Pistol caliber carbine choice

[Texas by God]

If the M1 Carbine was a 10mm, that would be my pick.
Actually the .30 Carbine fills the role here already; I sold my .357 Rossi lever.

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[northmn]

Different perspective than I expected. I do not do a lot of plinking or recreational shooting that would give me any use of the semi auto calibers. When asked why, I can state that for my uses when I want a rifle, I want a rifle caliber, which none of the semi auto pistols will come close to matching. I carry a 357, 32-20 or 22 mag off my tractor and 4 wheeler but hunt deer with a standard "deer rifle" caliber as the shots are often 100 yards +. Main reason one might want a pistol caliber rifle is for economy in reloading supplies. The 44 mag makes a fair up close game rifle. The 357 will work but could be stated as minimal.


Pistol cartridges are designed to use bullets of larger caliber that are light weight enough to control. A 40 cal rifle used 250-400 grain bullets in the BP days and somewhat larger today. The fat short bullets of a pistol caliber do not have very good down range performance. I thought about a 44 mag rifle but already had a 38-55 which far surpasses a 44 down range when used with reasonable hand loads. Also, loads that some use in pistol caliber rifles may not be desirable in pistols. From a practical standpoint, if I carry a pistol it is for another purpose than a rifle. Like a 22 for small game when carrying a deer rifle.


Personally I do not find them all that practical. Shotguns are not all bad for personal defense, nor are 5.56 AR's. 30-30's will work as will other lever actions. Each to his own.

DEP

[OldBearHair]

New Hi-Point 45ACP carbine and Bersa 45ACP . The carbine works well at feeder distances on hogs.

[Bigslug]

.357 Mag, because it's potentially the most like a real rifle round when I want one, and can be turned into a poppy little subsonic when I don't.

[one-eyed fat man]

Here are a couple of my favorites. Remington Model 14-1/2 in .44-40



Marlin Model 27S in .32-20

[wonderwolf]

For the caliber I would say .357 Mag, for the particular rifle I would say the Ruger 77/357 in stainless

I've had one now for a number of years as a companion to my GP-100 5" barrel and I have to say it is one of the most fun guns I own. For throwing on the tractor while bush hogging or just to keep handy while working in the garden its a nice little package that packs a good punch.

I purchased it when .22 was hard to come by and I didn't want to burn through my stash, I wanted something I could handload for that would go well with a wheel gun. I've loaded a LOT of ammo using a dipper and a 310 tong tool and had some excellent groups with it at 50 and 100 yards. Would be hard pressed to do that with a semi, don't get me wrong I love my semi auto PCC but if I was gonna go woods walking I would grab my 357/77. With slow powder in your reloads its easy to break 2000 FPS with 125gr .357 Mag loads. Though I think the perfect bullet weight is somewhere around the 160-180 for cross revolver/ bolt action use.

I've been obsessed with this combo for the last 3 years working on the perfect load combination for all around use. From squirrels to moose its a can do combination.

[CIC]

I have not met a PCC yet that I did not like. Don’t know what it is about them. I am torn between 357 and 44. Have been for years. Guess that is why I have both. Each year I switch between them for deer season. Despite what people say 357 kills dear dead.

[Walks]

I've, had a MARLIN CAMP 9 & old model 59, same mags. Well not quite, the MARLIN came with one 12 rounder. I bought 4 20Rd Mags for the CAMP 9, had 4 14rd mags for the old 59.

Sold them to help finance my new "AFFLICTION"; COWBOY ACTION SHOOTING. I've had BROWNING '92 copy in .44MAG since about 1980. Got a RUGER Super BlackHawk. 44MAG at the same time. Haven't been without a Pistol chambered Rifle ever since.

I would have to spend a long time figuring out which caliber to choose if limited to only ONE.

The .357/.38 is cheapest with lightest recoil.
The .44M/.44S is more powerful.

I won't go into the other combos .38WCF, .44WCF, .32WCF & now .45COLT. And the NEWEST RUGER Semi-Auto carbines, plus the cheap ones.

