Best self-defense round for levergun?

[srcjahc]

I have some revolvers in .357 and want to buy a levergun to round out the pistols and a Winchester 1300 Defender for home defense duty in a suburban area. I am starting to reload so with that in mind should I stick to a .357 levergun or go to a .44 levergun or even a .30-30. I like the idea of a powerful straight walled cartridge instead of a bottle-neck cartridge because of the ease of reloading (no lubing required, less powder required, etc.) But since I do live in a suburb with 1/2 acre and less lots, etc. I was wondering if a handy 16 or 18 inch .357 levergun would work just fine? Any thoughts?

[savageT]

Well......................If you are looking for home defense in a lever gun that won't penetrate your walls and neighbors too, you'd better forget the 30-30!  I saw yesterday that Winchester has come out again with the m9410 lever in .410 gauge.  Now that sounds like a dandy lever action home defense weapon.  Got to be a little bit concerned about liability issues don't you think?
http://www.winchester-guns.com/prodinfo/catalog/category.asp?cat=006C



Jim

[Jim n Iowa]

for your home defence I would go for a rem 870 or 1100 in a min of 20 gauge, best your going to get if your going to try wavying around 20" barrel in a house.
Jim

[srcjahc]

I guess I should elaborate further-I want a levergun not as the first weapon to grab when I here something go bump in the night but more as a last resort 50-100 yd defense in case of a L.A.-style riot/natural or domestic terror disaster, etc..

[Blackhawk44]

For home defense stick with the Winchester 1300.  Don't think that the 44 and 357 won't penetrate sheetrock and siding.  A heavy bullet in either one might not stop for 3 or 4 houses.  30-30 could be worse.  Inside a house, you don't even want buckshot or slugs for the same reason.  Birdshot is quite effective across the room.  If you absolutely have to have big shot, I would not use anything larger than #4's at worst.   The shotgun is far preferable to the handguns also.  More intimidating, more effective and with something like white bandage tape around the muzzle easier to aim in less than absolute darkness.  You could not see pistol sights at all and "point shooting" in the dark is an absolute myth.  Once the intruders are beyond range of the birshot, they must be fleeing and any more shots from you make you the antagonist and potential murderer!  AThink very hard about that.  Just buy which ever carbine you like and use it all you want at the range and in the field, not the house.

[southern utah]

I would go with the  Marlin 44 mag,  it would also be excellent for a game getter in survival situation.  if main concern is defence then BIGGER is better with the slower velocity of the pistol ammo.  Would be nice with a S&W 629 mountain gun.

[John Y Cannuck]

While I agree with all of the thoughts above regarding house/wall penetration of heavy slugs, I think we got away from your question.
I'd go for the '92 Winchester. It's fast, and light, and designed for short cartridges like the 44-40 originally. It's now available from various manufacturers in 38/357.

[lgm270]

Good points all.  
Consider the .44 mag lever action loaded with .44 speical Glaser Safety slugs. These are highly frangible anti-personnel rounds which  are devastaing on "soft" targets at close range, but  because of their frangible characteristics they do not have the penetrating qualities of stiffer slugs.  You can switch to heavier slugs if need be, but the points of impact will be different with the same sight settings.

[PA-Joe]

If they are 50-100 yds away then it is not call defence!

[1860]

Ask any mechanic, nothing worse than not having the right tool and a lever gun is the wrong tool for self defense in todays world.  But, I understand and like them also, if you are dead set on getting one, I agree with John C.  A nice little 92 carbine in 44-40 or 357 to match your revolvers.

Me: I'd have a 12ga Browning A-5 with a smoothbore slug bbl. about 20".  Bird shot for inside the house, buckshot for outside and lead slugs for your LA riot thing.  Either way, a bad guy will certainly notice that "kling" noise they make when the action closes... :eek:

1860

[Mikey]

PA-joe:  if they are 50-100 yds away from you and shooting at you, it is self defense, and you are protecting yourself from home invasion.  The only time it isn't is when the Police find their bodies with the entry holes only in their backs, unless you can prove they were going from one protected firing position to another.  The shotgun is best at close range.  For anything further it would be his preferance.  If he has a slick handlin' lever gun he is comfortable and capable with then that should do it for him.

My two front door openers are a double barrel 20 gauge coach gun and an old SKS I brought back with me.  The double clears the door and if they make the mistake of stopping and turning for that last 'up yours' shot, the SKS gives it right 'up theirs'.  M2C.  Mikey.

