1894c for home defense?

[1894cfan]

You guys need to do what you want to do.  I think it is important to know the laws to protect yourselves from them in case you have to use deadly force to protect yourselves from others.  That's why I post these comments.  I also think it is not wise to post on an open forum advise that runs contrary to the law.  Think about the responsibility you could be assuming should someone take your advise and wind up in the clink. 

Keith,

This is one of those situations where we agree to disagree. You state that it is of paramount importance to observe the law. Bill, Lloyd, myself, and others have tried to explain options and alternatives to 1894cfan for home defense. Wher I come from, it is not just a matter of saying something won't work- you also need to explain why you have that opinion. We have done just that. We have presented a clear, concise explanation of why the rifle is less than ideal for home defense- our opinion, as asked- and we have presented alternatives ranging from shotguns to AR's to handguns.
You on the other hand, have chosen to post recriminations to our ideas, and to offer and quasi-legal "advice" which has nothing to do with this thread whatsoever. I say this because your advice is meaningless in my home state, as it may also be in many others. I live in a free-thinking state that allows
1) Concealed carry of hanguns
2) Private ownership of NFA weapons, including full-auto & suppressors
3) No legal penalty for keeping a loaded firearm in the home
4) Has no requirements for gun locks or gun registration


KeithL said,
" I also think it is not wise to post on an open forum advise that runs contrary to the law. "
I do think YOU would do well to reconsider YOUR words.

Now what do you think: can we get back to Marlin Lever Action Center-fire discussion?

We were never off-topic, Keith.

ALRIGHT GUYS, ENOUGH!!!!!!
All I asked about was the suitability of having 38SPL +P's in an 1894c for home defense! I have a Ruger mkII 22lr, Ruger 10/22, colt 380, Ruger 9mm speed 6, Ruger 357 speed 6, Glock 23 .40s&w, colt 45acp, m1 30 carbine, ruger mini-14 and the 1894c! I consider the 30 carbine and mini-14 as unsuitable for home defense, which leaves all the others to defend my home with. I wasn't asking about tactics (though some good points were made) or the what the law says about defending myself or my loved ones. There was no need for certain people to start dumping each other and going outside of the original question.
Now lets get back to enjoying the site, OK?

[Graybeard]

Hmm, that's strange. Now I'm not personally a fan of long guns for inside the home defense IF you're having to leave a safe room as they are more easily taken from you and much more difficult to manuver in close situations. Butttt I'd sure personally consider both the M1 carbine and Mini 14 superior to the lever gun IF i were gonna use a rifle.

It's really all a matter of perspective and there really are no right and wrong answers that apply for all. Each of us must decide what we feel is best for us in our own personal situations. My reason for saying the other two rifles would be superior is fire power and not having to work the action for the next shot. Placing hit with it inside a home is not so easy as on a target range with lots of time. Miss that first shot at an invader rushing you and would you even get off a second with a lever gun? A good shot that might hit? I'd personally not wanna find out and would rather trust a semiauto in such a situation.

But then again for fighting inside the house I'd take a shotgun over a rifle and a handgun if moving about the house to secure it and my family as it's more manueverable and more easily retained if I'm surprised and the attacker tries to wrestle it from me. Now were I barricaded in a safe room and repelling invaders to that room a semiatuo rifle or shotgun would definitely move up on the list of preferred weapons.

Just think out your home layout and where your family members would be at night when asleep if someone comes in your home. Chances are it will be while you are asleep so whatever plan you develop plan it around being woken up from sleep by the sounds of someone either breaking in or already inside and closing on you fast. How do you react? What gun is instantly available to you and can be put into action while you are still in bed in case your first awareness is the breaking in of your bedroom door? From there where are your other family members and how to you get to them to protect them? Plan it and work the plan. It will determine which gun is best.

But given what guns you say you have available I'd have that Glock in bed with me where I could lay hands on it if I heard the bedroom door being opened by an intruder and then I'd have the mini 14 and/or M1 carbine close enough to grab fast should such a fire fight weapon be needed. I'd sure feel naked without a shotgun tho.

[Chuck White]

I would say that if you are defending yourself, then you need to be in a defensive mode.
If you are not actually defending yourself, then you could face legal issues.
If someone is in your house, and you don't know where he is, let the law enforcement people clear him out, because if you go after him, you are not in a defensive mode anymore.

