So, in my planning and ponderings, I may have found a loophole to acquire a new carbine in the near future, I already have enough alternatives to fulfill this purpose, but the missus doesn't need to know that. My parameters for use of this gun, recoil cannot be on the extreme end, anything worse than a semiautomatic 12 GA will be shot down, but I am looking for some stopping power. The situation that this carbine will likely be used in would be the dusk to dawn disturbances ranging from varmints with distemper or rabies, up to methed up 2 leggers and/or something of the larger predator sector (canine, feline, bruin) low power optic mounting options would be nice. I'm leaning semi auto, but not necessarily ar styled. Current considerations range from ruger .44 carbine to .45 raptor to a jrc 10mm (lower on the list) but probably short of a socom as I'm slightly concerned about potential ricochet issues with so much mass moving so fast and while I do have plans for the .458, I'm not certain it's the best fit for this role. I hand load so things can be tweaked of course. I welcome all honest input.
Let's talk camp guns
- Thread starter horsey300
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gotboostvr
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A Winnie 94 in 30-30 would probably be the classic answer.
I like my SS 16" Rossi 44mag. Very handy, plenty of short range thump.
A Ruger Mini 30 might be a good option as well.
I like my SS 16" Rossi 44mag. Very handy, plenty of short range thump.
A Ruger Mini 30 might be a good option as well.
Elkins45
Member
Do you have a lever gun? A 357 or 44 lever gun would be a fun option if you don’t have one.
I can see a 350 Legend AR also being a fun choice, and you could load with 35 caliber pistol bullets to make some interesting specialty ammo.
I wish somebody made a nice affordable pump action carbine in pistol calibers.
I can see a 350 Legend AR also being a fun choice, and you could load with 35 caliber pistol bullets to make some interesting specialty ammo.
I wish somebody made a nice affordable pump action carbine in pistol calibers.
I agree completely on the pump! .350 legend is also on the table, along with the circuit judge lineup but not in .22 lr.
Yes we have levers, henry, winchester, marlin and m99, and the thought is definitely there, but I'm making sure to check as many boxes as possible, I did briefly consider the mini 30, but reconsidered for the same reason as the soccom, for close range stopping I'll be pushing a big chunk of lead, and don't want to worry about where it goes, a mini 30 with the "hybrid" .308 barrel is on the list, but not (I think) for this application. A 154 sd is definitely going to travel and at night......well I have a .303 brit and .30-40 Krag not making the cut either.......
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Random 8
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You've done a good job of describing a Rem 870 "riot gun" with an improved cylinder choke and choice of ammo to meet the threat. Nothing wrong with old fashioned foster style slugs on big, nasty critters at short range, and most 2 leggers will leave a pee stain in the britches hearing "chuck chuck" at 2 AM. Simple to operate, extremely versatile, and not that expensive.
If it must be a rifle, a Yugo SKS might fit the bill. You can always fold out the bayonet and charge, and if ricochet is a concern, Barnes makes a dandy sintercore frangible. They're hell from my Mosin Nagant carbine on soft targets. Porcupines develop secondary trajectories.
If it must be a rifle, a Yugo SKS might fit the bill. You can always fold out the bayonet and charge, and if ricochet is a concern, Barnes makes a dandy sintercore frangible. They're hell from my Mosin Nagant carbine on soft targets. Porcupines develop secondary trajectories.
js8588
Member
Rossi Circuit Judge.
Two options that may be a touch light for Bruins, but adequate for all others on your list...both are light recoiling, handy carbines:
Mini 14 in 300blk
M1 Carbine
Then of course a lever gun in just about any magnum flavor, or stronger
But, for your purposes, perhaps something like the CMMG Mutant pistol may be the ticket. AR platform, 7.62x39
Mini 14 in 300blk
M1 Carbine
Then of course a lever gun in just about any magnum flavor, or stronger
But, for your purposes, perhaps something like the CMMG Mutant pistol may be the ticket. AR platform, 7.62x39
Armored farmer
Member
I'm all about an AR pistol for this role.
I would listen to arguments for a suppressed 9mm AR pistol, but prefer the 5.56 or....
If you want a little less tactical, I would use a vintage trapper length lever gun, such as a '94 Winchester SRC in .30-30 or....
If mrs is giving you a pass.....hmmm. maybe a Ljutic trap gun, or a double rifle, or a krieghoff combo gun ? ...as a camp gun....ahem.
I would listen to arguments for a suppressed 9mm AR pistol, but prefer the 5.56 or....
If you want a little less tactical, I would use a vintage trapper length lever gun, such as a '94 Winchester SRC in .30-30 or....
If mrs is giving you a pass.....hmmm. maybe a Ljutic trap gun, or a double rifle, or a krieghoff combo gun ? ...as a camp gun....ahem.
The part where I said no more recoil than a semi auto 12 negates the riot gun, I have a 590a with a light mounted underneath that fills that role, and is too much for 7/9 of my average camp companions, also have a semi auto 20, modified choke, but still not what I'm looking for.....
Not adverse to the sks per se but the 7.62x39 is also not ideal for my purposes, between too much travel and not enough oomph, it's the odd duck out......and for reference I've kicked sparks at 50 yds with the 590 running hot 4 shot so again not where I'm looking, however, until this grail gun is found, I'm glad we think alike. I also hunt enough to know that a foster 12 is NOT what I need when yogi shows up, and while harder slugs are available, then we add into ricochet factor.......
