10/22 M1 or Erma Werke M1 .22?

I don't have experience with a M1-simulated 10/22 or the Erma. I have handled the polymer-framed Chiappa, both in .22 and in 9mm Luger and, like you, was not real impressed.

Another possibility, though also used and long out of production, would be the Marlin tributes. These were shortened versions of the M99 (now the M60) that were made a few decades back (which ones escape me right now.) The 99M1 retains the 60's magazine tube, but it's shortened to appear more authentic, and adds a GI-type rear sight, sling swivels, and an over-barrel hand guard. I have two of these. Those that still have their rear sights affixed (many were removed by owners who replaced them with scopes) run around $200 or so when I've seen them. I paid about $140 or so for each of mine, one of which is so scoped.

The 99M2 ditched the tubular magazine for an actual detachable-box one, and is much more rare.

I own both an Erma EM1 and a Ruger 10/22.

I LOVED shooting the Erma, but have kind of retired it from volume .22 cal shooting since it is getting old, and although it works fine, I always wonder about parts. Also, my eyes are not as good with peep sights as they used to be. I bought it used and the original rear aperture sight had been removed and a cheap-o scope was installed. I immediately ditched the scope and bought a Williams aperture sight for the rear. I used the rifle for general paper target shooting, LOTS of squirrel hunting, and even shooting gophers in South Dakota. The thing was quite accurate back when my eyes were a little better. I did have a little blow-back once in my face from it, and a couple of times it doubled, but generally no operational problems other than those. The entire bolt assembly seemed lose but not sloppy, and it felt like maybe the recoil spring (or firing pin spring) was maybe weaker than it should be. The only work I did on it was to use some Devcon Plastic Steel to slightly buildup the feed ramp so it could handle a very wide range of ammunition (although the problem may still have been the spring weakness I mentioned). The sling band at the end of the front stock occasionally wanted to slide off to the front like I have seen other M1 copies do. I played with the wood on the forestock and the band generally stays on now. As you can see, I did have to give it some attention to keep it functional.

The 10/22 has a scope on it to take care of my weak eyes problem. It is my go-to gun if I seriously want to hit something. I don't worry about it, and expect it to function basically flawlessly. The factory trigger is not as good as the one on the Erma, but MANY very nice drop-in trigger upgrades are available for the 10/22 if I want to improve that.

I have fired an actual WWII M1 carbine, but it was many years ago. If I can remember correctly, the stocks on both the Ruger and the Erma are a bit shorter than the real M1. The cool thing about the Erma is it has a slot in the rear stock where an oiler tube and sling can be attached. So I got an oiler from a gun show and put a sling on it just for nostalgia sake. For what it's worth, my wife likes the Erma far better than the Ruger.

My recommendation? If wanted a .22 cal rimfire that didn't have to be like a real M1 Carbine as possible, I would just get the Ruger 10/22. In fact, I might be looking into selling the Erma at some point. If it won't sell, or I just want to keep it, I might make it literally a wall-hanger, shooting it only occasionally. Tell us what you decide to do!

Lou

If you do get the Erma, my buddy has a couple of spare magazines he would part with. I will PM you his number if you want.

Why not a real Carbine? They are a real hoot to shoot, have negligible recoil, ammo is about $.50 a shot, and a good one will be more accurate and reliable than either of the .22 replicas.

The hot ticket right now is to find one of the 2nd Gen "undesirable" Universals. They can still be found for under $500 with a bit of patience. They are not bad guns, but the open slide cam slot will crack eventually. In the old days, this would total the gun, but Brownells is selling new production slides now! Throw in a pair of new recoil springs and you're good to go.

If you really hunt about, you may be able to locate one of the Iver Johnson 9mm carbines. Expect to pay a bit more, of course.

Finally, IMO, a real GI carbine is worth the premium it commands and is a joy to own and shoot, as well as being a safe-money investment or family heirloom.

I have an old marlin clone... jammomatic. It’s in the safe and hasn’t emerged in 10+ years. The real deal M1 and the mini14 have been out a lot more often.

My 10/22s have seen a lot of sunshine and weather in those same 10... none are dressed as an M1 but one is a “shorty smelly” with a duffle cut stock and SMLE nose gear; and another is a 1891 carcano calvalry carbine... a project in the works when I picked up a junker carcano with a serviceable bayonet and lug, but a sewer pipe barrel. I bought it for 25$, sold the bolt to some guy here on THR for 25, and got the bayonet and front sight block / lug on the 22 essentially for free. The front band too.

You can’t beat a 10/22. The Erma by comparison is the bigger gamble.

desidog said:

I have an old marlin clone... jammomatic. It’s in the safe and hasn’t emerged in 10+ years. The real deal M1 and the mini14 have been out a lot more often.

My 10/22s have seen a lot of sunshine and weather in those same 10... none are dressed as an M1 but one is a “shorty smelly” with a duffle cut stock and SMLE nose gear; and another is a 1891 carcano calvalry carbine... a project in the works when I picked up a junker carcano with a serviceable bayonet and lug, but a sewer pipe barrel. I bought it for 25$, sold the bolt to some guy here on THR for 25, and got the bayonet and front sight block / lug on the 22 essentially for free. The front band too.

You can’t beat a 10/22. The Erma by comparison is the bigger gamble.

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Oooohhh,neato! How bout some pics of your ersatz Milsurps?

I don't have a picture of the Carcano clone, but here's the No2Mk10/22.

desidog said:

I don't have a picture of the Carcano clone, but here's the No2Mk10/22.View attachment 809722

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That is awesome!

Probably not what you’re seeking or asking about, but I found M1 Carbine conversion stocks like the one in the link below when I considered dressing up my Ruger 10/22:

https://www.eabco.com/m1_carbine_ruger_1022_tribute.htm

I always wanted one of these. https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2015/01/joe-grine/kingston-armory-m1-garand-m14-1022-rifles/

When I was in the Army back in the late '80's, a friend of mine had an Erma M1 .22... it was quite accurate; I had a very old (5-digit) 10-22 at the time, and he beat me in an informal 100yd contest, darn it! After that, I always wanted one, but never found one.

I do have 2 of the Marlin 99M1's... they are a lot of fun and I don't worry about parts, it's built on the Marlin 60 action. With a Williams peep sight on the rear, it is very similar to that Erma I shot many years ago. I'm fixing to list them for sale, though... because at the end of the day, what I really want is an M1 Carbine, all else being equal.

My first rifle was a 99M1, with the ten shot tube magazine. I can assure you that it is not a jam-o-matic. Mine still has the old Weaver C4 that I put on it back then. Maybe it's time I got it out of the safe and took it to the range.

Hard to go wrong with a 10-22 VS any of those replicas.

I have one of the Ruger M1 carbine replicas. Shoots about like any other 10/22, same reliability. I am not a fan of the picatinny rail on top, and you cannot remove it without the rear sight. That's my only gripe.

It is fun to shoot, and handles very close to a real M1.

Here it is next to my Auto Ordinance M1:

I just don't see the need to have a 10-22 that looks like something else. The 10-22T is a wonderfully-shooting .22LR rifle and it can easily be made into a super-accurate one. It's not an M-1 Carbine or any other make-believe centerfire and it doesn't need to be. Get real and celebrate the 10-22...a classic in itself!!!