Your favorite carbine caliber

Doc Jones · 08-28-2009, 02:25 PM

I'm thinking of getting a pistol-caliber carbine.
What's your favorite caliber and why?

squirrelblaster · 08-28-2009, 02:43 PM

what are you going to do with it?

i would love to have one in 45lc or 44mag.....but if i was just going to plink with it id probably get one in 9mm becouse it is cheap enough to shoot a lot of.

wunhunglo · 08-28-2009, 02:45 PM

Mine is the Winchester 94 in .357magnum and below is why.
Police Pistol type competition at 50m, 2 second exposures from the ready alert position.

Rave · 08-28-2009, 05:00 PM

Looking good!
I like 9mm out of a 16" barrel because of the low flash,blast,recoil,high cap. and excellent penetration,accuracy isn't bad either.

Doc Jones · 08-28-2009, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squirrelblaster

what are you going to do with it?

i would love to have one in 45lc or 44mag.....but if i was just going to plink with it id probably get one in 9mm becouse it is cheap enough to shoot a lot of.

Good question...Shoot cans and rock chucks until the day I need it to shoot BGs or deer I guess. I'm planning to learn to buy re-loading equipment so ammo cost isn't too much of an issue.

The reason I'm thinking pistol caliber is that I'd like my wife and kids to learn and enjoy as well and don't want them to get turned off by getting knocked on thier butt-skis with heavy recoil.

Maybe I should get a .357 and let them shoot .38s out of the thing. Or, maybe get a .45 LC (less recoil, heavier bullet).

What I'd really like is to find a list somewhere that has the max effective distance and average energies for the various calibers.

Which one would be a mimimum for taking a deer at 100 or so yards? Is there one that could do it at 200 yards?...that sort of thing.

I'm thinking 9mm isn't the best option for me as I much prefer revolvers (I'm wanting a carbine to shoot the same thing my revolver shoots). If I were going to go with a bullet that light, I'd probably do better to get a .357 and shoot .38 from it for practice/plinking.

I think .44 is out because I have no interest in shooting a .44 mag revolver (see "butt-ski" reasons above).

So I guess I'm down to .357 vs 45LC. How would you guys compare those two and what would be your preference and why? Is there some other caliber I'm missing?

Sure appreciate your patient indulgence on this.

Doc

waterdog · 08-28-2009, 06:26 PM

why not a .44 special relvolver and a .44 mag carbine? I think the carbine will shoot the special and both might shoot the .44 russian?

travisg96 · 08-28-2009, 07:11 PM

I like a 9mm with a 16" barrel also, low recoil, low flash, low noise, if you put a silencer on one of these it would sound like a BB gun. My brother bought one of those conversion kits from specialty interest arms and had a 45 ACP carbine that uses 1911 clips. They make a supressed Deliese version that is supposed to be uber quiet.
Travis

jrswanson1 · 08-28-2009, 07:15 PM

It's a toss up between the 45 Colt and the 10mm.

Jim

okami515 · 08-28-2009, 08:17 PM

have both the carbines and revolvers in 22lr/ 22mag, 17hmr, 30carbine(m1 carbine), 357,44,45,and 480ruger. all are fun and have hunted with all except the 30carbine, no semi autos allowed for hunting. I have also used a 454 in a carbine. I have to say that the 45 is by far the most fun to shoot and hunt with. By the way all but the 480 are in single actions. Though I have to admit that my 41 mag has been used to kill more deer than any of the other. I think marlin still makes a cowboy lever in that caliber.

ironhead7544 · 08-28-2009, 08:44 PM

I have a Winchester 1894 in 44 mag and a KelTec in 9mm. If you handload then the 44 mag gets my vote. If you dont handload, then the 9mm can be shot a lot more for the same money.

