Posted before as to choice between .45 handgun or SKS for HD. Have pretty much decided on a carbine-type (easier for wife to use, etc.) Now, I already have dies, etc for both .44 and .45 ACP, so I could make my own HD44 rounds (I still have a bunch of 180 HP bulets that didn't shoot well in my 29).Is there a .44 levergun out there that would lend itself to some minor HD tuning? (Tritium front and ghost-ring rear, possible light-mount, etc) I don't need some tacticool weapon, just something that goes "bang" at the right time and to the right spot. What do you think? Am I better off with a .45 semi Marlin, Hi-point, etc or a lever-action .44 Marlin, Rossi etc ,(not a Winchester, I've looked at them, and the newer models are crap as far as I can tell)
Carbine for HD- .44 lever or .45 carbine?
- Thread starter bk42261
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SoulLessGinger
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45 semi...hands down. A lever gun can be used for HD, but it will always be slow on follow ups and (unless you do a lot of training) may cause you to break your sight picture and concentration to work the action.
RSVP2RIP
Member
I vote for the Marlin 94 and 44 specials. It has a lot more power out of a rifle and not the noise and overpenetration of the 44 Mag. You would have to get 44 spl dies though if you reload your SD ammo. XS Sight Systems and others make suitable sights for HD for it and it is super reliable.
http://www.leverguns.com/articles/taylor/crossbolt_safety.htm
Lever Guns has a screw that will remove the saftey and make it look like it was never there.
I always thought that if I had to move to Chicago, this would be the gun I would be forced to use to defend my castle.
http://www.leverguns.com/articles/taylor/crossbolt_safety.htm
Lever Guns has a screw that will remove the saftey and make it look like it was never there.
I always thought that if I had to move to Chicago, this would be the gun I would be forced to use to defend my castle.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Nonsense. You can empty a semi-auto faster but for controlled, aimed fire, there is little difference.
I'd happily use a Marlin 1894 in .44 Special/Magnum as a defensive weapon. Maybe a bit slow to reload compared to a semi-auto but I can't imagine one not being effective.
The hardest part of the choice would be whether to go with the new short barreled Cowboy II's or try to scare up an older 24" version.
The hardest part of the choice would be whether to go with the new short barreled Cowboy II's or try to scare up an older 24" version.
Furncliff
Member
My HD guns have in the past been a SXS 16 ga. (barrels are too long) then a Marlin 1894c loaded with my .357 reloads . Now I have Hi Point carbine in .45acp. Short barrel is very handy, 11 rounds and will shoot +P, places to hang lights and lasers if you are inclined, cheap (mine was $260)., reliable (450 rounds so far without a problem), no BS guarantee from the maker, simple and easy to use, my daughter thinks it's fun to shoot. Initial tests off the bench show it shooting about 1" groups with cheap ammo at 25 yards with a scope. I should do better with good reloads, still for across the room....
I took a chance on this rifle figuring I wouldn't be out much if it was a POS. What I found was an inexpensive weapon that is much more substantial than I though it would be.
I plan to start reloading for it soon.
http://www.hipointfirearmsforums.com/Forum/index.php
I took a chance on this rifle figuring I wouldn't be out much if it was a POS. What I found was an inexpensive weapon that is much more substantial than I though it would be.
I plan to start reloading for it soon.
http://www.hipointfirearmsforums.com/Forum/index.php
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Marlin 1894 44 mag, 44 mag brass, 180 Rem/Hdy jhp, 11.0 grains unique, Fed 150 primer.
Bout 1550 fps from 16 in barrel and extremely mild recoil/blast. Careful about relaible feeding with any wide mouth jhp's and 44 specials.
If you get one, may want to try out factory sights, before spending anymore. The sights are right over barrel, and conducive to fast and close range "pointing"
Bout 1550 fps from 16 in barrel and extremely mild recoil/blast. Careful about relaible feeding with any wide mouth jhp's and 44 specials.
