What is a carbine and why have one

[flanman]

New to the gun world.  I have 45JHP and have enjoyed using it.  Praciced enough now that I feel good about having it for self defense.  So as a next step shotgun or carbine.  Not sure what a carbine is and thus why one would own it.  But as I am enjoying this sport I thought it was worth asking.

[2TN Mules]

A carbine is basically a shortened rifle. It fills a nitch between pistols and rifles, basically:

1) Higher velocity of the bullet vs pistol using same ammo
2) More manuverable than a rifle
3) More accurate at distance than a pistol
4) Easier to master accuracy than with a pistol for some
5) Longer range of bullet than a pistol

When firing a carbine (995) vs a pistol (C9) the muzzle is basically the same distance from the shooter but is a considered a more stable platform. The barrel length gives the powder a longer time to push against the bullet increasing velocity and energy.

Why have one. They are fun to shoot, and a whole list of other reasons.

[anon626]

A carbine is basically a shortened rifle. It fills a nitch between pistols and rifles, basically:

1) Higher velocity of the bullet vs pistol using same ammo
2) More manuverable than a rifle
3) More accurate at distance than a pistol
4) Easier to master accuracy than with a pistol for some
5) Longer range of bullet than a pistol

When firing a carbine (995) vs a pistol (C9) the muzzle is basically the same distance from the shooter but is a considered a more stable platform. The barrel length gives the powder a longer time to push against the bullet increasing velocity and energy.

Why have one. They are fun to shoot, and a whole list of other reasons.

Exactly what that guy said!

[aidancal1]

+1

When I go to the indoor range it becomes more obvious what the diffference is. The pisol shooters around me are shooting at between 7 and 10 yards, and getting groups the size of a dinner plate. I put my target at 25 yards and with the carbine, I can get groups of about 3" (red dot sight). For home defense, if someone gets in, then I'll grab the pistol or shotgun. If I need to go outside, I'll take the carbine.

[Mags50]

I was gonna say that , you beat me to it!!

[Beeg Boy]

Get a 995.
I finally got to take mine out yesterday and couldnt believe how accurate it is and how much fun it was shoot.
I cant wait to go out again.

[hpr50]

#6-they are fun.
#7-the more guns, the better.

[wickedwd5000]

also, you can have 1 type of ammo for both weapons.  cheaper to buy in bulk, and pistol ammo is generally less expensive to shoot than rifle....so you get to shoot more, LOL.

and if your using it for home defense, the more practice the better.

[bigdaddy]

I had room in the safe and my SKS was lonley

[Yeoldetool]

car·bine   

car·bine [kr bn, kr bn]
(plural car·bines)
n
 short rifle: a lightweight rifle with a short barrel 


[Early 17th century. < French carabine < carabin "mounted musketeer"]
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

[ceprise]

2TN Mules said it well. For me, the 995TS was my first purchase and it was so much fun, was easy to shoot, and proved HP quality that I bought 9mm pistols. The carbine gave me the confidence that I could master the pistol.

Common ammo was a consideration. Rather than a 12ga shotgun for home defense, I could practice at my local in-door pistol range with the 9mm carbine.

The 995TS also looks tactical cool, something hard to get in a firearm under $300.

Buying the neat stuff to dress up the carbine!

[jrfount]

also, you can have 1 type of ammo for both weapons.  cheaper to buy in bulk, and pistol ammo is generally less expensive to shoot than rifle....so you get to shoot more, LOL.

and if your using it for home defense, the more practice the better.

+1 on that I'm fond of being able to have a large quantity of the same ammo to feed my babies.  And as much as I like my 300 weatherby if I shot it like I want I would be in the poor house.

[neo]

Another factor is ammo maximization:  500 rounds of 9mm is QUITE a bit lighter than 500 rounds of rifle ammo!  Also, you can spread out your ammo between several weapons for different tasks.  This is great at the range when you don't want to blow alot of cash or to lug a ton of weight around (key if you live in a big city like I do and travel to the range via motorcycle).  The carbine also, as mentioned before, has quite a bit control and doesn't have as much chance of over-penetrating like a rifle cartridge.  In urban environments is where the carbine as a defensive weapon really shines.  At 100m, it's dead-on accurate, and even at 300m you can still hit a human sized target with relative ease (at least for me ).  It's a light weapon compared to other categories, and it's very easy to use for the uninitiated due to the low recoil.

[Loopster]

I like my (995) carbine because it's easy to handle, it's fun to shoot, and it uses the same ammo my c9 does.  Although I don't hunt (presently), I certainly might, and it would take vermin, small game at 60-75 yards (a common shot distance for around here) with relative ease.

[ceprise]

Buying the neat stuff to dress up the carbine!
[/quote]

My 995TS, with bayonet, bipod, Hogue grip, and HP Butt Pad. I'm still thinking about sight, laser, etc.