Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Pistol-Caliber Carbines

moot1337 · 02-01-2009, 10:03 PM

I think that while there are good points to be made about it being more stable a platform than a pistol and having a longer sight radius, the pistol caliber carbine fills roles that are just as adequately filled by a pistol or a rifle, or, better yet, a bullpup rifle.

In my mind, some of the restrictions we have in the US are big deterring factors to pistol caliber rifles. The thing they should really have going for them is a short overall length, and a concealable folded length. Due to the 16" barrel limit and 26" overall length limit on rifles in the US, I can't really see them having either unless in bullpup configuration. Mass produced pistol rounds are designed to attain their maximum energy in 4-6" of barrel, and so gain nothing out of the additional length of a rifle barrel, unless custom loaded.

There are, still, a couple of exceptions which would make good weapons platforms. A buddy of mine recently put together a 9mm AR upper, as he was able to go in on a huge stack of ammo with a friend. It was loaded hot enough that it would tear most handguns up pretty quickly, but the AR eats it like I eat waffles.

.357 SIG is another caliber I could see making a successful light rifle round, for pretty much the same reason. There's a lot of case room to be jammin' some slower burning powder into.

Finally, the PS90 by FN is something of an increased versatility rifle. The 5.7mm round was designed to be fired from this platform, so it works pretty well in it. Performs as a rifle should, with a very small overall length and weight. I wouldn't bother using the Five-seveN pistol with it, however, as it's pretty much the reverse of the above, a pistol trying to fire a round loaded for a rifle, and gaining the benefits of neither.

The bottom line is that a medium weight weapon is a great idea, but needs to have ammo loaded specifically for it in order to function in a way markedly different from a pistol (which is concealable) or a rifle (which has greater range and capacity for doing damage).

I'm personally still waiting for Kel-Tec to get their RFB on the shelves. 7.62 NATO, 18" barrel, 26" overall length... a semi-compact weapon in full-size caliber is right up my alley.

-m00t

*as a side note, if it were legal in the US, whenever not carrying my pistol, I would totally have a stock mounted on it. Steyr makes a pretty cool removable polymer piece for the m9 series. Alas, it is not meant to be.

02-01-2009, 10:03 PM	#14 (permalink)
moot1337 Insane Location: Learning to Fly...	I think that while there are good points to be made about it being more stable a platform than a pistol and having a longer sight radius, the pistol caliber carbine fills roles that are just as adequately filled by a pistol or a rifle, or, better yet, a bullpup rifle. In my mind, some of the restrictions we have in the US are big deterring factors to pistol caliber rifles. The thing they should really have going for them is a short overall length, and a concealable folded length. Due to the 16" barrel limit and 26" overall length limit on rifles in the US, I can't really see them having either unless in bullpup configuration. Mass produced pistol rounds are designed to attain their maximum energy in 4-6" of barrel, and so gain nothing out of the additional length of a rifle barrel, unless custom loaded. There are, still, a couple of exceptions which would make good weapons platforms. A buddy of mine recently put together a 9mm AR upper, as he was able to go in on a huge stack of ammo with a friend. It was loaded hot enough that it would tear most handguns up pretty quickly, but the AR eats it like I eat waffles. .357 SIG is another caliber I could see making a successful light rifle round, for pretty much the same reason. There's a lot of case room to be jammin' some slower burning powder into. Finally, the PS90 by FN is something of an increased versatility rifle. The 5.7mm round was designed to be fired from this platform, so it works pretty well in it. Performs as a rifle should, with a very small overall length and weight. I wouldn't bother using the Five-seveN pistol with it, however, as it's pretty much the reverse of the above, a pistol trying to fire a round loaded for a rifle, and gaining the benefits of neither. The bottom line is that a medium weight weapon is a great idea, but needs to have ammo loaded specifically for it in order to function in a way markedly different from a pistol (which is concealable) or a rifle (which has greater range and capacity for doing damage). I'm personally still waiting for Kel-Tec to get their RFB on the shelves. 7.62 NATO, 18" barrel, 26" overall length... a semi-compact weapon in full-size caliber is right up my alley. -m00t *as a side note, if it were legal in the US, whenever not carrying my pistol, I would totally have a stock mounted on it. Steyr makes a pretty cool removable polymer piece for the m9 series. Alas, it is not meant to be. __________________ And that, my liege, is how we know the Earth to be banana-shaped. This new learning amazes me, Sir Bedevere. Explain again how sheeps' bladders may be employed to prevent earthquakes. Oh, certainly, sir.