[wesco]

All these replies about the shotgun leaves one to think there must not be any board members here that use a handgun for defense--far to dangerous, might shoot the neighbor. Well....lots of folks have been using handguns for home defense since there where handguns made, and it's not all to difficult to find loads for the 38/357, 44/44 mag, 44/40, or 45 lc that do not pose great problems due to penitration. Yes, a shotgun is a great answer for the question, but so are any of the pistol caliber lever guns. I am hoping the intent is to hit the target in the first place not spray lead everywhere. I mostly shoot lever guns and they are second nature to me and I woud much prefer to have one in my hands than a pump shotgun that I am unconditioned to using.

Wesco

[Larry Gibson]

"srcjahc"

I have some revolvers in .357 and want to buy a levergun to round out the pistols ..........  I was wondering if a handy 16 or 18 inch .357 levergun would work just fine? Any thoughts? "


Yes, the .357 lever gun will work fine.  As mentioned get one of the M92 models.  With Win or Fed factory 125 HP/SPs you will be in the 2100+ fps range with the rifle and 1400 -1600 with your revolver depending on barrel length.  This will nicely cover the area, and then some, you describe against the expected varmints but always be cognizent  of what is beyond your target.  

Larry Gibson

[srcjahc]

Lots of great info and opinions-thank you all. I think I will look into a Rossi-EMF that has been worked over by "Steve's Gunz" in the form of a stainless 20" .357. Due to over-penetration concerns and ease of reloading I''ll stick to .357. If that does not work in a SHTF situation I guess I''ll have to let 'em get a little closer!!! :-)

[wesco]

srcjahc,

You will truly be well armed!

Wesco

[Gatofeo]

When I lived in Idaho, I'd load three Speer .457 inch lead balls, separated by a felt Wonder Wad, over a light charge of smokeless powder.
Muzzle velocity was about 900 fps. At 25 yards, all three balls grouped in a three or four inch circle, so dispersion at that range and less was minimal.
Not a good penetrator, but then I lived in an apartment complex. My Marlin 1895 held four such rounds. I never kept a live round in the chamber for two reasons: (1) Safety, so someone couldn't immediately cock and fire it and (2) Psychological effect. If I ever had to use it, the aggressor would hear the rifle's lever being worked.
This makes a nifty defense round. Getting hit in the chest with three .45-caliber lead balls would likely prove fatal: three entry holes for the medics to plug. I don't believe they would penetrate a body, even at short range.
I no longer use this round. I now have a sweet Remington 870 Youth Model in 20 gauge, with the 22-inch barrel, that works well when loaded with No. 3 buckshot.
The .45-70 load is a hoot to plink with at the range, however. It's fun to fire one shot and see three holes appear in the paper!

[WD45]

If you want a lever gun for home defense it makes good since to go with the 357 mag. You already have a wheel gun for that round and you are starting to reload which will also be more economical since you can load for both guns. I would consider the safety slugs for inside the house. They are not cheap but there is not as much worry about wall penetration. I am not worried as much about the neighbors as I am the thing going through a wall and hitting one of my own family. I would also consider a shotgun also as a compliment to the other 2. They are definatley better in the house and  in low light conditions and as for outside... buckshot will do a lot of damage way beyond what most people think.
Also on the wall penetration note... There was a man doing the proverbial cleaning the 30 30 routine in my uncles apartment complex and dont ya know it went off. The bullet went through the apartment wall and into the next building hitting a man that was sitting on his couch. How many times have you heard... don't worry it's not loaded  ?

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

A .357 lever action is one sweet gun.

If there ever was a "do-it-all-gun" this would be a strong candidate.

With .38 specials and lighter bullets you can pop squirrels and bunnies to your heart's content.

With .357 mags and heavier bullets you can take down deer.

.357 Mag rounds will stay within the kill zone from muzzle to 100 yards easily.

For a rather intense fire-fight the recoil is nominal making fast follow-up shots easy - This is why this gun is extremely popular with Cowboy Action Shooters.

Reloading for the cartridge is simple (straighwalled) and dirt cheap.  Cast your own bullets and you can get around $2/box.

AND this is the biggest thing that probably counts for more than all the other factors - PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.

Because it is cheap, easy-recoiling, and accurate you will find that practice is enjoyable.  Burning several hundred rounds in a single visit to the range will be simple.  No sore shoulder or sore hands the next day, so you can turn around and do it again.

Take a coffee can and practice off the hip shooting.  With practice you can get proficient with it.  But it will take lots and lots of ammo - if it costs a lot then it will be more difficult.

With practice comes confidence.  You will know what you can and can't do with that gun.  That ability will go a long way in a life-threatening situation.

[Johm D M]

Col. Jeff Cooper speaking on assault rifles said that a low recoiling rifle capable of a 200 yd flat shooting cartridge of 150 gr or more and rapid fire for multiple intruders perfectly described a lever action 30-30. Gianni.