cluttonfred
Member
Why can't somebody built a simple, cheap pistol-caliber carbine that looks good?
I don't want to start another Hi Point thread -- some swear by them (usually happy owners) other turn up their noses (usually having never fired one) but everyone agrees that they look like they fell out of the ugly tree.
Besides the Hi Points, the Kel Tec SUB-2000 is functional and not too expensive but has non-traditional styling and the Berretta Storm is functional, expensive, and again non-traditional styling. After that you can get SMG- or assault-rifle based carbines but they all cost a fortune. Prefer a revolver cartridge? Have you priced a quality lever or slide action lately? Sheesh!
I would love something with traditional carbine styling, like the Ruger 10/22, your choice of wood or synthetic stock and optional magazine wells to take various types of pistol magazine in 9mm, .40 S&W or .45 ACP. With an alternative rotary or tubular magazine, or just a curved banana box magazine like a .22, it would even work with .357, .44 and .45 revolver cartridges. I mean different models sharing many components, not one gun convertible to different calibers.
In almost any of those calibers you get a good home defense and plinking gun that can even make a good hunting weapon up to and including deer at short range with the right ammo. You get the added bonus that it uses the same ammo as your handgun and gets a little or a lot of boost in muzzle velocity depending on the cartridge.
A blowback design would be cheap but need different weight bolts and springs for various calibers. A simple gas-operated design might be cheaper in the long run because it could be made to function with almost anything using an adjustable gas port, and could be lighter. But I'd take almost anything that was reasonably priced, reliable and dind't look half bad.
It just shouldn't be that hard, or that expensive, but they have all disappeared - Marlin Camp, Ruger PC, Ruger Deerfield, all out of production and commanding a premium used.
Oh, woe is me. :banghead:
I don't want to start another Hi Point thread -- some swear by them (usually happy owners) other turn up their noses (usually having never fired one) but everyone agrees that they look like they fell out of the ugly tree.
Besides the Hi Points, the Kel Tec SUB-2000 is functional and not too expensive but has non-traditional styling and the Berretta Storm is functional, expensive, and again non-traditional styling. After that you can get SMG- or assault-rifle based carbines but they all cost a fortune. Prefer a revolver cartridge? Have you priced a quality lever or slide action lately? Sheesh!
I would love something with traditional carbine styling, like the Ruger 10/22, your choice of wood or synthetic stock and optional magazine wells to take various types of pistol magazine in 9mm, .40 S&W or .45 ACP. With an alternative rotary or tubular magazine, or just a curved banana box magazine like a .22, it would even work with .357, .44 and .45 revolver cartridges. I mean different models sharing many components, not one gun convertible to different calibers.
In almost any of those calibers you get a good home defense and plinking gun that can even make a good hunting weapon up to and including deer at short range with the right ammo. You get the added bonus that it uses the same ammo as your handgun and gets a little or a lot of boost in muzzle velocity depending on the cartridge.
A blowback design would be cheap but need different weight bolts and springs for various calibers. A simple gas-operated design might be cheaper in the long run because it could be made to function with almost anything using an adjustable gas port, and could be lighter. But I'd take almost anything that was reasonably priced, reliable and dind't look half bad.
It just shouldn't be that hard, or that expensive, but they have all disappeared - Marlin Camp, Ruger PC, Ruger Deerfield, all out of production and commanding a premium used.
Oh, woe is me. :banghead:
