SKS OR 30-30 For HD

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Thats a bad philosophy in this case...the bullets can easily go into a neighbors house and hit one of them, especially if you have your "sks with a 30 round magazine" and are spraying like rambo, which at least one member on here has suggested/implied.
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Care to cite an example where this has taken place? I'm gonna worry about saving my life and the lives of those I love most before I start to worry about the most unlikely of things like you are suggesting.

30-30 would keep my lawyer happier.
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I hate this line of thinking. Either you are justified or you are guilty. Doesn't matter if your gun is a pump, break action, SXS, semi, or whatever. What is the point of having an AR15 or an SKS if you cannot legally defend your life with it?
 
Trust me there are times you need 30 rounds and more. I've been involved in a few of those situations myself although it never actually came to the shooting part.
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you needed ZERO and thus everyone MUST have 30?
And the 5-7 in a 30-30 aren't reasonable?

What happens if they throw gasoline your direction?
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That's what the claymore mines and napalm barrels are for, obviously!
You might need that kind of perimeter enforcement! I've been there needing it, but luckily didn't need to trigger any of my napalm booby-traps.

OK, seriously, that's what the Yugo's grenade launcher is for ... you really need that feature on any SKS, you know.

Come on, you're talking about taking cover (smart), putting carefully aimed fire on a target (smart) and then planning on using an SKS that's been bubba'd up to a wannabe AK47 or something? I don't get it, but after all, it's your gunfight, do it your way. I'll continue to worry more about software, you have fun getting all that hardware set up, you seem to enjoy it.
 
They would both work, and both are better than a short gun, but the edge goes to the .30-30 levergun for the simple reason that basically all .30-30 ammunition you buy is soft point or hollow point designed to expand well in medium size thin-skinned game. All of it has been tested and proven for that role going back a century. All of it will work exceptionally well for home defense.

In contrast, the majority of 7.62x39 is either straight FMJ or very crude HP/SP that may or may not reliably expand. It will be less effective and present greater overpenetration concerns.

The SKS obviously offers more capacity, esp if you add the mods for the 30 rounders. But you lose more ergonomics in the process and whether or not you would need that much firepower is another question. It's always a balancing act. Do you go with the lighter, handier platform with more reliable killing power in the first shots or do you go with a larger platform with more firepower. For most folk, probably the former.

although it never actually came to the shooting part.
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It's that part that really counts, and personally I'd rather have a round I know will open up a chest and utterly destroy a circulatory system in one shot than an FMJ round that might or might not stop the attack.

If you do run with a x39, I would just say use the heavy corbon 150 sp's in x39 or some other high end hunt-proven SP. Don't follow the Hague Convention.

And of course the personal element is a HUGE factor. If you're used to leverguns, train with them and have killed many a critter with them, by all means use the levergun for your own defense. The last thing you want is to try to figure out a new system when it's really hitting the fan. And visa versa of course. Some would probably be surprised to see how well the old leverguns can work in a modern tacticool training course. Lower cap, yes, but fewer malfunctions and a very handy platform.
 
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to the op, there is no such thing as a dumb question, u wanted our opinions, i personally think the sks would be a much better choice. Mine is accurate and reliable. Not to mention the 30rnd mag sittin underneath. now, to the rest of the posters, how is a few rounds of 30.30 or "loading between shots" better than a 30 rnd detachable magazines in a semi auto rifle? i mean..... how does that even make sense? im sorry, the only way ur 30.30 is any better than that sks in ANY sense is it looks better to some people. THATS IT.
 
--Because the first round of a SP .30 WCF is more likely to end the problem than the first round of an FMJ x39
--Because you can top off the tube much easier than topping off the magazine
--Because the weight of 30 rounds of x39, plus the length of the mag, makes that firearm a notch more difficult to use in that situation than the levergun. There's less to worry about snagging with the levergun, less of a height over bore to worry about, mag jams are very rare, etc.

