Universal M1 Carbine - need info, please

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Preacherman

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Hi, folks. A lady friend has been looking for a home defence carbine, and has found a Universal M1 Carbine in a local gunshop for $299. She's planning on buying it.

I've heard various opinions that the Universals are NOT "good" carbines, using non-GI-spec. parts, and that they're hard to repair if something goes wrong. On the other hand, some folks have told me that they're just fine, and that they seldom go wrong.

Does anyone have any experience or information about these carbines? If so, please post.

Many thanks.
 
WOW, I think that's really high for a Universal. I dont even care what the blue book say's. Theyre junk, I owned 2 universals and one Iverjohnson...stay away. Besides .30 carb is expensive for those who do not load. What about a marlin camp carbine in 9mm or even .45? Or how about a Ruger PC-9 or the version in .40 cal? Both Way better gun's and justifiable at $300 bills. I own several G.I. carbs, and I'd still pick one of these other options for HD. I'm begging you here Stay Away from Universal Carbines.:(
 
Can you be more specific? It's no good my telling this lady that they're no good - she'll want to know WHY they're no good! What sort of problems did you experience? How was the reliability? What about accuracy? Etc.
 
The Universal Carbines do not use the same design as the GI M1 Carbine. Some parts were changed to simplify manufacture. So, even if it is reliable, you may run into problems getting spare parts if something breaks.

If getting an M1 Carbine, I strongly suggest choosing the real deal. They are generally more reliable and parts are easy to get.
 
Preacherman; fair enough question: the IJ had both sear and gas problems, it functioned erratically at best with all types of ammo, accuracy was on the very low end of acceptable. The first Uni, had some type of gas prob, it would go off when manually cycled the first time, then fail to go into battery; I never could figure this out, as I usually can, after a while I gave it up. The Second Uni, was NIB. It produced light hit's, when I replaced the hammer spring, I found that the bolt was improperly machined, and the hammer was contacting it. I fixed that, then ran into the same stange gas prob, that no-one could ever seem to resolve. Never got to test accuracy, as they just plain did not work! I never have heard good things about universals or I&J carbines; like frodo said, parts are a big prob as well. Why a Carbine anyhow; I just can never get peoples facination with these things and I have three. To me they are no substitute for a good comercial police carbine like the Ruger, or marlin camp gun. G.I. Carbs should be appreciated for their history and colectibility, in my opinion. Even the countless G.I. ones I have shot, have been "not 100%" in the reliability dept., even when carefully maintained. Just my experiance and .02 Flame away guy's!:D
 
Father I would highly reccomend saving here $300 for a reliable format. I have seen a few of these over the years including the 'enforcer' pistol thingy and the don't seem to feed reliably. Gi magazine don't even lock up into mag well securlarly.zDefinitely bush leaguelI am sad to say since I like the Carbine and I think a GI one would be great for a lady. Don't buy into the semi auto 'spray and pray' myth: a lever action carbine has proven to be superior in CQB for neophytes . ;)
 
There are actually two versions. The earlier one has two gas rods (I hope that's the correct name, I don't want to look it up right now...) and has a pretty good reputation. The later models went to one gas rod (along with other cost-saving changes) and have a reputation for cracking the stud on the barrel that catches the piston.
Pull the stock off and look at the big square stud on the bottom of the barrel and see if it's cracked - it usually is bad on the later Universals, and is usually fine on the early Universals.

I actually have an early Universal and it runs fine. However, if it breaks I'm probably screwed...

My advice would be to toss in another $100 and get one of these Israeli Carbines that are out now. There will be a warranty and if something breaks she can get a GI part to replace it.

Keith
 
I've heard way too many negative things about the Universal carbines - not just from the diehard "USGI is the only way" folks. Reliability issues, parts availability, etc.
 
Heard a lot of stories about unreliable too. Stay away & buy surplus or Israeli. If the latter, I suggest the 22 Johnson Spitfire.
 
I have a broken Universal and can’t get replacement parts for it. For that price there are some good alternatives. Stay away from the Universal.
 
Sadly most of the Universals are going for about $300. I have had several over the years and never had any problems. Whats nice is that you can "ajust" them to shoot non-auto and they will mount a scope. They are without a doubt the poorest choice for a semi-auto .30 carbine, an Iver Johnson or Plainsfield would be better but they have had some problems also. Go military if possible or get one of the newly made carbines made by IAI (?) for about $450. I have one and it outshoots any of the different military carbines I've owned and it interchanges with GI parts.
 
If it's for home defense she needs to invest in reliability. Some alternatives and their suggested retail prices:

Ruger carbine in 9mm or 40 S&W - $600
Beretta CX4Storm in 9mm, 40 S&W, or 45 ACP - $650
Kel-Tec Sub 2000 Rifle in 9mm or 40 S&W - $380 (these things are selling like hotcakes in my area).

Whatever she buys should be thoroughly tested with several hundred rounds before relying on it.

Or, have her look at some used side by side shotguns. They are simplicity itself and easy to load in the dark. 2 3/4" No 8's at 15 feet will cancel anybody's ticket.

