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Wednesday, July 8, 2009

The Pistol caliber Sub-rifle as a viable choice

This type of weapon is generally overlook by shooters in general including people in the survival community.
“Big gun no better than a handgun”
“Underpowered”
“If I have a long gun, I want it to fire rifle ammo”
But lets look at some of the advantages:

1) It IS better than a handgun: It’s easier to shoot accurately, has more firepower (40 rounds in some 9mm models) and the extra barrel length adds a couple hundred feet per second in certain 9mm and 40 S&W ammo.
2) Robust: This mostly applies to the more simple open bolt models. Not terribly accurate, but reliable and simple to operate and repair.
3) Ammo price: This is a mayor factor for me, the ability to keep the creature fed.
Honest now guys, how many of you flinch every time you shoot your rifle, not because of recoil but because of the $ you feel fly away with each trigger pull? Ammo is pretty expensive these days, specially rifle ammo. Even if you have it, you sure want to use a minimum amount of it to stay proficient, and save most of it for a rainy day.
This also means you get to practice more.
9mm and other common pistol calibers are cheaper and readily available. If you find ammo in the civilian world, more than likely it’s going to be pistol caliber ammo.


A Nigerian soldier, armed with an UZI. He also has a revolver as a last resort, defensive weapon. In this case, the revolver is a true secondary weapon, unlike the survivalist that carries only a handgun and that is his one and only weapon, his primary.
Notice the two pouches with two reloads handy in his belt.



4) Ammo interchangeability:
Worked for the cowboys and works for us as well. It’s just a terrific advantage in terms of logistics to use the same ammo (even same mags in some cases ) for your handgun and long gun.
5)Light recoil: You don’t have rifle power, no doubt there. And rifle ammo is an entirely different ball game in terms of wounds and stopping power. Still, many special forces and SWAT teams around the globe still use pistol caliber SMG ( in spite of the growing popularity of 223 carbines for this role)
A pistol caliber subgun is something a recoil sensitive person will find more comfortable to shoot.
6) Small overall package: Some of the smaller SMG turned semi auto only are available to civilians and they sure are small.
From a realistic survival situation we’ve discussed many times how important it is to keep our weapons concealed. A small sub gun, even some of the folding models available, they can fit in small suitcases or backpacks. This is terrific if you have to bug out for whatever reason on foot, or board a rescue chopper or boat.
Take an ordinary rifle, open carrying it, and I guarantee you you’ll get a “Sir, please leave your weapon behind before bordering the vehicle”.
A pack with the only material items you have left after a disaster? I doubt they’ll go through that or ask you to leave the backpack behind.
Out of sight, out of mind folks.
So people, I’m not saying that this replaces in any way the firepower or range that a real rifle provides. But this is another tool, another alternative that has many interesting uses that apply to various survival situations.

FerFAL

11 comments:

Blackeagle said...

"6) Small overall package"

Probably the most compelling eason to carry a subgun over a rifle. Unfortunately, in the United States the NFA restrictions on short barreled rifles pretty much negate this advantage.

Shambhala said...

It always surprises me how you and I are on the same page.

I own one of these in 9mm.

http://www.kel-tec-cnc.com/sub2000.htm

However my 9mm pistol is a Taurus, so I cant really interchange the magazines.

Anonymous said...

Another option is an AK underfolder. They will fit easily inside a holder for a tennis racquet, along with several extra mags.

Luke N beaumont said...

one thing i love about the beretta CX Storm carbine is the interchangeability of its amgazines with the Beretta 92.

Bones said...

The US limits rifle barrels to a minimum of 16", which is a damn shame. A .22LR carbine is handy, very cheap to shoot and has good enough muzzle velocity for small game or self defense. A good addition to a SHTF arsenal.

Come to think of it, what IS a good SHTF arsenal? Pistol, matching caliber carbine, shotgun and long gun? I have a 9mm Bersa and a Mosin Nagant 91/30 bolt action rifle in 7.62x54r. I've been eyeing up a mossberg 500 in 12 gauge. Now I want a carbine!

FerFAL said...

"Come to think of it, what IS a good SHTF arsenal? "
For a real minimum, pistol and carbine length 7,62 rifle. Some like 223, I preffer .30.
I can do without the 12 ga, but like the ammo variety.

FerFAL

Bones said...

For sheer power and versatility, you really can't beat a 12 gauge shotgun, although it's size limits usefulness in SD situations. Shotgun ammo has been the only type easily available in the last few months here in the US. They can fire small shot, large shot or slugs, making them useful for a variety of tasks. Slugs are just plain devastating.

Check out these links:

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot3_2.htm

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot22_4.htm

Don said...

In my area .223 has become available again. In fact pretty much all of the rifle calibers can be had now. As you note, shotgun shells haven't been scarce.

Pistol calibers... Pretty much always sold out. Except .357sig, there has usually been a few boxes of that on the shelf. Too obscure to sell I guess.

I saw some 9mm last week for the first time in I don't remember when, and some .40S&W sometime in the last month. Finding bulk packs of .22lr has been nearly impossible since November, and .38spl and .357mag are extremely rare--the single hardest calibers to find locally.

The revolver rounds could be a local anomoly though because a slew of police turn-in revolvers (4" GP-100s, half lug, fixed sights) sold through the local gun shop late last year and that has almost certainly bumped up demand in the area.

Tony said...

You say you prefer .30 over .223 (and 556 I'm assuming) does this mean you would take a M1 Carbine .30 over the more modern M4 Carbine? Am I missing something here? Why?

Anonymous said...

By .30 caliber, he means 7.62x39mm.

Anonymous said...

Another compelling advantage to me is the risk from misses , ricochets and overpenetrations.A rifle bullet can pass through someone or something and still have a LOT of power left over to fly off a long way and destroy something else . Like a neighbors child ; no thanks.
Pistol ammo on the other hand looses much of it's energy with contact and then lethality drops off quickly with distance