Which lever action for home defense?

[jdh]

The weekend is here and I am back on the country retreat and I can use what ever I want.

Some are overlooking the fact that there is no universal "BEST". Mac2 asked why a lever. For some it is the best choice. It is not an "EBR" or handgun with the restrictions those classes of firearms carry in some parts of the country. A lever is less likely to draw negative attention at the range or from anti-gun friends and family. It looks like grandpa's deer rifle. A well trained operator can put rapid, sustained, accurate fire on target.

BTW, some would disagree that 5.56/223 is a real rifle cartridge.

03Shadowbob,
Humor me for a little bit. Build yourself a fake wall with 2X4 studs, good quality 5/8ths drywall, and fiberglass insulation. Back up to across the room distance and put a birdshot then a #4 through the wall and let us know what happens. As much as I disagree with briansmithwins he is correct when he said this "5.56 with a light jacketed varmint bullet is less likely to over penetrate".

It is a choice you make it based on your circumstances. For some the pistol caliber lever is the right one.

 

[Jim Watson]

If you are in a repressive jurisdiction that does not permit you to own a handgun, the .357 lever action would be plenty. I'd get the shortest barrel available; Marlin 1894C has an 18.5".

While I agree that a .223 would be less likely to shoot through walls, the muzzle blast indoors would be terriffic. The .357 carbine would merely be awful.

 

[TexAg]

I'd load it with a light, fast round, maybe like Cor-Bon Pow R' Ball to lessen penetration.

 

[RichBMW]

I own the Marlin 1894 chambered for .357/.38. That .357 coming from the longer barrel of a rifle is much more potent than it would be from a handgun. But I don't use this gun for home defense. I think my .40 S&W M&P is more appropriate for that purpose. Twice as many rounds, much more maneuverable in tight areas.

 

[mainmech48]

Personally, I have two pre-Taurus Rossi M92's (20" standard carbine & 16" "Trapper") in .38/.357 and both have been rock-solid performers. In fact, the little Trapper has become my favorite CF woods loafing companion: Less than 6# fully loaded with swivels and carry strap, just a tad over 35" OAL and consistent 1" 5-shot groups at 50 yds from the bench with my GP handloads (158 gr. LSWC over 5 gr. Unique in .357 cases) and a Lyman 66A receiver sight.

One man's "range toy" is another's working tool. IMHO, having a handy carbine and a handgun chambered for the same round is every bit as practical and versatile thing to have now as it was back in (ca.) 1876 when Colt decided to offer the SAA in .44 WCF to pair with the Winchester 1873. Not so much for any "increase in power", but for the plain fact that most folks are able to more consistently deliver whatever power a particular cartridge might offer quickly and accurately on-target with a carbine than a handgun pretty much regardless of the range. And that only becomes more pronounced, IMHO, as the range increases.

Again just MO, but while a revolver-caliber carbine might not be the ideal tool for a particular task, it'll sure handle a whole raft wider a range of the sort of things I need to do most at least tolerably well than a "real" CF rifle will.

 

[ForumSurfer]

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

I think if you are going to keep a home defense gun (particularly a rifle which is something you don't keep by your side 24/7 and will likely need to go fetch); it should be loaded, chambered and ready for action.

If you are comfortable with a lever, go for it. Jeff Cooper was a lever advocate and Gunsite once offered classes on them. For all the doubters, search around the web for "tactical levers" and you'll find several people who have experimented successfully with them. They looked mighty fast with paracord wrapped around the lever and forward mounted aimpoints. Just look at cowboy action shooters, it is possible to learn how to manipulate a lever with great speed under stress.

Are there better options? Yep. I doubt anyone will argue that a 357 lever is going to be faster than a 9mm carbine or AR, it is what it is. Reloads will be cumbersome. But if that is what the OP wants and it is what he is very familiar with, so be it. It is a VERY viable home defense firearm.

As far as 357 vs rifle rounds, it doesn't matter what caliber. Either is a good alternative and if you get the right ammo, over-penetration isn't going to be a problem. 357 will be fine for home defense, plenty of people sleep with a pistol in the same caliber by the bed.

