Carbine??

[wallysparx]

then again, the sks is a carbine, but not the shortened version of anything, right? unless you count the svt-40 or something, but that's a bit far fetched.

 

[Working Man]

Wow, this has really come up with a lot of good information.

 

[Sunray]

"...A good excuse to buy a sabre..." You're right, but it's not an excuse. It's a reason. And you're not dressed without your sabre and spurs.
"...try defining "tactical"..." Easy. It's a marketing term for anything firearm related that is black, synthetic and pretends to be military or cop issue kit. Sometimes defined as anything black, synthetic with velcro. Like my Chinese made $10 runners from Wal-mart.
"..."uber-tactical"... "Same as 'tactical' but more expensive.
"...Light, short rifle..." Yep, but the calibre has nothing to do with it. Any light, short rifle can be called a carbine.

 

[Medusa]

What about PDWs? Do they have to be pistol calibered?

The concept behind PDW is that it should be something small and handy, yet it should be something to make the attackers cry for mama when you hose them (like P90 with 50 round mags or HK MP7 with 20/40 round mags, or MP5K with 30 rounders). PDW do stand for Personal Defense Weapon, and as the name states these are not ment to be assault weapons, just last ditch defence and very seriously taken (new vest-penetraing rounds and such).

Well, HK G36K carbine is just some inches shorter than a full size G36 and that's it, no other reductions in quality and such. Just ment to be handier in urban environment.

 

[Too Many Choices!?]

My PDW is my 10 1/2" AR-15pistol with soft point 55gr ammo

With back up 30 rounder of 55 gr FMJ...60 rounds of .223 should stop most things under 120 yards ...

I like the idea of a carbine as a,"Reduced rifle". A rifle that shoots a pistol caliber, is definitely reduced in it's applications and range. A shortened full-sized rifle is reduced in it's range, velocity, and potency of the round .

 

[benEzra]

then again, the sks is a carbine, but not the shortened version of anything, right? unless you count the svt-40 or something, but that's a bit far fetched.

Actually, it was introduced as a smaller, handier, lighter-recoiling alternative to the M1891's and such that were general issue in the Soviet army. So in that sense, it was a carbine (at least, that's what the Soviets decided to name it).

(I know an SKS isn't shorter than an M44, but an M44 is itself a cut-down M1891, in essence.)

I usually describe my mini-14 and SAR-1 (civvie AK lookalike) as carbines.