Picking out a carbine (non AR-15) to keep at my cabin.

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Macchina

Macchina

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Hello,
I bought a cabin last year and am trying to pick a nice cheap gun to keep there. I already keep my Savage 22 repeater there (which is amazingly reliable but I still hate it), but I'm looking for something a bit more powerful that I can easily stock a few hundred rounds of ammo for. This will be for critter control, HD, plinking, etc. Calibers I already own for handguns are:

.357 Mag
.44 Mag
.40 S&W

I'd love to keep it the same as one of those. I already have a Marlin 1894 in .44 Mag so I don't want to duplicate that and they cost a bit more than what I'm looking for. Here are my criteria:

Less than $400
Action: Semiauto, lever, pump, they're all good!
Prefer around 10 round capacity (flexible here)
Prefer .357, .44, or .40
Lightweight
Compact

I looked into the Kel-Tec Sub-2000 in .40 and it looks great but the prices appear inflated (above $400 retail) for what you get. Any suggestions are very welcome! Also, I'm not against the idea of just buying a 12ga Pardner Pump Protector and just being done with it.
 
wasr-10 is around $400 and shoots ammo that's cheaper and more powerful than any of the calibers you've mentioned. just a thought.
 
The two that come to mind are the US M1 Carbine and the Beretta Cx9 Storm Carbine. Both are slightly over your price cap quoted.

The M1 Carbine is about equilavent to the .357Mag and the Cx9 Carbine is available in 9mm, .40 cal, and .45ACP. (I personally like the 9mm version, but that's my preference.

Don
 
Hi Point carbine in .40S&W

I have mixed feelings on HP. I have three HP: a C9 jam-o-matic, a 995 carbine , and .40S&W pistol.
The 995 carbine and the .40 pistol have been great.
 
Actually, given your criteria, look at the Rossi copies of the Win.92. We've been discussing them in several threads recently.

Some folks have seen spotty quality, but the one I handled at the range a couple weeks ago was amazingly nice. Very good fit, beautiful blued finish, and an action that felt very slick right out of the box.

I told him I would never have considered a Rossi, until I saw his -- not just the nicest Rossi I've ever seen, but competitive with any major manufacturer's products. (And a lot better than I'd expect from Marlin right now!)

http://www.rossiusa.com/product-details.cfm?id=157&category=8&toggle=&breadcrumbseries=

10+ capacity, weight right at 5 lbs for the 20" model.

My pal that bought one paid $370 on sale, even though the dealer had to order it in!
 
I like the Hi Point 995 carbine in 9mm the ammo is cheap, and the price is well below the $400.00 you mentioned. I keep one in my travel trailer. They come with 2 10 round magazines. You can get a 15 round mag that I found works great no jams and good quality.
 
A saiga/SKS or an ak (if you can find one in you price range) would be best. A shotgun would also work fine. If your cabin is what I am thinking you need a gun that can live in the elements. I dont think you have a humidity/temperature controlled gun safe up there.
 
You could get a Moisin and a case of ammo and still keep a hundred bucks in your pocket in case the moisin goes missing.
T
 
Yeah, an SKS was actually what I was thinking as well after reading the criteria. I'm not one of those die-hard fans who will attempt to pit the SKS against every semi-auto long gun out there, but it does some things exceedingly well.

I used to owned two, both manufactured by Norinco. One was the standard "Type 56" and the other a paratrooper model (model D?) thumbhole sporter that used AK magazines.
Both were absolutely reliable. They were the quintessential "Go bang every time" description of absolute reliability. Accuracy wasn't bad either, IIRC. In retrospect, I don't really know why I sold them and particularly miss the type 56.

Though I know they don't sell for the $90 (Type 56) and $120 (model D) anymore, I do still see them floating about on online broker sites and classified ads in my local paper. I guess quite a number made it in before the ban.

A buddy of mine has a Yugoslavian SKS and it's pretty, but it just seems so heavier than I remember my Norincos being. His is also absolutely reliable.

If I were looking for a 10-shot carbine/rifle to keep at a remote location for the reasons you described, I would first look at the SKS and a bandoleer of stripper clips to fit the bill.
 
Our behind-the-cabin-door long guns are a Mossberg 590 with a sure-fire flashlight or an SKS but if you want to keep with your existing calibers, I'd give a thought to a used gun-show .357 Henry.
 
Do you have a way to lock away the firearm when you're not around?

What need will this cabin firearm fulfill? Is it to just chase away pesky varmints? Or might it be used in a more serious self defense role? If the latter, what firearms are you proficient in the use of? If you get something you are not intimately familiar with you will fumble trying to use it under stress. That means getting familiar with it and practicing problem solving. Since you need to shoot a rifle/handhgun/shotgun enough that problem solving is second nature that eliminates such weapons as the plastic Keltec rifles and the High Points. Overall, they aren't durable enough to withstand that kind of shooting regimen.

I'm sure there are folks who have put a few hundred rounds through their examples and not all will fail right away but there have been enough failures that I wouldn't want to bet my life on it. Recently, a good friend of mine broke his 5.56 Keltec folder carbine from simply shooting it. In three shooting sessions he put around 100 rounds through it just plinking around and the plastic receiver broke from the stress. They aren't made for that kind of shooting. If this isn't a concern, that the firearm won't be shot enough to worry about it's durability, then be honest with yourself and realize the firearm for your cabin will just be for chasing off varmints and ventilating soda cans. In that case, a 22 repeater just might be the ticket.

What need does keeping a firearm at the cabin fulfill? Would it not be simple just to bring what firearms you want with you? Have you given thought to the affects of neglect? What if someone breaks into your cabin and steals it, or uses it to wait for you to return? Have you given thought to prevent this from happening?
 
I would go for a Ruger Mini-14 in Stainless...never have to worry about rust and these little guns are quite accurate and a ball to shoot.

QS
 
Go find a private party single barrel 12 gauge break action shotgun at a moving sale for $80, spray it with Corrosion X, buy a box of buck-shot, a box of slugs and a box of bird shot. Call it good.
 
Mosin Nagant m44 , you get a full power carbine and a spike bayonet when you ever run out of ammo.
 
I like the SKS ( have 2) but for a cabin gun the Mosin for less than $100 would be hard to beat IMO. Hard kicking hard hitting that can take care of just about any varmint you will find in N. America. Not one of your calibers listed but; having different calibers is not all bad in the event your local supplier runs dry of your favorite pill.

http://www.aimsurplus.com/eos/images/product//large_f3mosin9130.jpg $89
 
single barrel 12 gauge break action shotgun at a moving sale for $80
Click to expand...
Theres the best idea so far!!

Stainless mini-14's are a little rich to arm the crackhead who steals it out of your cabin sooner or later anyway.

An old beater shotgun though.
Yea! Thats the ticket!

rc
 
I'd rather use a single shot rifle than a Mosin Nagant. The action of the Russian karate rifle is so clumsy, a single shot has a faster rate of fire
 
So? It's still a clumsy rifle. As an American, I have the option of choosing better. I have watched more than a few shooters struggle with operating a Mosin at speed. I have tried to make friends with the Mosin myself. As a curio, the Mosin is a fine. For serious use, it's not worth putting up with awkward bolt operation, finicky magazine and a poor stock design. For a little more money, you could get the SMLE which is a superior rifle in every way.

A propaganda video on YouTube isn't a good argument
 
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