[targa911S]

Originally posted by Jeff Higgins
Pistol caliber lever action rifles are an often overlooked alternative to the defensive shotgun. In a New Orleans-esque breakdown in law and order, it may be a better alternative. It will certainly have more range than any shotgun, which may be important for establishing a perimeter around you, your loved ones, and your property.

Self defense in a martial law situation is far different than in our day-to-day lives. Normally any kind of long arm is best avoided for home defense; their length introduces problems with storage, manueverability in tight (indoor) quarters, and retention (yes, the bad guys get close enough to grab them...). Under martial law conditions, however, defending oneself at home is not the only concern. Once you leave the confines of your home for any reason, the additional range and ease of hitting of the long arm comes into play. Shotguns don't gain you much out-of-doors in range beyond a good sidearm. Rifles do.

Lever action rifles are available in pistol calibers including .38 Special / .357 Magnum, .44 Special / .44 Magnum, and .45 Colt. A woman or child should have no difficulty with the .38/.357 as far as either recoil or the size of the rifle. Carbines are even better; the smaller ones run five pounds or so, and sport 18" barrels. They typically hold up to 13 rounds (rifles) or 7-8 rounds (carbines). One huge advantage relative to firepower as well is the manner in which they load; pump and auto shotguns share this advantage - you do not remove a magazine to reload them. You can top them off as you go and as the situation allows. Magazine fed guns require replacing the magazine after its capacity has been used, unless you are willing to drop half-full magazines out when it is convenient to reload. With practice, a lever gun can be topped off from loose rounds in a pocket without ever taking your eyes off the target.

Intimidation factor? The sight of a rifle is every bit as disoncerting as the sight of a shotgun. That, and the sound of a lever gun being cycled is every bit as recognized as a pump gun being cycled. The lever gun is even pretty safe to store in condition three - hammer down on an empty chamber. Cycling the lever as the rifle is brought to the shoulder is very fast. A guy in a gun magazine this months mentions a drill he used to put students through that involved shooting skeet with lever guns. He made them start at low ready, empty chamber, call for the bird, and chamber a round as the rifle was mounted. They all got good at shooting skeet this way. Fast, safe, powerful, light, low recoil, reloadable under stress, intimidating - they have a lot going for them.

So now we're talking Winchester model 1894. The "trapper" is a 16" barrel I think. The good thing about them is one stop ammo. A lot of 94's took .45 acp.