9mm Lever Gun

[Squidward]

Admittedly, I know little about ballistics. But I do see merit in having a lever gun and a revolver both chambered in .357. And I find lever guns kinda cool.

Unfortunately, I own a 9mm pistol that I really like and shoot very well. And I don't really want to buy a revolver and a lever gun if I don't have to. So, is there such a thing as a 9mm lever action rifle? Or do I just look for a 9mm semi of some sort.

Complicating this matter is that I live in CA. .

 

[Quinch]

I've never heard of a 9mm lever gun.

I think this is OK in CA:

http://www.berettausa.com/product/rifles/series_page.cfm?currentseries=18

 

[ugaarguy]

Well I don't know of any 9mm lever guns. However, looking at my Win '94 in 45 Colt I've often wondered how hard it would be to get the extractor to grip 45 ACP. I suppose the 9mm into a 38/357 could also be nteresting. The big things would be making sure the bolt's breech face was set up for the smaller rimless case head and making sure the exractor held the case head tight to the breech face to avoid headspace problems. Headspacing would be the problem since rimmed revolver cartridges headspace on the rim and not the casemouth like autos do. Otherwise you'd need to rebarrel with an auto caliber specific bbl with chamber cut to allow headspacing on the casemouth. Then you'd be back to making sure the extractor could at least grip the rimless case head enough for reliable extraction. Further while the 45 ACP and 45 Colt both use the same diameter bullets, the 9mm is .355" and the 38/357 use .356" or .357" diameter bullets. The 9mm could slightly free bore or not be gripped well by the 38/357 bbl. It could be done, but the cost would likely exceed what a good 38 or 357 revolver sells for.

 

[Euclidean]

You don't have to have a matching revolver, it's just a nice thing to have is all. I can't exactly go out and buy two new guns whenever I want either. Get the .357 lever gun if you want it, then see about a revolver later.

 

[grendelbane]

Winchester produced M92's in .45 ACP for the South American trade. I always thought it was a good idea, myself.

9mm would be ok, also, but what I would really like to see is 9x23mm!!!

 

[Onmilo]

Winchester made Model 92 rifles in .45acp for South American trade?
I have never heard of such a thing since the .45acp has always been considered a military cartridge and restricted way down there.
.44/40s were and still are popular in Brazil, I think they are trying to outlaw the .357 magnum for civilian ownership again but .38 special Rossi M65 leverguns can still be purchased, I think, don't quote me on this, South American countries are beginning to get worse than the Australians and British about firearm ownership.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

@ Onmilo: True, many Latin countries aren't so hot. However, do note that Brazil just voted down further gun control in a Nat'l Referendum. It was a huge blow to the antis to have an entire nation vote against gun control. Ah, the sweet will of the people.

@ Squidward: there is no lever-action 9mm without going into expensive custom stuff. Either go with a semi-auto 9mm carbine (few of which are legal in CA, check out the Ruger offerings), or a .357 levergun. The .357 levergun will be much more powerful.

I've been considering a .357 levergun, myself, and instead of the Marlin or Winchester 94, been considering the copies of the Winchester 92, made by many folks. I've heard very good things about these models on THR, and they were originally designed for pistol ammo, not just rechambered 30-30s like many other lever guns.

I've heard good things about these EMF guns, and they look great:

-MV

 

[P99guy]

Most places in south america, .45acp or 9mm Para would be illegal for a civy to own...its even illegal to just have a round of .45acp in your pocket in Mexico and you will go to jail even without a firearm.(you can't use the same rounds that is issued by the government/Junta/Dictator =9mm/.45acp/5.56/7.62x51/7.62x39) thats why all M1911's in private use in Mexico are .38 Super caliber for example, and they Make AR15's in .222 Remington for export
and Glock makes 9x23mm pistols for those places

lever action carbines with tube magazines dont work very well with RIMLESS cartridges, hense you dont find them in autopistol calibers

 

[VA27]

Years ago, there was an article in one of the gun rags about converting a Marlin 1894 to 45ACP. As I recall, it was a labor intensive conversion that finally worked, but the guy said he'd probably not do another one. The name of the gunsmithy escapes me at the moment, but I seem to recall it had "Trapper" in the name.

A friend of mine recently converted a gun to fire the .357SIG. It was also pretty "fiddley" to get running. When he finally got to shoot it over the chronograph, he was disappointed. He was hoping for 357Mag ballistics, to go along with the high capacity. It didn't happen. Last I heard he was going to try duplex loads to see if he could boost the velocity.

Seems to me it would be lots cheaper, both time and money wise, to just go with the 357Mag, 44Mag or 45LC.

 

[GTKrockeTT]

I've never heard of a 9mm lever gun.

I think this is OK in CA:

http://www.berettausa.com/product/rifles/series_page.cfm?currentseries=18

definitely NOT legal in CA.

 

[grendelbane]

The M92 Winchesters in .45 ACP were made for law enforcement. I have seen examples on the web, and at least one internet auction, so some of them came back to the States.

Not sure of the time frame, but it would have been after 1905, (probably after 1911), and before 1940. I am guessing the early 20s, as after that they would have wanted submachineguns in .45 ACP instead of lever action carbines.

I can't think of which country, or countries, bought them, but they do indeed exist.

 

[Danny Creasy]

If you do put a 9mm lever rifle together. Please avoid using FMJs in the tube magazine. Turning your rifle into a Roman Candle would not be fun.

I always preferred to think in terms of the revolver teamed up with a lever carbine of the same caliber and the semi-auto pistol teamed up with a semi-auto carbine of the same caliber.

But, to each his own. Go for it man if it trips your trigger.