Pistol cartridge rifle vs Rifle cartridge pistol

Pistol caliber rifles are fun to shoot and fill a useful niche. Rifle caliber pistols are full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

I don't see rifle calibers in a pistol, other than novelty and flame-throwing fun factor.

M

sarduy said:

Hello THR,

i just want to know what’s the general consensus. When it comes to those options, which one would you choose and why.

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Context matters, it always comes down to Task/Purpose.

I've got a couple PCCs and a Pistol in a rifle cartridge.

Defensive use, I'll take a rifle cartridge in a pistol (5.56 or .300AAC).

For PCC matches and carbine practice I use a pistol cartridge in a carbine.

This is way more useful than just flame and noise:



A 110 grain bullet at 2160 FPS is going to leave a mark.

I could see subsonic rifle loads in a pistol.

M

No flame, no real noise, still rifle power.




Even without the suppressor, they are still a rifle, and while they have a bit more bark, they still don't have any flame/flash, and still shoot farther, and with more power and accuracy than a handgun caliber. They will also defeat a vest that stops a pistol or shotgun caliber gun.

M1key said:

I don't see rifle calibers in a pistol, other than novelty and flame-throwing fun factor.

M

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You've obviously never gone to many IHMSA shoots. I haven't either in many years, but back when both my wife and I were shooting IHMSA, we saw hundreds, if not thousands of "rifle" cartridge (not "caliber") pistols being used.
I myself shot an XP-100 chambered in 7mm IHMSA (a 300 Savage necked down to 7mm), but 7mm-08s were also popular.
You're right about a couple of things though - a 7mm IHMSA or a 7mm-08 with a 14" barrel is fun, it throws a lot of flame, and it's LOUD!!!

Both!

I have a 16 inch Rossi M92 in 44 Mag with is companion M29 in 44Mag. I also have two different pistol uppers for a 300 BO AR pistol. I enjoy using both.

I’ve never been a big fan of AR platforms. However, for some reason I am drawn to an ar pistol in 300blk. These photos are not making it any easier for me.

I own both and can see a reason to have each. However, if I knew I was going into a fight I would pick a rifle caliber over pistol any day.

.308 Norma said:

You've obviously never gone to many IHMSA shoots.

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You are absolutely correct. Nor will I ever...

M

I've had both, wouldn't go with either again. The only one that I sort'a liked was an AR pistol with a 10" barrel and an arm brace. In my mind it was still a rifle that was taking advantage of a legal loophole. If it had a 12" or 14" barrel I might have kept it. But if it's in a traditional pistol cartridge I want a pistol. And if a rifle cartridge make it in a rifle.

I used to own and hunt with an Encore Pistol chambered in .243 Win. The reason was that a handgun was allowed in the "Shotgun Only" location where I hunted. That was some years ago. I still own a couple of pistol cartridge rifles (9mm, .357 mag, .44 mag) but no rifle cartridge pistols. Nothing wrong with the latter if they float your boat.

Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems to me that these guns have wildly different purposes. I think of carbines in pistol calibers as CQB weapons, and pistols in rifle calibers as long range hunting and competition guns, usually in single shot guise.

Well... the primary reason why rifle caliber "pistols" are so popular at the moment is because they allow you to have a de facto short-barreled rifle without having to apply to the ATF for approval, pay a $200 federal tax, and deal with all the BS when you want to travel interstate with it.

On the flip side, quality barrier blind ammunition for a pistol caliber "rifle" (e.g., Federal HST, Speer Gold Dot, etc.) is usually cheaper than quality barrier blind rifle ammo (when there isn't a crisis that causes an ammunition shortage). Barrier blind ammo allows you to reliably hit adversaries when you're forced to shoot through automotive windshield glass and sheet metal in the event of a breakdown in law and order due to civil unrest or after a catastrophic natural disaster.

.38 Special said:

Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems to me that these guns have wildly different purposes. I think of carbines in pistol calibers as CQB weapons, and pistols in rifle calibers as long range hunting and competition guns, usually in single shot guise.

