Defense without semiauto?

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I think the guy is just sick of ARs in general. Nothing against them but I am too.

I wish in every gun venue (ie: magazines, forums, retailers, etc.) there was an AR/non AR filter I could use to get straight to the stuff I care about without having to wade through the AR fluff.
 
I wouldn't have a problem with my Marlin .357 lever action although I'd prefer a pump .357. I could also make do with a bolt action provided it took stripper clips for faster reloads. IMO the bolt action would beat out the lever or pump for sustained rate of fire with stripper clips.
 
Dibbs said:
Back in the day, lever guns around the world did spend their time as "assault rifles".
The Turkish Army for one, IIRC, issued and used them. Weight aside, they're sturdy,
compact, and efficient.
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The Russians, too. Winchester made more 1895's in 7.62x54R than in any other caliber I believe.

Shooting Times had a whole article on lever guns for self defense in the latest issue. The writer was using a Mossberg lever .30-30, which is another loading-gate lever rifle option. If it was me choosing a non-AR rifle for castle defense it wouldn't be one of my .30-30's or .45-70 because of limited capacity, so it'll be either my Rossi .357 or .45 Colt or my Winchester .44 Mag that I'd use.

Stay safe!
 
I've selected a CZ 527 as my self defense carbine. Short, lightweight, accurate, and magazine fed with cheap ammo. It has a mini-bolt as well, so one can keep it on their shoulder while working the bolt. I just wish it had a larger capacity (and cheaper) magazine. The Ruger American Ranch in 7.62x39 would have been what I would have bought had they come out sooner, however, I do prefer iron sights.

The Ruger GSR or Mossberg scout type rifles would be a good choice for a heavier, full power defense rifle.
 
Hoppes Love Potion said:
The 16.1" Rossi carbine is the answer. In .357 it weighs 4.9 lbs.
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The Gunsite Academy in AZ offers a Defensive Lever Action & Single Action Revolver class https://www.gunsite.com/classes/defensive-lever-gun-and-single-action-revolver/ that is today offered as a sort of nostalgic skills class, BUT was spawned back in the days when places like New York City, Washington DC, Chicago, New Jersey, and other places one simply could not get permission to own a handgun. However, those locations did permit city dwellers to own a "hunting rifle" and lever actions in .45 Colt, .44 Mag, and .357 magnum fit the bill, as well as when CAS began and one found repros in .44-40 and .38-40.

For some departments carrying .357 revolvers the concept of a patrol rifle in .357 (or .38+P) was valid, but didn't catch on..., now though you find officers in many many jurisdictions with an AR as a patrol rifle platform.

In addition to repro Winchester '92 carbines, and Marlins and Winchesters in .45 colt or .44 mag, Ruger does make or made a lever action in .44 Mag.

While the laws may have changed on handgun sales, the attitudes of prosecutors and jury members in some of these urban areas and/or "blue" states have not, and in certain geographic areas, it would be more prudent to be using a "hunting rifle" in an "antique" configuration, than what has been demonized in multiple mass shootings. I personally wouldn't feel "undergunned" for home defense using a '92 Lever gun in .357 mag (or .38+P if one wishes), though I'd probably opt for one in .45 Colt, due to nostalgia.

LD
 
wanderinwalker said:
If the objection to a semi-auto is because of some negative connotation of the standard black-furnitured AR type rifle, a Mini-14 or M-1 Carbine will work fine as well.
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I have both because I don't do black rifles, just a personal preference. If no semi-auto carbines are allowed I would have to go with a 357 lever gun of some type. I'm not a huge fan but I did hunt deer with one in HS. Seemed to work just fine as I shot my first deer with it.
 
Loyalist Dave said:
...
In addition to repro Winchester '92 carbines, and Marlins and Winchesters in .45 colt or .44 mag, Ruger does make or made a lever action in .44 Mag.
...
LD
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Ah, the Ruger 96/44! I had one of those almost 20 years ago now. So far back I don't have any pictures of it. They weren't very popular then and are even less common now. Handy little carbine, limited by its 4 round magazine capacity and the fact that with full power ammo it kicked the stuffing out of me with every shot. My Marlin 1894PG in .44 Magnum was much more user friendly.

