The Briefing Room

General Category => Sports/Entertainment/MSM/Social Media => Shooting Sports => Topic started by: txradioguy on June 25, 2018, 11:36:46 pm

Title: Lever Action Rifle As Home Defense Weapon
Post by: txradioguy on June 25, 2018, 11:36:46 pm
I know the popular trend these days is to have some kind of "operator" looking AR platform as a home/self defense rifle...but what about the traditional American lever action rifle chambered in 30-30? Can it be a viable home defense GP rifle in the age of the AR-15?
Title: Re: Lever Action Rifle As Home Defense Weapon
Post by: Elderberry on June 25, 2018, 11:58:12 pm
I would go with a pistol cartridge rifle.

https://www.chuckhawks.com/rifles_home_defense.htm (https://www.chuckhawks.com/rifles_home_defense.htm)

Perhaps even better home defense rifles chambered for pistol cartridges are the Marlin Model 1894, Winchester Model 92 and various replicas of historic Winchester lever action rifles (usually Models 1866, 1873 and 1892). The excellent Uberti Models 1866 and 1873 carbines are representative of the latter type. Lever guns chambered for revolver cartridges are usually offered in .38 Spec./.357 Mag, .44 Spec./.44 Mag., .44-40, and .45 Long Colt. The .357 and .44 Magnums offer the greatest range, flattest trajectory and the most stopping power.

Bullets from the magnum calibers leave the muzzle of a rifle at much higher velocity than from a typical revolver. The Winchester Ammunition catalog, for example, shows a muzzle velocity of 1235 fps and muzzle energy of 535 ft. lbs. for their Super-X .357 Mag. 158 grain JHP bullet from a 4" revolver barrel. The same load clocks 1830 fps and 1175 ft. lbs. from a rifle barrel. That's over twice the energy! The maximum point blank range (+/- 3") of that load from a rifle is approximately 163 yards when zeroed at 140 yards (or +2.7" at 100 yards).

All of the rifles mentioned in the paragraphs above are fast firing models. All are available with barrels of 20" or less in length and are a viable choice for home defense. Only the current version of the Marlin 1894, however, is drilled and tapped for mounting optical sights.
Title: Re: Lever Action Rifle As Home Defense Weapon
Post by: roamer_1 on June 26, 2018, 12:03:26 am
I know the popular trend these days is to have some kind of "operator" looking AR platform as a home/self defense rifle...but what about the traditional American lever action rifle chambered in 30-30? Can it be a viable home defense GP rifle in the age of the AR-15?

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW6Ki8wpL5s&list=PL6UfctxfSOoE9alavdl37U-IHNJ4AyGE3#)
Title: Re: Lever Action Rifle As Home Defense Weapon
Post by: Elderberry on June 26, 2018, 12:18:05 am
Or how about a lever action shotgun?
(https://ii.cheaperthandirt.com/fcgi-bin/iipsrv.fcgi?FIF=/images/cheaperthandirt/source/7-gsg1667n_1.tif&wid=1000&cvt=jpeg)

Century Arms PW87 12-Gauge Lever-Action Shotgun
Title: Re: Lever Action Rifle As Home Defense Weapon
Post by: thackney on June 26, 2018, 12:19:14 am
I would go with a pistol cartridge rifle.

https://www.chuckhawks.com/rifles_home_defense.htm (https://www.chuckhawks.com/rifles_home_defense.htm)

Perhaps even better home defense rifles chambered for pistol cartridges are the Marlin Model 1894, Winchester Model 92 and various replicas of historic Winchester lever action rifles (usually Models 1866, 1873 and 1892). The excellent Uberti Models 1866 and 1873 carbines are representative of the latter type. Lever guns chambered for revolver cartridges are usually offered in .38 Spec./.357 Mag, .44 Spec./.44 Mag., .44-40, and .45 Long Colt. The .357 and .44 Magnums offer the greatest range, flattest trajectory and the most stopping power.

Bullets from the magnum calibers leave the muzzle of a rifle at much higher velocity than from a typical revolver. The Winchester Ammunition catalog, for example, shows a muzzle velocity of 1235 fps and muzzle energy of 535 ft. lbs. for their Super-X .357 Mag. 158 grain JHP bullet from a 4" revolver barrel. The same load clocks 1830 fps and 1175 ft. lbs. from a rifle barrel. That's over twice the energy! The maximum point blank range (+/- 3") of that load from a rifle is approximately 163 yards when zeroed at 140 yards (or +2.7" at 100 yards).

All of the rifles mentioned in the paragraphs above are fast firing models. All are available with barrels of 20" or less in length and are a viable choice for home defense. Only the current version of the Marlin 1894, however, is drilled and tapped for mounting optical sights.


+1

I really like the 357 in a short lever.

http://www.rossiusa.com/product-details.cfm?id=183&category=8&toggle=&breadcrumbseries= (http://www.rossiusa.com/product-details.cfm?id=183&category=8&toggle=&breadcrumbseries=)
Title: Re: Lever Action Rifle As Home Defense Weapon
Post by: Meldrew on June 26, 2018, 12:38:14 am
Strikes me that overpenetration is going to be the big issue.  If you're in a regular suburban neighborhood the tumbling 223 might be a better solution.  If you have room, the 30-30 in a lever might be just great. 

