for the first time in a while yesterday and it was great fun.

 

[Trooperdan]

Call this herisy if you will, but a Hi point carbine in 9 m/m or .45 ACP is the perfect plinker! Not expensive, reliable, good customer support, down-side, heavy, ugly as a mud fence!

 

[BillBingham2]

My goal is a lever rifle that eats 38 special for plinking and 357 mag for more pointed needed.......

I'm moving to wheel pistols and lever or bolt rifles as they just work.

B2

 

[badguybuster]

I too REALLY like the looks of that gunsite scout rifle (308). Just plain sexy!!

 

[Andy Griffith]

I will add the my .357 92 gets fed .38's 99% of the time. Hardly any recoil even with the heaviest .357 loads- never a hiccup- unless short stroked by people unfamiliar with lever action rifles.

I've a 20" blue round barrel and a 16" stainless both in .357.
The 16" holds 9 rounds in the tube and the 20" holds 12- add one more in the chamber and if you need more than 10 or 13 rounds of .357, you're in real trouble!

 

[ol' geeser]

The wife has a Marlin Camp 9 and is vicious with it out to 75 yds. or so. Bullfrogs and turtles are in the pot if she sees 'em.

 

[redlevel]

The 16" holds 9 rounds in the tube and the 20" holds 12- add one more in the chamber and if you need more than 10 or 13 rounds of .357, you're in real trouble!

Besides which, if engaging multiple zombies, you can replenish rounds from a belt or pocket without bringing the gun down from your shoulder. With a little practice. My 1894 Marlins both feed .38 semi-wadcutters and .357 semi-wadcutters without a problem, so far. I haven't had the opportunity to run hundreds of rounds through them yet, just dozens. The 94 Winchester AE has run hundreds of 255 grain swc rounds over the years. I put a set of Skinner sights on one of the Marlins, but the Winchester factory sights work well. I consider these guns 50 yard rifles, maybe 100 with a good rest. They are absolutely fun to shoot, especially if one cut his teeth on a 39A.

 

[gregintenn]

Not exactly what you are considering, but it is a carbine chambered in a handgun cartridge. I'd feel well armed with it whether plinking or defending. I am still amazed at the fast handling and accuracy of my Marlin 44 Mag.

 

[WC145]

I have a Ruger PC9, cool little rifle, uses Ruger pistol mags.

 

[alde]

+1 for the Cowboy Assault Rifle. Mine is a Marlin 1894 in 44 magnum. It's fast, accurate, light and easy to reload or top-up witout taking it off line.

 

[shaggist]

Here's 1 vote for the M-1 .30 cal carbine, the 'baby Garand' of WW2. It is light and handy, and accommodates a variety of magazines from 5 to 30 round. The cartridge is a potent little thing, putting a 110 grain slug out the muzzle at about 1990 fps. It has virtually no recoil, being gas operated, and a nice little bark when you pull the trigger. For HD, you can put 10 rounds into a home invader before he can hit the floor, and for plinking, it will make a plastic pop bottle of water explode.

Be prepared to load your own, as the ammo is starting to reach collector status, and isn't as cheap as shooting 22 RF like it used to be. For that matter, 22 RF isn't as cheap to shoot as it used to be.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I have the Marlin M1894s in 357 and 44Mag, the Marlin Camp Carbines in 9MM and 45ACP. The 9MM takes the S&W M659 magazines, the 45 M1911
magazines.
Regarding the lever actions, make sure yours operates smoothly with ammunition you choose. On this and other boards I have seen members mention feeding and operation problems with Marlins, in some cases a little breaking in is all that is needed, in others some very careful stoning is needed to ensure smooth operation.
I will repeat what the real "experts" have said, reloads for practice, but factory ammo for the "Real Thing".

 

[Rugskipper]

AR15 in 9mm. Loads of fun and cheap to shoot.

 

[RonJ]

I love my 1894c (.357). It's always been a bit tough to load and on bad arthritis days it's very difficult or impossible. Not much I can do about the RA but can the stiff loading gate be corrected?