Which lever action for home defense?

Not to derail your thread, but I consider pistol caliber carbines to be range toys. Fun range toys, but toys all the same.

For the expense, weight and bulk of that weapon I'd get a carbine that fires a real rifle cartridge any day of the week.

It's not that .357 Mag is carp, but when compared to any centerfire rifle cartridge it's downright anemic.

BSW

Also does anyone know the muzzle velocity of a 125gr 357 mag JHP in a 20" and 24" barrel?

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In an 18.5" Marlin a 125grain factory Remington JSP round will hit 2200 f/s at the muzzle. Muzzle energy is 1343 ft/lbs.

Compared to a .223 62 grain round with a MV of 3000 f/s, you get 1238 ft/lbs of ME.

I think there's a lot more to home defense than energy figures. I think the .357 would be plenty potent at any plausible defensive range.

On the downside, they are slow to load, it would pretty much have to be kept loaded.

My older Rossi .357 was very nice, my friend has a newer one on .45 Colt that I love to shoot, he has no complaints.

Ballistics by the inch.

Brian,
I live in a 900 sf apartment in a high rise. Still think a "real rifle cartridge" is the best choice? And just how far up the food chain do we have to go to get to a "real rifle cartridge"?

2" to 18" results here:
http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/357mag.html

I live in a 900 sf apartment in a high rise. Still think a "real rifle cartridge" is the best choice? And just how far up the food chain do we have to go to get to a "real rifle cartridge"?






I think A handgun or shotgun would be better choices in your home.

Or call security.

I'd go with the Marlin. However, a rifle is not as easily manipulated as a handgun, and is not so convenient. If I were going to use a long gun as a home defense gun it would be a shotgun.

Jerry

Then buy the Marlin! the hands down winner.

5.56 with a light jacketed varmint bullet is less likely to over penetrate if you miss than a thicker jacketed .357 slug. Even drywall starts the varmint loads breaking up.

I in similar circumstances. My AK is loaded with 124gr Vmax from Hornandy. Best compromise I know of between power, overpentration, and utility.

BSW

Don't know anything about the Rossi's, but if the Marlin 357 is built anything like my 30-30, get it. Most solid lever action I've ever laid hands on.

Get something in 45 colt and not 357 magnum. There are a better home defense ammo options in 45 colt, the right round will also minimize wall penetration, and its hella fun to shoot at the range. It is also not a problem to leave it loaded.

my two.

HS

Rossi's are great rifles BTW.

My HD lever is a Marlin 1894c. Robust and simple design. .357magnum proven work record, pay no mind to the rabble. Has an aftermarket front blade sight with a peep on the receiver (Skinner type). Handloads wicked accurate to 50 yards.

Giddy up.

Lever action...this one:

(or even a Model '94 .30-30 or Win. '92 .45LC or Puma M92 in .454Casull...).
If you want a carbine with approximately .357Mag. power, the autoloading, proven in battle, M1 Carbine is the best option IMO.

OTOH, if you absolutely had to have a .357Magnum lever, I'd go with the Marlin...which is a very nice rifle, just not my idea of an ideal home defense firearm. YMMV

Rossi 92?! This will be you if you go this route and try and bet your life on that rifle

Rossi 92?! This will be you if you go this route and try and bet your life on that rifle

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Works just fine IME...but then again a scattergun is my first line of defense (a M1 Carbine being the first rifle I'd grab), and is likely to stay that way.

Have you actually used one...or is this a blanket statement based solely upon rumors and myths?

Why the rifle? And why a lever? Right now I have my .45 Commander and GP 100 available and ready, with a 1200 defender 12 ga by the bed. All else is in the safe and I'm good with that. A threat is not necessarily a threat in home defense at rifle range. Just my .02c.

I almost bought a puma, I think rossi makes them but the shop wouldn't come down 20 bux! although thats the day I bought my 1911 at another shop for more then I wanted to spend. Doesn't make much sense huh? lol

Anyway I ended up falling into a marlin 1894c. It's a great gun with a pretty slick action. It's short and easy to get around with. I've used it on a couple deer and several coyotes with good results. I have 2 .357 revolvers so I can share ammo. I also have a winchester 30-30 but tend to grab the marlin first. It's not a long range shooter but I figure if something is out past 100 yards I really don't need to shoot it....probably couldn't see it anyway.

I have found myself walking around my yard in the night hours to find what made the noise many times with my Marlin 1895M in my hand. It is chambered in 450 Marlin.

+1 for a Marlin.

Just my opinion but in a 900sf apartment, I'd be using a pump gun and #4 shot maybe even birdshot for the first round followed by #4. The shotgun is definitely cheaper than a lever gun and much less over-penetration worries.
If you are stuck on a lever though for reasons other than only HD then I'd pay no attention to anyone who says a 357 is anemic or a range toy. Plenty of deer taken up to 100 yards would completely disagree with that statement. Then again, the new generation of gun owners have been brainwashed into thinking that you need a 300WinMag for home defense and squirrel hunting.

Ron a lever rifle is a fine way to step up a handgun cartridge 's power but a basic 20ga or 12 ga pump is going to be half the price of a lever gun. Assumeing any long gun will take 2 hands to work both well you might want to add a kel tec carbine and high point carbine to that list. Many be a better choice of bullet types for the 9mm or 40 cal.

remember too that a new mossy 500 with a short barrel can be bought at a lower price new than any lever gun used. At room sizes distance a 20ga will throw a pattern that you can cover buy your palm with about any load .

it would be great so long as you arent turning to many corners
use light grain bullett