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Which is why I replied with this:

Context matters, it always comes down to Task/Purpose.

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There's pistols and then there's pistols...

They don't mean the same thing to everyone, which is what we're seeing playing out in this thread. Legal definition of not having a stock leaves a pretty broad interpretation when it comes to what anyone would chose. For example, the minute I read .308 Norma mentioning IHMSA shoots, I knew what "kind" of rifle cartridge pistol he was thinking about, as he mentioned an XP100 type gun designed for silhouette shooting and guys hunt with them. Then there's those of us that think of AR15s with braces. Sooner or later a guy with a Ruger 44 magnum carbine is going to chime in that he loves his PCC for deer hunting, and a guy with a 9mm AR15 will be thinking *** is wrong with THAT guy?

When it comes to the OPs question:

sarduy said:

Hello THR,
i just want to know what’s the general consensus. When it comes to those options, which one would you choose and why.

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The question that needs to be answered 1st is FOR WHAT? or what task/purpose?

Just me personally, I’ve never cared about a rifle caliber in a pistol.

For my use there are only three rifle cartridges that I would consider for use in a pistol (revolver). They are 44-40 (44 WCF), 38-40 (38 WCF), and 32-20 (32 WCF).

All of the "Rifle Caliber Pistols" shown above are really just rifles with short barrels (only classified by law as pistols). They really aren't pistols, like a regular hand gun.

For me it’s PC rifles, only because I love shooting my .45C, 44M, .357M and 9mm rifles a lot.

I don’t have an XP or TC handgun, and AR style pistols are verboten in my State, so my experience with rifle caliber pistols is zilch.

Stay safe.

WeekendReloader said:

All of the "Rifle Caliber Pistols" shown above are really just rifles with short barrels (only classified by law as pistols). They really aren't pistols, like a regular hand gun.

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A BFR in .45/70 or .30-30 looks a bit handgunny, IMHO.

Stay safe.

I have a pair of tc contenders. I own no PCC guns. I do like a few big revolver rounds as light carbines though. And 10mm may be useful in a semiauto carbine.

I had a hi-point 995 and hunted with it once. Didn’t get a shot on a deer but did plug a strange acting raccoon that was out during the day. I was using mag tech defensive rounds and they were impressive.

Chuck R. said:

Context matters, it always comes down to Task/Purpose.

I've got a couple PCCs and a Pistol in a rifle cartridge.

Defensive use, I'll take a rifle cartridge in a pistol (5.56 or .300AAC).

For PCC matches and carbine practice I use a pistol cartridge in a carbine.

This is way more useful than just flame and noise:

View attachment 1065038

A 110 grain bullet at 2160 FPS is going to leave a mark.

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That's almost what Lyman's 50th said to expect from my .357 PCC. If the Blackout brass didn't get thrown all over, and were as easy to reload (way more fussy about OAL based on bullet profile, while the M92 eats SWC's FMJ's JHP's in .38 and .357) it might be a push, but from my perspective, right now, for me, I favor a PCC over a RCP. And you guys are doing NOTHING to restrain my plans to suppress that .357 carbine, thanks a lot.

Riomouse911 said:

A BFR in .45/70 or .30-30 looks a bit handgunny, IMHO.

Stay safe.

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Also the 30 Carbine Blackhawk from back in the day.

Does this make the Judge a SCP (Shotgun Caliber Pistol)? Or would that be a SGP (Shotgun Gauge Pistol)? SGR (Shotgun Gauge Revolver)? It gets confusing...

Need more information pertaining to the question being asked.

Which one would I prefer if I were to get in a firefight? rifle caliber pistol, without question.
Which one would I prefer for cost of ammo? pistol caliber rifle, duh

And on and on...

Need to define parameters the decision is being made for. But for the sake of the poll I voted 'rifle caliber pistol' because they are a lot more versatile in their effectiveness for use.

But as I think about it more a 10mm or 357mag in a rifle length 16"+ has quite a bit of juice to squeeze, but still lack good ballistics that spire point rifle calibers affords for longer shots.