Does Anyone have a pistol-caliber carbine as their main or a primary shtf weapon?

[Fosbery]

Marlin 1894 .375 magnum. Faster shooting and more handy than a bolt action rifle and can be reloaded individually. I would use a rifle, but semi-autos are illegal here (except for .22 LRs).

 

[aaronrkelly]

I have a HiPoint 9mm carbine stashed just inside the closet with a red dot scope on it for the wife.....

 

[Crosshair]

As a defensive weapon, the pistol carbines are good bang for the buck. A person armed with one is lethal out to 100-125 yards and a threat well beyond that. You are not guarding Ft. Knox. If you are simply moving, because of a natural disaster or such, to a safer place, having a gun like a pistol caliber cabine will make criminals leave you alone and look for better targets. Sure it would be great to have everyone armed with 308 FAL rifles, but that is not going to happen. You could take the money spent on a good AR carbine and arm an entire family with Hi-Point carbines, ammo, and spare magazines.

 

[JesseL]

If you were to actually need to use your weapon in a SHTF sitation, I suspect it wouldn't be unlikely for you to be engaging target wearing soft body armor. To penetrate soft body armor usually requires at least an intermediate rifle cartridge.

 

[chopinbloc]

i had an opportunity to fire an m-4 with a knight's armament corp. suppressor mounted and i was VERY impressed. we were using plain old lake city m855 ammunition and the sound was just a bit louder than a normal .22lr from a rifle. the recoil and muzzle rise was also significantly reduced. it was daylight so i didn't have a chance to see how much it reduced muzzle flash but i see no reason that it wouldn't be on par with other suppressors. during the same session we were able to carry on a normal conversation about ten to fifteen feet away from the person firing the weapon while he dumped several magazines on three shot burst. the only thing i can compare it to was a walther p22 with an aac pilot that i had a chance to shoot a couple weeks ago. obviously the 5.56mm was louder but it's a completely different animal.

as for the op, had a hi-point 9mm carbine a couple years ago and it was a very solid firearm. would not feel underarmed using it as a home defense gun. i would feel a little undergunned using it for a NOLA/riot/massive terrorist attack type situation.

 

[esldude]

In isolation a rifle might be better. But like someone mentioned, for one expensive full battle rifle, you can arm a small family with carbines. Anyone of about any age able to walk can use one without intimidation. A whole family of 4 with them is not too shabby. Versus just Dad with FAL or Garand or AK, I believe the carbine is a better option.

In WWII, Russian cities fielded whole units with a small short carbine firing a .30 caliber pistol bullet with similar power to a 9mm. Since these could be produced quickly, cheaply and in great numbers it filled the bill. Also since it was very unintimidating to shoot, anyone walking in the city could be given one. Since many were women, then it made good sense. Deployed in large numbers, these were a big part of holding on and eventually pushing out the German armies. Armies that over-ran Poland and France in short order.

That is how I see a pistol caliber carbine. Something that when the SHTF, anyone mobile can manage to use to some effectiveness. With very little training. Much less practice, knowledge etc is needed to hit effectively within 50 yards with such a weapon than is the case with either a pistol or larger caliber battle rifles.

If dad can handle an FAL, and Mom a shotgun then even better, but let everyone else have hold of a carbine.


Our troops are even using the Russian version in Iraq.
http://www.murdoconline.net/archives/001913.html

 

[pdowg881]

Saorry I don't know how to quote yet, but whoever said its not much of a big deal to be put on a list for a supressor, good point. Just another of dozens of records that we all know are obniously being taken. On that note, you think buying ammo through a credit card or other non annonymous method puts you on a list or record? Sounds likely.

 

[50caliber123]

with the exception of online purchases, I try to pay cash for ammo. But for quality ammo, as in better than Wolf, you can get a 1000rds for around $100-$125 sometimes less.

