M1 carbine?

shootist16

shootist16

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I am really close to getting one, but wanted to get your input before I pull the trigger.
 
Let me say that I share your desire for the carbine. I want one really bad, but haven't run across the deal I want.

From what I read, they're really cool if you know how to work on them. There's a wealth of information online about keeping one tuned and accurizing one.

The downside, I'm told is that it isn't really a rifle round, and not quite a pistol. The detractors of the carbine say it lacks knockdown power. That wouldn't be a problem for me as I only intend to knock down paper targets and beer cans with it.

If you've found one at the price you want, by all means, jump on it!
 
What kind and where are you getting it from?

If you are getting one of the re-imports I would hold off and get an NRA membership instead and go through the CMP. Some of the re-imports are ok but most are pretty well worn. As for a Universal, they just need to be checked by a good gunsmith who knows M1 Carbines. Next would be the re furbished from Fulton Armory, great guns but expensive. The carbines from Auto-Ordnance are nicely done as well but again pricey.

I got my last one through the CMP, it was a service grade and was under $500. I was surprised to see it had a handwritten note on the tag saying "nice muzzle" and was even more surprised at the range when it would shoot close to minute of angle at 100 yards. (first three shot group went into slightly under 1 1/4 inch).

The Mi Carbine is a great firearm for home and for the car. It has one of the easiest manual of arms to learn for any military semi-auto, is accurate, is a good stopper with the proper ammo, extra mags are fairly cheap, very little recoil, and if you add a folding stock the will easily fit in a tennis racket bag for in the car. In the house they are short enough to do duty for room clearing and best of all when LEOs do show up it doesn't look like a bad guy gun. Mine serves in this role loaded with Corbon DPX, it will stop unwanted, antisocial aggression. Get one...you will definitely be happy.

m1carbine-1.jpg
 
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shootist16 said:
Service grade from CMP, Underwood
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Go ahead and do it, at the very least it is a great investment. One word of warning, the standard M1 mag release was not designed to hold the weight of the 30 round magazines, if you are going to use them get a mag release for a M2 carbine and replace it. I replaced mine simple to have the stronger mag catch but I prefer the 15 round mags, better in the prone position.
 
They are cool.

I have one my dad gave me for Christmas back in the 70's. The barrel is underwood and the receiver is Quality Hardware and the lower is Rock Ola.

Mine is a good shooter.

I have a .30 carbine Ruger Blackhawk too. Those things are a blast!:thumbup:
 
I have an Inland arms M1 carbine. I got it in trade as a youth. The rifling is 98+ percent, and the finish is great as well. I won't tell you how much I got it for, or you might cry.

Fun gun. The round has tons of penetration power in FMJ (compared against other rounds) in the same medium. A ton of that power goes unused because It will pass right through the target. The round is on par with a .38 special solid round. If you get hollow point ammo the stopping ability should go up drastically. I think it is 110 grain bullet at 1700 feet per second or something like that.

I also have it in an AMT, and in a pistol, it is a loud, flashy beast, that shoots very straight.

No solo pic, or close up
IMG_1181.jpg



the AMT .30 carbine is the long slide in the left row.
IMG_1177.jpg
 
When I was a kid those were all over the place for $35 to $100. Wish I'd bought a variety! Unfortunately, AR-15s and 7.62 caliber military rifles were all the rage so I never picked one up. At least I got a pristine 03-A3, a custom, match-grade Garand, and a nice MIA. They take away some of the sting of missing the M1s.

If you have the spare cash, I'd buy it.

DancesWithKnives
 
they are ok if ya can get a good deal, me i have always preffered a AR or AK, but the old carbines are ok for sure.

they seem to work ok for SD as long as ya arent stuck with ball ammo, which doesnt work so good.

they sure are pricey now, i saw a few at my local show back around thanksgiving and they had gone up some for sure lol.
 
You're right on about the price problem. Around here, Big 5 was trying to sell them for a thousand bucks (and not collector's items). Later put them "on sale" for $800. In my opinion, that's way out of line for a Plain Jane "user" M1. However, I'd personally pick one up if I saw a really good price on a clean rifle.

DancesWithKnives
 
SIFU1A said:
they are ok if ya can get a good deal, me i have always preffered a AR or AK, but the old carbines are ok for sure.

they seem to work ok for SD as long as ya arent stuck with ball ammo, which doesnt work so good.

they sure are pricey now, i saw a few at my local show back around thanksgiving and they had gone up some for sure lol.
Click to expand...

I would much prefer an AR, but I can't get one for $500.
 
get an AK then..........best rifle around for the $$ imho, certainly a lot more rifle than an M1 carbine, unless something about the carbine just grabs ya, i have had both and i know if i could only have one the choice wouldnt be hard,
 
There are some good defense rounds for the 30 carbine .The best is Corbon DPX .It works very well !!
 
I actually found a lower for an AR, unbelievable I know. I am going to forego the M1 and build and AR-15.
 
Bigfattyt said:
I also have it in an AMT, and in a pistol, it is a loud, flashy beast, that shoots very straight.
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Cool. Always wondered about how the AMT was. The Blackhawk is a really good shooting gun in .30.

Always wondered how Hornady's 90 grain XTP hollow point would shot in one. Some say it's too wide at .309 and some say not problem.
 
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