Levergun for home defense

Glamdring,
The reason that I want a levergun in 9 mm or .45 acp is because I think it would be nice if such rifles were offered in calibers that were used in modern handguns, that way a person could have a rifle/carbine and pistol that fire the same ammo, sort of in the same way that some Cowboy Action shooters match the caliber of their single-action hogleg and their rifle.

Of course, I know relatively little about lever-actions, so I could just simply be proposing something that is totally redundant, or outside of the standard applications of a levergun.
 
Caliban - Sorry for delayed post, but it looks like others have clarified things. Saying "some way to extract the rimless cartridges" was probably a better way to put it than "something like a moon-clip". I suppose the semi-auto carbines like those from Ruger in .40 or 9 mm are probably the closest things on the market that don't have a sub-gun appearance, but of course they don't meet the levergun test.
 
No way.

GRH, the only potential way for you to get "too much power" from your '94, would be to stuff one of the "magnum" loads into it. More power equals less penetration, with good bullet design. Corbon makes a 200 grain .45 Colt that sounds like what you want. Test it in water-filled milk jugs to get an idea of penetration in tissue (just remember penetration in water will be about 40% deeper).
 
Glamdring;

The nice thing about using the .475 for home defense is even if you miss, the turbulence should still drop the perp.

The Bad thing is when you hit him, you have to rebuild the wall you just blew him through:)

Would you name your Rifle FoeHammer?

GRH, I'd stick with a shorty Pump Shotgun, JMO.

Dave
 
Down side to lever guns with tube magazines

They are harder to unload. My house gun is a Mak90 picked over a 20ga shotgun for several reasons, the ability to unload fast by simply removing the magazine being high on the list. Unlike even the pump shotgun, a tube-fed l.a. requires that you chamber every round in order to unload.
 
Mr. Volk. Not begrudging your choice of the Mak-90, but why is it necessary to unload fast? I could see where the speed of LOADING of a levergun (or lack thereof) could be a liability. Detaching a magazine can certainly be argued to be relatively safer than cycling rounds through a levergun (though with the hammer block safeties we are blessed with these days that is not as much of an issue). Thanks, Brian.
 
I try to practice regularly

Have to unload to go to the range. Have to unload to demonstrate a technique or the device to visiting friends.
 
As a new owner of the Winchester Trails End in .45 Colt I am very interested in this topic and have enjoyed the posts thus far. However, I have to say the thought of a tactical light on the model 94 never crossed my mind. :D

I love the way mine shoots and has shown good accuracy out to 40 yards. As for home defense I think the .45 Colt is a nice cartridge without too much penetration. Especially if you reload some slow fps rounds.

For those of you experienced 94 owners, especially in .45 Colt, at what distance can I expect to shoot accurately and effectively? Can I get 100 yards out of it?

Thanks
 
SKS, Your carbine should do fine at 100 yds. One thing I have found is that leverguns are hitters, not groupers. Que`, you ask? I find shooting groups from the bench with my Model 94 .30-30 very irritating. I know the gun is capable of 2" groups. Yet when shooting at paper targets from a rest the best I get is 4". But when I shoot at a steel silhoutte target from the prone position, the impact marks are in nice little 2" groups. I've learned to accept that I can hit things with 94 (and thats the whole point of the exercise isn't it?) I just won't have those .5" groups to brag about. Now for the hardware. You might want to add a receiver aperture sight, aka. peep sight. Your carbine should be drilled and tapped on the left side of the receiver. Add a Williams FP or a Lyman and unscrew the small target insert and you then have a ghost ring sight. If the trigger is bad (which it probably is) have it fixed by a gunsmith. These two modifications should make hitting a lot easier. An easily achievable goal would be to keep a whole magazine of .45 Colts on a paper plate at 100 yds. Start prone and then work your way through the shooting positions: sitting, kneeling, offhand. When you can put all your shots onto the plate while shooting offhand clap yourself on the back and then try it with a little time pressure. Brian
 
Good information and explanation "front". I've not had that much practice with my 94 yet, only put 300 rounds through it. I like your little exercise at the end and will have to give it a try. The trigger seems alright to me but I don't really have anything else to compare it to.

Thanks,

sks
 
I've grown to appreciate the balance and handling of my Marlin in 357. As has been noted, with the right load, over-penetration isn't a great concern. But I don't worry about such speedy reloads or unloads. The 9 shot tube mag offers fair capacity (at least 2 shots more than some scatterguns with extended tubes) and I don't feel undergunned with this rifle. You just need to keep this in mind when considering your choice of weapon for home defense. If having to use that many shots was a concern, you're better off with a semi-auto rifle with a 20 roung mag. For me, in my house, in my neighborhood, I simply don't see the need for much greater ammo capacity. Practice the shooting exercises mentioned and then some and you'll really grow to appreciate your lever gun.

Ron
Detroit Area Chapter
Terra Haute Torque & Recoil Society
 
I have 3 Marlin lever guns (44 magnum, 45-70, 450 Marlin) and 3 Winchesters (30-30, .357 magnum, 45 Colt). While I would lean toward the pistol calibers for home defense, is a 30-30 reasonable or would it penetrate too much? I live in a suburban neighborhood.
 
Ron L, how is the recoil and noise of the .357? My uncle wants to get one but was curious about those aspects.

Thanks,

sks
 
I have the Win. 94 trapper in .357, and find it to be a versatile little rifle. It loves 158gr bullets, and will hit to 100 yards all day long. I have taken small game with fmj .38 loads. Firing over a chrono shows the .357 rounds getting a real boost from the longer tube. The hotter 158gr loads get boosted up around the 1750fps mark. And the best thing is that when shooting out doors, the noise is all out front. Very quiet! I have the Williams peep on the rear, and that also makes a world of difference.
 
What recoil?

Recoil? It's not bad at all, practically nil. I started my wife with a 22, moved up to 38's in the Marlin and then up to magnums. My son will start the same way. She has never complained about recoil. The only load that's noticeable is a hunting load I worked up with a 170 grain bullet. Another hunting load with a 158 grain JHP is a wonderful shooter. You'll notice it, but it has never started me flinching, even towards the end of a shooting session.

The only thing mine lacks is the ubiquitous peep sight. That's next on my shopping list. I know Williams and Lyman, but are there any others to consider?

Ron
Detroit Area Chapter
Terra Haute Torque & Recoil Society.
 
I strapped on a sure-fire tactical light with some tape and I have to say, that Winchester is one classy way to control a space. It's a lot more precise than a shotgun with much less recoil, but the sound of a round being chambered has just as much persuasive force. Plus, it's got the big loop, so I can whirl it around like the Duke in "True Grit" ;-)
 
GRH, I'd be real concerned about over-penetration from these guns in a home defense situation. Depending on where you live, your rounds could end up in your neighbor's house. Fortunately I've never had to seriously plan for a home defense weapon but if and when I do, a shotgun (semi-auto for ease of use under stress) seems to make a lot more sense than a lever gun. Check out the threads on TFL concerning shot guns for home defense. There's lots of good info there.
 
Frontlander,

Your problem off the sandbags is most likely from the two piece stock. Both my Savage 1895 (.308 Win) and my Rossi M92 (.45 Colt) shoot two inch groups quite well, but not if the front grip is rested on the bags. Place your hand on the bag and hold the rifle by the front grip. Works much better for some reason. The little Rossi in .45 Colt would make a good home defense gun. Not too much power or penetration (don't worry about the hospital across the street with it - would with the .308!). 13 rounds in the tubular mag. Accurate. Fast. what more do you need?
 
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