Carbine for Home Defense

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microman

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Been thinking about this lately. Wouldn't a carbine be better than
a shotgun for home defense?

The shotgun is the king I know but, the carbine is low recoil and
holds more capacity.

Out of a 16 barrel a 9mm +p can reach the same levels as a 6in .357
Magnum...without the blast and noise.

What does everyone think about this?

Was looking at this PX4 Storm
BRX4P915lg.jpg
 
I've always felt some sort of small rifle is a much better choice than the shotgun. I use a lightweight AR in 223, but a good reliable 9mm would be just fine.

The only real advantage shotguns have is reduced cost.
 
Does the Cx4 have the ability to accept a light?

Bad guys don't always come around during daylight hours and a good weapon light is a necessity.
 
You can hang all kinds of crap on and off of a Beretta Storm. Lights, Sights, compass, bullwhip, plenty of attachment points.
 
Well, a pistol caliber carbine is never going to equal a shotgun or an intermediate caliber rifle in terminal ballistics.

On the plus side, a pistol-caliber carbine makes it very easy for most people to put rouinds on target and since that is the major problem, that isn't anything to sneeze at.
 
I don't know, seems a pistol with a light on it would be better. Requires the use of two hands, harder to get around corners and does not hold any more rounds than my PX4 storm. Now for longer distance out side, it would make sense.

Jim
 
This was discussed at length not all that long ago in one of the handgun forums. My feeling on the matter is that while a pistol-caliber carbine would certainly be a formidable home defense weapon, I don't think that they have any significant advantage over a rifle in .223 Rem/5.56 NATO.

As to the debate between rifle vs. shotgun for HD, it's an issue that I'm torn about myself. On the one hand, my gut tells me that a load of buckshot will probably be about the most effective thing I can use and still fit in a reasonable package. However, the rifle has an advantage in both recoil (not a major issue for me) and capacity (possibly a major issue depending on the circumstances). My solution to the problem is to keep both a shotgun (Remington 870 Express) and a rifle (922r converted Saiga .223) at hand for HD duty and use whichever the situation dictates.

Honestly, I don't view any long gun as a substitute for a handgun. A long gun is, in my mind, a gun to barricade yourself into a position with. Long guns are simply too big and unwieldly for me to try and maneuver through my house with. Also, a long gun usually requires both hands to use effectively (a luxury you may or may not have). Because of this, I would go without a long gun for HD long before I'd ever go without a handgun.
 
I feel sort of like the sheriff attending a dinner function where the lady noticed he was carrying, and asked him if he was expecting to get in a gunfight. He said, no ma'am, if I was expecting to get in a gunfight, I'd be carrying a shotgun. :D
To me, a handgun is a last ditch "surprise!" kind of defense thing. Or, an "I can't carry openly here" kind of thing.
If you KNOW you are about to be in a gunfight, take a shotgun, or a repeating rifle.
YMMV, of course.
 
The following has a photo of mine with a flash light and an Aim point. I purchased the first one that showed up in any of the gun shops in my town when Beretta first brought them out.
You want to make sure of your decision on the magazine you want the gun to use. If you don’t right now have a Beretta 9mm (cougar, 92) then get the carbine that takes the 92 mag since they are cheaper and you can get large capacity mags easier.
Buy one you will be glad you did. I have several 9mm carbines including an HK MP5 and the Beretta is my favorite.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=390389&highlight=beretta+storm+carbine
 
Been thinking about this lately. Wouldn't a carbine be better than
a shotgun for home defense?
Click to expand...
The gun you are most comfortable with and have the most confidence in is going to be your best gun because it will be the gun you go for first. I am a master class pistol shooter and would rather shoot at long range targets with my rifle than eat but when it comes to bump in the night my go for gun is a shotgun. My personal choice so it is right for me. If you feel better with a 9 MM carbine than by all means for for it. There is no single right answer, no single right caliber and bullet or gauge and shotgun shell load.

My only caveat is shoot it enough that you know what works reliably and accurately in your gun and you are so familiar with it you aren't having to fumble looking for levers and buttons to load it or ready the gun for firing when it is dark and the adrenaline level is up. It had better be automatic. Practice with your chosen weapon makes it a good SD gun, not brand, caliber, gauge, bullet, shot, slug type or powder charge.
 
The Beretta is a nice SD gun....
But don't forget the Kel-Tec Sub2000 (in 9mm or .40S&W) or Hi-Point (in 9, .40 or .45)
Another good HD gun would be a Marlin 1894 lever action in .357 or .44

I have a short 16.5" barrel Marlin 1894 in .357 Mag that will get a BG's attention FAST! :eek: :D

Lateck,
 
I shot a 9mm Px4 yesterday, it was fine. I wasn't thrilled with the sights, would like to try something different on it. I was accurate with it to 25 yards. Not stellar, but for my first time with it I was ok.

I also held it and shot it one-handed just to see how much my arm would move, it was fine.

I am thinking of getting one for plinking plus HD, but in .40 cal since I also plan on getting a 96FS. Would rather have one caliper round to buy.
 
At home defense ranges almost any firearm is lethal. It's more about what you feel comfortable with. A carbine usually has a shorter length than a pistol held out in front of you. Either one with a light and a sighting system you are comfortable with is lethal. Shotguns are powerful but they do not spread much at HD ranges. I don't consider them to have any advantages over a rifle but that's just my opinion.
 
H-D Carbine

Picture688.jpg
Not the first thing I would grab if I ( or the dogs ) heard a bump in the night. But makes a good defensive weapon incase of a longer Home seige where a defensive position would be required. WVleo
 
I love my Cx4 in 9mm, and the ability to share mags with my 92FS is a real boon. With the additional fore-end rail kit, it comfortably carries my EOTech 512 on top (but doesn't co-witness the iron sights) and a Surefire Millenium weaponlight up forward on the right side.

That said, I have been drinking the "5.56/.223 penetrates walls less than most pistol cartridges" cool-aid lately, and have switched to a S&W M&P-15 carbine with 60gr Hornady TAP FPD for home defense.

I live in your typical suburban neighborhood, with next-door neighbors 15 feet away to either side. Of course, the correct answer is not to miss your target, but in the event of a miss, I figure if a 9mm from a pistol will overpenetrate walls, the added velocity from the longer carbine barrel just makes things worse.

So, with that in mind, I have moved the EOTech and Surefire to the M&P, and now the Cx4 sits naked while I look for a suitable red dot optic and a smaller light (perhaps a Surefire ScoutLight...) for the Cx4. My new plan calls for the wife use the Cx4 to back me up during zombie attacks!

Just offered as some food for thought...

[whisper]
To the OP: Get the Cx4, it's a heck of a lot of fun; you won't be sorry you bought it, whether or not you decide to use it for home defense...
[/wisper]

~Dan
 
I can't think of any carbine I'd trust for HD better than a 18" bbl shotgun loaded with 8 rounds of 00 buckshot.
 
I agree, it's all about what you trust and what you know you can hit a target with. I have spent most of my life shooting rifles so that is my weapon of choice. Shotguns are devastating, I'm not knocking them one bit.
 
I have 3 guns close by if something happens. I keep a .45 beside the bed, I have a 870 12ga. in the corner, and a hi-point 9mm carbine on a shelf in the closet at the foot of the bed. I keep them loaded, so far I havent had to worry but I think my progression would be the .45 first, shotgun second, and the carbine last.
 
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