m1 carbine question

ok, sorry if this is answered, search did not find any relevant threads. put it in here since i am not asking legality only structural differences
anyway...
is there a difference between the normal and CA legal versions of the m1 carbine besides the size of the included magazine? will regular capacity magazines still work? i ask because i can only find the CA legal ones for sale new (none local) without going to auctions (such as gunbroker.com. i dont like auctions), and some other types of rifles i have found have other differences to prevent using non CA legal parts. i am asking only for any differences between the 2 not where or how to buy. thanks in advance

Are you referring to surplus "GI" carbines or commercial ones?

As far as I know, nobody is modifying GI carbines to be incompatible as part of complying with the silly "laws" in california.
I don't know about commercial and reproduction models.

Just my opinion, but if a 5rd. mag will fit, so should a 30rd. Now, carbines meant for 30 rd. mags had slightly different mag catches, but all later carbines should have had those, it was an upgrade. I believe they have two nubs to hold the heavier 30rd. mags more securely. Someone smarter than me should be along soon though.

the updated mag catch was a 15-round vs 30-round thing
neither is CA-compliant

If I remember, the 30 round magazines and the selective fire M2 carbine had an additional attachment point to hold the magazine in the gun. The magazine would fall out under selective fire without the extra catch.

They should work fine in an M1 carbine that does not have the extra catch.

I have a 5 round magazine that works fine in my USGI carbines. I have not tried it in my Auto Ordinance carbine, but USGI 15 round magazines work fine in the Auto Ordinance.

Hope this helps.

The only reason a M1 carbine would have mods for CA compliance is if it had a paratrooper stock. The stock would be fixed, and it would need a bullet button of some type. Or if you put one of those flash hiders on it I suppose you would need a mag lock as well. I have several carbines, and none need any mods to be legal.

thanks for the input everyone. i figure my question is answered well enough now.