Pistol Caliber Carbines

[Charlie Foxtrott]

A big fan here. I picked up a Noveske not long ago.

 

[WildBillWJW]

Leveraction 357’s are great fun and very versatile ranch rifles. 38 specials feel like 22’s through them, and specialty loads approach 30-30 ballistics.

 

[blfuller]

I have the Ruger PCC and a MKE AT94 16" pistol that I converted into a rifle. The Ruger is obviously the cheaper route and takes Glock mags, but the AT94 has the H&K MP5 coolness factor. Both are great.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Nothing wrong imo with the original either for that role, although I don't really want a handgun in the same caliber for this one.

Mine is a 1943 Standard Products

I gotta say, 30 carbine isn’t very practical in a handgun but my experience with an AMT Automag and Ruger Blackhawk sure was fun.

30 carbine out of a pistol becomes a flame breathing dragon with lots of attitude.

 

[Kinman]

I won an AR in a $25 raffle, while I have been through the entire AR/AK47 deal in a previous lifetime I have very little time for anything to do with high capacity, high velocity in any form. I do have a significant supply of .40 S&W from a previous ammo purchase indiscretion. I have messed around with a number of AR platform carbines and have a fondness for a little 9mm Linda Wilkerson on a shoulder fired platform. I had a friend of mine alter or rebuild the AR into a .40 AR platform carbine with 8" barrel that uses high capacity (30rnd) Glock mags., It took some dickin around with to get it right as it had a bad habit of going full auto and although very well controlled was a bit unnerving. Once sorted it is a very nice little PDW and although does not have the coolness factor of the little Linda is still a viable option. Were it not for the fact that I have a number of .40 pistols and the over abundance of ammo in that caliber I would not have ventured down that road, opting instead for a .450 Thumper or something on that order.

 

[wood714]

People can do whatever they want and feel whatever they want. Makes no difference to me! I don't follow or prescribe to opinions without doing my own research. I then do what I feel is right for me. I have a Kel-Tec S2K Gen 3 with a Vortex Sparc AR Gen 2 on it. Takes Glock mags and has been very reliable without any malfunctions. I like it and would recommend it if someone asked. Folds up nicely and fits in my SKRAM Go bag.

View attachment 756259

A friend of mine has the original Kel Tec Sub 9. They made it in all aluminum till 2000.

The Sub 9 - A Prequel to the SUB 2000

Have you ever heard of the Sub 9? This was the predecessor to the SUB 2000 and stands up as a classic folding rifle.

gatdaily.com

 

[wood714]

Never was a fan of a 9mm PCC until I got one. My first was the CZ. I put a tri lug adapter on the CZ for easy suppressor swapping.

 

[TheTinMan]

I’ll see your carbine/revolver pairs and raise you two .45 Colts!

John Taffin .45 New Model Blackhawk with 45 Colt and 45 ACP cylinders


Winchester (Miroku) 1892 Deluxe Trapper Takedown:

 

[BC38]

For me, the great thing about a PCC is having a long gun and a sidearm that use the same ammo. If they both use the same magazines, that's even better.
My pairings are
Marlin Camp 9 & S&W M59 (same magazines)
High Point 995 & a variety of 9mm semi-auto pistols
Rossi 357/38 M92 & a variety of 357/38 special revolvers
Rossi 44mag/special M92 & a variety of 44 magnum/special revolvers
Highpoint 4595 & several 45ACP semi-auto pistols and revolvers
Several different 22LR rifiles, semi-auto pistols, and revolvers.
A rifle and a sidearm in the same caliber makes a great combination.

 

[RabbyTat]

The debate over the effectiveness of pistol caliber carbines has gone on for years. Many well known firearms experts think they are a great idea. Others state that if you’re going to use a long gun, use one in rifle caliber and stop messing around.

I understand both sides of the argument. I don’t think either answer is right for everyone.

I own a Ruger PCC in 9MM. It has the Glock magazine adapter installed. I have a large quantity of Glock magazines so for me it makes sense. I even have a 100 round drum for it.

It’s reliable, accurate, and a lot of fun to shoot. And 9MM is less expensive to shoot. And at close range, I wouldn’t want to get shot with it.

I also own a Rock River Arms AR. The two stage match trigger is great. But I don’t shoot it near as much. Essentially if I’m shooting indoors.

What’s your take?

