Speedo66
Member
I don’t think that’s an M-1 Carbine.Here is the 44 above an M-1 Carbine. I got to shoot whoever's 44 when age 15 or so, but the gun bug didn't "bite" until age 52.
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M1 Carbine: Still Viable
- Thread starter JCooperfan1911
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For the life of me I can't understand why so many people who will only see combat shooting paper bad guys at 7yds are concerned about the "viability" of the M1C. AFAIAC it's one of the most fun rifles ever made. Light, easy handling, great styling, shootability, and history. What more can anyone ask for?
Elkins45
Member
Reliability and effectiveness?
I agree about the handling, but unless you reload (and cast bullets) it's not a really economical choice for a range gun. Ammo is too scarce and too expensive.
35 Whelen
Member
Much of the current generation of shooters are of the mindset that where firearms are concerned, if it's old, it's irrelevant.
Your description of the Carbine is spot-on and I'll add it's operation is simple and self explanatory.
35W
Corpral_Agarn
Member
M1 carbines are hoot to shoot. I think the ballistics of the cartridge are decent for the size/weight of the rifle.
Mine is not all that reliable, however so it's pretty much regulated to fun to shoot wall hanger. Ammo being pricey doesn't help...
Personally, I think a 30 cal pistol cartridge could be the new 9mm someday.
Mine is not all that reliable, however so it's pretty much regulated to fun to shoot wall hanger. Ammo being pricey doesn't help...
Personally, I think a 30 cal pistol cartridge could be the new 9mm someday.
Ironicaintit
Member
Mines been reliable, with the exception of Aguila FMJ.Reliability and effectiveness?
I agree about the handling, but unless you reload (and cast bullets) it's not a really economical choice for a range gun. Ammo is too scarce and too expensive.
It’s been 100% with 110gr SP, loaded to between 1900-2000 FPS with H110.
I’d not hesitate to grab it if a real necessity reared it’s ugly head.
Elkins45
Member
I owned an IBM and I wish I still had it, but mostly for the historical significance. Mine had a habit of the op rod overrunning the bolt. It wouldn’t have been my first choice as a defensive weapon as long as I still have my Mossberg 500. It was fun to shoot but it had just been shot so many times (or maybe reassembled with the wrong parts) everything was too loose to be reliable.
crestoncowboy
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A guy brought me one years ago (iver Johnson enforcer pistol) that would go Fa plus the safety was broke years ago. I haven't seen one since
An 03 is "viable". An old trapdoor is "viable" of that's what you have. It goes bang. Kills if it hits.... But the m1c isn't better in any arena than the AR. It costs more to buy. Harder to find. Harder to maintain in good condition. Costs more to shoot. Costs more to buy mags. Not as easy to swap parts that fail....
Again I don't care for the AR. Too..... plastic. But I see no benefit of the m1c over it. I personally don't over think "personal defense". I deer hunt with a handgun. Compete with a handgun. Shoot 100 yards with my handgun.... Don't see why id want a rifle for home defense (25 yards long). . Id grab my handgun first. Shotgun if I needed it.
The AR is for coyote/ bobcat around my home. A task that is pretty much perfect for the semi auto 223.
That's the only reason I have them. My grandpa and uncle stories. And my grandpas old winchester rifle. Very unlikely I'll shoot one for any reason other than fun, and pretty unlikely I'll even do that more than one or two more times in my life.... and I'm just 40.
I can't say that I've heard so much about their reliability though. Makes me wonder how many of the unreliable are newer production guns. The only newer one i ever messed with was an 80s model (id guess) iver Johnson. It was trash. All the ww2 era guns I've messed with or owned were reliable.
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JFrame
Member
I still think back to walking into the K-Mart in the 1970s and seeing the rows of Iver Johnson M-1 carbines selling for $160, and the cheaper Universal M-1s selling for $140.
I occasionally fondled one, but never sprang at the time because, you know, they would always be there...
I occasionally fondled one, but never sprang at the time because, you know, they would always be there...
GBExpat
Member
I have no doubt that the shade of Bugsy Siegel would agree.
amd6547
Member
I don't see complaining that ammo is "expensive and hard to find"...
Pre-plandemic, I could find it in stores here, or order it ...Soft points, 50rds for $19.00.
Pre-plandemic, I could find it in stores here, or order it ...Soft points, 50rds for $19.00.
Gordon
Member
I have two; a nice Inland and an early Plainfield with all GI parts and an ersatz but we'll made paratrooper type folder.. I put an Ultimak rail with Burris Fastfire 3 on it and suddenly that very accurate ( for an m1 carbine) reliable m1 really becomes easy to hit with and fast for these old eyes. It lives in my RV under bed safe.
Elkins45
Member
One thing I like a lot about the carbine over an AR is the traditional stock. In my hands a “normal” stock handles and points a lot faster than a pistol grip AR, especially if grabbing it from a leaning rest against a wall. It swings and points more like an upland gun while an AR just feels more awkward to me. I’ve never been a Mini-14 fan because of their horrible accuracy but for handling they have the same sort of feel that gave the carbine its reputation for fast handling.
JCooperfan1911
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Ignition Override
Member
Speedo66:
the rifle in the -bottom- of the photo (page 2) might not be an M-1 Carbine, but has a nice resemblance.