 

[Panzercat]

I was thinking about getting the Mossberg 930 SPX but my budget right now doesn't allow it but maybe later on.

So don't get a 930 spx.

If you can afford a rossi lever in .357, you can afford an H&R Excell Auto 5 cut down to about 20in with a Rem 870 2 shot tube extender. They run you about $350-400 and don't seem to have any major issues for the environment you'll be employing them in. Here's an old THR archive. I'm sure you can find others. A 930 is fine, this one is nearly half the price. Insert ZOMG!NOTMADEINAMERICA! here.

 

[Jason_W]

If the OP wants a .357 lever more power to him. The Marlins are great guns (if you can find one right now) and they are more than adequate for a vast majority of self defense and other utility scenarios a law abiding citizen will encounter.

Is a shotgun, AR carbine, or handgun a better HD choice? We could produce 100 pages of debate and vitriol on the topic, but the bottom line is that the OP wants a .357 levergun.

 

[AKElroy]

Find an online auction for a Win 94 trapper in .44 mag. Slim, trim, lightning fast to shoulder.

 

[AKElroy]

Interesting to see 2/3rds of the posts to this thread recommending something the OP is not wanting to discuss. He did say to recommend a "Lever Carbine", correct?

 

[briansmithwins]

Interesting to see 2/3rds of the posts to this thread recommending something the OP is not wanting to discuss. He did say to recommend a "Lever Carbine", correct?

Guilty.

It's like if some one asked 'Which .22LR for taking deer?' I'm just thinking there are better tools for the job.

BSW

 

[Panzercat]

He's obviously considered a firearm other than a levers or .357 and still is if not for cost. Disscusion of similar arms in lower price brackets is not unwarranted, my topic-nazi friends.

 

[JustinJ]

"I want to buy a lever action for home defense in .357 mag."

Planning on keeping apaches off the homestead?

Seriously though, quit making us guess why you prefer a lever action?

 

[Panzercat]

"I want to buy a lever action for home defense in .357 mag."

Planning on keeping apaches off the homestead?

Seriously though, quit making us guess why you prefer a lever action?

Personally, I'm getting the impression cost is his overriding concern. He wants an auto shotgun but it's not in the budget, so he's going with he next best thing in terms of high capacity firepower to cost ratio and ease of use-- a levergun.

If he has to have a lever and assuming i'm correct on the budget thing, Rossi probebly is his best bet. They even make Mare's Leg types now. The op can correct me as he sees fit, but if he didn't require the round capacity, I'd be suggesting a revolver, except the price to capacity ratio favors the lever by maginitudes.

Frankly, I'm trying to solve the real problem, not the one that he's settling for due to lack of options.

 

[ForumSurfer]

He's obviously considered a firearm other than a levers or .357 and still is if not for cost. Disscusion of similar arms in lower price brackets is not unwarranted, my topic-nazi friends.

I don't want a shotgun.

Seriously though, quit making us guess why you prefer a lever action?

The man wants a lever action. He likes lever guns. Lever guns are completely suitable for home defense. What is wrong with that? It isn't optimal, but if that's what he wants, that's what he wants. It's very much like going to the gunstore after your girlfriend/wife/sister/mom decides what she wants by shooting many different guns, only to get a 38 snub nose pushed on her when she asks the salesman about a 1911 commander.

Yes, there are more suitable options, but a lever isn't completely useless in a self defense role. Here's a link to a training video promo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rAjuEvDXOo&NR=1

Maybe he already has a revolver in 357 and wants a rifle to conserve reloading costs. If a 357 is ok for a revolver in home defense, it is ok out of a rifle, as well. Maybe he just likes 357?

 

[Panzercat]

The man wants a lever action. He likes lever guns. Lever guns are completely suitable for home defense. What is wrong with that? It isn't optimal, but if that's what he wants, that's what he wants.

I was thinking about getting the Mossberg 930 SPX but my budget right now doesn't allow it but maybe later on.

Seriously, get over yourself. There's nothing wrong with a lever. But given this comment, one the op broached himself, the one right above these very words, suggesting a low cost alternatives to a firearm he wants and has considered in place of a levergun is not out of line.

And with that, I bow out for the op to make his call.

