Carbine VS Rifle: What’s The Difference?

[Talyn]

The border that determines whether a firearm is a carbine VS rifle is a fluid one. Both still present distinct advantages and drawbacks. Which one is best depends on your intended use

Carbine VS Rifle: What’s The Difference?

 

[Bassbob]

When I built my .223 Wylde I got the 16". I have pondered whether I should have went 18 or 20 since my intent is to stretch it out to 400+ eventually.

 

[TEXASforLIFE]

When you can't decide, then get both! Both have their use/duty and the longer ifnear same weight as the carbon can handle as quickly. I manipulate the longer barreled guns in a way for quicker handling for faster target acquisition. At 1st I thought this was going to be about gas systems. Still interesting!

 

[wmg1299]

Excellent article. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but for my first few years of shooting I thought the definition of "Carbine" was a gun that fired a traditional pistol caliber from a rifle-length barrel. I think my misconception was due to seeing so many PCC's (Pistol Caliber Carbines) advertised. I didn't realize my error until I started reading about the M1 Carbine.

I should have realized that if carbines fired pistol caliber cartridges by definition, then there would be no reason to market them as "Pistol Caliber Carbines". That would be the same as manufactures advertising "Rifle Caliber Rifles". Oh well, hindsight is 20/20.

 

[youngolddude]

It used to be a carbine had a barrel band, while a rifle had an end cap, at least concerning lever action guns. A trapper model was typically a 16" barreled gun. Today, it mostly tends to be about a short barreled rifle of various lengths under 20".

 

[Jfal]

Definitions here don't matter a hill of beans until the ATF gets involved. Thhpptt.

 

[HansGruber]

It used to be a carbine had a barrel band, while a rifle had an end cap, at least concerning lever action guns. A trapper model was typically a 16" barreled gun. Today, it mostly tends to be about a short barreled rifle of various lengths under 20".

Trappers could be even shorter than that; original Winchester trapper carbines were 14” (14.5”?)…and iirc some are grandfathered as not SBR’s.

 

[sclark]

Definitions here don't matter a hill of beans until the ATF gets involved. Thhpptt.

And even less after that.

 

[deadduck357]

Simple: a carbine is a shortened rifle.

 

[HansGruber]

Simple: a carbine is a shortened rifle.

Not that simple.

For example, there are “short rifle” configuration Mausers, and then there are carbine Mausers with an even shorter barrel.