As far as defending yourself with a long-gun in a house, just make sure that it isn't so long that it could possibly "clothesline" you in a doorway.
In other words, be sure that it is shorter than the narrowest doorway that you might be going through.

The bottom line is:  Defend yourself, your family and your property with whatever you need to, or have available.

[Keith L]

I think Chuck has a good point:  Use what you have.  While a long gun may not be the best suited for defense in the home if that is what you have that will have to be what you use.  If going out to obtain a defensive weapon then other options can come into play.

[teddy12b]

Guys, if I know somebody is in my house and I have that lever action under the bed and cycle a round into the chamber and mention loudly that the first thing that comes through that door is going to get a hole through it, I think they're going to leave.  The odds of somebody sticking around after they a weapon get loaded is slim to none.  Thieves are not brave, they'll come while you're at work, gone, or asleep.  If you're in a room waiting for something bad to come through a door with a rifle rested on the corner of the bed I think you've done an outstanding job of defending your home. 

That leveraction is powerful and holds a pretty good amount of ammo.  I think you'll be just fine with it.  I'm sure somebody else will tell you that you're not truely safe unless you have a claymore mine in the hall that can remotely detonate while watching it on a security tv and blah blah blah.....  Having a weapon within reach that you're confident with is most important.  I think you'll be just fine.

[1894cfan]

Thanks, guys. Would have replied sooner, but had computer problems.

Graybeard, I don't have a shotgun, just a bunch of handguns and some rifles, the largest of which is a 30/06.

[1894cfan]

Settled on 38SPL 110gr +Ps for defense loads in my 1894c, those should be light enough while still getting the job done out of an 18.5" barrel.

[~Ace~]

Never Ever agree to be an Obedient Victim !

It is Always better the be Judged by 12 than Carried by 6 !

Laws be Damned, it is Insane for Any citizen of this country to Not have a Loaded and ready weapon Close at hand while Sleeping, watching tv or Any other activity ! You have a God Given right to Self Defense, and if your DEAD it does not matter ! Keith, your "your no good to anyone if your in jail" mentality has got Alot of people Dead. Never give up you most Basic right, the Right to Self Defense to try and comply with a Illegal Law ! Federal law supercedes State law... Think about it, and Stay Alive !

[Keith L]

Never Ever agree to be an Obedient Victim !

It is Always better the be Judged by 12 than Carried by 6 !

Laws be Damned, it is Insane for Any citizen of this country to Not have a Loaded and ready weapon Close at hand while Sleeping, watching tv or Any other activity ! You have a God Given right to Self Defense, and if your DEAD it does not matter ! Keith, your "your no good to anyone if your in jail" mentality has got Alot of people Dead. Never give up you most Basic right, the Right to Self Defense to try and comply with a Illegal Law ! Federal law supercedes State law... Think about it, and Stay Alive !

Are you going to represent me in court?  Have you ever heard of home rule?  Apparently not.  Your advise is worth just what I paid for it.

I will take the advise of my NRA coach, and the law enforcement folks that helped with the class.  I can be as safe as anyone and still comply with the laws of the state.  And I still may have to prove it in court.  But I will have a case.

My only point in all of my comments is to know what you may be up against should you have to use your weapon.  If you don't take the time to learn and just use advise like is quoted above you will be in trouble and get what you deserve.

[~Ace~]

The Real world says you will never see a Courtroom, any punk with a butter knife can take advantage of your willingness to set aside the most BASIC Human right, And the Constitution to be an Obedient Victim. If I ever get to the point that I care So little about myself and my family that I would allow some Yankee Liberal "Lawmaker" to sway me into cowering down in fear... I'll shoot Myself in the head.

NRA, Police, ?  Will they be at your Funeral ?

My only point in all of my comments is to know what you may be up against should you have to use your weapon.  If you don't take the time to learn and just use advise like is quoted above you will be in trouble and get what you deserve.

Your job is to STAY ALIVE ! If your Sleeping and your gun is in another room, Locked in a safe, it is USELESS ! If your DEAD, What good was it ? 
The Constitution Gives us the RIGHT to DEFEND Ourselves !
GOD Gives you the right.... If your Religious, how do you suppose you will answer ... WHY did you not protect yourself and your family from these Sinners when you have the materials to do so ?

[Keith L]

Thats enough for this topic.  I should have locked it before. 

New rule:  Personal defense discussion will take place on the GB forum for that topic.  This forum is for discussing Marlin Lever Action Centerfire Rifles.  Off topic posts will be removed.