Bushmaster  M-4 Patrolman’s Carbine

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Caliber: .223 Remington (5.56 NATO)
• Manufacturer: Bushmaster Firearms Inc.
• Barrel length:  18”
• Action: Gas Operated semi auto
• Magazine fed: 20-30 rounds
• Sights: Open (M2) adjustable wind./elev.

Winchester Model 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Caliber: .44 S&W Special/.44 Remington Magnum
• Manufacturer: Winchester Firearms USA
• Barrel length: 20”
• Action: Manual lever action
• Magazine fed: 8-10 rounds
• Sights: Open, adjustable wind./elev.

Pocket Pro Timer for start beep on static targets only.No time limit per relays

Shooting positions will be seated for Bench and standing and kneeling for Static drills.Accuracy will not be for group size but for ability of open sighted carbines to place precise aimed fire on a target at 25 yds. I will remove the electronic scope from the M-4 for this test and use open sights for the Bench only. I will replace the electronic sight for the final ten rounds at the Static position just for grins. I may use a volunteer to help with this test…..then again I may not. I will shoot these carbines outdoors at Rives’ Range in Hardin Tx. the same range we will dot the low Light Shoot in January.

Now this is gonna be fun. This comparison will not be as strictly gun v gun as was the 1911 test of the SIG GSR and the PARA USA SSP. This will be more for grins yes; but it will compare the viability of the two weapons for home defense. the Winchester Lever Action carbine is 1800’s technology and the M-4 carbine is 20th Century technology. for its day, the Winchester carbine was state of the art and the M-4 carbine is pretty much the standard issue rifle of the U.S. Armed Forces deployed in combat in Afghanistan and the Middle East.

In civilian gun circles the M-4 and it bigger AR-15 brothers are hugely popular and there are a myriad of manufacturers of these rifles and no shortage of demand for them.

It is a widely accepted fact that the Lever action 30-30 rifle has taken more deer and game animals/food than all other type or calibers of rifles. they are also hugely popular in the civilian shooting market.

Both of these rifles can be found in homes across the Nation in rifle and carbine versions and in various calibers. they are proven fighting tools both from modern wars and from frontier wars. they have defended the nation and the hearth and homes of the nation for many decades. for each of their respective “days” these carbines would be considered the norm for or as front line fighting weapons if not the “state of the art” in their time periods. the lever action rifle for the time period from the early eighteen hundreds through the Civil War, Indian War and opening of the American Western Plains and Frontier all the way to the present day, and the AR-15/M-4 carbine as invented by Eugene Stoner in the Post WW II era, through Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq, Afghanistan and into at least the next millennium in service worldwide.

Down the hall at night during a home invasion; you will be very effective in stopping the bad guys with either rifle. So I’m gonna be very general when comparing these two weapons platforms.

“What’s Old is New Again”

This will NOT be a test or side by side technical comparison to see if one is better than the other and frankly……….I wouldn’t want to get shot with or shot at with either of these rifles. Besides…..it’s just gonna be damned good fun shooting these two.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:

1. The Winchester carbine is lighter in the hands at 6.2 pounds unloaded.
2. The Bushmaster M-4 Carbine with 30 round (loaded) magazine, light, sight, and sling, vertical fore grip weighs in at just over 10 pounds. I will remove the sight for the fairness of iron sights comparison. I will return the sight later for fun.
3. I will load each to capacity as they are designed for that in their respective time frames.
4. I love wood and blue steel so the Winchester wins the “bathing suit” part of this pageant.
5. I really like the way the M-4  Bushmaster Carbine looks.
6. You can definitely tell a difference in weight as the Bushmaster “FEELS” like a combat rifle and the Winchester feels like a fine shotgun when you shoulder it.
7. Yeah the Winchester has a “large loop” (John Wayne style) lever. Cool huh? I lucked out as it is a “pawn shop prize” I just fell into one day. Don’t try that twirlin stuff though you’ll put someone’s eye out (yours) or knock out some teeth “pilgrim”.

These two carbines entered my possession in about the same time frame. I purposely bought the M-4 to teach with and as I said I totally lucked into the Winchester.the Winchester is a finely finished and blued rifle with a fine American Walnut stock. the M-4 Bushmaster is standard M-4 carbine fare and finish. I have added all the accessories to it, and all I can say in comparison is that for its day and even today; the Winchester has no need for accessories. it can do it all straight outa the gate. in fairness the M-4 is capable of the exact same as it comes. it just seems to cry out for basic accessorizing though, and I got basic with quad rail hand guard, electronic sight, vertical grip, butt pad, and weapon light. No lasers here………… yet.

I would venture to say that few if any owners of M-4 carbines; stick with the factory supplied 20 round magazine when the 30 rounders (from Magpul etc.) are readily available and now (depending on who) are factory supplied in many cases.

M-4 carbines are NOT cheap. they will start in the $799.00 range and go up from there. Winchester carbines are scarce and also not cheap BUT! top quality lever action rifle are pretty short anyway and can be had in both rifle and carbine versions from Rossi, Puma, Mossberg and others for very low retail and in pawn shops or at gun shows for remarkably good bargains.  Remember…… a rifle is always more effective in a fight or survival scenario than a handgun.

Good thing about these two guns or rifles types is that you can dedicate one to home defense and teach everyone in the family how to use them easily. Backed up by the wife with either a handgun or pump self defense shotgun, you are a formidable opponent against anyone who invades your home or domain.

I’ll get the comparison up in the next few weeks as time permits.

Carbine Comparison… Then and Now!