New Inland or Auto Ord M1 Carbine?

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Henry45

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My wife is wanting a service rifle to shoot and she likes the 30 carbine. It fits her, and she shoots one very well. A friend has an original WWII carbine we go shoot from time to time.

Anyone know anything about either the new Inland or the Auto Ordinance M1 Carbine.

Going to be a Christmas present for her. She loves shooting and reloading...

Thanks!
 
I have an Auto Ordinance made by Kahr Arms. I've had it around 4 years and bought it new. If I remember right it took about 50 or 60 rounds to break it in and haven't had a FTF since.
 
I've heard some bad things about the Auto Ordinance guns.

The new Inlands are supposedly very close copies and are high quality.
 
I'd better qualify my earlier remark. I did buy some cheap 20, 30 and 40 round magazines on the internet that didn't work well in mine. The original issue 15 round mags and a 5 round that I bought work just fine. I have over 3000 rounds through this rifle.
Cooldil, I believe you were in on a thread about these last May. Have you heard all that bad since?
Here is one post from a M 1 thread back then: "Quote:
Originally Posted by Ibmikey View Post
Fifty to sixty rounds is no measure of relialibility------when you have a thousand or two run through it you should still be able to report favorably. Some of the Kahr's had problems but i think they are quite nice now. However, if i were to spend that kind of wampum i would look for a real GI, but i am biased having collected USGI Carbines for the past fifty years.

I said, "My Kahr has operated flawlessly after the first 50 to 60 rounds."
You jumped right in with "Fifty to sixty rounds is no measure of relialibility------"
and "when you have a thousand or two run through it you should still be able to report favorably."

Now I'll say, My Kahr had about 3000 rounds through it after the first 50 to 60 rounds, flawlessly, when I posted my original comment. Also, I paid $630 NIB for it if I remember right.
You need to think before you talk ----------------------
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Cooldill had a thread called New M1 Carbines where they were discussing them.
Thanks
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Last edited by dickydalton; May 30, 2015 at 11:16 AM.
 
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I've heard good things about the auto-ordinance rifles.
here's a couple pics of my m1 carbine with some added extras for things that go bump in the night and a couple other guns that stay by my front door.
I to love shooting my m1 carbine.
 

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I have a friend here who declined my offer of an import marked Inland for $550, and he bought the Auto Ordnance (Kahr) M1 carbine. It has been an abysmal failure, and has never even fired two rounds in a row. We tried my USGI mags, 5 different brands of ammo, more oil and grease, and it still is a single shot rifle. The factory wouldn't take it back, and the gun dealer didn't want any part of it. He paid over $800 for it, and he really does regret passing on that Inland, which was flawless.

I've heard good things about the "new" Inland, but if you want reliability, I strongly recommend USGI or nothing.
 
If the budget allows I would buy a nice GI gun. They are by far the best choice. I hear mixed reviews about the new Inland's but mostly good reviews. The prices I see around here when you see one seems high to me.
 
I just posted something about this a few weeks ago. Put simply, the only new makers of carbines that are worth much are from Fulton Armory or James River Armory(new Rockola) - but both aren't exactly cheap. What makes them worth owning are the properly machined receivers and all remaining parts fully interchangeable with G.I. parts.

New Inland and Auto Ordnance on the other hand... This is the key thread on that topic...
http://m1carbineforum.forumco.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7302

Embedded in this thread is a reference to another thread on Milsurps that is must reading for anyone looking into carbines with cast receivers since it tells the story pretty clearly. Cast receivers would be just fine IF they were properly done and hardened -but that's not what folks are finding at all....

Yes, you might find a New Inland or an AO carbine that's a shooter if you're lucky - but for how long?
 
The new Inlands are certainly pricey, about as much a well used original M1, but you're getting a brand new gun versus an old and well used gun. I don't have any experience with either the new Inland or the AO model, but if funds are available, I'd take a chance on the new Inland.
 
