[Texasred]

I was thinking how much I like revolvers, .357s, and the M1 Carbine.

-How cool it would be to have a true combat backup gun for the M1 carbine, as SHTF combo.

-I love 357s but they could sometimes use more rounds, the 30 carbine might be able to carry a couple extra rounds. Slimmest magnum like round I can think of.

-The case is too long for an auto to be comfortable, for most people.

-Very much PC looking

So what do you think, anybody here work for Ruger or Smith and Wesson?

[wtr100]

Taurus Raging 30 - 8 shots if I remember right

[Texasred]

Are you serious? I never heard of that.

Whats the consensus on it?

but....it's a taurus....

So my idea or "wish" has already been used up. But I would really like to see it made but Smith or Ruger.

[Brasso]

Ruger made a Blackhawk in 30 Carbine. You can still find them for sale.

[Texasred]

Okay found the gun from 2003 and its alot bigger than I was thinking.

Maybe the same size as that 8 shot 357 but carrying like 9 or 10 shots instead.

[Texasred]

Yeah everyone knows about the blackhawk, but I want something combat worthy as the title suggested.

[461]

Anything can be done if you have enough cash. :D

AMT made a semi-auto back in the eighties, Automag III as I recall. The Blackhawks are plentiful and great shooters but you're hampered by single action if that's a problem for you.

[Texasred]

Ok well I guess am I the only one dreaming of saving the world with just my
M1 carbine and a trusty double action, against the undead hordes and slew of demons and aliens that pour out of the gates of hell. (something along the lines of halflife and doom)
Yeah I know about the Automag III its a jamomatic.

[DWFan]

The Taurus M30C came in two versions; the Raging Bull model and a Silhouette model. Both were 8-round revolvers. They are out of production but can be found on the auction sites every now and then.

[Sunray]

"...to have a true combat backup gun for the M1 carbine..." They're called a Colt Government Model or a BHP. Mind you, I've never seen the need for a 'back up' handgun for an M1 Carbine. Handguns are last ditch, "I made a serious tactical error." things.

[Okiecruffler]

Dad had a Blackhawk 30 carbine for awhile. The report on that thing was UNBELIEVABLE. So much so that it was uncomfortable to shoot.

[Stainz]

The .30 Carbine round from a Blackhawk is 'Much ado about nuttin!'. It's a mild mannered round - usually not very modern design in the bullet department - that makes a big muzzle and b/c flash and sharp report. It's effectiveness in Korea against the PRC regular's heavy wool coats was legendary - it often wouldn't even hole them - and that was from a carbine!

Now, if you do have to have something sized in an M1 Carbine sizer, take my homebrew ammo - please! I start with .32-20 cases - trim .010" off the headstamp - .024" off thr rim diameter - then squish them through a carbide M1 Carbine die before loading them (.32 S&WL/H&RM dies) with a little powder and either a Berry's 83gr .312" plated DEWC or a Meister 100gr LDEWC. Seven of them fit in one of my 1895 Nagant revolvers at a time - and fall out much easier than the 'proper' ammo after shooting. At ~820-850 fps, it may not get above 'Zombie irritating' level... certainly, not up to Da Rock in 'Doom' level. Of course, they are fun in a Nagant... just remember, that noise you hear is your trigger finger's ligaments stretching - and yes, most Nagants are DA-capable (A 'tweaked' Nagant is still ~ 20lb in DA pull - higher, if 'as delivered'!), so keep pulling. Of course, Nagants are getting more costly, the <$70/set days are gone. Still, for ~$100 - and, if you are a nut like me and get a C&R ffl, deliverable to your home - you'll get a VG++ re-furb with a decent holster, lanyard, cleaning rod, and screwdriver. And... what a piece of Victorian engineering! Oh, while the rounds I make might just chamber in an M1 carbine - don't. The bullet may not make it out of the barrel - and I doubt the action would feed! Not reccomended.

In all seriousness, choose a better combo - 9mm or .45 ACP. I like the latter - super round from a revolver. The carbine in .45 ACP is another matter - my Marlin Camp Carbine was too little and my Kahr/AO 1927A1 Thompson was 'too much'.

Stainz

[cane]

. It's effectiveness in Korea against the PRC regular's heavy wool coats was legendary - it often wouldn't even hole them - and that was from a carbine

I believe this myth has been throughly debunked, can't believe there are still people who pass it on as fact.

[Jeff F]

If I'm not mistaken there was an Auto mag II in .30 carbine.
It might have been an Auto mag III that was .30 carbine.

[SaxonPig]

The problem with the 30 Carbine in a handgun is that while it's a high pressure round requiring a massive gun to contain it, the performance from a handgun length barrel is truly, totally, completely PATHETIC.

This caliber from a short rifle is nothing to write home about (a 110 at 1900) but from a pistol the velocity falls off to nearly nothing. I tested my own Ruger 30 C Blackhawk a few years ago and military ammo clocked 1400 FPS from the 7.5" barrel. My general purpose 357 Mag load is a 125 at 1500 and that beats the 30 C badly. Hell, I've loaded 38 Specials with 110 grain bullets to 1405 from a 4" M&P!

Also, the report and muzzle flash from a 30 C handgun is not to be believed. Most unpleasant.

IMO a 30 C pistol is a very bad idea. It's a totally useless gun.

[Texasred]

:(Well, sorry I wasted your time.

[SaxonPig]

That's OK. I wasn't doing anything except sitting at the computer. :p

[Oro]

Texas, don't feel badly - obviously other people have had the same thoughts - Bill Ruger, some Army ordnance guys, and S&W, too. They developed a K-frame based .30 Carbine revolver for the army after WWII. I recall reading that the project was dropped after they test fired the guns and discovered just what SaxonPig said.

I agree with him, it just doesn't make a great handgun cartridge from all the evidence out there. But your idea isn't bad - it seems to be the driving force behind the so-called ".327 Magnum" - some have compared it to the .30 Carbine, actually, as being strikingly similar.

[461]

Actually the .327 is more of a comparison to the .32-20 which is better than the .30 Carbine round.

[sgtdevildog]

I think USFA makes a SAA in 30 carbine. fyi

[wheelgunslinger]

I know the point is to have an M1 and a revolver matched, but if you're in love with the idea of a 30 cal just buy a CZ-52 and convert the M1 to fire the 52 round. :)

You'd be a golden god in the commie-CZ52-milsurp community.

[Oro]

Actually the .327 is more of a comparison to the .32-20 which is better than the .30 Carbine round.

I agree in external ballistics the .32-20 and .327 are comparable. But so is the .30 Carbine, and what I feel makes the .30 Carbine MORE comparable are the internal ballistics, with the high pressures and report much more similar in these two than with the .32-20.

[AJD]

Box of truth did a test on the effectiveness of the M1 Carbine.

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot8.htm

They set up clothing several inches thick, then a milk jug of water, then three boards of pine and then finally a block of concrete.

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot8_3.htm

"The bullet, a military Ball, went through the entire box set-up, blew up the water jug, and flattened itself out against the solid concrete block, knocking out a big chunk of cement."

[Jim Watson]

Smith & Wesson prototyped a .30 Carbine revolver; looked like a 1917 (or Victory model, I don't recall if it were K or N frame) with smaller holes in barrel and cylinder. Half moon clips, of course.
The idea was to provide a paratrooper with a sidearm to shoot the same ammo as his M1A1 folding stock carbine.

According to NRA, the muzzle blast was so horrific that the project was dropped, although the gun shot ok.