carbine suggestions

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minirunner

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Southeast Minnesota. Beautiful bluff country.
I've been researching a small, short, lightweight carbine for my long gun. I want something that is easy to carry but have enough to get me out of a pinch. I am mainly going for my long gun in a shtf situation. I was all set to buy the Ruger GSR, but dont like the $800 tag. Im shooting for $600 or less. I have looked at marlin guide gun and s&w m&p15 sport, and marlin 336y. I want ghostring sights and 16-18" barrel. Give me some more ideas. Im looking for a defensive weapon to get me outta trouble when i need it. Thanks for ideas. It will be paired up with an xd9.
 
Ruger Mini-14 used, can be had for $600 give or take. Get one of the more recent 580 series which have heavier barrels which have improved accuracy (1-2 MOA). Marlin 336's (30-30) and 1894's (.38/.357 Mag, .44 Mag, .45 Colt) are awefully handy carbines with calibers that are available almost everywhere (in a SHTF situation, could be important). I'm sure others will chime in with other good ideas!
 
Many options, almost to many. I just bought an ATI JR .40 cal Carbine that is configured like an AR and uses Glock mags (I have a Glock22) and it is a very nice carbine. If you like lever actions, there is a lot to choose from in both rifle calibers and pistols calibers. Probably your first decision is to choose a caliber and go from there.
 
I'd suggest a Saiga with optics rail. As you save up you can add a optic and convert it to pistols grip layout.

BSW
 
Lots of good AR's priced right at or slightly more than $600. That would be my 1st choice by a wide margin. If that were simply out of my budget I'd look at one of the budget bolt actions selling for around $300. Stevens 200, Marlin XS-7, Ruger American, Weatherby Vanguard, Howa, etc in 308. I'd mount a low powered 2-7X scope on it and cut the barrel to 18-20". It'll do anything the Ruger GSR will do for well under 1/2 the money.

The sentimental favorite and my 3rd choice is a leveraction 30-30. It'll work, but you can get one on the above 308's for less money and have a lighter, more compact rifle that is more powerful, more accurate, and more reliable.
 
One of the shorter barreled Mausers will serve your needs. Any of the x57 cartridges are decent.
 
M&P15 Sport is supposed to be the best buy low-cost AR.

I doubt you can pick a better rifle than that one for what you want and $600, and it will leave you with the ability to build more capability into it later if you decide to. You could get a 6.8 SPC upper and have a good hunting rifle, could buy a nicer trigger at some point in the future if you like, magazines are EVERYWHERE and cheap, replacement parts are cheap, plentiful, and as easy to install as you could hope for. For a true SHTF weapon, being able to make any reasonable repair on your own in a reasonable amount of time is a major plus, and so is ubiquitous ammunition and magazines.
 
Take a look at the Rem 7615, they have the sights you want, take cheap M-16/AR mags, and they are way more accurate than any Mini 14 I've seen. I had my dad get one since he is fond and familiar with the 760 but I wanted him to have magazine compatibility with some of our other bad day guns.
I don't even know if they are still in production but I have seen some police trade ins that were priced well within your budget.
My personal first choice would be the AR.
 
I'd stretch the $600 a bit and advise you to get a PSA AR-15, you can swing them for about $700 if I recall correctly.

ETA:
For $530 right now you can get a mid-length gas AR-15 build kit from PSA and a lower receiver can be had online for another $50-75 plus what your FFL charges for a transfer (typically $25) so you could build a quality AR for under $650 (plus cost of a stock nut wrench to tighten the stock, though an AR-fanatic buddy may lend you one if you ask).
 
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Mini 14 all the way. i own ARs and had a Keltec .223(which was a POS) and i will never let my Minis go. they will keep on running all day long... long after the direct impingement ARs that cost 100s more are down for the day needing cleaned. the ol rolling bolt design is as good as it gets imo.
 
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The mini14 makes a great little carbine for truck carry or similar. I have had one for years and it is hard to beat in my opinion.
 
MINIRUNNER: I have used a number of defence carbine`s over the years and enjoy a short compact rifle. If you are talking about just taking a walk in the woods and you might want to take a deer, hog, or a coyote I am using a little CZ 762x39 Carbine. It is a true joy to use and and is un beliveabley accurate. And the little CZ would work just as well on a 2 legged problem just as well I have no dought. If your looking for bump in the night (( RIFLE )), then I favor an AR or you may not belive this but an old M1 CARBINE is hard to beat, either of these will work in a (( PUSH COME TO SHOVE )) situation. I carried both of these in VIET NAM and had no complaints what so ever. The 30 carbine is very fast and very effective at a reasonable range, and 30 round mag`s are very comforting. Good luck to you.
ken
 
Another lever action option for you - A Winchester 94 compact in 30-30. According to their website, last made in 2004. It has a 16" barrel and a 12.5" LOP, for a total length of 33.25". I just bought one off of GunBroker for well under your $600 target that looks emaculate; possibly never fired. sorry - I don't have a pic right now, but here it is on Winchester's site: http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/historic-detail.asp?family=003C&mid=534088
 
minirunner said:
I've been researching a small, short, lightweight carbine for my long gun. I want something that is easy to carry but have enough to get me out of a pinch. I am mainly going for my long gun in a shtf situation. I was all set to buy the Ruger GSR, but dont like the $800 tag. Im shooting for $600 or less. I have looked at marlin guide gun and s&w m&p15 sport, and marlin 336y. I want ghostring sights and 16-18" barrel. Give me some more ideas. Im looking for a defensive weapon to get me outta trouble when i need it. Thanks for ideas. It will be paired up with an xd9.
Click to expand...
Not sure what kind of 'pinch' you refer to, but a shorter range pinch is often well solved by a scattergun/shotgun. Lots of nice ones for less than $600.
Just a thought.
 
+1 littlelefty,

If there is one caliber that says America it is the 30-30. Ammunition is readily available from mom and pop gunshops, farm & ranch stores, to big box stores.
As for firearm to shoot it in there have been millions and millions of Marlin and Winchester lever action carbines made so finding a used one in good condition isn't much of a challenge.
 
If you like the mini 14, $627.00 brand new at Walmart. If you want some serious power: you mentioned the guide gun. I have an 1895GS in 45-70 that is awesome. Small, not too heavy, and a "blast" to shoot. I'm sure that is plenty of punch for whatever you chose and are only about $500.00. Then, load it up with some 430grain HSM bear loads:)
 
Someone asked what I want to use it for. Im looking for my one long gun. I plan on using it for defensive situations, 2 and 4 legs, which would be the pinch or trouble situation. But I want to be able to take a deer with it. I also want affordable/available ammo. That is why the Ruger scout appeals to me. .45/(0 is cool big expensive, and hard to find in my area. Dont know why, but the selection is thin. .30-30 is easy to come by here. I also want reliable and easy maintenance. AR's are cool and I had one in the Marines, but too much maintenance, and expensive. I dont like the m&p15 sport missing the dust cover and forward assist.
 
I'd second the Saiga then. Cheap, easy to care for, and 7.62x39 ammo is $200 for plinking FMJs. It is about .30-30 power class but works in box mags.

As they say, what's not to like?

LK
 
Based on your reply in post #22, you are looking for a deer rifle. The lever rifle in any of the longer cartridges or larger pistol cartridges will be good choices. Range will be out to 150 yards or less but you did not mention a need for longer. 30 WCF and 35 Remington are both heavy hitters as is the 32 Winchester Special. The pistola cartridges are okay, especially for those who favor a rifle/pistol system sharing the same cartridge. Not my cup of tea but it may be yours.

I would still suggest the Mausers but the lever guns are good also.
 
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