You must not have read what I just posted.... Take a moment and read the threads I've included since they tell the story. The guy on Milsurps is actually the fellow who posts the most used reference site on the 'net for carbines (http://www.uscarbines.com/) so you might want to listen up....

And here's what another guy had to do to get a used AO back up and operating properly...

http://m1carbineforum.forumco.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7206

For those that haven't figured it out the "New Inland" is a lot like a Kahr (AO)....
 
Well, my AO M1 has run perfectly since day one. Bought it about a year after they came out (April 2007), and mine has run with USGI 15 round mags with no issues. The 3 Korean 30 rounders are hit or miss (these are older mags that I traded for with a Federal LEO friend).

Anything new can go bad, especially a mechanical device like a rifle. They have warranties, and I am sure AO would fix any issue. Or, maybe they enjoy the negative press!
 
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I have not owned the AO carbine but I have fired one several times nice gun.not cheap.
I have owned a not so old universal carbine that was very picky with its magazines but when I got a few good ones for that gun they stayed separate and that cheaper universal mfg 30cal carbine got used I bet I fired 20,000 rnds through that gun, I remember swaping out the old recoil spring for a new one twice with that gun. I now own a Plainsfield Machine 30cal carbine .thats the one in the picture I posted earliar. I also have a Rockola 30cal carbine all original in the safe and both of the guns mentioned will shoot with any mag I put in. If it we're me I would save my money and invest it in a nice tiew like condition Rockola or other origanol GI carbine. sometimes its not the mag with cheaper carbines but a simple new recoil spring.
 
Thanks for the updates guys.. Also, anyone know where you can buy a nice USGI 30 Carbine? Where do you guys find them?
 
Sorry to change the subject but bought an Iver Johnson about 6 or so months ago, and have fired at least a 1000 rounds thru it with out a hitch. I've used the new Korean 30 round mags as well as the "keep Shooting" mags, no U.S. government issued mags to date; and still no problems. In fact I just recently canned the birch wood stock and placed a walnut stock by Numerich, as well as a bayonet stud, with a bayonet, and the sling and oiler, not to mention the magazine pouch. Believe me I wouldn't have invested that much money if the carbine wasn't a shooter. BTW it is extremely accurate to boot.

To make a long story even longer, it is truly my US military M-1 Carbine, the only thing I did when I first got it, was I measured the recoil spring, and found it to be about a 1/2" shorter, so I replaced it with a brand new10.25" spring I purchased from Fulton Armory, before even attempting to fire it. Note I do reload ammo and while awaiting for the dies the brass and the bullets, I did a quite a bit of research before I even had a chance to fire it. Thus my superb little gem I call my IJ M-1 Carbine. Further I only paid $397.00 for it, in Prescott Arizona.
 
I bought an AO M1 Carbine a few years back. It ran flawlessly but the upper foregrip kept on falling off. I eventually sold it. I bought another 1 a year ago and has been my 14 year old's gun. We really like it and shoot it alot. I have not had any problem whatsoever with this new AO M1 Carbine.
 
If anyone truly wants a a military spec M1 carbine, then try the CMP forum. There are always M1 carbines for sale there. forums.thecmp.org
 
That'd be ORDNANCE, not ordinance.
Plainfield Machine Co. made the best of the commercial carbines. Had mine for 40ish years. No parts changed at all. Nothing ever that wasn't fixed with a bath. IMR4227 with 110 grain bullets is your friend.
"...cheap 20, 30 and 40 round magazines..." The only possible milsurp mag of any of those would be a 30. No such thing as an issue 20 or 40. Usually, if the issue mags don't work properly, it's because the lips are a tick bent. And it's literally just a tick(there is no measuring a 'tick'.) Easily fixed with fine long needle nosed pliers. You tweak open the lips a tick over their whole length.
 
dickydalton said:
I have an Auto Ordinance made by Kahr Arms. I've had it around 4 years and bought it new. If I remember right it took about 50 or 60 rounds to break it in and haven't had a FTF since.