 

[patriot2980]

I would feel fairly safe with my Hi-Point carbine in a SHTF situation, considering where I live. I live about 8 miles outside of a smaller city. Roughly around 20,000 people. If it was a SHTF situation on a apocolyptic scale,I would certainly want something with a little bit more bite to it. Maybe a Mini-14 or an all-out AR. Out here in the country we like to have something for any situation. Let's say for the heck of it, that a major disaster or a nation-crippling attack leaves the good citizens of of America at the mercy of half-starved crack heads, roving bands of thieves, and murder hungry looters, then you're going to need a little bit of everything. Some crazy dude wants to get in your house because he thinks youve got food, close quarters combat will probably apply. So a pistol caliber carbine would probably work fine.I seriously doubt the lunatics around my area would have access to body armor. I'm not saying that none would, but your run-of-the-mill sleazebag wont. I'm just saying, when you go to play golf, you don't take just one club, you take a whole set. You never know what's going to come up.

 

[BrennanKG]

My wife's primary longarm/SHTF weapon is her HK USC (it used to be mine ).
She shoots it better and more easily than our rifles.
Plus I'm hoping to have the SBR/UMP work done on it in the not so distant future.


B.

 

[Sry0fcr]

I don't have on yet but I plan on getting one. In an urban SHTF scenario you're unlikely to have an unobstructed 400 yard sight picture. Also I don't think I'd need the range/barrier penetration of a rifle as I don't intend to engage anyone or anything beyond 150 yards. If a band of looters is 300 yards away behind cover I'm getting the F outta there while I've got time and space to get away! The name of the game is escape and evasion not seek and destroy. Besides 9mm is cheap, plentiful, and allows ammo commonality with my sidearm I'll just stock up on some hot loads to take advantage of the longer barrel of a carbine. which looks like it'll probably be an MP5 knockoff.

 

[junyo]

The biggest advantage of a pistol caliber carbine in a SHTF situation is commonality of ammo and mags, i.e. greatly simplified logistics. Grabbing a sidearm and a rifle generally means that while you are better armed, that status only exists while two complete weapons systems and ammo supplies are functional. Run out of .223, you've got a plastic club. Mags get damaged or crushed, ditto (at minimum your ability to sustain volume of fire is impacted). Problem with the gun that you can't immediately resolve, you've got a plastic club and X lbs. of (for you, at that point in time) useless .223 ammo.

With a pistol caliber carbine, you do give up range and power, but you gain redundancy (especially with matching mags, or a revolver/lever gun combo), which is critical in an emergency situation with uncertainty as to when/if you can refresh your supplies and equipment. All your guns fire the same ammo, so as long as you've got a single round, you're still in the fight. Mags get damaged or crushed; oh well, you can still use the ones from your sidearm. And since they're interchangeable, you can carry less. Instead of 6 or 7 for the rifle and another 5 or 6 for the sidearm, maybe you carry 8 total, and throw them down whichever pipe is appropriate for the situation. Problem with the gun that you can't immediately resolve, all you ammo still works in the other.

Short of open combat, a pistol caliber carbine will do most things a person expects from a defensive weapon. After all, the .30 Carbine is a glorified pistol cartridge, and did fine in close combat. It won't help you in a 500 yard gun battle, but honestly in a SHTF situation it's extremely unlikely that I'm justified in engaging a target at that distance, and if I'm taking shots from 500 yards I can take cover or run. But to each his own, I have both and while I'd hate to leave my rifles, if I need to go now, I'm grabbing the XD , folding up the Sub2K and tossing it in the bag with 1,000 rounds and all my mags; move fast, travel light. It's not the weapon, it's the warrior; it's not the tool, it's the tactic.

 

[115grfmj]

yep....

Marlin 1894c in .357. No reason for anything else. It's not like I'm gonna be taking on a determined fire team or anything

 

[Manedwolf]

I see one of the greatest advantages of the Sub 2000 is that it can fold down to 16", and be easily hidden.

And the authorities can't confiscate what they can't see.

