In your opinion what is the "best" pistol and carbine rifle combo, and why?

T

theshootist

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Hello CGN,

So I'm looking to buy a handgun and carbine rifle chambered for the same cartridge. I handload, and want the same cartridges to function reliably in both firearms. At first I was thinking about an auto-type pistol cartridge such as .40 S&W or .45 ACP because of the great variety of semi-auto loading pistols. To complement it perhaps a Just Right Carbine or a Thereon Defense Carbine. My second thought was a revolver in .357 Mag with a lever gun to go with it.

The reasons for your vote are up to you. Lets keep the discussion open but limited to handguns and carbines combos in the same chambering. Price? That's up to you as well.

I'm interested in hearing your thoughts and opinions!


Thanks!
 
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Without question I would have the pair in 44 Rem Mag. The reasoning behind this is as a handloader you can taylor your loads anywhere in the power level you want. A full house load in the 44 makes the 357 look like a pop gun but you can always down load to 357 levels if you want. A 44 carbine is a legitimate deer rifle at close range, I question whether the 357 is!!! JMHO. Bluntly put there is nothing you can do with a 357 that you can't do with a 44, the same cannot be said in reverse.

My second choice would be the 44-40 or even a 38-40...........As the old muscle car saying goes "there's just no replacement for displacement".........The same applies to handguns and pistol cartridge carbines.
 
I have a 45 Colt Win94 Trapper, great rifle. I'd pair it with a Ruger single action 45 Colt. If I wans't a handloader I'd go 44 mag. I've also been intrigued by some of the semi auto carbines that use pistol mags. I'd be interested in an unrestricted one maybe in 45 ACP so I could load 45-08 in it, or 10mm wouldn't be a bad option.
 
.454 Casull or 45 colt as a runner up.

A handloaded .454 carbine will exceed factory 45-70 ballistics, and put down any game in NA, and a sturdy .454 revolver will handle full powered loads too. You can also download it to .45 colt cowboy levels ( 250 gr @ 800 fps ) or whatever else, if you just want to plink. Starline brass is sturdy and reasonably priced.
 
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i run a glock 30 and thureon defence. 45 i do not use the. 45 for hunting. my dad has a ruger deerfield in. 44mag he plans on getting a revolver to match it
 
If you want to hunt anything bigger than a coyote with it I would start at .357 and go up from there. My choice would be a .44 mag combo so that you can down-load or go hard cast full power to hunt anything that doesn't bite back. You can also shoot 44 special in both if you want lower power factory loads. 44 mag and 44 special will be easier to find brass or factory ammo than anything else in this power class. I'd go with a ruger 77/44 rifle and a ruger revolver in either single or double action depending on your use and preference. For hunting this just seems like almost the natural choice unless having something "different" is important to you. For me, practicality trumps.
 
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In your opinion what is the "best" pistol / and carbine rifle combo, and why?

44mag combo is the way to go. I have a 6 in. S&W M29-2 and a Rossi ranch hand with a full stock.
As mentioned before the 44 mag can be loaded from mild to wild and has many bullet options available.
 
How has everyone forgot the best combo out there, a uberti 1873 Winchester and a ruger new vaquero. In 357 or 45 if you want.
 
It really depends what you want to do with them. If you just want to punch paper a Glock and a JR carbine is great fun, if you want to hunt they just suck.
 
Too many variables.

Do you reload or will you be using mostly factory ammo? Are you looking for something to hunt with that can share ammo with a pistol at the range? Are you looking for something more tactical? Does it matter if its magazine fed? Do those magazines have to be shareable with each firearm? Are you looking to modify either of them? What range are you looking for, what power, what kidn of optics would you want to mount etc etc etc...
 
If you want the combo for hunting - go big go .44 magnum: revolver (single or double action) or semiauto IWI pistol / semiauto carbine or lever action rifle or bolt action.

For target shooting - go .38 special/.357 magnum: revolver (single or double action) or semiauto IWI pistol / semiauto carbine or lever action rifle or bolt action. Everything should be a bit less in cost with this route.

See if you can test fire other range users' guns first.
YMMV and good luck.
 
jdawg I have the Uberti 73 and two vaqueros in 44 special does that work for you? :) I also have a winchester 1892 in 357 and revovlers to match. This was my first set and I would recommend the 357 with 180 grain jsp's for small deer. As stated above you can't go wrong with the 44 mag either.
 
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