Rifles That Shoot Pistol Cartridges

• 9mm cartridges are the most common pistol ammunition in the world today. Ablestock.com/AbleStock.com/Getty Images

  Some of the most famous rifles of all time fall into the category of rifles that shoot pistol ammunition as they were often beloved for their practicality and inventiveness. Having a rifle that fires the same cartridges as your pistol can save time and weight and allow reloading of both quickly and easily. The downfall of the pistol cartridge is its relative inaccuracy over distance when compared with a rifle-only bullet.

Small Bore Rifles

• Small bore rifles are those that fire shells of .22 caliber or less. These rifles tend to be rimfire rather than centerfire and their ammunition is commonly found in both rifles and pistols. The Colt .22 M-16 is a more interesting example than the norm as it is an exact replica of the M-16 rifle (also made by Colt) used by the U.S. military except for the fact that it fires .22 rimfire ammo (very common in pistols) rather than .223. The rifle is used primarily for target shooting. The main attraction to this rifle is the look as it seems to be a full-on assault rifle on appearance but is actually a very manageable target gun. All elements of the rifle are true to form for the M-16 from the muzzle flash suppressor to the all black stock.

Thompson Submachine Gun

• The Thompson submachine gun, better known as the "Tommy Gun" was a revelation when it was invented in 1919 by John Taliaferro Thompson, a retired West Point grad and recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal. This drum-fed .45 caliber fully automatic rifle was categorized as a submachine rifle and was originally intended to be used for clearing trenches and covering no man's land for battles like those which had been seen in Europe during World War I. It quickly became a favorite tool for federal agents and gangsters because of its high capacity, rapid fire and knock down power. The gun has two pistol grips, a rifle stock, a drum or clip for ammunition, and fires full-auto in a rather inaccurate but extremely destructive burst. The .45 caliber pistol shell was decided on when in testing it became clear that rifle shells could not be ejected rapidly enough and created too much recoil for practical use.

Carbines and Custom Rifles

• As of 2010, there are several rifles made to fire pistol cartridges if you just care to ask for them. Ruger, Marlin, Beretta, Colt, Bushmaster, and many more manufacturers make 9mm versions of carbine rifles among other calibers and types. The 9mm became popular thanks to the Luger, a world famous German side-arm first brought into service in the 1930s in the early stages of WWII. The ammunition performed so well for German troops that it was adopted into submachine guns and carbine long arms. Today, the 9mm is used in the side arm of every major armed forces in the world.

  If you prefer a non-carbine standard rifle made to fire pistol cartridges, many companies will deliver what you need on request. Ask at a dealer or contact the company directly to order a rifle custom to the caliber of your preference. Additional fees will usually apply.