I understand the apprehension about looking "too tacticool" in a self-defense situation - perhaps a mini-14 or the like might work. 

A Henry Big Boy carbine in .327 Magnum wouldn't suck though if you must have a lever. 

So many choices, so little time...
Title: Re: Lever Action Rifle As Home Defense Weapon
Post by: Frank Cannon on June 26, 2018, 12:40:25 am
Can it be a viable home defense GP rifle in the age of the AR-15?

Sure, if your name is Granny and you live in some cabin with no electric or plumbing.
Title: Re: Lever Action Rifle As Home Defense Weapon
Post by: WingNot on June 26, 2018, 12:41:54 am
I know the popular trend these days is to have some kind of "operator" looking AR platform as a home/self defense rifle...but what about the traditional American lever action rifle chambered in 30-30? Can it be a viable home defense GP rifle in the age of the AR-15?

Sure, if your name is Granny and you live in some cabin with no electric or plumbing.

Oh pasha. 
I have a Colt Lightning Pump.   It is a 32.cal    30-30 seem like over kill.

(http://media.liveauctiongroup.net/i/9778/10587294_1.jpg?v=8CDF7FA558C9830)
Title: Re: Lever Action Rifle As Home Defense Weapon
Post by: Elderberry on June 26, 2018, 12:53:24 am
Oh pasha. 
I have a Colt Lightning Pump.   It is a 32.cal    30-30 seem like over kill.


I guess then my Marlin 45-70 would be a little too much firepower as well.
Title: Re: Lever Action Rifle As Home Defense Weapon
Post by: WingNot on June 26, 2018, 12:54:51 am
I guess then my Marlin 45-70 would be a little too much firepower as well.

Are you loaded for bear?    I just want to kill my neighbor.  Silly me.
Title: Re: Lever Action Rifle As Home Defense Weapon
Post by: roamer_1 on June 26, 2018, 12:56:31 am
I guess then my Marlin 45-70 would be a little too much firepower as well.

The Winchester Model 94 30/30 has probably protected more homes than a Colt Peacemaker ever thought of. Every farm, ranch, or homestead has one to this day
Title: Re: Lever Action Rifle As Home Defense Weapon
Post by: 240B on June 26, 2018, 12:58:13 am
(https://s22658.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/may09_shooting_from_hip_250.jpg)


(https://rdougwicker.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/interarms-rossi-m92-0191.jpg)
Title: Re: Lever Action Rifle As Home Defense Weapon
Post by: 240B on June 26, 2018, 01:00:17 am
Are you loaded for bear?    I just want to kill my neighbor.  Silly me.
@Wingnut
Best not to say stuff like that, even as a 'joke'.
Title: Re: Lever Action Rifle As Home Defense Weapon
Post by: WingNot on June 26, 2018, 01:01:14 am
The Winchester Model 94 30/30 has probably protected more homes than a Colt Peacemaker ever thought of. Every farm, ranch, or homestead has one to this day

When it came to "side arms" my grandfather never carried anything but a 22 pistol.  It was for vermin. 
Title: Re: Lever Action Rifle As Home Defense Weapon
Post by: Elderberry on June 26, 2018, 01:02:00 am
Are you loaded for bear?    I just want to kill my neighbor.  Silly me.
You can borrow my 450/577 but its a single shot

(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/81/eb/82/81eb82aa7d3389e2afe0e4bb83c6020f.jpg)
Title: Re: Lever Action Rifle As Home Defense Weapon
Post by: Cyber Liberty on June 26, 2018, 02:45:47 am
I have a lever .45LC.
Title: Re: Lever Action Rifle As Home Defense Weapon
Post by: roamer_1 on June 26, 2018, 02:53:36 am
When it came to "side arms" my grandfather never carried anything but a 22 pistol.  It was for vermin.

Pistol is normally for trap dispatch for me... up close critters are usually shotgun. I can't even begin to count how many coyotes I have put down with a 30/30... sometimes a 22LR, though usually they are too far off or in brush... or the shot is off my horse, which was always a 30/30 for a saddle gun most my life. But I can't even speculate on a number across nearly 40 years or more now... Hundreds is probably not an adequate term...
Title: Re: Lever Action Rifle As Home Defense Weapon
Post by: Elderberry on June 26, 2018, 12:53:03 pm
I have a lever .45LC.

I always wanted to get one to complement my 45 Ruger Blackhawk.

I bet its much quieter to shoot than my handgun or a 30-30 as well. My hearing's bad enough without firing a 30-30 inside the confines of a hallway.
Title: Re: Lever Action Rifle As Home Defense Weapon
Post by: Cyber Liberty on June 26, 2018, 01:05:55 pm
I always wanted to get one to complement my 45 Ruger Blackhawk.

I bet its much quieter to shoot than my handgun or a 30-30 as well. My hearing's bad enough without firing a 30-30 inside the confines of a hallway.

Never really thought of using the .45 as a house gun.  I have a couple Remington 1100s loaded with Centurion shells I like quite a bit.