Which of these 3 home defense carbines for girlfriend?

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I want to encourage my girlfriend to train on some light-recoiling carbine when she goes to the range with me, as she does sometimes, so she'll be comfortable using it for a worst-case scenario (home break in). Don't want to do shotgun, as that's too much recoil. Don't want to do handgun, as this also recoils a bit much for her taste, and is a little too dangerous for her skill level right now, what with the short 'turning radius', for lack of a better phrase.

So I'm thinking a pistol cal longgun would be a good choice for her to be able to control well during practice and not be scared to use. Here are three carbines (two of which I have, and one which I plan to possibly get) - which one and why?

1. IMI Timberwolf, .357 mag pump, iron sights (or ??? put on the rail?)
2. LSI Puma 92, .45 colt (it's really in .454 casull, but I'd load up some really light loads for her). This one has a recoil pad and 20" bbl, with a Williams FP rear peep and brass bead front.
3. Marlin 1894, .45 Colt, iron sights (or ??? put on the rail?)


In either .45 Colt, I'd load up cowboy-equivalent loads.

Is the levergun or pump going to be easier to operate under stress?

OR, would the new Grendel 30-round .22 mag pistol be a better choice than any of these? (I don't think so, but will consider input on this)

 

[dakotasin]

in long arms, my wife prefers pumps over any other action. she started w/ a 10-22, and w/ the sole exception of the little ruger, she'd rather have a pump.

 

[Brian Williams]

Good luck finding a Timberwolf, get a Marlin 1894 in either 45 Colt or 357.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I have the Timberwolf and the Puma - the one I don't have is the Marlin. So I guess the question becomes, is it worth it to get the Marlin (kinda wanted one anyway), or use one of the two existing?

 

[MJR007]

Does she like dogs?

 

[Z-Michigan]

Among leverguns, I would think about a Marlin 1894 in .357.

However, for your concept in general, I would rather get a 5.7x28mm upper for an AR lower, or just get a 16" AR, perhaps with a muzzlebrake if need be to minimize recoil.

 

[jeepguy]

what about beretta cx4 storm, usgi m1 carbine, or kel tek carbine

 

[Vicious-Peanut]

I like my lever action, but I am not fast with it at all. I would try and find a pump BTH.

 

[rondog]

I'd vote for a USGI .30 M1 Carbine. Most definitely powerful enough, very light and easy to handle, very fast firing, gentle recoil, and 15 rounds. What's not to love? You can also replace the handguard with an aluminum one that has a tac rail on it, for a red-dot or laser. One of the most perfect CQB/SD carbines ever made, IMO.

 

[FMJMIKE]

M1 Carbine.................

 

[AKElroy]

Which of these 3 home defense carbines for girlfriend?

I would have to see pictures before I could let any of them go; and the wife would have to sign off on it.

 

[Maverick223]

Another vote for the USGI M1 carbine...unless it has to be one on the list, in which case I would go with the Marlin (especially considering you want one anyway), but the IMI .357 Mag. wouldn't be a poor choice either.

 

[Matrix187]

I thought of recommending the M1 Carbine right after I read the title. It's a perfect gun for home defense for anyone, recoil sensitive or not.

 

[alemonkey]

I'd be concerned about a pump action with an inexperienced shooter. It's easy to short stroke it under duress.

 

[Merrill1963]

What about a Mini 14 in .223 cal?

 

[Float Pilot]

You need to think about over-penetration through your walls and the walls of the next house. Particularly if her skill level is near zero.
M-1 carbines are neat little guns and easy to shoot, but they will also punch through a house wall like butter.
I had a (SD) "stupid discharge" once with my duty 45 (sig P220) and the 45 acp Golden saber round when through my sheet-rock, 6 inches of fiberglass and then through T-111 siding before it continued top cruise down the street.

They do make low recoiling shotgun shells in 20 gauge as well as 12s. My daughter was shooting skeet and trap at age 12 with low recoiling ammo and a Beretta semi-auto 12 gauge. I think she weighed 102 at the time.

Bird shot loads work fine within 30 ft and occasional trips to the trap, skeet or sporting clays range seem to work out better for some gals, than blowing holes in paper. Its more instinctive and lots of the shotgun shooters like to dress up and have dinner afterwards. Snobby yes, but an easier sell for the women folk..

 

[slvrbulit12]

Either 45 would be my choice. Take her to the range and have her try the ones you have. Only she will find the one most comfortable for her. My young son prefers my Marlin cowboy in 45 with the cowboy loads over the 10-22.

 

[Daizee]

pumps can be kind of long in the reach for people with short arms. unless the ergos are there, I'd skip the pump. A lever is pretty n00b friendly, and lots of fun. Heavy JHP's intended for the ACP in the .45 loaded to 1050fps ought to be fabulous HD rounds. I suspect the heavier ones designed for ~850fps would expand really fast at 1000fps and limit over-penetration. Also if you keep them subsonic you'll be much happier after the action is over, and there's no doub they'll do the job. To limit over-penetration in the 185gr's you'd have to drive them supersonic, I think.

-Daizee

 

[Brimic]

Another vote for the M1 carbine. They are very reliable and easy to shoot.
A marlin camp carbine would be a good alternative.

I'm not a fan of leverguns, and they seem like they would be easy to 'short stroke' under extreme stress, but I might be wrong about that also.

 

[mljdeckard]

FMJmike beat me to it.

Would it be feasible to grab a M-1 Carbine?

 

[cz85cmbt]

Good god, it is like people don't read the poster's question and respond with things that are not necessarily applicable. Anyway.
I would take her shooting and let her decide, really they are all great choices. Large apertures (ghost rings) would be fool proof on the levers, not sure on sights for the timber wolf. I wouldn't go with any electronic reflex sight because if you leave them on they die real fast, the exception being an aimpoint which lasts over a year of constant on time. Biggest thing is which one she likes and if she doesn't like guns then the gun won't do much good when the time comes anyway. If I had to pick I'd go with either lever, leaning towards a marlin with an xs sight. People have a tendency to short stroke a pump in stress, although this is usually with longer actions not a pistol caliber length action. What's most important is how the weapon fits her (length of pull) because cycling the action on a lever or a slide action quickly and reliably will depend on the LOP. Good luck, hope to hear how things go.

 

[Owen]

is the shotgun recoil being excessive your opinion, or your wife's?

 

[CornCod]

Get a Marlin .357 and shoot .3 Specials out of it.

 

[janobles14]

the puma in .454? damn...i want that! so thats my choice. if she gets used to the .45 colts you can load up to give more bang.

 

[Avtomat Kalashnikova]

+1 on the M1