Metronome · 08-29-2009, 11:45 AM

I have a 9mm Hi-Point (16" bbl), a Marlin 1894 .44 (20" bbl) and a Rossi .357 (16" bbl). Only the Hi-Point has taken deer, but I feel confident that any of them could do so in the right conditions.
Both the 9mm and .357 are easy to shoot, and affordable to feed. The .44 has more pop than most expect, and although it isn't as cheap as the previous two, a box of 50 rds is usually about $35 so that isn't that bad compared to other centerfire rifle rounds.

The .357 is probably the most flexible for fun, but if hunting is primary, .44 Magnum is the way to go. The 9mm is just too good for blasting away, and damned cheap - just too light for anything but pot meat.

Rave · 08-30-2009, 11:32 AM

While the 9mm from a 16" barrel approaches the effectiveness of a .357 on light targets I wouldn't use it for hunting anything but small game,Yup,"pot meat."
If I had to use my Uzi for real hunting I would have to go with the ,41A&E,just change barrel and mag.
Of course for serious blasting I still have my 12ga.

thrillbilly · 09-03-2009, 02:33 PM

The only carbine I own is a 995 Hi-Point...but my favorite carbine is the 30/30 saddle carbine Winchester my brother has...muy nice!

Metronome · 09-03-2009, 10:42 PM

I keep wanting Marlin to make an 18" carbine in .327 Magnum, but I don't know if there is a real demand

TRUE GRIT · 09-03-2009, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metronome

I keep wanting Marlin to make an 18" carbine in .327 Magnum, but I don't know if there is a real demand

I would be happy if they started making it in .41 mag again, but .327would be interesting.

GlockMeister · 09-03-2009, 11:19 PM

.40S&W is a decent pistil caliber carbine round. IMHO that is. FWIW anyhow. But I think .357magnum and .45acp would make for an excellent choice as well though.

DWARREN123 · 09-04-2009, 09:47 AM

My caliber is 40 S&W and I have a Hi-Point carbine. Great rifle for the money.

Seven© · 09-04-2009, 09:55 AM

I've got a .40. I'll have a 10mm someday.

Metronome · 09-04-2009, 11:38 AM

Dear Hi-Point,
Please give me a carbine chambered in 7.65x25mm.
Thanks!~

thrillbilly · 09-05-2009, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metronome

Dear Hi-Point,
Please give me a carbine chambered in 7.65x25mm.
Thanks!~

I just want the d*&^ed .45ACP they keep promising...and decent hi-cap mags for my 9mm.

08-28-2009, 02:25 PM	#1
Doc Jones Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 107	Your favorite carbine caliber I'm thinking of getting a pistol-caliber carbine. What's your favorite caliber and why?

08-28-2009, 02:43 PM	#2
squirrelblaster lord of lego turtles! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,493	what are you going to do with it? i would love to have one in 45lc or 44mag.....but if i was just going to plink with it id probably get one in 9mm becouse it is cheap enough to shoot a lot of. __________________ "I like Turtles!" youtube kid

08-28-2009, 02:45 PM	#3
wunhunglo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: currently "Sunny West Africa" Posts: 4,102	Mine is the Winchester 94 in .357magnum and below is why. Police Pistol type competition at 50m, 2 second exposures from the ready alert position. __________________ How can I 'Soar with the Eagles' when I'm working with such 'Turkeys'!

08-28-2009, 05:00 PM	#4
Rave Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tampa Posts: 8,433	Looking good! I like 9mm out of a 16" barrel because of the low flash,blast,recoil,high cap. and excellent penetration,accuracy isn't bad either. __________________ Better days are comeing! .

08-29-2009, 11:45 AM	#11
Metronome Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Northern California Posts: 951	I have a 9mm Hi-Point (16" bbl), a Marlin 1894 .44 (20" bbl) and a Rossi .357 (16" bbl). Only the Hi-Point has taken deer, but I feel confident that any of them could do so in the right conditions. Both the 9mm and .357 are easy to shoot, and affordable to feed. The .44 has more pop than most expect, and although it isn't as cheap as the previous two, a box of 50 rds is usually about $35 so that isn't that bad compared to other centerfire rifle rounds. The .357 is probably the most flexible for fun, but if hunting is primary, .44 Magnum is the way to go. The 9mm is just too good for blasting away, and damned cheap - just too light for anything but pot meat. __________________ I take my coffee how I take my women: bitter and overbearing.

