Question about lever-action for HD

Lighter recoil, faster follow-up shots, a bit less concussion and blast indoors, higher capacity. Plus, the '92 clones are usually VERY light and handy. I think the R92 is like just over 5 lbs and quite inexpensive. It is a Rossi, but very well regarded by many shooters, especially if you do a couple small things to slick it up.

Now, buying a whole new rifle anyway? There are things I'd choose over a lever-action, most likely, but it would sure work great, and home defense give you just enough excuse for going out and buying one because you want to anyway.

I wouldnt spend more money to get less power. If you are trying to justify buying a new gun I would say buy a new gun.

I'd recommend an 870 or 500 with buckshot.

I wouldnt spend more money to get less power.

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But home defence = human targets. You don't need MORE power. You MIGHT need more capacity. More power is just hurting you by slowing down your follow up shots, causing elevated levels of blast and concussion, and sending rounds on through a lot of stuff that doesn't need to be shot.

The difference in how quickly and well a trained shooter can engage targets with a lighter-recoiling, fast handling gun and a heavier, more powerful gun is pretty striking.

the sound of a shotgun being racked or a lever action being cocked puts fear in people, for HD maybe a 357/38, 12 gauge pump would still be better.

Ha ha! Yes, it sure does in the movies!

'Course in real life, if someone's in my house and they're close enough to hear me chamber a round, I waited FAR too long to mount my defense.

TexasPatriot.308 said:

the sound of a shotgun being racked or a lever action being cocked puts fear in people

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If that fear is so effective, why waste money on a whole gun? Just make a good recording of a pump being cycled, then hook it up to your home stereo. Home invasion? No sweat, press play.

Right?

I agree that at the distances we are discussing for HD a Pistol caliber carbine is a good choice. Having a GP 100 and a Marlin 1894C to shoot .357 is quite a nice HD set up. I may get a 4" Bbl GP 100 for quicker target acquisition. That is more because I want to than I really think it is necessary.

If you've got a revolver that you like to shoot, I think your reasoning is fine (as if any of us need much nudging to want to get a new firearm). The only other thing I can think of if if you want to do cowboy action shooting in the future, a pistol caliber lever action would work for that as well.

Houston suburbs? Sounds familiar as I live in one also.

I went for a 30 carbine M1 (WWII Inland) that I picked up down at collectors. I have two mags on the butt stock and one in the gun giving me 45 rounds. Even with the recent home invasions we have been seeing I don't think 45 rounds of 30 carbine (soft-points) would be too bad of a choice.

Like you I have considered a lever action pistol caliber round. I have been debating 92 or switching over to my 870.

The carbine is easy, handy, reliable, not overly powerful, easy to move around with and accessible.

Might want to drop by Collectors and pick one up.

One of these days I'm going to get a Marlin 336. I'm a mature citizen and I've liked them for a long time. I'm saving up discretionary cash. First comes the Rem 870. For me the HD version 18.5" barrel setup gives me 95 hits on target out of 100 (having borrowed one from a friend) at various home defense distances. It comes up to my shoulder quickly and on target.
I have a .45 for HD and CC and am accurate enough at home defense distances. It gets back on target very quickly and sitting in a chair, drawing and shooting across my body to my left puts the round within 2" of the target every time. I'm working on getting it on target. I need a bigger target Punching holes in paper isn't as much of a challenge so during practice we vary height, distance and direction within the safe confines of the range. Having a rifle and pistol with the same caliber is handy but my choice would be a Henry Big Boy and a Dirty Harry S&W remake or a Ruger Super Blackhawk. Call me weird but I seem to do better with larger calibers, although .40 can be fun.

Since you reload, have you considered loading for your .30-30 using the 170gr bullet over TrailBoss? About 1000fps or less.

Dogs are also great HD tools. A well trained German Shepherd isn't something to scoff at.

7 or 8 shot .357 revolver and a hi cap .357 levergun is a great combo for HD/SD.

I really like a lever gun for HD, need to find a cheap way to put a light on it though. Options I have seen were pricey or required a bit of mods to the rifle which I didn't want to do.

My HD rifle IS a levergun. I use the Rossi M92 16"bbl, .357mag.
I like it because it's VERY light, shoulders very naturally, and I can instinctively get on target faster with that rifle than I can with any other long gun I've ever tried, with the exception of the Browning Buckmark carbine, which would obviously not be first choice for HD.

With the M92, i have something short enough that it is very maneuverable indoors, I have no doubt about its power, and as you pointed out, it's totally untacticool so in the aftermath of a shooting, I don't have yet another obstacle to overcome, although the obvious ones will still be there.

One thing I will say, is that the M92, being light, does kick with the magnum loads. It's a pussycat with .38spl, but you do feel it with .357mag. It's not bad at all, probably slightly harsher than my Chinese SKS.

I love my Rossi 92. It is also nice, as others have mentioned, to have a caliber that I can use for a rifle and my GP100. I would have no hesitation about using it to defend my family.

I would also agree that the racking of a shotgun is NOT going to stop a home invasion, especially if they are armed as well. If I am defending my family, the bad guys don't really need any warning.

A great man once said "If you ever find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck."

There is nothing wrong with that .30-30 for defense in the home. Run it with hot 150's in the house, and the OP issue is no better or worse than any other decent defensive pistol round. I would avoid the slower, heavier loads. They will have the better chance creating OP issues. That .30-30 will certainly do the job, and if you can shoot it well stick with it.

If capacity is your concern, that does make the pistol caliber a bit more attractive. Since I would still want the ability to hunt with it, I would likely stick to a .44 mag in any of the guns suggested. I would avoid a 94AE in a pistol clambering, Winchester never really worked out getting a rifle length action to be reliable with the shorter cases.

I feel pretty well protected with my 5 shot .30-30 trapper at the bedside.

The .357 is just higher in demand. Allows cheap practice w/ .38 SPC, much stronger factory loadings than all but a handful of .45LC.

I have a Marlin 1894 in .357, and while it is not my first choice for a defensive rifle, its not a bad choice. My biggest issue is really just reload speed. I love the caliber for home defense, and it shoots smooth and easy. Honestly, my AR is my go to rifle, but this .357 rifle sits loaded and accessible at all times.

sent from my Galaxy Note II.

I wouldn't trust your life to a NIB rossi; at least not without being having a sombody familiar with the brand taking a pass at it first.