We Get Letters...

"Whats the purpose of handgun calibre rifles?"

First off, most are carbines. Shorter-barreled rifles. The purpose is to shoot modern ammunition from a longer barrel, thereby creating more velocity. More velocity means better stopping power.

A CorBon or Double Tap 135 grain hollowpoint will do maybe 1300 fps from a three and a half inch barrel. The same round will crank out of a 16-18 inch carbine at around 2000 fps. Handloaders are daily exceeding the terminal ballistics of what an AK-47 has to offer, and again, with ammo designed to stop people, not game animals.

Double your pleasure as your 40 caliber round impacts at over 2000 fps to an 80 caliber one. Get a Hi-Point if money is in short supply. Spend $200 out the door for a 40 caliber carbine that will...at close range and this means for defensive purposes...out-do anything short of a .308. The downside is the fact that most pistol caliber carbines don't have full capacity magazines, so 10-15 rounds will have to do ya should the Mongol Horde invade the neighborhood.

And, for spelling CALIBER the European way, drop and give me 20. The American way. Chest to the dirt on each and every rep and no stopping to catch your widdle breath.