My curiosity is how much more energy a Ruger 44 might have, and in a very handy rifle. Google can be a friend.
the rifle in the -bottom- of the photo (page 2) might not be an M-1 Carbine, but has a nice resemblance.
My curiosity is how much more energy a Ruger 44 might have, and in a very handy rifle. Google can be a friend.
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trackskippy
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Actually, I believe thats a "D".
crestoncowboy
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Yes I don't like the shorthand version either. A couple others used it before me so I got lazy and used it myself. I know nothing about the actual m1 btw. Only seen a few in my life. Ive seen at least 20x as many m1 carbines.
amd6547
Member
I grabbed this screenshot from some WWII combat cameraman footage of a GI laying down rapidfire in a German town…
The first longarm I bought as a newly anointed adult was a Plainfield M1 Carbine. It was an accurate and reliable little gun. But, I was convinced I needed a Mini 14 and 5.56. Sold the Carbine to help fund the Mini, and regretted it the first time I shot it. The nice looking stainless Mini 14 was less accurate at 50yds than the Plainfield was at 100.
Years later, when I heard the CMP was selling a large number of M1 Carbine, I finally got my CMP paperwork in order. One of my happiest memories is the day I took a road trip to the CMP North Store at Camp Perry to pick out my Carbine.
They had racks of them to choose from, all different manufacturers. I even skipped an IBM to get my Inland… I liked the Inland because it was an early six digit serial, and came in a Rockola made I-cut stock. It is in great condition and has a good “been there, done that” patina
The first longarm I bought as a newly anointed adult was a Plainfield M1 Carbine. It was an accurate and reliable little gun. But, I was convinced I needed a Mini 14 and 5.56. Sold the Carbine to help fund the Mini, and regretted it the first time I shot it. The nice looking stainless Mini 14 was less accurate at 50yds than the Plainfield was at 100.
Years later, when I heard the CMP was selling a large number of M1 Carbine, I finally got my CMP paperwork in order. One of my happiest memories is the day I took a road trip to the CMP North Store at Camp Perry to pick out my Carbine.
They had racks of them to choose from, all different manufacturers. I even skipped an IBM to get my Inland… I liked the Inland because it was an early six digit serial, and came in a Rockola made I-cut stock. It is in great condition and has a good “been there, done that” patina
The "fun factor" is imo the #1 reason there is for owning a firearm. I can't think of any semi auto rifle that is more fun than an M1 carbine. If I was hunting or defending my home the M1C wouldn't be my first (or last) choice but for going out with my buds to shoot beer cans it's hard to find a better rifle. Nobody has ever refused an offer to shoot my Inland or not really loved shooting it.
Snowdog
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I've long been a fan of the M1 Carbine and I'm glad to see videos on YT debunking the ".30 carbine fmj bouncing off frozen korean wool coat" BS. That round will drill clean through both sides of the guy. The problem was the stubby FMJ 110gr projectile couldn't hold a candle to the .30-06 Springfield in terms of effectiveness even if it did destabilize in the target and yaw/tumble. That's not to say it still couldn't get the job done.
With modern rounds such as Hornady's FTX, Speer's Gold Dot or the plethora of JSPs and JHPS, the wounds would be devastating and with proper placement, quite effective.
I still prefer a good 5.56 or .223 over the .30 carbine for defense, but I would absolutely feel well armed with an M1 Carbine stoked with 15 rounds of modern expanding projectiles.
With modern rounds such as Hornady's FTX, Speer's Gold Dot or the plethora of JSPs and JHPS, the wounds would be devastating and with proper placement, quite effective.
I still prefer a good 5.56 or .223 over the .30 carbine for defense, but I would absolutely feel well armed with an M1 Carbine stoked with 15 rounds of modern expanding projectiles.
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JCooperfan1911
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Very well stated.
This thread was NEVER to claim the M1 carbine was BETTER than someone's tricked out AR or any other weapon, it was to reiterate that it can still be more than capable of being used to great effect for self defense in its own right and that a gun doesn't have to be the newest thing to get the job done. Glad someone got the point
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Yes, I have a WWII Winchester M1 carbine. Yes, it is fun to shoot. Yes, the Korean mags work just fine but yes cartridge is obsolete. The M1c should be taken out and shot for nostalgic/historic reasons but there are better, less expensive, more available cartridges in modern platforms which are better. Both 5.56 and 7.62x39 come to mind.
JCooperfan1911
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I totally disagree.
35 Whelen
Member
Yeah this is a little lame. This is where shooters get wrapped in cartridges rather than the ballistics of them. Maybe you think the cartridge is obsolete, but a 110 gr. .30 caliber bullets @ 1990 MV is far from obsolete. It uses less powder and therefore has less flash and isn't as loud as the cartridges you mention. The ballistics of said cartridge mean it has far more power and range than many handgun cartridges that are currently being worshipped.
Pre-panic, PPU ammunition was 36¢ per round, and last I checked it's now about the same as 5.56. If you chose a platform based in cost of ammunition you either need to reload or find another hobby.
These threads get a little off because of those who point out a "better" cartridge and/or platform. I don't care what type firearm and cartridge you prefer, there's always another that will perform some task better than the one you love.
35W
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