M1 carbine or M1 Garand

Two completely different rifles for different purposes.

That said, my wife has my Carbine ready at home right now as her primary defensive weapon.

If it's for having a rifle that captures the history of WWII through Vietnam, then the M1 Carbine will be cheaper. I am wrestling with the same question. If if it's for the historical significance, I think it boils down to your preference between infantry and airborne. Both guns did their part, although the Garand was probably the true workhorse. I'm leaning more towards the Carbine so my wife will have something easier for her to shoot. And the weight would be easier compared to the Garand for shooting from anything other than a bench.

M1 Carbine. It's just a great, handy, little rifle.

Garand for me. And Carbines aren't much cheaper than Garands anymore, if at all.

I have both and love both, but if i had to choose one, it would be the coolest rifle ever, the M1 Garand.

I have owned both, and currently only own a Garand.
They are so different it really depends on what you plan on doing with it.

Carbine.

Lighter, handier, and entirely adequate out to 150 yards for practical purposes.
If I needed a seriously long-range rifle or had a desire for a collector's item, the Garand would be the choice, and I might add a fake Tanker Garand just for fun someday ... but for my entertainment and possible needs I don't see the Garand being in the safe anytime soom.

I have both, greatly prefer the Garand.

If you are thinking about buying either rifle soon, I'd go for the Carbine. The CMP is essentially out of them, with no more in the pipeline. I think that GI Carbine prices will begin to rise dramatically.

Garand.

The M1 is a fine big battle rifle IMHO.
But the AR15 makes for a far better carbine.

I'd pick the M1 Carbine. Everyone I know that was around in the WWII or Korean War eras seem to favor the Garand. I appreciate it for what it is, but the M1 Carbine (while nowhere near as powerful) seems a more handy rifle for home defense, plinking, zombie apocalypses, etc.

The CMP is essentially out of them

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That's true. I lucked out and fell in love with one of the last batch of them at the North Store, and lucked out again when I discovered a cracked gas block in it (they made it right, let me keep my pretty stock and swap in a non-damaged barreled receiver)

Get a carbine while the getting is good, if you have any desire for a GI-issue one.

GARAND: When you really NEED to REACH OUT and touch someone.
CARBINE: When you need something light and easy for close in work.

I have both, like them both, but would give up the Garand first.

I have a garand and am saving for a carbine. I'd say it depends on range, terrain and the numbers of the opfor. At longer range definately the garand. At closer range the carbine gets the nod. If I had to have one and only one, the carbine.

Owner of both here.
I would pick the Garand over the carbine for more "Heavy Duty" stuff like long range shooting, hunting, and even collector value.

I would pick the carbine for a fun short range target rifle, or if nessicary small game.

Both have ammo that isn't cheap, but both make great collector's items, and shooters.
Great guns, but my personal pick would be the carbine.

The Garand is a superior weapon in all aspects; except perhaps in a CQB situation. Even then, I'd MUCH rather have .45 in hand than a carbine holding 15 rounds of 110gr FMJ ammo.

My Dad carried a Carbine in Korea, and spoke highly of it, but I favor the Garand. If you have long arms and are tall, it can be a challenge to shoot accurately and comfortably.

Zerodefect said it best.

One thing to think on is the intended purpose of each weapon.

The M1 Garand was an infantryman's rifle, it was the #1 priority for the men on the front lines in most cases and was not favored by those who had priorities above being infantry.

Enter the carbine, designed to be something between a pistol and rifle. Easier to carry, easier to maneuver, not focused on long-range shooting. The M1 carbine is in some ways the PDW (personal defense weapon) of the era it hails from, a job now fulfilled by submachineguns and extra-short carbines ... the long gun for the poor slob humping radio gear, tending to machinery, or herding supplies.

So, if you had to consider using one of these venerable weapons in a serious setting ... will it be as an infantryman with supplies delivered regularly, or will the rifle be one of many things you're trying to do at once?

Personally, I imagine that I'd be running infrastructure and in need of a PDW, not front-line infantry.

If I wanted a tool, then I would pick the Garand. If I wanted the toy, then I would pick the carbine.

I have both and will be keeping both. If you can, I would do the same.

In the aspect of today (Mid August, 2010), the CMP will still have Garands for a few more years. The M1 Carbines are drying up. If you have any interest in getting a carbine, now is the time. I predict the decent ones be gone (CMP source) in about a 1/2 year.

I disagree about grabbing a .45 before the carbine. Higher capacity, better energy. No one says you have to load it with FMJ. I have both, and for home defense, the .45 falls behind my shotgun and the carbine.

In my State the M1 Carbine is illegal to own, however in terms of accuracy, stopping power, and reliability the M1 Garand hails supreme in my opinion.

the Carbine is just a pistol with a stock, thats what the purpose of it was, just rather would have the versitility of the 30.06

The good, collectible (even rack grade shooters) M-1 Carbines at decent prices are getting harder to find.
Whereas decent Garands are not so difficult--and DCM still has decent prices, too, with far fewer hoops to jump through, too.

The only real limitation for the Carbine is ammo, it getting to be available again, but, it is no where as available as Cal..30 M-2 ball for the Garand.

Have both - like many love both - but for me the Garand is king. Just feels and exudes that battle rifle feel. Probably wouldn't want to lug it around in the field extensively - but for pure nostalgia and joy of disassembly and reassembly - the Garand all the way. Bought one for my self and one as a gift to my father-in-law who served in Korea and had his house robbed years ago where the got his old rifle. The gleam in his eyes when he got it - priceless.