Think of it this way, on average the high capacity x39 will only gain an advantage over the levergun after the sixth shot. The advantage in the platform will grow with every additional shot that needs to be made. The tradeoff to that is that in the first shots the levergun is lighter, easier to use, hits harder and tends to have much better commercial ammo for the job.
 
So the guy sitting next to me right by the door decides to play hero and he jumps up and runs out that front door to go across the street to call the cops. He didn't know there was another guy outside but it didn't matter. If the robbers saw that joker do that they would have started firing IN MY DIRECTION. That's 6 guys inside and potentially another guy outside all firing right at me in a crossfire. So you're going to tell me that 5-7 rounds in a lever gun are fine? Not for me. I'd like a .50 cal mounted on a tripod on my table with a full belt of ammo. 5 shots are not going to disable 7 shooters. I was VERY close to needing those 30 rounds you seem to think will never come up. In my area there are break in crews of 6-7 people so they can get in and get out fast with everything you own of value. They go in armed too. It's just downright silly to think that 7 rounds will be enough for that situation.
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Not very much help in this case since none of us eat lunch with an SKS or a carbine. :) I also don't think any self defense experts would recommend going against 7 armed gunmen with their weapons already drawn. That sounds like a losing scenario for everyone. Even if I can guarantee with 100% certainty where my rounds go, I can't say the same for everyone else involved.


My sks isn't a very smooth handling weapon and it would be the last thing I would go for in my safe if I needed it. It is large, clunky and awkward so I don't even attempt to train with it. I'd run whatever I'm good with. On paper, the sks is a better choice...but in my hands it isn't the more deadly choice.

I think this all boils down to preference and what someone may shoot best with.
 
Anyone got any popcorn?
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Ask and ye shall receive. popcorn.gif nom, nom, nom...

If you do run with a x39, I would just say use the heavy corbon 150 sp's in x39 or some other high end hunt-proven SP. Don't follow the Hague Convention.
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Agreed, you need to stick with a properly designed cartridge with an expanding/fragmenting projectile (same goes for any cartridge). Personally I like the 123gr. Hornady V-Max for less penetration and, more importantly, devastating wounding effects.

:)
 
What I did was I got my .45 out of the truck and every mag I had
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you keep it in the trunk? There's a great example of prepardness!

You can't make up for a lack of software with hardware, all this hardware discussion is only good for the last 5% (if that) of the whole defensive picture.
 
Cosmoline said:
--Because the first round of a SP .30 WCF is more likely to end the problem than the first round of an FMJ x39
--Because you can top off the tube much easier than topping off the magazine
--Because the weight of 30 rounds of x39, plus the length of the mag, makes that firearm a notch more difficult to use in that situation than the levergun. There's less to worry about snagging with the levergun, less of a height over bore to worry about, mag jams are very rare, etc.

Think of it this way, on average the high capacity x39 will only gain an advantage over the levergun after the sixth shot. The advantage in the platform will grow with every additional shot that needs to be made. The tradeoff to that is that in the first shots the levergun is lighter, easier to use, hits harder and tends to have much better commercial ammo for the job.
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Who says I have to use fmj for the 7.62x39?
 
What kind of idiot takes on a car full of people with automatic weapons with a .45?
What is the best gun to take to a gunfight? None, get out of dodge and avoid the fight. Why would you stay there and allow your family to be at risk?
And for McDonald's, I agree, if you had taken your SKS in, there would have been no problem. The robbers would have driven past when they saw all of the cop cars there with their lights on and shotguns out.

You need to stop playing medal of honor and think that it is real combat training.
 
Banyonet charge!

With both the sks and the lever action being kinda clumbsy for home defense,I would have to go along with BIGFATDAVES choice. the sks because of that big Banyonet!! I think it would scare the POO ! out of the intruder. A Banyonet charge at his gut then shoot a round at that point if needed.!!!!
 
Could I just use a predator, so I know they are coming, then fire a hellfire at the car when they pull up? You never know!
 
LOL at this thread now :D.

