For most self defense situations a person is likely to encounter, a long barreled rifle is not the weapon of choice.  Intended primarily as an offensive armament, its greatest drawback in a defensive situation is the fact that it may be too long and too bulky to quickly deploy and maneuver in a close quarter, cluttered, or confined environment.  A rifle is designed to produce long, accurate shots.  Hence, it may pose a threat to innocent people from over penetration or excessive range.  

On the positive side, a rifle possesses better stopping power, presents a stronger visual deterrent, and provides greater accuracy than any handgun.  Recoil will be tolerable and manageable with the preferred urban defense rounds such as .223 Remington, .357 Magnum, or .44 Magnum.  These latter two revolver cartridges benefit significantly from being chambered in a carbine, even more so than their autoloading counterparts, 9 mm and .45 ACP. 

A short barreled rifle such as an AR-15 by Colt or one of its various derivatives or clones by other quality manufacturers, a Mini-14 by Ruger, or an autoloading or lever action carbine is preferred for personal protection.

Please note that Russian rifle ammunition imported under the "Wolf" label is of fair quality and is incredibly inexpensive.  It is not recommended for use, however, in either the Ruger Mini-14 or the Mini-30 due to its propensity to bend or break firing pins in these fine rifles.  This admonition also applies to the Czech ammunition manufactured by Sellier and Belloit.  Only domestically manufactured ammunition is recommended by Ruger for use in its firearms.  

While the AR-15 rifle can handle foreign ammo, special attention must be paid to cleaning the firearm due to the varnish coating on foreign steel cartridges which tends to gunk up the receiver.  It is probably a good idea to restrict the use of foreign ammunition to rifles such as the AK-47 and SKS, which don't exhibit the relatively tight manufacturing tolerances which typify the AR-15.  

Be sure to visit the Armory munitions room "Rifle Ammunition: Self Defense" for detailed information regarding rifle rounds suited to urban self defense.  For those wishing additional information on AR-15 type rifles and bullet performance versus barrel length, investigate "Tech Tips".  

In 1994, a number of earlier makes and models of .223 caliber (5.56 NATO) semi-automatic rifles were banned by cowardly, incompetent federal legislators as "assault rifles".  Rather than confront and address the nature of crime in this country (Duh!- criminals, particularly repeat offenders), these morally bankrupt politicians chose to blame societal ills on an inanimate tool: a household firearm.  In an orgy of  deceit, frenzy was substituted for foresight and illusion for substance in conjuring up this so-called "crime bill": the "Clinton Gun Ban".

True  "assault rifles" are capable of firing full auto, in a manner comparable to a sub machine gun.  Rifles for the civilian market are restricted to semi-automatic operation only, in which the trigger must be pulled to initiate each shot.

Amazingly, the criteria used by the "Clinton Gun Ban" to classify a civilian rifle as an "assault rifle" was based solely on appearance, accessories, or ancillary features that had no bearing on the firearms function, which included the lack of any full auto capability.

 An "assault rifle" was defined as a semi-automatic rifle that had two of the five following features:

1. folding or telescoping stock;
2. pistol grips;
3. flash suppressor;
4. bayonet mount;
5. grenade launcher.

Firearms intended for the civilian market didn't incorporate grenade launchers anyway, due to the fact that grenades and other types of bombs and explosives have been for decades illegal for the general public to own.  Hence, the gun ban focused on ergonomic features like stocks and grips, and the innocuous flash suppressor.  Modern combat doesn't lend itself to bayonet use, and the AR-15 platform is not really sturdy enough to effectively function as a spear.  Yet the inoffensive bayonet mount was also restricted.

To reiterate and emphasize, please note that civilian "assault rifles" were never full auto or select fire sub machine guns, a category of firearm already subject to considerable federal oversight and regulation.  In terms of its operation, the semi-automatic action of these so-called "assault rifles" is identical to the action of other countless, and legal, self-loading handguns, rifles, and shotguns.  Nevertheless, because of their "scary" military look, many fine rifles were outlawed.

