OT: 30Rd M1 Carbine Mags

Big Bob

Big Bob

Joined
Oct 13, 1999
Messages
1,732
Last week I went shooting with my dad at the nearby gun club. Back in October I had bought four 30rd mags for my M1 Carbine. I took two with me to the range. Immediately I started having problems with them. They didn't want to lock in securely or feed reliably (they seemed to be positioned too low for about every other round to chamber properly. One of them fell out of my carbine as I was firing it, hit the ground and came apart. My dad and I couldn't find the spring that went with it.

After my adventure at the range I began to get the feeling that many of the M1 Carbine 30 rounders are in the same category as the high capacity SKS (i.e. just about useless). From my limited understanding, 30rd mags for the M1 were developed for later automatic versions (the M2 carbine), so the mags should be reliable. Can anyone here tell me about their experiences with the 30rd M1 mags? Did I just happen to get a couple of bad ones or should I just stick with the 15 rounders?

Bob
 
Bob,

Are these original military or aftermarket mags? I have several original military 30 rd mags and have never had any problems with them.
 
At least you found the problem at the range rather than at a time when it could be deadly. :eek:
 
They're probably aftermarket, as they are real lightweight (almost flimsy) and look brand new. I have two 15rd mags and one is gray and seems to be made of studier stuff.

Bob
 
From "The M1 Carbine Owner's Guide," by Larry L. Ruth with Scott A. Duff:

"The magazines for the Carbine are considered to be of inferior quality. Keep in mind, the military considered them to be disposable. Much the same as the Garand's en bloc clip. Most G.I. 15-round magazines are relatively reliable. Try yours out on the range; if it causes problems throw it away.

"G.I. 30-round magazines can cause substantial problems. The commercial 30-round magazines vary greatly in quality. Many will not even fit in a G.I. Carbine, much less work. The 30-round G.I. item is supposed to use a special M2 magazine catch that engages the extra "nib" on the top left side of those magazines. If your 30s will not feed, try an M2 magazine catch."

Great book and worth its weight in gold to a carbie enthusiast, BTW. Highly recommended.
 
I have a couple of the old original ones they fall out now and then..too much weight so I have a few 15 round ones to count on...But the 30's hooked together look cool
 
I had some 30's that worked and some that didn't. Quality does vary greatly. The 15's are more reliable. The military 15's I've owned I thought were OK. No longer own the carbine though. Sold it away. Bye bye, little pipsqueak.



munk
 
Sounds like the M1 carbine your shooting has the original M1magazine catch as Satori has pointed out. I'd check to see before I discarded your 30 rounders. I have several 30 round magazines, both commercial and military and have not had any problems with them in either of my two M1 carbines.

But I do have the M2 magazine catch installed on both of them and the magazines are of better quality than others I have seen.

HTH
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top