I finally understand: Carbine for HD

Plus, it is great against the Cylons!

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Remember a while back someone was making a barrel shroud that mimicked the one from the show. Think I saw them on gunbroker, been a while. Almost bought one at the time.

Here they are
http://mfiap.com/i-7832697-mfi-battle-star-galactica-barrel-shroud-for-beretta-cx4-storm.html

I think pistol caliber carbines are great home defense choices, although I prefer an M1 carbine. I have two HiPoint carbines, a 9mm and a .40, and I'm confident enough in both of them to use them for the job. But, my Plainfield M1 got the position. Ultimak hanguard w/rail, mounted with a clone of an Aimpoint red-dot, 15 rd. magazine with two more in a pouch on the stock, it was a no brainer. Short, light, manuverable and powerful....what's not to like?

Personally, my AR15 is just too big and heavy to even consider when compared to the M1. But your 9mm carbine should be dandy. I know a guy who hunts deer with one of those, with the local game wardens blessings as long as he uses +P ammo.

Personally, my AR15 is just too big and heavy to even consider when compared to the M1.

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Get a lighter AR. Seriously. An M1 carbine weighs around 5.5lbs IIRC. I have an AR that weighs that. It really isn't that hard to build a 6 lbs or less AR. Weight can be a wash and the AR holds MANY advantages. Not to say an M1 carbine is not a viable defensive weapon. The storm is about 5.75 I believe. Any AR that is sub 7lbs shouldn't be too unwieldy if one knows what he or she is doing.

Shotgun = best home defense!!

jehu said:

Shotgun = best home defense!!

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Totally debatable, endlessly debated, and off topic. OP's talking about a new appreciation of carbines for HD.

Shotgun = best home defense!!

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Not at all per se true. One of the more interesting parts of the Magpul Dynamics shotgun DVDs was where both Travis and Chris stated they not only did not use a shotgun for HD but that they did not recommend them to most people.

A shot gun really only has two advantages vis-a-vis a carbine in a HD role. First, is terminal ballistics. A shotgun with the right ammunition is truly formidable. The second advantage (and it doesn't exist in all cases) is cost. One can get a pump shotgun that is a very viable choice for less than $200 (pardner pump, Maverick 88, Hawk 982, and a number of used guns). One can also spend well over $1k.

Shotguns generally speaking have a more difficult manual of arms if one wants to be truly proficient. Pump shotguns while arguably mechanically more reliable than some carbines are MUCH more prone to user induced failures under stress. Shotguns have limited capacity. Shotguns have recoil, particularly with slugs and buck that may make them difficult for some shooters to use well. Split times between follow ups and transitions are much slower, again particularly with ammo suited for HD. A cartridge like Hornady TAP presents less of a risk of over penetration or an errant round penetrating barriers. If one needs to go and retrieve a child a shotgun, particularly a pump gun may not be anywhere near the best weapon. Practically suppressing most shotguns is not nearly as easy as doing so with a carbine or handgun. A suppressor has huge benefits in a HD situation. A carbine can more readily defeat an armored attacker (admittedly rare, but not unheard of).

I like to train with both carbines and shotguns. I think either a good carbine or a good shotgun is up to the task if the user is. When someone starts spouting about a shotgun being per se the clear choice for HD, I think they don't really know what they are talking about.

Carbines actually have a lot of advantages. Some of which are what the OP has come to appreciate.

I have a 9mm carbine for my wife. I would use it for self defense if it was the first gun I could get my hands on. People knock the capacity of the shotgun all the time. Yet when I shoot a course of fire with a shotgun I always shoot it faster than I do with a 10 shot pistol (IDPA limits pistols to 10 shots). The good old tactical reload must work pretty good with a shotgun.

Another good HD carbine is a lever action in .357Mag.

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Personally, my AR15 is just too big and heavy to even consider when compared to the M1.

Get a lighter AR. Seriously. An M1 carbine weighs around 5.5lbs IIRC. I have an AR that weighs that. It really isn't that hard to build a 6 lbs or less AR. Weight can be a wash and the AR holds MANY advantages. Not to say an M1 carbine is not a viable defensive weapon. The storm is about 5.75 I believe. Any AR that is sub 7lbs shouldn't be too unwieldy if one knows what he or she is doing.

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Mine IS a carbine. I compare handling the AR vs. handling the M1, and the M1 is hands down far easier for ME to handle, move with, manuever with, and shoot.

This (now mounted with a Nikon scope).....



is just not as easy for me to handle and operate as this.....



Sorry, I love my AR, but for home use I'll grab the M1 first.

I had an FN FiveSeven/PS90 combo for the same reasons. With all the recent drama, I parted with them for a nice sum and ended up buying a 92FS (and some others).

I finally understand why I've read/heard so much about carbines for home defense lately.

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You've just dscovered why shotguns are rapidly being replaced in LE and the military. While a shotgun is a viable choice it's abilities have always been overstated and it's negatives glossed over.

beatledog7 said:

Another good HD carbine is a lever action in .357Mag.

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10-4 on that...I have a 12 gauge pump ready to go, but would not hesitate to call my Winchester Trapper into service.

To address the OP's point -- I agree. I don't have the greatest eyes on earth, and the superior sight radius and "pointability" of the Trapper allows me to do things at 25 yards that would be the stuff of dreams (or more practice than I can muster) with a revolver...


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I've always loved carbines. Here are my two favorites. Both light and handy. The AR is not noticeably heavier than the M1, if at all.

One day I'm going to add a .357 lever action to the family. I've always wanted one of those.

sexy para! I want one...so sweet

Thanks PGT!

It's a CMP Inland that I put in a repro stock.

You can use what ever you like for HD. Nothing like plenty of fire power in case of a home invasion by some un-savory character. Protection of home and property is foremost.

In the after-math, I`m thinking your home/trailer/apartment, etc looking like a scene from the movie, Scare Face. Hope you have good insurance.

I have both an M1 carbine (AO modern version) and a Marlin Camp 45. Not sure which I like better.

Keep one thing in mind if you plan to use a carbine or shotgun for HD.

Talking with 911 while holding a long gun is very awkward. The lady protecting her kids in the recent HD shooting is a prime example.

Talking with 911 while holding a long gun is very awkward. The lady protecting her kids in the recent HD shooting is a prime example.

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One of the reasons why I like bullpups.

Carbine with sling, side arm for use with phone. Adds redundancy too.

harvester said:

Carbine with sling, side arm for use with phone. Adds redundancy too.

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Yup -- I don't consider a long gun and handgun necessarily mutually exclusive.


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