The portion of the "Clinton Gun Ban" which demonized military-style semi-automatic firearms passed into law subject to a "sunset" provision which was to become effective in a decade, unless the law was re-enacted.  On September 13, 2004, this truly pathetic piece of legislation expired.  No shred of evidence was ever found to exist which demonstrates that the ban contributed anything at all toward the reduction of crime. 

With the sunset of the "Clinton Gun Ban", the  exact same civilian rifle as a pre-ban "assault rifle" can now be purchased new and legally owned, even though it is possesses  the "intimidating" cosmetic features that anti-self protection/anti-Bill of Rights legislators and their gun bigot, pinko buddies found so frightening.  

Existing "post-ban" rifles purchased between 1994 and 2004 may also be legally retrofitted with the collapsible stock option, the bayonet lug, and the flash suppressor, while still retaining the handy pistol grip.  

Hence, a law-abiding citizen in all states but the Peoples' Republic of California, and possibly some Eastern Bloc states such as Massachusetts, can acquire and own an unregistered, brand new or modified civilian "assault rifle", that really isn't an "assault rifle" (select fire, full auto) at all.

Some feel that deletion of the flash suppressor mandated by the 1994 "Clinton Gun Ban" actually improved the overall accuracy of the .223 rifle.  However, for those wishing this particular component, the flash suppressor can now be purchased as an option on a new rifle, or as a retrofit to a rifle purchased during the "post ban" period.  

It is also legal to install a "muzzle break" or a "compensator" to the barrel of the rifle should the shooter desire to reduce either, respectively,  recoil or muzzle jump.  These devices look somewhat akin to a flash suppressor, but function differently, in a manner similar to that produced by porting. 

What Americans are looking for is crime control with substance.  What they got in the "Clinton Gun Ban" of 1994 was a charade which did nothing to inhibit the lawless.  This travesty was rather only another  infringement upon the liberties of the law abiding.  With dedicated attention by an informed citizenry, hopefully any future debacle regarding "assault rifle" prohibition can be avoided.

Lever action carbines, which are essentially short-barreled rifles, are a viable home defense weapon.  Ideally, such a firearm will possess a lever action, the classic exposed hammer, a barrel length from 16- to 20-inches, a tubular magazine, and cartridge chambering in .357 Magnum or .44 Magnum.  Suitable models include the Model 94 Trapper by Winchester and the Model 1894S by Marlin.

When compared to a handgun, the carbine possesses several potential shortcomings if used in a life threatening situation where personal protection is required.  These include the lack of maneuverability in tight quarters and the possible difficulty for the intended victim to keep control of the firearm should an intruder successfully come within arms reach and attempt to grapple for the weapon.

On the positive side, carbines are easier to master than handguns.  They hit harder and recoil less.  

When compared to a long barreled rifle, carbines do not exhibit the propensity to over penetrate.  Neighbors and innocent bystanders are thus likely spared the specter of being inadvertently shot during an encounter between an aggressive criminal and an intended victim who is armed with a carbine.

The tubular magazine of a carbine holds numerous rounds.  A practiced individual can sustain a comforting rate of fire.

Keep in mind that lever action carbines lack a magazine cutoff.  Hence, cartridges must be cycled through the action in order to unload them.  The presence of a cross bolt safety, placed in the "safe" position,  makes the unloading operation far less hazardous than otherwise would be the case without it.  Engaging the cross bolt safety also reduces the chance of an accidental discharge when standing down after a high stress confrontation.

In this age of political cowardice in America, inanimate firearms and law abiding members of the gun community are under legislative assault at the national, state and local levels.  In contrast, career criminals and habitual offenders cycle without significant punitive accountability through a legal system which mocks the concept of justice.  

With the perverted logic of the times in perspective, consider that the benign appearance and innocuous name of the carbine suggest memories of affable cowboys and the camaraderie of the campfire.  Thus, the lever action carbine is less likely to be regulated into oblivion when compared to its "scary looking" counterparts which possess a somewhat military bearing.  

This said, however, never underestimate the ultimate intentions of the Marxist fanatics who infest our national and state capitols: usurping your freedom of choice for personal protection by the confiscation of all firearms from private ownership.  

Despite its non-threatening image, rest assured that the lever action carbine is an efficient, potent and decisive firearm for self defense purposes.

 

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