I've decided to stick my Rossi lever action in my closet for additional home defense. It's chambered in .357/.38 spl. and has an 18in barrel. I figure it makes a nice pairing with my rossi revolvers stashed around the house.
I have on hand 158gr JHP .357's, 125gr JHP .38 spl +P's, and .158gr LRN .38spl's.
Which ammo would be most effective in a carbine type rifle. (High expansion/low penetration) ?
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Considering it is in your home for home defense... I'd say low penetration, thus you are less likely to whack neighbors or others in different rooms. Even a low penetration shot up close is deadly... slow and big... should either put them down or show them the door.
I have a Winchester 94 Trapper and I use CCI shotshell. That will not over-penetrate walls or cause excessive repair costs. For tougher targets or longer shots, I use a .45LC Speer GoldDot 250 grain GDHP's.
Your carbine is gonna give you a lot more velocity than a revolver. And should be much more effective with todays HP bullets. I would shoot several different hollow point loads and see what your gun feeds with 100% reliability.
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I had never though about the shot shells for a rifle...
Basically... a small shotgun with little chance of fratricide or excessive damage to walls. Personally... especially since I use them, think they are a great idea.
I also would go for low penetration or shot shells for the same reason that Larry gave. I don't want something that is going to go through the perpetrator, through my walls, through my neighbor's walls and maybe kill him as he watches TV in his livingroom. I have never fired the shot shells in a rifle but would suggest that you get some, go to the range and try them at different distances, 3,7,10,15,&25 yards. Most of your shots in most homes will be from 3 to 10 yards but it doesn't hurt to know how the shot spread would be out to 25 yards. Personally I use a 20 ga. for home defense.
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Yeah, I keep my mossberg in the front closet for HD as well. I just though having extra firepower in the bedroom wouldn't hurt. I'd be using my .357 revolver primarily if something did go bump in the night. But I'd like to leave my wife holding an easy to use rifle should I need to venture out of the bedroom for any 'investigating'
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the shot shells dont really have enough mass in the pellets to penetrate a BG very well
if you want shot for low penetration, go to a shotgun an not much smaller that #4 birdshot
.
If you have to pull a gun to kill a perp (hope it never happens) then why would you want a "marginal" caliber.
IF you shoot a bad guy the chest will usually absorb the impact of a 357. The old lady watching TV next door should be fine.
The ONLY gun for a perp is a 12 guage....blow his brains on the wall and the old lady next door is fine. She is still watching TV and very much alive.
I feel like a broken record here. I agree, a 12g makes the ideal home defense gun. But as my initial post, and my following post says, the lever action is an over the top additional measure of home defense, on top of the shotgun and handguns.
I just like the idea of having a rifle primed and ready in case I should ever need it. As a back up piece within the house or any other circumstances.
Maybe I've been watching to much TV, or maybe it's the shtf in me, but I'm set on having my rifle as a backup. I just wanted suggestions for the most practical ammo. Thanks for the helpful responses that I did get.
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A person posted they use Speer GD hollowpoint 45LC for longer range purposes. I can't seem to find much info about that particular cartridge. How will it work in a
Taurus Judge with a 6.5 barrel. What's the velocity/fsp. Would this cartridge be
good for deer, black bear and hogs? Thanks
If the 38 Special 125 gr loads feeds in the rifle, Id go with that. You will get a good boost in velocity with the longer barrel. A hit center mass shouldnt go through but always be aware of you background.
Your question about suitable 45lc ammo poses a very interesting topic. As you, I expect to get my 6.5 Judge out of lawaway in February. I chose that particular barrel length because it would probably offer the
most in velocity and accuracy. Saw a post I wish I could remember about
this guy that got a 6.5 Judge for Christmas. He showed picture of CCI
200 gr after shooting a large can. Accuracy was awesome!!!! One
photo displayed holding dead racoon shot with 3-000 pellets.
Viewing another Taurus video by I believe, one of the CEOs, Bob Morrison,
I think, he stated that 1500 fps could be produced from 3" barrel using
slugs. Just think what a 6.5 can do?
To get to your question, I read a Corbon article about 45LC in a +P
offering at 1060 fps. That appears rather low for a +P that tempted me
to contact Corbon. The engineer not only stated that it was safe to
use in the Judge but, "we shoot all our +P loads in Taurus Judges all
the time, and they don't seem to effect the guns." He also stated
"You can't fire thousands of rounds in them, but they hold up to +Ps.
I think Taurus uses a special allow that makes this poissible because
the Judge surely isn't as heavy duty as a Ruger. What a comforting
thing to hear!!!! In fact, Mr. Morrison of Taurus stated in the video he
uses the most powerful 45LCs. Just say you did run into a really dan-
gerous animal and your Judge has 5 +P's in the chamber? Seems the
odds may go much better in your favor.
Seems all the attention is given to the 3 and 4 inch Judges, but it is
my feeling the 6.5 just might be the best of all. It might not be as
concealable, I bought mine mostly for hunting applications, but my bet
is that it's the better of all.
In closing, you have your work cut out exploring all the 45lc loading
to find which works better. Buffalo Bore makes heavy duty 45lc's for
hunting that's made specificially for non-+P guns. That may be a
start for you. I believe the least cartridges of 900 fps will bring
effective stopping power to dangerous game - including hogs.