WrongHanded
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My camp guns are simple lever actions. .45-70 for areas where Grizzlies are present, and now a .357 for other areas.
But if I wanted mounted illumination and maybe a red dot, I'd just take a 12GA pump.
I guess the way to look at it is, when you've got unwanted company in your camp in the middle of the night, what's going to give you the most confidence in your ability to prevail.
But if I wanted mounted illumination and maybe a red dot, I'd just take a 12GA pump.
I guess the way to look at it is, when you've got unwanted company in your camp in the middle of the night, what's going to give you the most confidence in your ability to prevail.
milemaker13
Member
Im going to cast another vote for lever action .357. However a mounted flashlight makes alot of sense in this application..
JeeperCreeper
Member
AR is the easiest and possibly cheapest option, but might be the most boring. Everything from .450 Bushmaster to Supersonic .300 BLK to boring 5.56mm.
I also like the idea of the Ruger Minis.
But, the Ruger .44 Carbine would be an awesome choice for purpose and fun and a good addition to any collection.
I also like the idea of the Ruger Minis.
But, the Ruger .44 Carbine would be an awesome choice for purpose and fun and a good addition to any collection.
I like where your head's at.....IF I do go with a lever likely to be .35 rem+ in an ar pistol, we're coming back to 10 mm or .45 raptor etc for more stoppage. I think what I'm really looking for is a circuit judge chambered in .50 jrh??? This will be used from Texas to Alaska, and to further enlighten the subject, a 1911 in 10mm, 1 or more Blackhawks in .41, and an armament of shotguns and high power rifles will always be on site, ranging from .223 to .243 to a semi auto .270 wsm to a 7stw.......there's no lack of firepower but a dedicated right by the door, something unwelcome on site whatever it is be prepared single gun in the night is the goal.......
.45-70 is not above MY recoil tolerance, but I may not be the only one using it either, thus the issue, were it just me, things would be soooooooooooo much different lol, and yes the classic is on the list for down the road.
I've looked hard at the bushy, I don't want a cartridge war here, but if I have a decent basic understanding, it's essentially a semi auto rifle version of the .454 casull right? Except we're getting 2000 fps from a 24 in bbl instead of 1800 from a 9.75 in barrel with a 300 gr pill?
WrongHanded
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Well, considering you've mentioned, what, 9(?) people potentially using it in an emergency, I think the gun should probably be as simple to use as possible. So I'm going to suggest a Henry Big Boy Steel in .44 Mag with a 20" barrel. That's 10 rounds in the magazine, and you keep the chamber empty. There are no manual safeties, so work the lever and shoot. Add a rail with a "shake-awake" (movement activated) red dot for low light shooting, and you're done.
Not a bad idea, I like this one, and ultimately may be the winner, honestly I've never seen a shake awake sight, is the mounting complicated on the Henry? My current big boy isn't tapped..... And not necessarily 9 at one time but at any given time I have 9 friends/family members worth taking on hunts so in camp may be 4 1 week and then a different 4 a month later. Also, since we're still talking .44 is there a reason not to do this with the ruger?
Eta the Henry has a longer throw, but higher cap, so not bad for me, but the Marlins seem to be a shorter/easier throw??
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Elkins45
Member
The Sig Romeo5 has a move to wake feature and is extremely well reviewed. You can find them somewhere i the $100 neighborhood on sale fairly frequently.
What Ruger are you talking about? The semi-auto? Those are getting hard to find at a decent price around here.
JeeperCreeper
Member
I think the .450 bushy is a little more hopped up than that, but normally I look at energy over velocity on big bores.
With Underwood and Buffalo Bore ammo, out of a rifle it's getting energy right in between .45-70 standard and .45-70 +P loads, if I remember.
And I wanna say the Bushy doesn't lose much with a shorter barrel, at least from my research.
Regardless, I'm probably gonna buy a cheap BCA 18" upper for $230 for Alaska moose next year.
The soccom is the .45-70 twinqual the bushy runs pistol bullets and numbers posted are from hodgdon, I don't the that duplicating the .45-70 is where I wanna be, so if the bushy really is that high up there (I was thinking a cranked up .45 lc) then I'll drop back to a circuit judge .45 lc.
I swear I saw a YouTube of a kid with one a Lil over a year ago but can't find one for sale anywhere now...
WrongHanded
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I'm going to be honest. I have no personal experience with the motion activated red dots. But they look like regular red dots to me. I think the motion activation is a pretty simple actuator switch. The new Henry I speak of comes drilled and tapped.
When you say Ruger, which one? The only one I saw on the website in .44 is a bolt gun. Anyone left-handed? The capacity with the 77/44 is 4 rounds, and maybe plus 1? 10 is better than 5, especially if a reload is not close at hand. And I don't know if they have a rotary magazine or not, but I had a bad experience with some factory Ruger rotary mags that were left loaded a few months. I don't trust them.
Whatever the gun, I wouldn't keep a sling on it or extra ammo with it. Streamlined and simple, get the job done with what's in the magazine, or retreat to other guns. And I have to say, I think a lever is quicker than a bolt for most people.
When I say ruger I'm talking about a semi auto .44 carbine very similar to the mini lineup, I've not yet had issues with a long loaded rotary mag as long as it wasn't dirty, BUT that isn't to say I haven't just gotten lucky, this would be a used weapon.
Adding link to show clarification on ruger m44
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruger_Model_44
Also, lever/pump vs bolt=bolt losing, we grew up cowboy around here.
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