Dave: I concede the capacity point (only if he intended to keep the factory 10 round config though) 3 extra rounds would be nice, but it's close enough to not be a big deal. I would still prefer semi auto personally. I hope for your sake that your lever gets you through when the crackhead ninja hit squad comes knocking ;) :p

Cosmoline: Cant argue the terminal ballistics of the 30-30 cartridge with you, but at ranges of less than 50 yards, I would bet that the terminal ballistics of ANY quality rifle cartridge from .223 to 8mm would equal the same amount of dead.

Jeff56: Neither of those situations were in your home (presumably where your home defense weapon would be) so even though the SKS might have been nice to have, not really pertinent to the thread. I also think a little bit better situational awareness would be better in your case. For McD's in a rough area, maybe hit the drive through and eat at home (or the hotel if traveling). As far as the wife's cousin, I know it may be a family reunion, but I still wouldnt keep my wife and kids in a location that was likely to have a gunfight. I would also distance myself from any family that had that kind of stuff going on.

Really, neither the lever nor the SKS would be my preferred HD weapon, but those were the choices presented. I'm not a LEO, or a soldier, or even in a bad neighborhood. I'm just a firefighter that likes to shoot for recreation, and as such, I'll take whatever advantage I can get when it comes to protecting my family.
 
I'd go with the 30-30 simply because I shoot a lever better. The only semi-autos I like to shoot are .22s:confused: I look at it this way: I've done a fair amount of planning for my family's safety that doesn't involve firearms. I bought a home in a good neighborhood. It's far enough out of the city that someone would really have to target it (not impromptu burglary). I have done an adequate job securing the doors and windows from entry. Of those points, the time table needed to gain access would allow me more than enough time to arm myself and take a defensive position to protect my wife and daughter.

Anyone that comes into my house is going to have to confront me down a long hallway which I would have pinned down with a 12 gauge and a .45. I would certainly not feel under-gunned with 6 rounds of 30-30. However, I WOULD worry about my next door neighbor and her one year old daughter getting hit by my rounds sent down range. The 30-30 goes with me when I go camping or down to the lake. For home defense any rifle simply doesn't bring enough to the table to offset the danger of injuring or killing my neighbors.

It's all personal preference. I don't live in a major metropolitan area of a million+. Roving gangs simply aren't a statistical threat to my HOME. I much prefer the 30-30 platform as a do-it-all caliber that can procure food as easily as it can blow a man out of his boots. I like the 7.62x39 as an important and fantastic military round. I just don't have the desire to own one.
 
Wow, that is some story. But tell me, why would a gang of bank robbing thugs with full auto weapons and a penchant for underage getaway drivers trying to outrun a bunch of LEO's hot on their tail firing at them be worried about little old grandpa a shotgun?
 
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Johnny_Come_Lately said:
Wow, that is some story. But tell me, why would a gang of bank robbing thugs with full auto weapons and a penchant for underage getaway drivers trying to outrun a bunch of LEO's hot on their tail firing at them be worried about little old grandpa a shotgun?
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Or an SKS someone had gone to the future, bubba'd up and brought back to the past for that matter :p
 
Breakmyfootoff said:
I hope for your sake that your lever gets you through when the crackhead ninja hit squad comes knocking
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screw both of 'em, I'm using what is at hand (read as: handgun in holster) and if I did scramble for a long gun the sub2000 is in a case and just needs an unfold and charging handle manipulation, then I have 17 rounds of 9x19 in a rifle and three 33x reloads plus a couple 10x and 15x reloads, mattering on how long I take stuffing pockets.

Failing that I'm grabbing the M1 Carbine

And failing that I'm grabbing something else fed from detachable magazines ... then the SKS and stripper clips ... and after all those I might try to load the 30-30 lever gun up, if the crackhead ninja death-squad blue helmeted shock troops become zombies, too.

But I still won't discount the abilities of a skillfully wielded lever rifle, I just happen to keep mine cleared and in the cabinet, I wouldn't be undergunned with it fully loaded up and leaning in the corner.
 
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