Help picking a pistol caliber carbine

The only pistol caliber rifle I own is the Ruger PC9. I have confidence in the lethality of a 9mm coming from a short barreled 9mm sub compact. I am confident the longer barrel of the carbine will give the same 9mm load a higher velocity and proportionaly more energy.

I.e. I think a 9mm carbine would be fine for home defense... although I prefer the better maneuverability of a hand gun for home defense.

It is also a fun AND CHEAP gun to shoot!

Just to help everyone know what velocities a 9x19 from a 16" barrel are... ( 129 different factory rounds )

https://www.ar15.com/forums/ar-15/1...ent-9x19-OEM-rounds-chronographed-/16-712312/
https://www.ar15.com/forums/ar-15/1...ent-9x19-OEM-rounds-chronographed-/16-712312/
And bear in mind, bullet choices matter even more out of a 16" barrel... the added velocity can readily "overwhelm" bullets designed for lower velocities.
FWIW, I use the Fed. Bonded 135gr +P out of my 16" Colt Pattern PCC. I "think" the bonded aspect, helped its precision at 100yds.

So the lighter weight rounds may produce severely shallow penetration... those will still hurt, Lol... but are not practical as far as FBI testing protocol.

Also note, most 147gr loads were supersonic ( slightly ) from my 16" barrel at the muzzle... YMMV

Ultimately, with a prudent bullet choice, I consider the 9x19 in a 16" PCC, a rifle that allows "pistol" velocities and performance at an extended range.. 100yd precision is easy.

And FWIW, a 9x19 rd out of a 16" barrel, produces a trajectory quite similar to a 22LR fired from a 16" barrel, ( both subsonic 22LR and supersonic 22LR )... so you could readily practice with a 22LR w/ a 16" barrel, and gain from its trajectory training.

That said.... I would buy the Ruger in 9x19.

Lever guns are fun, and I own quite a few... but I can't say I'd grab any of them first.

BlueHeelerFl said:

I have heard this mentioned before , but I don't find it all that difficult to keep the sights on target while cycling the lever on my Marlin 1894.

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Recoil, the shooters hands stay where they were before and then back on target with the Ruger

Recoil, cycle action (which involves removing primary hand from rifle and vigorously racking lever) and then back on target with lever action.

I’m not saying it can’t be done, just saying there’s more sight bobble. :Shrug

I have two Ruger 9mm PCs. Speer 124gr +P Gold Dot achieves 1400 fps muzzle velocity, as measured by a Magneto chronograph.

BlueHeelerFl said:

I have both a Marlin 1894C in 357 and a Beretta CX4 in 9mm.

Both are fun at the range although lately the lever gun is more fun.

Of the 2 guns the 9mm carbine would be the better self defense choice. The easy ability to add a red dot to my CX4 or the Ruger PCC along with its ability for quick reloads make one the better choice.

That being said I would be comfortable using the lever gun for sd. You would have to be careful not to short stroke the gun. Reloading is slow, but like a shotgun you can toss a round into the ejection port and be able to fire in an emergency

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Back when the unSAFE Act passed, I bought a Marlin 1894 in .44mag. I mounted a Burris FFII red dot on it. I've taken a handful of deer with it. Super easy to get on target. A PCC is on my list, but haven't gotten around to it.

I would vote for the Marlin 1894 in 357 Mag. Get some Skinner sights or something similar and it will look and shoot pretty good. 357 Mag is a pretty versatile cartridge. I think it is slimmer and handier than the Ruger.

Just Right Carbines is in upstate New York. Can you own those there?

I would go the Ruger route. 9mm really screams out of the longer barrel. And I comes w a 10 round magazine I believe.

depends which one you think you will like shooting more. 9mm ammo is cheaper, but you'll go through more rounds. if you're more slower paced and just like to shoot, the lever gun could work for you, they are classic - I have one and like it. for home defense any firearm you have ready and can handle and are good with is good IMHO. anything that is a carbine, is more nrg than a pistol so - can't see an issue. a lever that can shoot .357 is pretty mean and can creep up on 30-30 power. if you shoot at a range that goes gong on steel targets, or you can make things jump or explode - you might like the versatility of range of ammo in a .38/.357.

Nobody has mentioned a Rossi lever action. It's about 1 1/2 lbs. lighter than the Marlin, and a very handy gun.

my two cents - i have a rossi 92 in 45 colt , i reload , so i have options , i have a hi point 9mm too but since i'm older i'm more comfortable with the rossi , either one would do you well ! what i would recomend is the one you can put on target with the first shot , and the one your most comfortable with

+1 for the Ruger PCC.