If you get one, may want to try out factory sights, before spending anymore. The sights are right over barrel, and conducive to fast and close range "pointing"
451 Detonics
Member
Sure you don't want to pop for another set of dies and start loading 40 S&W?
http://www.summitgunbroker.com/Ruger_PC_carbine.html
http://www.gunclips.net/rup940cal20g.html
http://www.summitgunbroker.com/Ruger_PC_carbine.html
http://www.gunclips.net/rup940cal20g.html
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I still would love to see a good .45ACP carbine on the market. Don't know if there's enough interest for such a critter but I'd love one. Maybe something like the Ruger PC, a good AR upper or maybe something with a folding stock. Prefer a 20-30rd stick mag over pistol magazines. Maybe partner with Magpul to make proprietary polymer magazines. Couple it with a good peep sight and picatinny rails and I'm all over it.
firearmnut
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I would go for the 44 lever gun my self but I have always leaned towards lever guns thou.
HOLY DIVER
Member
didn't marlin make a .45acp camp carbine at one time, semi-auto?
Marlin 45 carbine
Member
the Marlin Camp .45 is about impossible to find.
I've been impressed with the Hi-Point though, not much to look at but effective, reliable. hardly any felt recoil. it will handle any situation you can imagine except fending off human wave attack
my .02 that's what you need.
I've been impressed with the Hi-Point though, not much to look at but effective, reliable. hardly any felt recoil. it will handle any situation you can imagine except fending off human wave attack
my .02 that's what you need.
RX-178
Member
With home defense as your only consideration, a semi-auto .45 ACP carbine is the better weapon hands down. They're easier to use, easier to reload, easier to mount lights and night sights and whatever you want onto them. And now that the Hi Point .45 is out on the market, they're darned cheap too.
Now, if you already HAD a .44 levergun, I'd say it wasn't necessary to get an additional .45 carbine, but as a choice BETWEEN the two, there's no comparison.
Now, if you already HAD a .44 levergun, I'd say it wasn't necessary to get an additional .45 carbine, but as a choice BETWEEN the two, there's no comparison.
If your going to reload, go with the .44. You can get a Puma 16" barreled carbine that already has the fiber optic sights from the factory. Also by reloading you can make plinkers or more powerful hunting and self defense loads. Factory .45 acp hunting and SD loads are expensive. Also, .45 acp requires more attention to detail when handloading.
epijunkie67
Member
For a general purpose carbine I'd say use the lever but for a dedicated home defense platform I'd have to say semiauto hands down.
Look, a lot of people here are going to recommend the lever action because they love them. Heck, I love mine. And you can reload for it, and it's so handy, blah blah blah.
But let's be realistic for a second. In a tense high pressure situation (and if you're pulling the trigger inside your house it will be) you are going to want to be able to get off instant repeat shots. There is a very real reason no modern military uses bolt action weapons as a primary weapon any more. Do you see swat teams decked out with lever rifles? No, because in a shooting situation you want to be able to double or triple tap as needed.
And to answer to inevitable replys to this, yes I realize you aren't at war or on a swat mission. However, the raw truth is that personal armed combat with a rifle is going to have similar situational requirements across the board. If there are one or more persons in your home requiring you to open fire to defend yourself or your family you are going to be very glad you have a semiauto in your hands.
I think the only exception to this principle is the pump shotgun and that is only because of the devastating degree of damage a full load of 00 buckshot can do at room length distances.
Look, a lot of people here are going to recommend the lever action because they love them. Heck, I love mine. And you can reload for it, and it's so handy, blah blah blah.
But let's be realistic for a second. In a tense high pressure situation (and if you're pulling the trigger inside your house it will be) you are going to want to be able to get off instant repeat shots. There is a very real reason no modern military uses bolt action weapons as a primary weapon any more. Do you see swat teams decked out with lever rifles? No, because in a shooting situation you want to be able to double or triple tap as needed.
And to answer to inevitable replys to this, yes I realize you aren't at war or on a swat mission. However, the raw truth is that personal armed combat with a rifle is going to have similar situational requirements across the board. If there are one or more persons in your home requiring you to open fire to defend yourself or your family you are going to be very glad you have a semiauto in your hands.
I think the only exception to this principle is the pump shotgun and that is only because of the devastating degree of damage a full load of 00 buckshot can do at room length distances.
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