I also don't see the point of suppressors. You're not doing covert ops, you're trying to drive off criminals. If they get scared by loud bangs, all the better.

 

[geekWithA.45]

My camp 45 has become my trunk gun, as it's the only one I care to travel with that also isn't problematic in the various jurisdictions I travel through.

I'd rather have a real rifle, though.

 

[Lupinus]

Why can't intermediate cartridge rifles be suppressed also ?

You can but you will get a load crack since the bullet is traveling faster then the speed of sound. Just like a fighter jet gets a sonic boom a supersonic bullet gets a loud crack.

So the actual rifle you can surpress but you are still going to get the loud crack.

 

[dfaugh]

Not really my "primary" HD gun, but it has its points. I have large house, so I like to keep a gun within easy reach. In the back downstairs is the Mossberg Chotgun (probably the "true" primary weapon) , but in the front ahll clost is a Hi-point with +P+ Black Talons. Either should buy mr enough tim to get to some "serious" weaponry ( a couple SKSs upstairs, on a Yugo, and the otha an DKD-m that take AKA mags (I keep a couple loaded). Most likely the shotgun orHi-point eill stop thr threat,but the others are serious s**t if I really need it.

 

[Crosshair]

I would have to say that a suppressor would be a good investment. When you are hunting you want to atract as little attention as possible. I would think a good crossbow would be nice as well.

 

[MrAcheson]

There may also be some state laws, I'm sure someone will jump in here with a link.

Yup. In Delaware, silencers are regulated as destructive weapons and are therefore illegal to buy, sell, or possess according to Title 11, Chapter 5, subchapter VII, section 1444 of the Delaware Code. No full auto. No suppressors. No short-barreled shotguns. Short-barreled rifles look like they squeaked through though.

 

[P99guy]

About tax refund time coming up, I have decided a M4/2000 is a toy im getting, as we finally have a Sheriff in Tarrant county that will sign ATF form 1's and 4's ect with no antigun hangups. It will be dual use...FN PS90 SBR and on a RRA Entry Tactical AR15. Would love to get a Suppressed Ruger MKII or III , or a 10/22 after that.

 

[BrennanKG]

mmm...jealousy, P99Guy.

I am in the process of convincing the wife that we need a PS90 to eventually SBR and suppress. So the 5.56 and 5.7 can safely share suppressors? That's good to know.



B.

 

[P99guy]

yes they are both .224 bullets...in fact you can handload M193 55gr bullets,
and 62gr SS109/M855 bullets in 5.7x28 cases for borderline subsonic loads
that would work quite well with suppressors. CMMG makes the 10.3 in P90 type barrel for the PS90 in 1/9 and 1/7 twist rates, 4150 steel. CMMG also makes a 1/2x28 adaptor that replaces the P90 Flash hider...Just screw on a M16 QD flash hider made for the M4/2000 and another on the AR and it goes right on either weapon in seconds.

the FN factory subsonic "Sb193" round is loaded with a 55grain bullet.

Here is a pic of my PS90, its green stock is at HDPS as we speak being dyed black, and if the timeline is true to form right now, I will have my tax stamp back for it in about the first week of Oct.

it will just like this PS90 SBR when done


CLICK FOR HIGH RES

 

[mutt]

My lovely wife likes her Marlin '94 .357 lever , and I love my Rossi '92 .357. I think the round is very suitable for most needs. And they both can use .38 special if needed.
The .357 round does lots of damage even at a 100 yards,as has been my experence .
......................................MUTT

 

[Spencer]

I really think if I was going to use a long gun for shtf I would choose a shotgun. But thats just me. If I was going to use something that fired a handgun round I would probably just use a magnum revolver.

If you would get a shtf pistol caliber carbine though, make sure it fires a powerful cartridge, nothing like 9mm. 40S&W is alright, but I would prefer .357 magnum.

 

[grimjaw]

Anyone have a pistol-caliber carbine as their main or a primary shtf weapon?

Only against the zombie horde . . .