Carbines as self defense or just plinking.

[Speedo2]

Here's another way to go:

It's a Mag-Tech "non-gun"; upper action for a 1911 frame. Not exactly something that I'd stake my life on, but it's a hoot to shoot and it was not expensive (~$250). Here's some results at 50 yds:

It makes a strange "twanging" resonant sound from the stock when fired. However, for the more serious, zombie applications, I too would stick with the M1 carbine:

 

[Armyphotog]

Max,
don't mean to steal the thread, but yes, the M-1 is a great little carbine!

 

[ldp4570]

M1 Carbine here too.

 

[GatorFarmer]

I've been gone a while, so I'm late on this. Doesn't look like anyone mentioned it but there are reasons that pistol caliber carbines aren't such a good choice. Oddly, the biggest one is over penetration. Ever notice that LE doesn't make much use of 9mm subguns any more and now you see M4 carbines? One reason for this was that it became apparent that 9mm rounds at subgun (or carbine velocities) had a tendency to shoot through more walls and objects than did a 5.56mm even with FMJ ammo.

The M1 carbines suffer, these days, from having ammunition that is relatively expensive and often hard to find. Ammunition other than FMJ tends to be particularly expensive and seems to possibly only be made in seasonal runs.

Muzzle blast/noise/concussion can make firing a relatively short 5.56mm rifle quite unpleasant indoors. The FAL carbine with a 14.5" bbl and a flash hider permanently attached that I once had was even more "interesting". It's a good idea to keep hearing protection handy if you opt to go this route.

Lever actions tend to present a few seperate problems. One is leaving the magazines loaded with the rounds under pressure and pushing into each other. Anecdotes exist of this leading to various issues over time. Certainly they weren't really designed for it in the way something like a Pmag with cover in place was. They also can be a bit of a problem used at weird angles, prone, etc. in terms of manipulating the action. In ye olden days this is why the U.S. Cav never warmed up to Winchester lever actions in real life (as opposed to the movies).

 

[s&wbest]

Saw a program on cable demonstrating a Kris as a modern submachine gun where the Thompson and the "grease gun" were used in the past. I like the vector changing weights in this gun. It is stable in full auto where the others had barrel rise.
The Kris is in 45cal. The military likes a 200+grain load. My question is about grain load in a 40s&w carbine. You get the most velocity and gain in fps in a 135gr load from a 4inch barrel to a 16inch barrel. The optimum length was around a 15 in barrel according to ballistics by the inch. To be legal you are at 16 1/2. I am looking for a combination of velocity, trajectory (flat as possible), and power at the target. The 135gr load has all of these. You have other factors to consider. Over/under penetration and fragmenting loosing the jacket during expansion. From the charts I was looking at on BB" the 135gr and the 165gr loads seem to gain the most out of a longer barrel. The 180gr would be closer to the 200+gr mark the military likes in the 45cal. If you had to clear a room or stop a mob home invasion what grain load would you choose? (Don't want to hear shotgun unless you have a 20 round hammer)

 

[rwsmith]

carbines are....

Carbines are Da Bomb for just fun shooting.

update: Oh, and close in defense, too.

 

[Jessie]

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

I don't know why it wouldn't work, especially with a good light and or laser. Cheap shooting also.
I see you're an Imjin scout, me too. 71'- 72'

 

[finesse_r]

Carbines are good for plinking and for self defense.

 

[chief38]

Next to a 12 Gauge Pump Shotgun, Lever Action Carbines are probably the next best thing........

Low recoil, higher velocity of pistol caliber rounds from a Carbine.

High capacity tubular magazines.

Easy to control and shoot accurately.

Reliable - at least most I've handled and shot.

They use inexpensive (relatively speaking of course) pistol ammo.

Certainly can't be called an "Assault Weapon" by the Media ( at least not yet ).

AND...... is so much fun to shoot you will find yourself shooting it a lot at the Range and will become very proficient with it - GOOD for a SD weapon.

 

[BigBill]

A few years back I picked up a new Henry carbine in 22lr for the new grandson. He's going to be 4yo mid summer. It's a fine piece of machinery.
It has me wanting the longer barrels in 22wmr & 22lr.
My lever wish list is,

Henry 20"barreled lever in 22lr golden boy.
Henry 20"barreled lever in 22wmr golden boy.

Marlin 357/38 special lever.
Marlin 44mag cowboy lever.
Marlin 45/70 cowboy lever.

 

[mg357]

M1 Carbine M1 Carbine M1 Carbine

 

[Dominus_Lex]

I have been very happy with my Beretta, and would have no issues using it as a home defense tool, and yes it a a heck of a lot of fun at the range.

 

[BearBio]

The M1 Carbine is nice, especially if you have a matching handgun (Ruger Blackhawk in my case).

Wouldn't feel naked with a lever in a pistol caliber either. But then, I practice with mine.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

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.

I sold my Carbine, but still have my Ruger Blackhawk in 30Carbine, which I have a tailored load for. Discovered some , new to me, Hornady bullets last year and got in under the radar being able to order in enough to last me for a long time. Some years ago I passed on a carbine of sorts, in 10MM. Don't remember the brand, but am sorry I did so. It was one of those nasty black guns with no style at all.

 

[BAM-BAM]

PCC are a hoot to shoot........

My first was a Rossi in .357 ....... I up graded to a Winchester Trapper in .357..... check out Skinner barrel sights to replace the factory rear sight..a great improvement.

The Beretta CX4 Storm's are great guns...... with a red dot they are good to go for self defense..... out to 75yds.......inside 50 2-3moa groups are easy to do all day.......have read about the over penetration issue.... but the handiness and ability to share mags makes it a practical urban SHTF combo.

Also 15,17,18,20 and 30 round factory and Mecar. mags are readily available and fairly cheap......... also it's shorter than an AR with stock collapsed .....

Combo'ed with a Beretta 92 all mags are interchangeable...IMO a good low profile short range defense/zombie combo

My latest is a Ruger 77/.357 with a Weaver 1-3x20 scope. stainless with synthetic stock it's my current utility rifle at the farm. Feeds .38s and .357 well.

 

[pluspea]

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.

I like the 30 30 also, kinda between too powerful and not to powerful, feel well armed with mine.

 

[s&wbest]

Update to my previous post

I have found some things to consider when using a 135gr load.
In the past the FBI has tested and found this load failing to penitrate and did not pass it in testing.
Bullet design using copper and bonded bullets have improved since this testing.
The velocity increase using a 135gr (Corbon) was impressive in vewing ballistics by the inch charts. The increase in velocity in a longer carbine barrel improves the sectional density numbers and possibly could improve penitration. Increased velocity also may degrade accuracy if the bullet starts jumping the barrel rifling due to the twist rate for the barrel in your carbine possibly resulting in a loss in accuracy at a distance.

I can only test by shooting targets at a range and hearing how loud the gong sounds. If you have hunting or real life experience with a carbine I would be interested in hearing from you.

 

[brucev]

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

Take a look at this... Mom fights back against home invaders on Detroit's west side - YouTube . Stop at about 53 seconds into the report. Do not yet own one. Have been reading about various carbines. The Hi-Point as used here by likely a non-gun type person looks to be a good choice for plinking... and even sweeping unwelcome people out the door.