I would really emphasize simplicity, for everyone, not just the ladies. A person who hasn't fired several thousand rounds from their personal defense weapon has not developed the familiarity with the weapon needed in a high stress situation. And the familiarity is perishable. It must be regularly reinforced.

How many times have you been at the firing line and squeezed, and squeezed again, because you forgot about the safety. Or maybe you didn't slam the mag in with enough force and the second round wasn't available?

A lot of things can go wrong with semi-autos.
 
I'd rather buy that Kel-Tec folder AR than a Universal.
 
I have one of these Universal .30 Carbines.

I think the earlier version (most reliable) had only one recoil spring. The newer version had two. Either way mine has just one.

I like the rifle I have, and have never (knock on wood) had a single hiccup. I have fired nearly 500 rounds through it, most of these rounds were reloads and old Lake City manufactured. Accuracy was better than I had expected for a cheeap carbine, and what I had read about the Universals. If it breaks and I can't fix it, I will have it for a display rifle. I promised my mother I wouldn't sell it or mod it up.

I inherited mine from my father three years ago. I like it and it serves me well. I would like to get a military surplus .30 carbine some day, but this one suits me fine for now.

I agree that $300 is a bit much IMHO!
 
I had a Universal M1 Carbine, and had lots of feeding problems with it.

A buddy of mine had a Ruger Carbine in .44 Mag, he and I both loved it.

I won't ever own another M1 (don't much care for the round either), but I'm trying to finagle a way to buy one of the Ruger Carbines without angering the spousal unit too badly, even as we speak.

A Ruger Carbine in a magnum pistol caliber would be the way to go for HD, IMHO.
 
Keith,
You have it backwards. The early Universal has 1 operating rod spring while the later version has 2.Look at where the operating rod connects to the bolt. If it has a cutout in the operating rod then you have the later one.
 
I suggest that she stay away from the low end M1's.

I will also suggest that she stay away from 9mm, .40, and .45 caliber carbines IF this is going to be her primary defense weapon. This is just my opinion, but I would prefer a better round than the big three auto-pistol rounds.

How about a lever action .357 or .44Rem (Winnie or Marlin) 16" carbine? They are a little slow to load, but they will hold 10 rounds of more powerful ammo than .30 carbine. The triggers are fairly good on them, and the Winchester Trapper is one of the handiest carbines I ever handled. Rossi makes a clone of the Win. 92 that is fairly good, from what I hear.

But, there is nothing wrong with the old War Baby, so long as it is a good one, and she loads it with either soft point or hollow point ammo (if it is reliable in her weapon).

As always, all of this is just my opinion. :)
 
To add to my earlier post, I owned an Iver Johnson M1 Carbine in the 1980s. After less than 1000 rounds it had to go back to the factory because the bold was too soft, and the locking lugs started peening. I traded it off soon thereafter.

Tell her to get either and IAI or a GI Carbine if she really wants an M1 (and it's a great choice for HD, IMNSHO).

Love my Underwood! :D
 
$300 buys: used Ruger Mini 14. Used Marlin .357 or .44 or 30-30 Carbine . Ruger Deerslayer .44 carbine (rare but this is what I see them for) . Rem 141 .35 rem, kicks but blows BIG holes quick.SKS is a reliable gun too!$300 gets a new one and a plastic stock. All are fast handling rifles, obviously over- penetration is not an issue because you selected m-1 carbine. I think IDEAL gun for the lady would be a Winchester Trapper 16" in any caliber you can find used for $300! Second would be an SKS, with a padded butt stock.;)
 
Younger, slightly dumber me bought a Uni at a gunshow for general amusement. Broke it the second day I had it on almost the 500th round, the op-rod where it engages the bolt was splitting in two, threatening to launch a bolt in my eye had I not noticed. Pure junk. IAI makes a much nicer clone.

Cheap defense longarms are the aforementioned pumpgun or lever .357. I've got one more, I'd recommend a Hi-point carbine before I'd point to the Uni.
 
I just traded my Universal M-1 for a Norinco SKS. Now I've got a much better weapon. The Universal likes to jam, especially when slow-firing it, less often when rapid firing (try to explain that). The carbine is a handy weapon for HD, as far as size and weight go, but stay away from the Universal. She may want to shop around, preferrably taking a knowledgeable friend with her.

Frank
 
The Universal carbine that my brother and I co-owned years ago suffered a cracked bolt, just behind the bolt handle. I would stay away from them.
 
My cousin has a plainsfield; it's about like a universal in quality: it doesnt work! The first time he tried to cycle a round into battery, the bolt would not close. We were using new win. ammo, so I thought this odd. Turns out the bolt face was improperly machined; you could not remove the bolt and place a cartrige into the bolt face. SO I very carfully fixed this issue, then we took it back out; he got off about 2 mag's and the hammer actually broke in two. He was very disapointed, and has not owned a semi-auto since. I told him not to buy that POS, and made other recomendations, but so far he remains disgruntled.:confused:
 
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