Lever guns that shoot straight wall pistol cartridges like 38/357.44 Mag,45 LC and 454 Casull etc. all use rimmed cartridges since the case head spaces on the cartridge rim. The rim is what the case puller/ejector uses to expel the fired case since no gas pressure is used to cycle the action.

Firearms that fire rimless tapered wall pistols cartridges ie. 9mm,45ACP,40 S & W,M1 Carbine etc. all head space on the case mouth and use a blow back design/part of the gas pressure to cycle the action. The extractor/ejector basically just aids in throwing the fired case clear of the action instead of actually pulling the case from the chamber like the lever gun does.

Pistol and rifle cartridges that have a bottle neck design and head space on the shoulder of the cartridge can use a variety of actions,single,lever,bolt,semi auto of full auto function. The cartridge pretty much dictates the action it can be used in. There are exceptions such as my Ruger SA Blackhawk 357/9mm convertible and the Old S & W revolver that would fire 45 ACP or 38 Super ammo.

So in general terms your pretty much stuck with getting a 40 cal. in one of the available rifles you mentioned in your post. Don't forget about he Kel-Tec 40 also,I don't have a dog in the fight since I own neither but have shot a couple but not enough to make a judgment about which one is best. The only drawback I see to the Hi-Point is the 10 rd. mag capacity while the other can use 20+ rd. mags.
http://www.mouseguns.com/sub2000/sub2000.htm

 

Olympic Arms makes AR-15 style rifles and upper conversions in pistol calibers. Their .40 S&W is called the K40.

]http://jsgunparts.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&products_id=10[url][/url]

 

a friend let me shoot his 9mm Hi Point carbine, and it wasn't a bad shooter. Actually, I was impressed with the accuracy, given that it cost less than $400 new. I can't comment on how well they are made, but they do cost about a third of what a new AR would cost.

They do make a 40, but I've never shot one.

Not sure the .40 has any accuracy or power advantage over some of the more standard lever action guns in 45LC or 44 mag. Except that it would use .40s if that's what you primarily reload.

 

High Point has a carbine in .40 and is coming out with a .45 carbine by end of the year.
http://www.hi-pointfirearms.com/carbines/carbines_4095TS.html

I have one in 9mm and it is accurate and should be with a rifle barrel. No problems with my 9mm High Point carbine.

 

Ruger PC-40.

 

Ruger PC-40.

Yup...if you can find one. I love the PC carbines.

 

Thanks for the replies. I started out wanting a HI-Point but never could find one available. Even my FFL still can't get one. The keltec is nice also but just a bit more expensive and I'm not sure I like the foldup part. Guess I'll just have to keep trying. Thanks again.

 

Yup...if you can find one. I love the PC carbines.

my pc9 and p89 make for a lovely pair. almost as lovely as my marlin camp carbine and pt1911.

jgsales.com will have them on occasion. police trade ins. i have been considering one to pair up with my P91. now how many people do you know who actually have a p91?

 

Just curious, what kind of range and how accurate is a 40 cal rifle?

 

I saw this rifle on www.jgsales.com :

Olympic Arms Model PCR 95, AR15 40S&W

http://jgsales.com

 

Kel tec sub 2000. You get it to take Glock mags, Smith, berretta, and I think Sig.

 

Just curious, what kind of range and how accurate is a 40 cal rifle?

i cant personally comment on the 40 but i can say that my pc9 with good ammo will shoot 1-2" @ 50 yards and 4-6" at 100 yards off the rest. the camp carbine is a beast and will shoot cloverleafs all day at 50 and 2-4" at 100 if you do your part. i cant imagine a .40 being very much different. id be interested to see an AR platform shooting .40 for accuracy.

 

I shot a Kel-tec sub 2000 in 9mm recently. Had no problem a pie plate at 100yds with irong sights. plus it fols up and will go under the seat of your truck.