Handgunners: anyone consider a pistol caliber carbine for their home defense gun?

[Hardcase]

The one in the middle: .357. But I still think a shotgun is a better two-handed choice.

 

[AK103K]

Well, if it has to be a pistol caliber, might as well go all out.....

Works like a shotgun, handles like a pistol, and anyone can easily shoot it.

 

[mavracer]

Well, if it has to be a pistol caliber, might as well go all out.....
Works like a shotgun, handles like a pistol, and anyone can easily shoot it.

You Buying? Count me in for two.

 

[AK103K]

Hey, I already got mine. That one cost $800.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

The number one factor in effectively stopping a threat with a firearm is shot placement. So anything that makes that easier is a plus in my book - and I don't think you could argue that a pistol caliber carbine doesn't make that easier.

Like any other firearm though, you need the training to go with it or it isn't much use. If I want to hear music, buying a piano is only part of the process.

 

[COSteve]

Because the 30 Carbine ammo performance compares well with the 357mag's, many consider it to be more of a pistol caliber. I use my M1 Carbine for HD because my wife is comfortable shooting it and can actually hit the target too.

 

[mapsjanhere]

I just got a PS90 for this purpose, my first range trip will probably include taking a stack of dry wall sheets and find out how far that 5.7x28 penetrates.

 

[Trigger Finger]

I have an M1 carbine loaded with Cor Bon 100 grain soft point. It is possibly the best round for the carbine for SD.

I can't figure out any reason at all to have the first round in a Home Defense gun to be loaded with a "non-Lethal" round. Seems tantamount to suicide to me!!! Maybe you have a problem testifying and explaining yourself in court or to the authorities. And bird shot is for birds or for those with bird brains if you use them for self defense. Heavy clothing can slow down any bird shot and prevent a stopping wound. If you are worried about over penetration then use #4 buck shot. It penetrates less than other sizes of buck. This is taught at most Tactical Shotgun Classes.

Overall I still prefer a good handgun for Home Defense with good hollow points, not training rounds or shot shells!!!!

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

First round in the nine-shot 12 guage is non-lethal rubber birdshot. Sounds good enough to me in court: ''I tried but........''

In many jurisdictions, a firearm is considered lethal force, even if loaded with less-lethal rounds like rubber buckshot (which can and has killed people). You mentioned rubber birdshot, which is a new one to me; but you might want to check your local laws. If they say that rubber birdshot is the same as any other shotgun round, then you have to consider whether you want to use a round that is highly unlikely to physically incapacitate the threat in a case where you are facing an immediate threat of death or serious injury.

Even most police departments that use the less-lethal stuff do it with officers who have trained how to employ it, who have other officers backing them up with lethal force, and who are all wearing body armor. For an individual, it may not be the best choice; but I don't know your circumstances.

 

[Steve_in_SEMich]

To the OP, Mr. Smaug

I have the CX4 in .40 S&W matched to a PX4 - they use the same 14 or 17 round magazines, and I like how the 17 round magazine seats more positively in the carbine. I put an EOTech on mine for a fun shoot at a local range and I really like how much quicker I was able to "find" the target. Now I'm looking for an AimPoint or ACOG for the AR.

I haven't heard of the problems a previous poster mentioned and have not had any issues with many different factory and 2 different handloads. All fed, fired, and ejected from both the carbine and handgun.

Seeing as there have been so many issues with even slingshot marbles going through multiple layers of sheetrock/drywall, I've replaced all of it with kevlar-coated laminated glass covered in 1000 denier cordura nylon ripstop with a Gore-Tex liner. Wife doesn't like how it matches the curtains, but at least when I use my .50BMG derringer, the neighbors are safe.

 

[smince]

Even though I like my S2K in the HD role, next to it is a G19 w/33-round mag.

I'll go against the grain and say that there are absolutely times I will use a handgun for HD.

While staying put and waiting it out is conventional wisdom, we all know there may be times this isn't possible or feasible.

I've done dry runs clearing my place with long guns. I hate it. Even the S2K is a bit much on some corners. Maneuvering is difficult at best. Add in having to manipulate doors or kids and its even more so. Those kinda confines are the domain of the pistol.

