Pros and cons of pistol cal. Carbines?

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Zerex

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As a new shooter in the last year, I've fired rifles in .22lr, .22mag, .223 and pistols in 9mm and .45ACP. I don't hunt, i usually just punch paper out to 100 yards at the range
I really have enjoyed shooting centerfire cartridges with the only downside being the cost of ammunition.
As a result I have decided to get a reloading press and start reloading my own ammo. Which in turn got me thinking about finding a carbine that shoots the same ammo as my handgun.
It seems to me like pistol cal. carbines would be a great versatile firearm. It could share ammo with my handgun, probably shoot out to 100 yards? And give me the 'bang' of a centerfire cartridge at a fairly low ammo cost (reloading).
But like anything there must be a downside to it.:redface:

So here's the question: Lets here all the pros and cons of a pistol cal. carbine chambered in either 9mm, .40s&w or .45acp
 
i have a 9mm JR Carbine...

It will do everything you want it to.

Adv:

Cheap to shoot
takes AR accessories
10rnd glock mags
little to no kick

Cons:

Hard to clean due to design
100 yards is really max range. But you said you dont shoot past that anyways.
 
Multigun has the pro of having the rifle and pistol chambered in the same caliber...saves lugging around different types/quantities of ammo
 
Pro: 1 set of mags

Con: your rifle takes pistol mags, and if we ever get rid of the ####ing mag limits...

Pro: your pistol cartridge will have its range extended to 100m

Con: your rifle will have its range reduced to 100m

Pro: your carbine takes the same ammo as your pistol, but the longer barrel length makes it hit with more authority

Con: your carbine takes the same ammo as your pistol, so the weaker ammo make your rifle hit with less authority

Pro: your carbine is probably lighter than most rifles

Con: you are now carrying two pistols and one is nearly as bulky as a rifle
 
Onagoth said:
Multigun has the pro of having the rifle and pistol chambered in the same caliber...saves lugging around different types/quantities of ammo
Click to expand...

Just be careful... Multigun matches that allow PCC's are few and far between.
In most 3-gun comp. PCC's aren't even mentioned as far as divisions go.

PPC's are fun and cheap to feed, but you're limited to what a pistol cal. Round can do. You get a little more accuracy/range maybe, but... That anout it.
 
misanthropist said:
Con: your rifle takes pistol mags, and if we ever get rid of the f**king mag limits...
Click to expand...

Depends on the PCC in question. Some take Glock 17 pistol mags (Sub-2000 Glock mag model, JR carbine), which means it is possible to get 10/33 mags. However, one downside that hasn't been mentionned for some PCCs is that some take their SMG counterpart's mags (SAF, USC, BRS-99, etc.), which are usually considered to be rifle mags, so unfortunately they're blocked to 5 rounds. If we get rid of the mag limits however....
 
misanthropist said:
Pro: 1 set of mags

Con: your rifle takes pistol mags, and if we ever get rid of the f**king mag limits...

Pro: your pistol cartridge will have its range extended to 100m

Con: your rifle will have its range reduced to 100m

Pro: your carbine takes the same ammo as your pistol, but the longer barrel length makes it hit with more authority

Con: your carbine takes the same ammo as your pistol, so the weaker ammo make your rifle hit with less authority

Pro: your carbine is probably lighter than most rifles

Con: you are now carrying two pistols and one is nearly as bulky as a rifle
Click to expand...

Good for a laugh !...:p
 
misanthropist said:
...

Con: your rifle takes pistol mags, and if we ever get rid of the f**king mag limits....
Click to expand...

Get rid of the mag limit? No biggie; if it gets abolished then you simply buy the 33 rnd pistol mags which is 3 more than most high cap rifle mags! :D

Carbines like this are a lot of fun. I routinely shoot my 9mm Storm out to 100m and it workls great. No doubt I would not go beyond that. I have just recently purchased a JR in .40S&W. Smacks a lot harder than the 9mm and is equally capable out to 100m. I recommned a pistol cal carbine to anyone who wants to have fun for a lot less cost and realize the limitations of the design.

Regards.
 
Another option is to get an AR chambered in .223, and get a CMMG bolt conversion kit to allow it to shoot .22LR as well.

Shoot .22LR most of the time, and spend very little money on ammo.
 
Boomer686 said:
I have just recently purchased a JR in .40S&W. Smacks a lot harder than the 9mm and is equally capable out to 100m. I recommned a pistol cal carbine to anyone who wants to have fun for a lot less cost and realize the limitations of the design.

Regards.
Click to expand...

Do you like the storm or JR Carbine better? How many rounds have you put through the JR and has it given you any problems?

Thanx
 
A pistol calibre carbine is a neat thing to own, and fun as all get out for the range. I had a JR carbine in 9MM. I hunt more than I shoot though, so it was really just a novelty for me. I moved it in favor of a non-restricted 5.56 unit. If I where primarily a range guy, I'd of stuck with the JR. It was a ton of fun!
 
Zerex said:
It seems to me like pistol cal. carbines would be a great versatile firearm. It could share ammo with my handgun, probably shoot out to 100 yards? And give me the 'bang' of a centerfire cartridge at a fairly low ammo cost (reloading).
Click to expand...

If you want cheap to shoot, why don't you just get a CZ858 and shoot 7.62 surplus? Hard to beat $0.19 even reloading (once you factor in your time). Cheap to buy, good range, big bang, addictive (maybe thats not a pro), and now you have a real rifle too.
 
the_klenzer said:
If you want cheap to shoot, why don't you just get a CZ858 and shoot 7.62 surplus? Hard to beat $0.19 even reloading (once you factor in your time). Cheap to buy, good range, big bang, addictive (maybe thats not a pro), and now you have a real rifle too.
Click to expand...

Lol, cuz I'm not a big fan of cleaning guns to start with...throw in corrosive ammo and I get the feeling I would be spending even more time with the dreaded patches:redface:
 
I love my Hipoint 995. EXTREMELY accurate, just as much fun as my CZ-858. It is a blowback gun, and so does need to be cleaned thoroughly after use, however it strips right down to the bare bones real easy(As does a CZ I might add). Just because you aren't shooting corrosive ammo, doesn't mean you don't have to clean it, semi autos all need a good amount of cleaning to keep them functioning properly. My 2 cents...
 
Zerex said:
Do you like the storm or JR Carbine better? How many rounds have you put through the JR and has it given you any problems?

Thanx
Click to expand...

I am enjoying my JR very much. Mind you there is nothing wrong with my Storm either. The non-restricted status is a bonus on the JR though. Mostly I just enjoy the smack of the .40 over the 9mm.... maybe it's just a guy thing :D

I will, however, keep my eyes out for a Storm in .40 or .45 as well (just missed the one in .40 on the EE).

Regards,
 
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