 

[JustinJ]

There are other options for the price range 'below a Mossberg 930 SPX' so logic would dictate that there could be other factors in his decision to get a lever gun. Maybe knowing those factors would help others in making more useful recomendations. I'm not quite sure what is wrong with simply inquiring what those might be or how that means one is being critical of that decision.

 

[Cosmoline]

Nothing wrong with shotguns but they are quite different in handling characteristics from a compact lever action. They also recoil more, and are slower to cycle than a levergun carbine. Lever actions are flat profile and easier for some to manipulate than round-profile 12 ga shotguns. Plus ammo costs for a 12 ga is going to be considerably higher than a .357 carbine. Unless you train with cheapo bird shot which is not going to give you much idea of the recoil involved in the real defensive rounds. It's all a question of preferences and trade-offs.

Either will work fine, and either is preferable to a short gun.

Between rossi and Marlin, the Marlin is stouter but a notch heavier as well. Ideally I'd go with a true Winchester 92, but those aren't so easy to find. For something you're betting your life on I'd go with the Marlin. I liked the Rossi .44 Mag I had but it did give me some troubles such as the loose mag tube.

If you go with the .357 carbine remember that you'll get a good velocity increase from the barrel. You *can* certainly go up to a .30-30 out of a levergun, but then you'll be looking at larger rifles with slightly slower cycling times. One of the Hornady .357 SP's out of a carbine will absolutely work for home defense!

 

[Dr.Rob]

Skip the 'cowboy' octagon barrel set-ups if it's primarily an HD weapon, add a high visibilty front sight and remember you have to WORK the action, don't baby it.

Marlin's 'standard' 1894 has a lot less side to side play in the lever than Winchester 1892 style clones. The clones will be lighter & thinner than the Marlin.

Not all rounds feed equally in these rifles. A soft point will feed better than sharp shouldered hollw point, and you don't want to find that out in a critical situation. Find out what ammo feeds reliably, and shoots accurately in your rifle. Just about ANY factory 357 or 44 mag softpoint on the market is plenty of gun for HD.

No matter what you choose, take the time to pratice with it, shoot 'tactical' or IDPA style courses of fire with it. See how it handles in tight quarters.

I wouldn't pick a levergun as my first choice for HD, but it's not the worst choice.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

My Marlin 1894c in .357 sits stoked right next to my 870. Short, fast, low recoil, light, my wife runs it with ease.
Sure it's no black tactical combat gizmo but I don't think I'd want to be caught in the crossfire between the "range toy" and the scattergun.

As with all home defense firearms, find ammo that runs through it 100% and it'll work. As they always say around here, "....software not hardware"

.

 

[CraigC]

I've never handled an 1892 that had any slop in the lever. Certainly not the ones I own. I think some folks assume the 92 rattles like the 94. Not so. The average Marlin is much looser than the average 92.

 

[Heck]

The Marlin is a fantastic gun. It is extremely versatile, light, fast handling, accurate, and just plain handy. It is my go to walking around in the woods, strap on the 4wheeler, throw behind the seat of my truck just in case rifle...yes i said rifle. Mine is in 44mag and out of the longer barrel the cartridge is a beast.

Get some frangible rounds, throw on the XS sight rail and the Vortex Sparc and you have a more than adequate HD carbine.

 

[Kliegl]

Sorry, "ForumSurfer", but I, and others, will recommend the best thing for the situation.

A lever action gun IS NOT the best thing for a hi-rise small square footage apartment for many reasons.

1. A pistol cartridge carbine will be slower than a pistol, and easier to be grabbed, for not much more muzzle energy.
2. A shotgun is a much better close in gun than a rifle for many reasons.

I'd recommend either a decent pump gun, or a pistol. Consider a .357 revolver.

 

[_N4Z_]

Here is an article for the OP.

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/fryxell/marlin_1894.htm

Placement of the pill tops all other considerations in my book. But Kliegl, you better go check numbers on the

for not much more muzzle energy

comment. May apply to .38spl power level ammo, but not .357magnums.

 

[_N4Z_]

Here's an even better article by Paco Kelly. And for those interested in muzzle energies from the carbines, those are included here also.

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/357_magnum_and_the_literature.htm