"if you’re going to use a long gun, use one in rifle caliber and stop messing around."

 

[paxton]

love my hipoint 9mm, got it years ago for $317.80 out the door, redot an 1350fps shes a tac driver at 100yrds.....yes it looks cheep,but ive abused it an ran over 5,000 rounds so far without a hic up, have 2 10rnd an 2 20rnd mags. gonna get the bullpup stock for it next. used to shoot alot of 9mm is why i got it to start,now its bout all i shoot in 9mm, do all my own reloads,also have 9mm ec9s,1911 45acp rock island, ss taures judge in 45 colt with fiber optic, tarus 357 mag polymer,heritage 22mag/22lr, 1950's high standard dura-matic 22lr semiauto,1983 year daisy 22lr roatry mag bolt action rifel,1950's mossberge 20g an 410 bolt action,marlin 22lr papoose takedown,hawken 50cal muzzloader an pietta 44 cal brass navy cap n ball. live kinda in the woods an have my own lil range.....so i shoot allot !

 

[BB57]

The debate over the effectiveness of pistol caliber carbines has gone on for years. Many well known firearms experts think they are a great idea. Others state that if you’re going to use a long gun, use one in rifle caliber and stop messing around.

I understand both sides of the argument. I don’t think either answer is right for everyone....

<snip>

...What’s your take?

I guess it depends on the use. I like my Colt 6430 as it is light and handy. But the Rock River AR-9 pistol, modified with a Ballistic Advantage 8.9" barrel and free float tube (which has since been SBR'd) is shorter with a suppressor and still shoots 2" groups at 200 yards with a max load of Power Pistol and Hornady 115 gr XTPs or HAPs.

In contrast the Colt shoots 4-5" groups at 200 yards, which still isn't bad for what amounts to a personal defense weapon.

Both work well for a truck gun. The SBR with a suppressor is better for personal defense.

But for a personal defense weapon I still prefer an MP5 with a suppressor. It's suitably torso accurate out to 200 yards and consistently head shot capable at 100 yards, and suppressed and shooting sub sonic 147 gr hollow points its ear safe and quite effective in doors at social shooting distances.

A carbine in .223 can also be built to be quite light and suitably short, but they are loud, especially in enclosed spaces. Ballistics start to take a serious hit in shorter barrels so if you SBR one to keep it short with a suppressor you lose a lot in terms of terminal ballistics, especially out past 100 yards.

And of course there is nothing wrong with the M1 Carbine as a personal defense weapon, at least out doors. I did very well with one in tactical rifle matches with targets from close quarters to 250 yards, and it has been consistently under estimated since the 1980s.

I have also always liked the AR-180, and when properly configured with a folding stock, the AR-180B is excellent. it just had bad timing coming out at the same time as cheap AR-15s, and didn't do well with the tacticool pic rail crowd. In my experience the 180B is superior in nearly all respects to the original AR-180.

But when it comes to a light, portable rifle I am oddly enough a fan of the Mini-14. The pre mid 580 series take some work to accurize but when done, they will hold consistent 1.5 MOA 5 shot groups at 100 yards with Hornady 55 gr FMJs.

With Samson reviving the folding stock, it's also compact and a good truck gun choice.

Accuracy wise they are comparable to my Colt SP1 and M16A1 upper on an NDS 601 lower.

 

[Shrek Of The Arctic]

I'm a fan of the PCCs for a few reasons. I primarily shoot the .357 lever guns. My wife and daughter enjoy the 9mm variety. I've been with my wife since...the early 90's. Though she is a bit of a gun person, in that time span, I've gotten her to put about two mags through an AR and two mags through an AK. the noise and blast intimidates the heck out of her, despite the manageable recoil. I eventually discovered that I could give her a Kel Tec Sub 2K, and an old boot box full of loaded mags, and she can grin and plink for as long as the ammo holds out. Though I grew up hearing about PCP/Angel Dust zombie beasts that could take a full tube of 12 ga. and keep charging, I'm confident that a double tap from a 9mm carbine will have effect, as long as it makes contact.

Another good thing about the PCC is that it's allowed in the minor leagues and competitions we've shot. They can practice with them in various Steel Challenges and shooter leagues much more so than rifle cartridge. And, with the current price of ammo, 9mm is the caliber that we can still shoot without going into the poor house, or at least...not any farther. It is also a very nice caliber to suppress. In my neck of the suburbia woods, we have some aggressive dogs that sometimes run the area. If they need to quietly disappear, a 147 grain hollow point and a can will do the trick well.

