karder wrote:I think a really great gun to use for home defense is the CX4 from Beretta. It is a very short carbine so it is easy to handle in tight quarters. You can get it in 9mm, .40, or .45. My brother-in-law has one in .45 and it is a very soft shooter and seems really reliable. You can check it out on the Beretta website. It may be a little near the top end of your price range, but from what you are describing, I think it would fit the bill pretty well. I am thinking about getting one myself, but I kind of want the H&K USC. That is a really nice piece but the price tag is awfully high, especially with the CX4 as an option. Anyway, just a suggestion. Good luck in your search.
I also have a CX4 Storm in 9mm, and it is an excellent "close quarters" carbine. With a light on the lower front rail, it's excellent for a pistol round carbine. My suggestion to the OP for the lever gun chamered in .357 mag, or .44 mag, was in part due to the fact he already has revolvers chambered in those calibers. It's pretty handy to have handguns and long guns using the same ammo. Personally, I would opt for the short barreled lever gun in the much more potent "revolver magnum round" for the versatility factor, if I were "in the market". Other than the "cool factor", my only reason for buying the CX4 was the fact that I got it in very slightly used condition with the original hard case, three Beretta 15 round mags, three (crummy) aftermarket 30 round mags, new top rail, and a couple of boxes of ammo for an even $500. I probably wouldn't pay the current asking price of +/- $900.
surv