Kingsoverqueens 10 Posted July 20, 2012 I see referenced to rifles and then references to carbines and have never understood the difference. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DirtyDigz 1,812 Posted July 20, 2012 Carbine usually refers to a "shortened" rifle with a barrel length of 20" or less. Frequently carbines are chambered in pistol calibers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Parker 213 Posted July 20, 2012 Google a fellow named "Carbine" Williams (David Marshall Williams) although I believe the term carbine was around long before he was born. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbine Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
XDJohnTact 49 Posted July 20, 2012 Carbine usually refers to a "shortened" rifle with a barrel length of 20" or less. Frequently carbines are chambered in pistol calibers. +1, this is my understanding regarding the differences between the two. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HKHockey 5 Posted July 20, 2012 In ARs it refers to gas system length. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
raz-0 1,263 Posted July 21, 2012 In ARs it refers to gas system length. Not really, the carbine length gas system is called that because it came about in order to make a carbine length at from the 20" rifle. Carbines are just shorter, usually lighter, versions of a rifle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites