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10-18-2004, 09:16 PM

Selecting a Carbine. There are basically three types of pistol caliber carbines currently available; military type semiautomatics, the Marlin Camp Carbines and lever actions. Military type carbines are simply civilian legal versions of submachine guns with barrels at least 16" long and without the full auto function. The most commonly available carbines of this type are the Auto Ordnance .45 caliber Thompson, the 9mm AR-15, the Heckler & Koch HK-94 and the Uzi. While not technically chambered for pistol ammunition, the M-1 carbine also fits into this class of weapon. However M-1 carbines lack sufficient stopping power unless softpoint or hollowpoint ammo is used, which many M-1 carbines will not reliably feed. Military type carbines generally feature rugged reliability, ease of maintenance, large magazine capacity and non-glare surfaces. However, since most submachine guns are designed to operate with military specification full metal jacket roundnose ammunition, semiautomatic carbines derived from them may not reliably feed hollowpoints. The federal ban on so-called "assault weapons" prohibits the manufacture of firearms with two or more military type features, such as pistol grips, flash suppressors and folding stocks. The ban also prohibits further manufacture of magazines holding more than 10 rounds. This has frozen the available supply of military type carbines and high capacity magazines, so be prepared for a severe case of sticker shock when you check the price of one of these fine defensive and utility firearms. You are also likely to have a hard time finding a sufficient quantity of high capacity magazines. The Marlin Camp Carbines sell for only about $300, but are designed to operate with lower pressure U.S. commercial factory loads and are not reliable with heavy loads. Mil-Spec 9mm NATO rounds, 9mm +P+ or "hot" handloads will jam the hammer back and render the weapon inoperable until it is completely disassembled with a screwdriver and pin punch. Magazine capacities are currently limited to 7 rounds for the Model 45 and 10 rounds for the Model 9, but higher capacity extended magazines are available if you can locate them and are willing to pay the inflated price caused by the "assault weapons" ban. Marlin, Winchester and Rossi all make .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum lever action carbines which, like the Marlin Camp Carbines, sell for about $300. The Marlin Camp Carbines and the lever actions can all benefit from the addition of large aperture peep sights or low-power (3X or less magnification) telescopic sights. The standard iron sights on most military type carbines are usually adequate and most can be fitted with low-power scopes. Another useful accessory is a sling, which can help you shoot more accurately.

Survival Considerations. In a long term survival situation following a breakdown of the social order, pistol ammunition will likely be more commonly available than the .378 Eargeschplitten-Loudenboomer Magnum that might be your favorite elk rifle. In preparation for long term survival, pistol ammunition is much cheaper than rifle ammunition, allowing you to stockpile a greater quantity. Inexpensive pistol ammunition will also allow you to practice more now before you have to depend on your carbine to protect yourself or feed your family. The increased accuracy and power of pistol ammunition when fired from carbines allows you to squeeze the most potential from every last round. A .357 Magnum carbine can also fire .38 Specials and a .44 Magnum carbine can fire .44 Specials. This versatility adds to the tasks which can be performed by utilizing different power level cartridges for different jobs. Farm pests and varmints that feed on your crops, grain storage or livestock steal food from your family's table and are therefore life threatening. While varmints like groundhogs and coyotes are not commonly eaten, they are not inedible; most people now are just not hungry enough. If you cast your own bullets, you can make about a half dozen .38 Special reloads for about the same cost and the same weight of powder as one .22 centerfire varmint load and you will destroy less meat (although your effective range will only be about 50 to 75 yards). For small game hunting, a .38 Special or 9mm with non-hollowpoint bullets will drop a rabbit or squirrel with more authority than any .22 rimfire and will not destroy significantly more meat. The .357 Magnum is considered a marginal round for handgun deer hunting and jacketed softpoint bullets rarely expand at handgun velocities. Fired from a carbine, high quality .357 Magnum 158 grain jacketed hollowpoints (like the Hornady XTP or the Speer Gold Dot), 158 grain jacketed softpoints and 180 grain jacketed hollowpoints have sufficient expansion, penetration and accuracy out to about 100 yards for deer and possibly even elk. Note that this applies to a survival emergency only; the .357 Magnum is not allowed for big game hunting by Washington State fish and game regulations. A .44 Magnum carbine will put down a deer as well as or better than a .30-30 using about half as much powder. If you should be confronted by a pack of wild dogs who think you look like dinner, a quick handling carbine will afford you better protection than a bolt action hunting rifle. While not a replacement for a military type semiautomatic rifle for defense against two legged predators, a pistol caliber carbine can be pressed into such service in an emergency. If you are in a fixed defensive position with a lever action carbine and a footlocker full of ammo, you can shoot one round and then load one round into the magazine every four or five seconds all day long. By the way, this equals the sustained rate of fire for the M-16 rifle, or the rate which can be maintained indefinitely without seriously overheating, which is 12 to 15 rounds per minute. This rate of fire would be the envy of any 18th century Militia member who won our freedom with his Brown Bess musket.

Pistol caliber carbines offer great utility for use in home defense, law enforcement and survival situations and can be used for fulfilling the Militia role of protecting life, liberty and property. There are many worse ways to spend your money and few better.

