I am a huge fan of pistol caliber carbines, low recoil, big holes, cheap ammo etc, what isn't to love?

I guess I haven't stopped moping about my missed opportunity to grab a .45 camp carbine back when Marlin still made them. Trouble is that most carbines aren't 'PC' to really push for civilians, and semi-autos make some people (and manufacturers) nervous. I have always thought some tidy bolt action in 9x19 or 45acp would be a great buy, especially if they took popular pistol mags. I'll explain...

The old 22lr is fun and all, but the pop gets tedious after a bit and you can't se the holes in paper at a good distance. Then once you drag out your 'real' gun with shells that cost $1 a piece, your broke and out of ammo before you get warmed up!

A box of 100 rounds of 9x19 goes for less than $12 at wally-world, which is cheaper than .22 mag ammo, has the same or better velocity than .22 lr, and 9mm bullets weigh three times the lil 36 grainers, I won't even get into the 45acp except who DOSN'T need another 45?

Thats all I wanted to rant about, sure I will probably just go get a .357 94 Trapper...but it seems it would be redundant next to my 1894 Marlin.

Maybe Ruger will surprise me for christmas and make their police carbine in .45 or make that dandy 77/44 take a p97 pistol mag. Then I could get a new handgun AND rifle!

bluepuma
Why not take a look at the "carbine" that used the reciever of a 1911 45 ACP. Thus you use the same magazines as the 1911.
I agree with your assement, a friend of mine had a 45 ACP Reising. It was a blast. It shot great with my target load of 3.5 grains of Bullseye and a 185 grain wadcutter.
You might also think about something in 30 Russian Short [7.62x39] as ammo is pretty cheap for them too.
Those SKS's shoot a lot better than you might think.

there were some No1 Mk111 Rifles converted to 7.62X39 here in Australia to make cheap shooters I think the barrels were removed turned down and rechambered to the russian round so you could build something like that also there were new manufactured rifles here by ADI I think I cant remember the brand name off the top of my head they were chambered in 7.62X39 they were a newer version of the Lee Enfield

I have Destroyer chambered in 9 largo. Picked it up in Austin for CHEAP 8 years ago. Someone had reworked the bolt face so it would handle 38 super brass. I love it. I shoot a lot of 158grain hollow point and 147 grain hollowpoint ammo at low pressure. Blows the hell out of fruit/vegetables at 50 yards. I would bargain that your average zip gun has a stronger action than a Destroyer.

M1 Carbine.

Well you could try one of the Kel Tec Sub 2000 carbines. They fold into a nice small package, reasonably accurate, available in 9mm and 40 S&W. I've got one in 9mm with the GLock 17 magwell and it's fun to be able to load up 31 round mags and head to the range.

I also love these kinds of carbines. Have you thought about the Hi-Point carbine? I hear they are good shooters.

There are also conversion kits around to change a regular Mauser rifle into a 45ACP carbine that uses regular 1911 mags. I've been VERY tempted to do this, but the last action I have here is destined for a rifle.

i want to do a destroyer in 7.62 tokarov, if i could find one for the right price.. think it would be a neato carbine... 17" barrel, tiny stock, peep sights and 1800fps!!!

jeffe