Posted on 08/11/2010 5:10:45 AM PDT by marktwain
Capt. John Raguso keeps threatening to send us a review of Kel Tec’s smokin’ SUB-2000 9mm carbine. Today, Hi-Point Carbines drops the news that their long awaited .45 ACP rifle is ready to rock and roll. These handgun-caliber carbine may be gaining favor over the venerable 12-gauge as the weapon of choice for hom defense. And for good reason. In fact, here are four. . .
1. Less recoil than a shotgun
While home defense shotguns put an awful lot of lead downrange with a single trigger squeeze, shooters pay the price with a big ole’ wallop to their shoulder. That’s no big thing for big people who’re comfortable with firearms (who may, in fact, like the kick). And in the heat of battle, who cares? But if a gun is formidable to fire (i.e. painful), its owners are FAR less likely to practice. If they don’t, they will not be confident and accurate.
Even in .45 ACP, handgun-caliber carbines have minimal recoil, relatively speaking. The lower recoil makes the rifles far more attractive to women, teens and (let’s be honest here) small-framed men. They can also put a lot of lead downrange. BONUS! Quick mag changes are easier than reloading a shotgun.
2. Quieter than a shotgun
The state prohibitions against silencers really piss me off. (Somebody was watching way too many spy movies.) Meanwhile, shotguns are ridiculously, enormously loud. While a handgun caliber carbine will make plenty of noise, a shooter stands a chance of being able to hear something after firing—which could save their life. Comparing the two firearms genres, handgun caliber rifles will definitely reduce a shooter’s chances of permanent, perhaps even catastrophic hearing loss.
3. Better than a handgun
So’s a shotgun. But again, there are plenty of people who find shotguns intimidating. In that sense, handgun caliber carbines hit the sweet spot. Thanks to the carbines longer sight radius, they’re easier to aim than a handgun, And more intimidating (i.e. visible)
Handgun caliber carbines increase bullet speed and, thus, penetration. Hi-Point says their .45 ACP’s longer barrel increases velocity figures between 80-200 FPS (feet per second) over a like-chambered handgun.
4. Less expensive
To my way of thinking, a semi-automatic weapon is the best home defense shotgun. A good one costs the thick end of a grand. This Hi-Point .45 ACP Carbine costs $330. The SUB-2000 goes for $409.
I love shotguns. But the handgun caliber carbines may be better for more people. The market will speak.
Specifications for Hi-Point .45 ACP Carbine:
Price: $330 MSRP Finish: Special high-durability black powder coat Stock: Black molded polymer-(with standard upper and lower Picatinny rails). Barrel length: 171/2-inches Overall length: 33-inches Weight: 71/2-pounds. Magazine capacity: 9-rounds. Sight: Adjustable front post and adjustable rear (ghost ring) Warranty: Lifetime on parts and labor that follows the gun. Manufacturer: Hi-Point of Mansfield Ohio-every part is made in the U.S.A. Factory affordable options are available: Folding grip, laser, scope sight, etc.
Been around for years. Midway had a sale on them last year for about $25. You can talk and have a normal conversation at the Range, and fire all day. I bought a bunch for everyone I know. They run on a battery and have a volume control.
I agree with a few posters, a 12-gauge pump shotgun with 18” barrel is the perfect home defense gun. Discharging ANY weapon inside a house is going to be loud so I don’t buy that arguement there.
Don’t get me wrong, I have a .45acp I use for carry and HD as well but one has to be more precise with a .45acp round as opposed to a shotgun. A properly setup HD shotgun (instant-on light, 8+ round magazine, tritum sights) will be better in almost any situation. A pistol is handy for ‘clearing’ around walls and doors and should be on your hip as backup.
A Mini14/AR15 in a home? No F’in way, even with frangible bullets! Even 9mm and .45acp rounds will be a problem if you miss your target as a bullet will go through several walls before stopping. 00 and 000 shot will not penetrate through multiple walls yet all energy will be absorbed by an immediate target.
Price: $705.00
HiPoint = Ugly + Junk (Yes I do own one, and use it now as a paperweight)
Agreed.
One also needs to consider other aspects as well, such and pointing and shooting without aiming (especially when roused from a sleep). As for rate of fire auto loaders are pretty damn quick.
The only drawbacks are the large holes in the walls and doors, length of the firearm in tight spaces, lack of ammunition (3-5 rounds).
I don't know about "ugly", but I bought one in .40 S&W and after keeping it, "un-fired" for nine months, I traded it in for a Glock in the same caliber. I love it!
Cool, thanks.
BOOM!
If the bg's a rational person, of course, he's gonna freeze and soil his pants. But what if he's in a separate reality from drugs, and he's armed or just physically capable of harm? Or what if he's a professional criminal who will know from that racking sound where to shoot, and that he's got about three microseconds to do it?
Check out this thread for an example:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2568496/posts
I can only suggest what other people do, of course, but in a standoff at my house the sound that guy's going to hear is a different one.
Cycling any type of gun tends to give away your position. I personally do not think that is a good idea.
me too ... my bedside companion ... .410 000 4 pellet load from Federal
The shotgun doesn’t give much in the way of pellet dispersion at room ranges. Plus you’ve the weapon’s length to handle.
I’ve been a bad boy, simply taking along my .40 USPc to investigate things, but am training myself to take along one of the ARs (16”, Aimpoint, adjustable stock and 30 rounds) when the need occurs, and that should be sufficient for point defense.
But to be fair to myself, if I’ve pants on, I’ve got the pistol, with or without the carbine, which I think to be a good thing.
Correct...While the sound of a shotgun racking is a terrifying sound to be on the ‘receiving’ end it does give away your position. Any/all HD weapons should be at the ready.
A .45 ACP Carbine would be cool -
the requirement that I would impose on it would be that it would accept .45 ACP handgun magazines, ie, are interchangeable.
I want my mags to be used by as many guns, interchangeably, as possible.
As long as you load it with the .45LC and not the .410 junk, it will work okay for home defense, but it’s far from a great choice as the BOT showed.
Diesel or gasoline?
[smile]
--in the unlikely situation where it will be fired at an intruder, the first two loads from my "coach gun" will be trap loads--not particularly noisy but can be followed by a couple with #4 buck---
Not really a good home defense choice though. Put the .45LC rounds in it.
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot41.htm
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