My experience with Kahr/AO M1 Carbines mirrors this almost exactly. Mine was purchased a bit earlier, not long after Kahr purchased Auto-Ordnance. There did seem to be a break-in period with mine, but this was accomplished within the first couple (50rnd) boxes.

Since then, this little carbine has been a solid performer providing far better-than-average accuracy and has functioned without any hangups. I would guess around 1k to 1500 trouble-free rounds of various FMJ. With Speer's Gold Dot and Hornady's FTX offering (my Kahr/AO carbine loves both), the M1 carbine is not only fun to shoot but can effectively serve the HD role as well.
 
I wouldn't take a chance on an AO or new Inland. The receivers are cast. Look for a Fernwood, Fulton or one from the CMP (auction) in Ohio. You will pay a little more but you get a USGI milled receiver and the guns are servicable. I think Fulton puts new barrels on theirs. I purchased a USGI with a good barrel from a dealer, replaced all the springs, rebuilt the bolt and restocked it. It a very good shooter for a 100 match.

The new guns aren't even close to the quality of a USGI.
 
Well, I had a USGI that decided to go full auto on my son when he was about 7 years old too and this AO hasn't done that yet. I also own guns dating to 1875 and they don't make them like that anymore. Overpriced and worn out M1s are the reason AO and Inland started making theirs and quite a few people have had no problems with them.
Quality is a relative thing.
 
Yes there are a lot of US USGI carbines out there that are used up. Everyone should be stripped and all worn parts should be replaced. Head space should be checked also. A worn trigger sear or spring or both is likely the reason yours went title II on you. The companies I mentioned and the CMP rebuild USGI carbines. They don't sell used up beaters. Everything is checked to be in spec. and serviceable.

If you just want a shooter and you have no expertise with the M1 carbine do not buy a USGI from your buddy, pawn shop or a local gun store. If you already have one strip it down, including the bolt, and replace every spring and worn part in it. All of the parts are available on line. It's actually a very rewarding learning experience. That's how I came to truly appreciate the design.

I will stand by my statement of quality. Every USGI was mil spec and tested unlike most new production firearms built today. The new ones may or may not work just like some of the old used up USGI carbines.

The new carbines have their buyers. Those are usually the folks that send a gun back or sell them when they no longer work. Someone that buys a USGI will trouble shoot it and replace the part that fails. They are actually a very simple design that was meant to be repaired in the field. NOS parts are everywhere.
 
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I have an AO and it runs perfectly. I changed out the barrel band to a type 2 band (original AO band spacer too wide. I then replaced the recoil spring to a Wolff x-power spring. Lastly I changed out the magazine catch to a Fulton Armory for tighter fitting magazine. I use AO, Keepshooting and KCI Korean mags. The gun is very accurate. To each there own but I did not want to buy a 70 year old Frankengun that may or may not function correctly. Even if you have the skills to change out all the parts, which I do, you still end up with a Frankengun that has no historical value. If you have an all original then you must question whether you are going to actually shoot the firearm or admire it in the safe. I wanted an M1 that I could shoot and work on, without worrying about collateral issues. It is similar to my views on buying cars. I would rather purchase a brand new "muscle car" with a warranty an new parts as compared to one that is 45 years old, with the problems that come with an older vehicle.
 
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I had a new Auto Ordnance. It functioned and shot great but one time it fired with the bolt not closed completely which belled the case really bad. Am very thankful it all held together. I think I still have the case floating around somewhere.
 
in the late 60,s we issued m2 and m1 carbines to arvin troops with good results, they were arsenal rebuilt and they liked them over the m-16,s. after i bought my early winchester carbine(a early dcm rifle) from a friend, i put together a complete field repair kit. but i have yet to use any parts. i think it cost me 40.00 at the time(parts were cheap then). one last thing, the us armories serviced millions of m1 carbines and they worked in ww-2, korea, vietnam and many smaller shoot outs. buy what you want, but for myself i wanted a true combat vet m1 cabine. my winchester serial #1205929 is a early rifle that went thru at least one arsenal rebuild and works as good as the day it was made. eastbank.
 

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