B2, git yer camp carbine
It is my never-ending mission to simplify my life, and so I have been on a quest to find a Marlin Camp Carbine, Model 45. It's one of my favorite utility long guns and fires .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) cartridges, the same caliber used in most all .45 semi-automatic pistols, be they Colt, Springfield, Kimber, or whatever. Plus, the carbine will accept the same magazines I use in my pistol.
When Marlin started producing them,
you could pick one up for around $250, and they also came in 9mm -- but I don't trifle with the 9mm because I figure if you're gonna sling lead, you might as well sling a bunch of it per round for man-stopper security. But as with all things good and great, Marlin discontinued this carbine, stopping production due to the wrong-headed "assault weapons" ban of 1994 that Congress finally allowed to lapse in 2004. Marlin simply didn't want the legal hassles involved with production of the firearm.
Now mind you, there are other pistol caliber rifle options out there, but they are either lever-action in .45 LC (Long Colt) or semi-automatic in other calibers, and many of the semi-automatics don't take the same magazines as pistols. The camp carbine is far easier to shoot than the .45 pistol, but an unlocked blowback operation negates much of the longer barrel's ballistic advantage.
Another concern is that the carbine can be harmed by using too-powerful cartridges; you want to stay with standard .45 ACP loads (say 180 grain in jacketed hollow point) and never use any + p ammunition. Drawbacks aside, this is a great all around piece and at close range, the .45 is accurate and deadly.
I do have one other option in .45 ACP that I like -- the Kahr/Auto-Ordnance Thompson Model 1927 Commando. Yup, the infamous Tommy gun, but in semi-auto. One problem with the 1927, however, is weight. The thing weighs as much as a Buick with a load of fat ladies. Also, it won't accept my pistol magazines, but will do nicely with 30-round stick mags. And finally, the 1927 costs a fortune, whereas a camp carbine can be purchased (if you can find one) for about half the price.
So I'll keep searching for my Marlin and besides, if this is the only problem I have this year, life is good indeed.