As far as my .357 lever guns, I just really love the caliber, have lots of reloading components, and a lot of loaded ammo. The .357 lever gun is hugely versatile in that it can shoot a wee little bunny fart .38 Special, or a 200 grain hard cast bullet that can give a fighting chance against dangerous game. That having been said, I am seeing the caveats in that soft recoiling wadcutters, the perfect defense round against intruders, the perfect defense round against dangerous critters and day to day plinking ammo are all different, requiring different scope adjustments, holds, etc. So, even though I am still on this path, the thoughts of just getting a rifle round and being done with it are kinda penetrating my thick skull just a little.

Finally, I myself do not see myself needing more than 25 yards in most defensive scenarios. MAYBE a shade over 100 yards in an extreme scenario. But in any case, my shotgun and my pistol caliber carbines are adequate for my lifestyle and location. I totally respect the guy who may have to roll outta bed and shoot a coyote at 200 yards before the morning coffee finishes perking too. The PCC is good for me, but it ain't universal.

 

[Tommat]

9MM WITH AAC TI-RANT
View attachment 757094

Big fan of the carbine handgun same caliber set:
View attachment 757073View attachment 757074View attachment 757075View attachment 757076

I have a S&W 9 mm Carbon that uses the same magazines as my model 911 9 mm pistol. I believe they called the carbine rifle a “Camp Nine”

 

[Bald1]

I like’em. I have a Ruger Deerfield 44mag. A Ruger Deerstalker 44mag. A Ruger 77 44mag (not sure if a bolt action counts as a carbine). And an original Ruger Police Carbine 9mm with factory ghost ring sights. I keep fighting the urge to buy a Marlin Camp 9. I’m suddenly seeing them at better prices at gun shows.

 

[Cibermac]

The debate over the effectiveness of pistol caliber carbines has gone on for years. Many well known firearms experts think they are a great idea. Others state that if you’re going to use a long gun, use one in rifle caliber and stop messing around.

I understand both sides of the argument. I don’t think either answer is right for everyone.

I own a Ruger PCC in 9MM. It has the Glock magazine adapter installed. I have a large quantity of Glock magazines so for me it makes sense. I even have a 100 round drum for it.

It’s reliable, accurate, and a lot of fun to shoot. And 9MM is less expensive to shoot. And at close range, I wouldn’t want to get shot with it.

I also own a Rock River Arms AR. The two stage match trigger is great. But I don’t shoot it near as much. Essentially if I’m shooting indoors.

What’s your take?

I don't have anything in my house that is not a 9mm which one reason I have the Ruger PCC also. With the red dot it is easy to shoot and great for home defense. I also have Ruger American Comp in a 9mm. I find it a lot easier and cheaper to just keep the size round. Also, I don't hunt so the AR or other more powerful calibers are just not needed by me.

 

[Faulkner]

I don't consider a .30 M1 carbine a pistol caliber, it's a purpose designed carbine round. I do think the M1 carbine makes a dandy personal defense long gun and I carried one as a patrol carbine in my sheriff's patrol car for about 10 years.

I retired the M1 carbine from duty use a few years ago and went with a Ruger PC4 carbine in .40 S&W that I still carry and I have been very pleased with it.

 

[78bagger]

I've got the TNW Aero survival rifle in a backpack under the back seat of the truck. 10mm with a barrel nut that will thread off by hand. Inexpensive and not overly accurate, but up close it'll do the trick. Pair it with the Delta Elite and you've got something

 

[biku324]

I don't consider a .30 M1 carbine a pistol caliber, it's a purpose designed carbine round. I do think the M1 carbine makes a dandy personal defense long gun and I carried one as a patrol carbine in my sheriff's patrol car for about 10 years.

I retired the M1 carbine from duty use a few years ago and went with a Ruger PC4 carbine in .40 S&W that I still carry and I have been very pleased with it.

View attachment 758465

One of the best days of my career was when I retired my personal Mini-14 and was issued an AR'15 HBAR.

 

[Kinman]

Never was a fan of a 9mm PCC until I got one. My first was the CZ. I put a tri lug adapter on the CZ for easy suppressor swapping.