(I always wanted a 77/44 in blue and wood, for no reason other than I think they're also pretty neat by virtue of being different.)
 
As much as I'd like say a lever in 357/327 my first thought was if Rossi made their circuit judge in other chamberings. Technically not a semiauto and don't have to worry about a short stroke but a trade off in capacity. My only concern is how effective the blast shield is on those at protecting the support arm. Anyone with experience with that?
 
Fiv3r said:
Rural King had or has the 1894 in .44 mag for something like $499. I don't have 500 bones, but if I did, I think that would be a nice gun for such use. It could go in the truck, wouldn't turn heads, could eat a couple types of ammo, take out a black bear or take out a home intruder. Not as fast as my AR to run, but I think it could handle most any use I would have for a lever gun.
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Mine surely handles the light work. You could do a lot worse.
 
somethingbenign said:
As much as I'd like say a lever in 357/327 my first thought was if Rossi made their circuit judge in other chamberings. Technically not a semiauto and don't have to worry about a short stroke but a trade off in capacity. My only concern is how effective the blast shield is on those at protecting the support arm. Anyone with experience with that?
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I was always interested in the Circuit Judge. It has a simple manual of arms compared to a lever/pump.

I never ran into any bad comments about the protection of the blast shield. Most of the negatives were about typical Rossi/Taurus issues.

A 357 mag version would be interesting. Decently fast reloads with speed loaders.

On its own the 45 colt/ 410 model on paper would be a good HD/ranch/survival long arm.
 
chicharrones said:
I've passed over a .357 lever gun more than once because I got a semi-auto something else instead.

If I didn't want a semi-auto for this role, I'd be back at a .357 lever or pump gun of some sort. Preferably, a remake of the Timber Wolf carbine.
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What role(s) to you see for a .357 lever or pump gun in your arsenal? Just curious. Do you handload .358 and cast bullets?
 
Picher said:
What role(s) to you see for a .357 lever or pump gun in your arsenal? Just curious. Do you handload .358 and cast bullets?
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I'm not a handloader, but a .357 pump gun could be a versatile short range "defense" carbine. When I think defense, I think suburban home. So ranges aren't far at all.

Right now, my short range defense carbine is a 9mm Beretta CX4. But if for some reason I wouldn't be using that, a pump action carbine like the old Timber Wolf, would be worth my serious consideration. :)
 
If for whatever reason martians zapped all semi-autos off the planet simultaneously with a ray gun (the only reason I can think of to not use a semi) I'd probably go with a bolt gun instead of a lever action or a pump action rifle.

I have more time behind them than the other two. Mausers, Springfield '03's, Enfields ... even Mosins. A Mauser would probably be my first pick. I'm fairly quick with stripper clips.

IMG_7388.JPG
 
If you do go with a lever action, you need to practice. One anecdote, a guy brought a lever action to our carbine match (dominated by ARs and then a few AKs, AUGS, SCARs, etc.). Of course it was limited and slow on reloads but the big problem was him not manipulating the action correctly. He jammed the gun badly several times. Same thing you see with folks not practicing with pump guns.

Otherwise, they would be fine guns for what they do and probably defend the house from one or two folks.
 
GEM said:
If you do go with a lever action, you need to practice. One anecdote, a guy brought a lever action to our carbine match (dominated by ARs and then a few AKs, AUGS, SCARs, etc.). Of course it was limited and slow on reloads but the big problem was him not manipulating the action correctly. He jammed the gun badly several times. Same thing you see with folks not practicing with pump guns.
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Yes indeed, and practice weak side, too. I can run a lever just fine strong side, but I'd need a lot of practice doing it weak side. Same with pumps, for me.
 
That's a very good point. I never competed with my 1894, so I don't know how I'd have done with it under stress. I was adequate using 357's, but would often mess up using 38 spl's.

My 1894 let you get away with a lackluster throw of the lever, but each rifle is unique and might not be as forgiving
 
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