I would go with either the Ruger PCC or an AR 9 platform (there are a bunch of them out there now). Or if you have a Glock 9mm you can buy the kit to turn it into a CQB platform.

Personally in NY I'd go with a lever and the Henry at that. You mentioned range toy first and that is what I'd have the most fun shooting. It could be pressed into HD if desired but training would be important. Yes you can short stroke a lever but who hasn't seen a guy fumble a magazine change or slip on a slide rack, all gun handling can have human failure and training/practice is the path to mitigate the failures. For learning a lever this can easily be done at home with snap caps. The PC carbine is the better gun on merit alone but A) I don't enjoy shooting semis as much and B) in a state like NY it would always be in the back of my mind "how much longer can I take this out in public?"

A PCC for recreational shooting and the potential for home defense in New York?

I'd probably get the .357 Marlin lever gun, a pump shotgun, and practice, practice, practice.

Ruger PC9.

Garandimal said:

Ruger 77/357 (w/ NEGC aperture sights.)

View attachment 884028



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GR

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Looks like a fun rifle! I could see myself loading light target/plinking loads, even casting bullets again. I don't see myself hunting with it, since I have plenty of other choices that would do as well or better.

bfoosh006 said:

Just to help everyone know what velocities a 9x19 from a 16" barrel are... ( 129 different factory rounds )

https://www.ar15.com/forums/ar-15/1...ent-9x19-OEM-rounds-chronographed-/16-712312/

Click to expand...

Lucky Gunner did some ballistic gel experiments with different 9mm bullets at carbine velocities. One issue that velocity data doesn't show is how bullets hold together terminally at velocities higher than they were designed to operate in handguns.



https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/self-defense-ammo-for-pistol-caliber-carbines/

Picher said:

Looks like a fun rifle! I could see myself loading light target/plinking loads, even casting bullets again. I don't see myself hunting with it, since I have plenty of other choices that would do as well or better.

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I like it because it's a trim/light/handy carbine.

That the .357 Mag./158 gr. is a whole 'nother animal out of it just sweetens the deal.

The rifle you shoot - is the rifle you have with you, and, at 5.5 lbs and an 18.5" Bbl., that one is easy to have around.




GR

Dave DeLaurant said:

Lucky Gunner did some ballistic gel experiments with different 9mm bullets at carbine velocities. One issue that velocity data doesn't show is how bullets hold together terminally at velocities higher than they were designed to operate in handguns.



https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/self-defense-ammo-for-pistol-caliber-carbines/

Click to expand...

Even heavy .357 Mag. can get a little stressed...


GR

O wonder does anyone make a SA Carbine in .40 or 10MM. That would be useful.

Howdy

A bunch of years ago I needed a rifle for Mrs Johnson to shoot in CAS. She did not like any of my 'rifle length' rifles, they were too heavy for her.

I found this nice little used Marlin Model 1894CS carbine at the bottom of this photo.

Very handy little rifle. It would not hold 10 357 Mag rounds in the magazine, only 9, but it held 10 38 Specials. After a little TLC it would hold 10 357 mags.

Very nice handy little rifle. Hardly any recoil with 38s. Plenty of punch with 357s, but not really much recoil.

Mrs Johnson does not shoot CAS anymore, but I ain't selling her nice little rifle.

Yeah, that's where I'd go. Marlin carbine in pistol caliber. No evil features, just a friendly little "Old West" rifle like maybe Jimmy Stewart might have carried. Friendly unless you are the down range target ...

In New York? Becaise i I'dhave become politically pessimistic, get a lever gun. It will likely be longer before lever guns are banned then semi autos.

On Marlin's, they really need an action job to shine. And there was about a 10 year period from mid 2000s to mid 2010's. (I forget the exact years) where the marlin 1894s we're total garbage. Use caution when shopping used or an old stock new one.

BrocLuno said:

Yeah, that's where I'd go. Marlin carbine in pistol caliber. No evil features, just a friendly little "Old West" rifle like maybe Jimmy Stewart might have carried. Friendly unless you are the down range target ...

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He was best with a Winchester. lol

"Winchester '73" starring Jimmy, maybe the only movie named after a rifle model. Perhaps "Rossi '92" wouldn't quite have the same panache for a movie title, but I still like them.