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

[CTW]

Sks and 4.97 a box tula ammo from wally world.

 

[Rem.222]

I would cruise used rifles in local gun/pawn shops look at 30-30 or 44mag in a lever. Mosin would work to but follow up shots are a pain in mine.

 

[Rail Driver]

You can get a Hi-Point carbine in .40S&W new for under well $400. Used sometimes under $200. They're accurate, reliable weapons.

 

[Averageman]

Actually, given your criteria, look at the Rossi copies of the Win.92. We've been discussing them in several threads recently.
THIS in either of your pistol calibers.
Shop hard and pick up a nice used one and you can't go wrong. It's nice having one caliber for two guns you can depend upon.

 

[Macchina]

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?

This will be a gun I can keep at my cabin so I don't have to keep bringing something back and forth each time I go up there. The cabin is not you're typical "deer camp" it was built 4 years ago and I got an awesome deal on it when the owner wanted to "get out of the woods". I have the ability to lock it up.

I am looking for something for protection and also critter control. I plink with all my guns. I usually bring a CCW handgun as well, but would like a long arm up there. I'd rather keep it somewhat low powered due to sound and all the fun that could happen to my ears if I fired a rifle indoors.

I am proficient with bolt actions, pumps, levers, and semis. I guess the only thing that rules out is full auto. I have been shooting rifles and shotguns since I was a kid and use them year round for hunting. Handgun shooting does not come as naturally to me.

I own a Mosin and would never consider keeping it around the cabin for this purpose. Bolt action with a very difficult safety is not what I'm looking for.

 

[T Bran]

I hear you on the Moisin it can be a bit loud especially indoors. It's just what I keep at my camp as a spare/plinker kind of a disposable rifle.
As an alternate I havent heard much if any bad about the Hipoint carbines. Might be nice to match one up in the same caliber as your daily carry if it happens to be 9mm/.40 or .45 auto.
Have fun
T

 

[stumpers]

Maybe a Handi Rifle in .357 or .44?

I picked one up one in .44 a couple years ago at Gander Mountain on clearance for around $200. I put a cheap 4x scope on it and accuracy was decent. It was a companion to my S&W Mountain Gun before I sold them both to someone who desperately wanted them.

I think the going rate is around 300 to 325 now for NIB.

 

[Axel Larson]

As many have said the hipoint is a decent gun all in all. My brother has one and it is accurate enough.
A Saiga in 223 might work. a little over 400 right now.
What about a sterling in 9mm right around 400.
Used 870s do not run much.

 

[CaliCoastie]

well, you like levers....shop around and you may find a deal, got one the other day for 300otd marlin 1894 357.
Or just get a marlin 30-30, its not a pistol caliber like you were wanted but....

 

[Rail Driver]

This will be a gun I can keep at my cabin so I don't have to keep bringing something back and forth each time I go up there. ... I have the ability to lock it up.

I am looking for something for protection and also critter control. ... I'd rather keep it somewhat low powered due to sound and all the fun that could happen to my ears if I fired a rifle indoors.

Here's my thought on the situation... If the lock is secure enough that you're willing to leave a firearm there locked up for who knows how long in between visits... then why should you end up needing to fire it indoors with such a sturdy lock? I'd be more worried about a $300-400 firearm being stolen from my cabin than the potential hearing loss on the chance I might have to fire it indoors. Your life is worth more than your hearing. For that matter, anything you fire indoors IS going to damage your hearing, permanently, to some degree. Hearing damage is permanent and cumulative. Hearing damage starts at 85db and gets worse the louder the noise and the longer the exposure. Gunshots start at around 130-140db, loud enough to cause instant damage.

If you think you need a rifle in your cabin for self defense, then you shouldn't leave a rifle there when you're not there since it's in such a bad neighborhood. It might get stolen.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Hard to pick a perfect gun in THOSE calibers at your price point, even when shopping used.

That Rossi is sounding like a winner.. but so does a Mossberg 12 ga with 3 different kinds of ammo. Which is what I'd want at camp and leave the 'plinking' for the 22.

 

[rhinoh]

I leave a 9mm Hi Point carbine at my camp. Paid $150 used for it a few years ago. It has been good although I hate its looks and if I had to have a gun stolen that would be the one I'd prefer over any others I own. I also leave a single shot barrel swap .22/.410 Rossi there also, paid under $125 for it new.
The .410 is handy when doing snake patrol around the pond. I really dislike the water snakes eating my frogs!

As for the Rossi 92, good suggestion, I have one in 45 Colt and have been looking for a SS one in .357/38 for months, can't find one anywhere. BTW I've been very pleased with the one I have. If anyone has lead on a 92 in .357 let me know please!

 

[dubya450]

Someone mentioned a mini 14 and i also recommend one. I know its not one of the pistol calibers you have but ammo is easy to find in bulk and relatively cheap. You could probably find a nice used one for $400-500.

 

[beeb173]

without hi-jacking this thread too badly, why are there so many SKS reccomendations and very few WASR-10? why take the older design over the one still in use today? given the criteria of a plinker/cabin gun, i dont see the SKS's advantage at all.

 

[ExAgoradzo]

12 gauge seems the best: do anything with it 5 rounds if it is a pump. $300 for 870 last fall for my son 20 gauge, at close range will do what you want it to, kids am shoot it and the recoil is fun rather than punnishing.

Just bought a 'trailer gun' as we are going to Yellowstone this Fall. I paid $728 for an 1895.
More than you're wanting to spend but I have 7 +4 on the stock. Nothing will stand up to a 45-70 at close range and it is a beauty. Little pricy to shoot unless you reload. Did I say beautiful and fun?

 

[GI_Jared]

OP, Since this is a cabin we are talking about I feel like the rifle should have a certain look to it. No one wants to walk into a cabin and see an SKS hanging on the wall, what I would want to see is a lever action carbine chambered in .44mag. Marlin makes a lot of nice lever models that are in that $400 price range.