[Reverend Al]

I bought a JR Carbine in .45 ACP just because it was a great price (lightly used) but was amazed at how accurate it is! If you watch the JRC videos on their website they aren't fooling when they show the owner shooting a JR in .45 ACP into a one hole group on their indoor range ... mine shoots just the same! By the way, their customer service is the best I've ever seen. I had a small cycling problem with mine and emailed them to ask about a couple of replacement parts to cure the problem. Next morning I got a phone call from the owner who told me exactly what was going on and that the needed parts were already in that day's mail at NO charge. Amazing company to deal with who stand behind their products 110% ...

[doctorxring]

What caliber would you choose for a pistol caliber carbine, and why?

Thanks

Randy

I chose 9mm Luger. Today's bullet designs and factory ammunition choices make the 9mm Luger a very capable carbine round inside of 100 yards. Proper handloading can increase this range a bit.

I have two. Ruger PC Carbine. CZ Scorpion Evo Carbine.

.

[Ramjet-SS]

I just ordered a KelTec sub 2000 in 9mm to play around with the 9 is cheap to shoot and the older I get the more I hate heavy recoil so the 9 fills that bill. I will let you know how this little gun does after I turn few hundred down range with it.

[fatelk]

If the M1 Carbine was a 10mm, that would be my pick.
Actually the .30 Carbine fills the role here already; I sold my .357 Rossi lever.

I never really thought about it before, but that's really what the little M1 Carbine was from the start. I've read people questioning what it was for decades. It's not a real rifle, per se. It's not a submachine gun. Say what you want about the carbine, but it always filled it's intended role very well. I think that role is the same one filled by today's PCCs. Sometimes you want to have more than a handgun with you, but a rifle's too big and heavy.

I bought a Sub2000 in .40 S&W a couple months ago. I can tell you what I like and what I don't like about it, but overall I'm pretty happy with it. It folds into a tiny, compact package that will fit in a backpack or a suitcase, and it's cheap and fun to shoot.

At one time I was really tempted towards a TNW ASR, but have read some stuff recently about the company that made me very hesitant.

I've always wanted, but never bought, a .357 mag lever action. One of these days. I've had a Marlin in .44 mag for decades. It's kind of hard for me to really consider it a "pistol caliber" carbine, because in a 20" barrel the .44 magnum hits like a grown-up rifle.

[dbmjr1]

The original Pistol Caliber Carbine, the Winchester '92. Mine's in .32 WCF.

I also am really fond of my .30 Carbine M-1. It's so light and handy.

[zymguy]

I saved my pennies and bought an IMI timberwolf in357. I love it so far ! mostly ive been shooting 125g 38 special through it. I'll start with stouter whitetail loads as soon as I decide on sights .

[Lloyd Smale]

got to agree the 9 is my favorite. If you cast your own its a cheap to shoot as a 22lr and you don't have to worry about ammo shortages and you can find brass about anywhere and even for free if your willing to bend over. Ive got two 9mm ar15s and shoot them more then all my other rifles combined. It might seem sacrilegious to some but id love to see someone come out with a 9mm lever action gun. Little 16 inch marlin would be real cool.

I chose 9mm Luger. Today's bullet designs and factory ammunition choices make the 9mm Luger a very capable carbine round inside of 100 yards. Proper handloading can increase this range a bit.

I have two. Ruger PC Carbine. CZ Scorpion Evo Carbine.

.

[BigTedd]

.357 lever guns

[Shawlerbrook]

A 92 lever in 44 or 357 mag.

[Bmi48219]

Everyone has a personal preference, I have several 9 mm & 45 pistols and have been trying to convince myself a pistol caliber carbine would be a wise investment.
I do have a M1 carbine and an autoloader pistol in the same caliber, plenty of components, dies & loaded ammo for them. So that itch is fairly well scratched. Plus they're both fun as heck to shoot and probably reach out a little farther than 9 or 45. Yet every time I see a pistol caliber carbine at the range the urge comes back.
Could be I'm coming down with "carbine-itis procurous", a rare but seldom disease for which there is no know cure.

[wrench man]

Have both for,
22LR
30 Carbine
327 Federal
357 Mag
44 Mag
45 Colt

Seriously considering a rifle for 41 Mag.

[725]

Would depend entirely on your purpose or intentions. I can see a value, fun & otherwise, for all of 'em. I just got back from the range with a new load for my .44 mag carbine. My intensions are hunting.