There is no doubt the rifle offers a much more effective round and almost any long gun will offer a more stable firing platform. There are some corners and spaces in my house that give the handgun an agility advantage and the pistol will be a lot more pleasant on your ears should you have to fire.

A side note: be very careful about assuming whatever gear you pick will work out perfectly for the gunfight script you've written in your head.

 

[10mmAuto]

It would be adequate but a shotgun or carbine would always be a better choice.

 

[mavracer]

A side note: be very careful about assuming whatever gear you pick will work out perfectly for the gunfight script you've written in your head.

I like that line.

 

[BigBob3006]

Smaug,

I would never consider using a carbine instead of a pistol. A carbine is slower to use in tight spaces. They are also much slower for the second and third shot. And yet I believe a pump shotgun is great. Nothing kicks in the jato "lets get out of here" as the sound of a shell being chambered in the dark
It is a little messy though, you may find jato all over your house.

 

[Willie Lowman]

Nothing kicks in the jato "lets get out of here" as the sound of a shell being chambered in the dark

All that does is tells everyone within hearing distance where you are and that you have a gun.

Do not assume for one second that the *pump shotgun* sound will make people run.

I learned that the hard way about 9 years ago.

As far as pistol caliber carbines go, I love the Uzi.

 

[10mmAuto]

They are also much slower for the second and third shot

Are you in some parallel universe where all things held constant, long gun marksmanship is harder than pistol marksmanship and heavier guns with more points of contract etc are harder to manage recoil with than pistols chambered in the same cartridge?

 

[Rugerismisticness]

I agree, pistols are better for this task than either rifles or shotguns because;
stray Pellets don't hit walls
decent amount of ammo (at least 10rnds, I couldn't use a 5rnd shotgun)
Accurate enough for precise shots
doubletaps are easier than in a rifle
manueverability is the best
reload time is fastest
one handed operation allows for the more favorable "light seperate from gun" mode
less "noise recoil" than a .223/6.8
.45ACP is a heck of a round

The only long gun I could use for HD is possibly a 10/22.
If I lived on more than 2 acres of land, then a shotgun or carbine would come under concideration for "out of doors" home defense. As is, my Para P18.9 (it holds so many rounds I think of it as a small pistol cal carbine in it's own right) easily hits 100yards 10" plates.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Accurate enough for precise shots

You don't see the words "accurate enough" and "precise shot" paired together too often I can say that every single new shooter I've ever trained shoots better with a long gun than they do a pistol, and most of them shoot a pistol-caliber carbine very well since it combines the light recoil of a pistol with the benefits of a carbine.

doubletaps are easier than in a rifle

Not sure what rifle you are referring to; but using a single sight picture for two shots my splits on an AR15 are 0.18-0.22 sec. and my splits with a Glock or Hi-Power are 0.18-0.23. Using a separate sight picture for each shot, my splits are around 0.50 for AR15, Glock, and Hi-Power.

I haven't done much of a survey of pistol-caliber carbines; but I'd be suprised if it were somehow more challenging to fire two shots quickly with a heavier platform using more support.

reload time is fastest

You know what is faster than reloading my pistol? Not reloading my rifle because it has a 30rd magazine Having said that, I'm not sure I agree with your premise that reload times on a pistol are faster as a result of design difference rather than training difference.

And in the end, training makes much more of a difference than firearm type does.

 

[Father Time]

Sorry, but pistol caliber carbines are not slower to shoot than pistols.

And for fast follow up shots they are 100% faster and easier.

Carbines have more weight that helps reduce recoil and more points of contact on the gun that helps you control said recoil.

When it comes to actual shooting and putting bullets on target the pistol has ZERO advantages over a pistol caliber carbine.

Unless your trying to do some crazy John Woo double handgun stunt.

 

[Balog]

I quite like the Marlin .357 lever guns as companion pieces to a K frame, but not enough to buy one (yet). If I had far more money than I do I'd love one of the AR style rifles that take grease gun magazines.