10-18-2004, 09:16 PM	#2
Logansdad Guest Posts: n/a	Selecting a Carbine. There are basically three types of pistol caliber carbines currently available; military type semiautomatics, the Marlin Camp Carbines and lever actions. Military type carbines are simply civilian legal versions of submachine guns with barrels at least 16" long and without the full auto function. The most commonly available carbines of this type are the Auto Ordnance .45 caliber Thompson, the 9mm AR-15, the Heckler & Koch HK-94 and the Uzi. While not technically chambered for pistol ammunition, the M-1 carbine also fits into this class of weapon. However M-1 carbines lack sufficient stopping power unless softpoint or hollowpoint ammo is used, which many M-1 carbines will not reliably feed. Military type carbines generally feature rugged reliability, ease of maintenance, large magazine capacity and non-glare surfaces. However, since most submachine guns are designed to operate with military specification full metal jacket roundnose ammunition, semiautomatic carbines derived from them may not reliably feed hollowpoints. The federal ban on so-called "assault weapons" prohibits the manufacture of firearms with two or more military type features, such as pistol grips, flash suppressors and folding stocks. The ban also prohibits further manufacture of magazines holding more than 10 rounds. This has frozen the available supply of military type carbines and high capacity magazines, so be prepared for a severe case of sticker shock when you check the price of one of these fine defensive and utility firearms. You are also likely to have a hard time finding a sufficient quantity of high capacity magazines. The Marlin Camp Carbines sell for only about $300, but are designed to operate with lower pressure U.S. commercial factory loads and are not reliable with heavy loads. Mil-Spec 9mm NATO rounds, 9mm +P+ or "hot" handloads will jam the hammer back and render the weapon inoperable until it is completely disassembled with a screwdriver and pin punch. Magazine capacities are currently limited to 7 rounds for the Model 45 and 10 rounds for the Model 9, but higher capacity extended magazines are available if you can locate them and are willing to pay the inflated price caused by the "assault weapons" ban. Marlin, Winchester and Rossi all make .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum lever action carbines which, like the Marlin Camp Carbines, sell for about $300. The Marlin Camp Carbines and the lever actions can all benefit from the addition of large aperture peep sights or low-power (3X or less magnification) telescopic sights. The standard iron sights on most military type carbines are usually adequate and most can be fitted with low-power scopes. Another useful accessory is a sling, which can help you shoot more accurately. Survival Considerations. In a long term survival situation following a breakdown of the social order, pistol ammunition will likely be more commonly available than the .378 Eargeschplitten-Loudenboomer Magnum that might be your favorite elk rifle. In preparation for long term survival, pistol ammunition is much cheaper than rifle ammunition, allowing you to stockpile a greater quantity. Inexpensive pistol ammunition will also allow you to practice more now before you have to depend on your carbine to protect yourself or feed your family. The increased accuracy and power of pistol ammunition when fired from carbines allows you to squeeze the most potential from every last round. A .357 Magnum carbine can also fire .38 Specials and a .44 Magnum carbine can fire .44 Specials. This versatility adds to the tasks which can be performed by utilizing different power level cartridges for different jobs. Farm pests and varmints that feed on your crops, grain storage or livestock steal food from your family's table and are therefore life threatening. While varmints like groundhogs and coyotes are not commonly eaten, they are not inedible; most people now are just not hungry enough. If you cast your own bullets, you can make about a half dozen .38 Special reloads for about the same cost and the same weight of powder as one .22 centerfire varmint load and you will destroy less meat (although your effective range will only be about 50 to 75 yards). For small game hunting, a .38 Special or 9mm with non-hollowpoint bullets will drop a rabbit or squirrel with more authority than any .22 rimfire and will not destroy significantly more meat. The .357 Magnum is considered a marginal round for handgun deer hunting and jacketed softpoint bullets rarely expand at handgun velocities. Fired from a carbine, high quality .357 Magnum 158 grain jacketed hollowpoints (like the Hornady XTP or the Speer Gold Dot), 158 grain jacketed softpoints and 180 grain jacketed hollowpoints have sufficient expansion, penetration and accuracy out to about 100 yards for deer and possibly even elk. Note that this applies to a survival emergency only; the .357 Magnum is not allowed for big game hunting by Washington State fish and game regulations. A .44 Magnum carbine will put down a deer as well as or better than a .30-30 using about half as much powder. If you should be confronted by a pack of wild dogs who think you look like dinner, a quick handling carbine will afford you better protection than a bolt action hunting rifle. While not a replacement for a military type semiautomatic rifle for defense against two legged predators, a pistol caliber carbine can be pressed into such service in an emergency. If you are in a fixed defensive position with a lever action carbine and a footlocker full of ammo, you can shoot one round and then load one round into the magazine every four or five seconds all day long. By the way, this equals the sustained rate of fire for the M-16 rifle, or the rate which can be maintained indefinitely without seriously overheating, which is 12 to 15 rounds per minute. This rate of fire would be the envy of any 18th century Militia member who won our freedom with his Brown Bess musket. Pistol caliber carbines offer great utility for use in home defense, law enforcement and survival situations and can be used for fulfilling the Militia role of protecting life, liberty and property. There are many worse ways to spend your money and few better.