08-28-2009, 06:26 PM	#6
waterdog Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 679	why not a .44 special relvolver and a .44 mag carbine? I think the carbine will shoot the special and both might shoot the .44 russian?

08-28-2009, 07:11 PM	#7
travisg96 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Springfield, Oregon Posts: 369	I like a 9mm with a 16" barrel also, low recoil, low flash, low noise, if you put a silencer on one of these it would sound like a BB gun. My brother bought one of those conversion kits from specialty interest arms and had a 45 ACP carbine that uses 1911 clips. They make a supressed Deliese version that is supposed to be uber quiet. Travis

08-28-2009, 07:15 PM	#8
jrswanson1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,093	It's a toss up between the 45 Colt and the 10mm. Jim

08-28-2009, 08:17 PM	#9
okami515 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 261	have both the carbines and revolvers in 22lr/ 22mag, 17hmr, 30carbine(m1 carbine), 357,44,45,and 480ruger. all are fun and have hunted with all except the 30carbine, no semi autos allowed for hunting. I have also used a 454 in a carbine. I have to say that the 45 is by far the most fun to shoot and hunt with. By the way all but the 480 are in single actions. Though I have to admit that my 41 mag has been used to kill more deer than any of the other. I think marlin still makes a cowboy lever in that caliber.

08-28-2009, 08:44 PM	#10
ironhead7544 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 252	I have a Winchester 1894 in 44 mag and a KelTec in 9mm. If you handload then the 44 mag gets my vote. If you dont handload, then the 9mm can be shot a lot more for the same money.

08-30-2009, 11:32 AM	#12
Rave Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tampa Posts: 8,433	While the 9mm from a 16" barrel approaches the effectiveness of a .357 on light targets I wouldn't use it for hunting anything but small game,Yup,"pot meat." If I had to use my Uzi for real hunting I would have to go with the ,41A&E,just change barrel and mag. Of course for serious blasting I still have my 12ga. __________________ Better days are comeing! .

09-03-2009, 02:33 PM	#13
thrillbilly Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ozark Hill Country Posts: 2,602	The only carbine I own is a 995 Hi-Point...but my favorite carbine is the 30/30 saddle carbine Winchester my brother has...muy nice! __________________ *" I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, and I won't be laid a hand on."* John Wayne

09-03-2009, 10:42 PM	#14
Metronome Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Northern California Posts: 951	I keep wanting Marlin to make an 18" carbine in .327 Magnum, but I don't know if there is a real demand __________________ I take my coffee how I take my women: bitter and overbearing.

09-03-2009, 11:19 PM	#16
GlockMeister Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 9,676	.40S&W is a decent pistil caliber carbine round. IMHO that is. FWIW anyhow. But I think .357magnum and .45acp would make for an excellent choice as well though. __________________ "The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion." "Edmond Burke"

09-04-2009, 09:47 AM	#17
DWARREN123 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: BETWEEN TN & KY Posts: 1,098	My caliber is 40 S&W and I have a Hi-Point carbine. Great rifle for the money. __________________ Have a nice day!

09-04-2009, 09:55 AM	#18
Seven© Exalted Grand PooBah Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: WNC Posts: 1,828 Images: 23 Blog Entries: 2	I've got a .40. I'll have a 10mm someday. __________________

09-04-2009, 11:38 AM	#19
Metronome Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Northern California Posts: 951	Dear Hi-Point, Please give me a carbine chambered in 7.65x25mm. Thanks!~ __________________ I take my coffee how I take my women: bitter and overbearing.