Semi-auto .357 mag carbine?

[cluttonfred]

Does anyone else but me think it would be great to have a simple semi-auto carbine in common revolver calibers? Maybe something along the lines of an IMI Timberwolf in semi-auto? Here are a couple of links if you are not familiar with the Timberwolf:

http://remtek.com/arms/imi/timber/index.htm

http://www.theothersideofkim.com/index.php/ggps/6984/

http://www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/0200/295.htm

I am thinking of blued steel and wood, say a 16" barrel with a bottom-loading tubular magazine with 8 rounds. If reliable with a variety of loads, from light .38 specials to hot .357+P, it seems like it would be a great gun for everything from plinking to home defense to deer hunting at close range.

Thoughts, anyone?

 

[EHCRain10]

Id buy one if it wasnt overpriced (under 600?)

 

[chris in va]

Well, guess I just don't see the advantage to a semiauto rimmed pistol caliber when my Saiga has more punch and is cheaper to shoot.

But that's just me.

 

[cluttonfred]

I suppose the main advantage is the the usual one for pistol-carbine combos - the same ammunition for both weapons. Then there are the usual pros and cons of pistol-caliber carbines - lighter gun and ammo, lower recoil, lower noise, lower risk of overpenetration (debatable) at the cost of less power and shorter range.

Your Saiga is cheaper to shoot? Maybe not for long. Don't get me wrong, I love Saigas, but once the milsurp ammo begins to dry up I am not so sure that will continue to be true.

Taking a look at the current cheapest in-stock ammo prices at MidwayUSA: Wolf 7.62x39 $4.94/20; Wolf .223 $5.69/20; Sellier and Bellot 9mm $11.49/50; Magtech .38 Special $12.99/50; Fiocchi .357 $17.99/50. So right now, cheap .357 is running a little more than cheap 7.62x39 or .223, but cheap 9mm or .38 is about the same as cheap rifle ammo. Pick a good name brand and the pistol ammo will run less than half the cost of the rifle ammo.

All logic aside, I have always liked pistol caliber carbines ever since shooting an M1 Carbine with my grandfather, perfect for most real-world use I am ever likely to need. Not including zombies.

 

[Shear_stress]

Wolf ain't milsurp, it's new production ammo. Barring a huge breakdown in relationship with the Russians we won't be running out of it in the forseeable future.

 

[cluttonfred]

Thanks, Shearstress, I chose Wolf as the cheapest ammo MidwayUSA had in stock just for comparison. Milsurp in the cans is cheaper still. Wolf 9mm is cheaper than any of the pistol ammo I mentioned, but there was none in stock.

 

[SSN Vet]

I posted a very similar thread a year ago and agree that a semi-auto carbine in .357 would be the cat's meow.

The closest you'll come to it that I'm aware of is either an M1 Carbine (similar ballistics to .357 mag)

or...

a Ruger .44 Deer Slayer as shown here...

http://www.galleryofguns.com/shootingtimes/articles/DisplayArticles.asp?ID=38

Wolf ain't milsurp, it's new production ammo.

Wolf is newly produced commie ammo. with berdan primers, high flash powder, steel cases, and bi-metal bullets. And it differs from mil. surp. how? DOM!

I love the stuff....but it is what it is.

Barring a huge breakdown in relationship with the Russians we won't be running out of it in the forseeable future.

P'shaw ....... if America gets the "change" the masses are clammering for, the Democrats will ban importation of evil black "military" ammo. within 6 months of the inauguration.

my Saiga has more punch and is cheaper to shoot.

So put your Saiga on the scale and tell the truth....it ways over 8 lbs doesn't it???? And it's front heavy....even with the 16" barrel.

Have you ever handled an M1 Carbine? A ballanced 6 lbs package is the definition of handy. Your Saiga (like mine) weighs 33% more.

 

[ArmedBear]

Have you ever handled an M1 Carbine? A ballanced 6 lbs package is the definition of handy.

So is a Marlin 1894C.

Does anyone else but me think it would be great to have a simple semi-auto carbine in common revolver calibers?

A good idea it may be. Unlike auto pistol calibers, the common revolver magnums gain a good deal, ballistically, from a longer barrel.

But whenever someone tries it, seems it doesn't work too well. Levers and pumps are readily available in .357, though.

 

[GigaBuist]

Wolf is newly produced commie ammo. with berdan primers, high flash powder, steel cases, and bi-metal bullets. And it differs from mil. surp. how?

It's different from milsurp because it's not surplus from a military.

Milsurp is cheap because the manufacturing costs have already been paid by Dirka-Dirkahstan or whatever country initially bought it. They sell it just to free up storage space, get rid of the old stuff, etc.

Sorta like a garage sale.