Lucky Gunner discusses some of the pros and cons of the pistol caliber carbines (PCCs)--at least, the semi-auto variety. Basically, as he notes, the downsides are barrel length (although this can mitigated if you are willing to go the SBR route) and that they are essentially the same size and as a basic AR or AK rifle but without the performance of the 5.56 or 7.62x39 rounds. And as he points out, PCC calibers will generally have greater penetration of walls than most 5.56 rounds. But he also discusses four advantages: (i) cheaper ammo (assuming 9mm); (ii) quieter; (iii) easier to find a gun range that will let you use them (i.e., most ranges will let you shoot them in their pistol ranges); and (iv) he thinks they can make an ideal SBR platform (assuming you get one that is amenable to having its barrel shortened).
He doesn't discuss lever action carbines in pistol calibers (e.g., .38 Special/.357 Magnum, .44 Special/.44 Magnum, or .45 Colt). One of the things that has impressed me when looking at the information at Ballistics By The Inch is the vast increase in performance in the forgoing cartridges when shot through a 16+ inch barrel versus a typical handgun length barrel--particularly when considering the magnum cartridges. On top of that, depending on the length of the magazine tube, you are generally looking at 8 or more rounds of ammunition (versus 4 to 6 rounds of rifle rounds for the same length). You can generally add an extra round to that count if you are using the Specials rather than the Magnums. So if you are in a jurisdiction that allows lever actions but not semi-autos, or otherwise neuters semi-autos, this might be something to think about.
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