M1 Carbine Questions

[AR-Trvlr]

Hi All -

I just traded into a M1 Carbine, and I know little about them. It's an Inland, from the CMP, and 'rack' grade. I've wanted one as a period piece and plinker. I've got a couple questions:

What's a good source for extra mags? I've got one (10-shot?) mag that came with it, but I'd like to get some 30- or 40-round versions.

How much should I clean it up? Good pointers on the process?

Thanks!

 

[PAshooter]

Check out this page:

http://www.surplusrifle.com/

Don't have an online source for mags... bought a bunch of USGI 15 rounders still in the wrap at a gun show. Something around $10 or $15 apiece IIRC. They were early 50's dated - Korean war surplus.

Enjoy your carbine - they're great little rifles.

 

[RustyHammer]

Note: 30- 40- mags tend to not be very reliable in USGI Carbines, especially those without the modification to the mag catch. USGI mags are the way to go, if you can find them.

CMP's forum: http://www.odcmp.org/new_forum/

Good luck!

Rusty

 

[HorseSoldier]

+1 what PAShooter and Rusty Hammer already said.

Most of my carbine mags were bought new-in-paper from dealers at gun shows. Anybody who specializes in magazines will usually have a bunch of them for the M1 sealed in the original red paper, and usually not too expensive.

On higher capacity ones, USGI 30 round mags work well, if you can find them. Aftermarket stuff has a pretty poor reputation.

How much should I clean it up? Good pointers on the process?

Check the wood for cartouches (if from CMP it may have an Italian post-WW2 stock, or might still have original USGI, which might, depending on condition, be worth something in and of itself). I'd also say check it over carefully for manufacturer marks and such on the individual components -- CMP guns have all been rearsenaled and have the revised sights, controls, and such, but some of them still have flat bolts, and being mix masters some of the individual components may be from the more obscure manufacturers, etc. Again, there might be something that would be worth some money for a single part that could be replaced pretty easily and inexpensively if you're primarily concerned with a carbine to shoot rather than hang on the wall with all matching, correct 1942 parts or whatever.

 

[The Deer Hunter]

M1 Carbine magazines are one of the few items I see at gun shows that don't cost an arm and a leg.

 

[Eightball]

Your magazines are probably 15 rounders; I don't think I've ever seen a 10 rounder for those things, outside of pictures of people in CA.

The CMP website has a good guide about how to pick up "good" USGI 30 rounders.

Happy hunting, and enjoy your new rifle--I know I like mine

 

[Ratzinger_p38]

To echo others here: Be wary of the 30 round magazines. Most of the ones out there at gun shows are NOT USGI. THe non-USGI ones are junk. I have 2 of them, neither of them want to feed right.

 

[dmftoy1]

I picked up 3 (Winchester in paper) from an old guy at the gunshow a couple of weekends ago in prep for a CMP Carbine I'm hoping is on order. The old guy behind the table was laughing like a little boy everytime somebody bought them. I asked him why it made him so happy and he said that he had boxes of them and had paid less than $1 apiece 20-30 years ago and just sat on them. His wife (who was taking the money) was also pretty happy. I guess they had raided the attic.

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[rcmodel]

You certainly don't see as many 30-round GI mags as you used to.
They seem to be getting very scarce anymore.

I was just looking through Shotgun News yesterday trying to find some GI 30's for a friend, and all there is for sale are reproduction after-market crapola.

Still plenty of 15-round GI's and good prices on them.

All of the after-market 30's, and higher capacity ones I have looked at are Junque!
Don't waste your money.


rcmodel

 

[TacoMalo]

CTD has the 30's here's a link....

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/38730-47497-1336.html

 

[106rr]

M1 Carbine

If your state law allows it, you can put on an M2 mag catch and use 30 round mags. The 15s are usually plenty. Some good 30 rd mags are labeled aYp in a sort of script with the Y noticeably larger than the a or p. The script is important since these FN manufactured mags are widely copied.
The ten rd mags I have seen are at least reliable but the 15s are the best.
Be sure to try the new CorBon DPX load!