AK 47 vs M1 Carbine

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BubbaRay

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I had planned to travel from here(Atlanta) to Anniston,AL to CMP and pickup a M1A carbine. My gun range has an overstock sale on AR47's (Romanian parts, put together here in US). Both rifles around $550-600. I'll buy one. Which one would be easier to find ammo for?

Screwed up original post....Actually meant M1 carbine (30 cal) from CMP!!
 
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i would think they ak ammo would probaly be a little bit cheaper and maybe easier to get. i dont really know tho. i would probaly get the M1A tho because the price of the ak varients keep dropping. but i really dont know how much M1A's go for. i have been thinking about getting one but it is going to be a while the ak broke me :-(
 
Yeah, we need a clarification of what "M1A carbine" actually is. Don't think it's the M1 Carbine, are we talking a standard rifle length M1A/M14?
 
The CMP doesn't sell M-14's, or M1A's, or M1A1 Carbines either.

He has to be talking about plain old M1 .30 Cal Carbines for $600 bucks.

rc
 
No, CMP has M1 Carbines right now. For sure that is what he means. Any M1A's south of $800 would have to be very suspect condition. If collectibility is a factor for you, go M1 Carbine. If to be used as a defense gun, go AK.
 
Wow! .30 Carbine ain't that much cheaper than 7.62 NATO. The link above has it at $0.34 per round for the cheap commie stuff.

BSW
 
I dont think .30 carbine ammo has EVER been cheap, even back when everything else was, including the guns.

I think you'll probably have an easier time finding cheaper ammo and mags for the AK.

The AK in either caliber will be more powerful than the .30 carbine too.
 
It appears you are looking for the cheapest carbine to shoot? Does it have to be .30 caliber? If not, then the cheapest is probably an AK-74 shooting 5.45x39.
 
arizona98t
+1 on the AK74 I have a brand new Romainian AK74 and 875 rounds of ammo for sale (Shameless Plug):D going to list it in the classifieds
 
Last gun show I was at: 7.62 x 39 = 26 cents a round.

I couldn't even find M1 carbine rounds. When I do stumble across a box of Winchester or Remington, it's an automatic $30 minimum for 50 rounds. I got some second hand "Alabama Ammo" brand for $18 a box.

I bought 500 rounds of .30 carbine for $90 maybe 1 year before that. Glad I did. Sometimes I see boxes of Wolf M1 for $12-$15. (50 rounds)

They are both great guns. At the end of the day.... I'd have more fun with an AK. Then again, I own both... :D
 
Yeah the OP has to be talking about M1 Carbines. No way anyone here, there, or anywhere will ever pay $600 for an M1A (M14 clone).
 
I ordered an M1 Carbine when CMP 1st got them in a couple years ago. Luckily I had the foresight to buy a couple cases of ammo and a 10 pack of mags before I got the rifle and before the big rush. Since then, I haven't seen any deals on .30 Carbine ammo that would make me jump for it.

7.62x39 (AK ammo) on the other hand is almost everywhere, sometimes fairly reasonably priced, and even the magazines are very common and affordable.

I still like the M1 Carbine better, but I shoot the AK more.
 
For ammo pricing, I think you'll find AK ammo to be cheaper and more readily available (in 7.62 or 5.45) than M1 Carbine ammo. If you're looking at something to plink around with, you might be better off with the AK, of the two choices.
 
M1 Carbine vs. AK advantages? The nicest thing I can think of about the M1 Carbine, over the AK variants, is that the M1 carbine is lighter, more ergonomic, has better (easier to align) sights, and is, in general, more accurate. It IS less powerful, but it handles nicely, and that may make it faster on target (if not for the sights alone). Not for everyone, but I would not feel handicapped THAT much if I did not have an AK, and had to make do with the M1 Carbine, particularly with soft point ammunition.
 
It appears you are looking for the cheapest carbine to shoot? Does it have to be .30 caliber? If not, then the cheapest is probably an AK-74 shooting 5.45x39.
Click to expand...

You are correct. My son picked up a new Century AK74 ($475) with a 1,000 rounds of ammo ($140). Cheap shooting.....
 
CMP M1 Carbines are certainly well worth buying !! The price is right & the rifle is a good old American favorite.. Condition & quality is always excellent from CMP. I have ordered many rifles through the years & recently got one of the Italian returned M1 Carbines (I have 2 now). The long term return on the M1 will likely be better than an AK & ammo is getting loosened up now. (For awhile NOBODY had 30 carbine ammo...) For Just plain fun plinking the M1 is TOPS! I reload to save bucks so my cost of ammo is same for the 30 & the 7.62X39 but when I shoot I will grab my M1 first!
I really do enjoy shooting it much more than my AK or even my SKS... It just feels better in my hands. The Ak is not very accurate by design so I feel the power edge of the 7.62X39 has no great advantage in accuracy or distance, Although to hunt deer I would use it over the 30 carbine for a cleaner kill (Actually I would use an SKS over the AK for hunting purposes and there are much better choices for hunting than either )
So for shooting, investing, or having fun pick the M1 Carbine. If better velocity is needed go 7.62. In either case get a Lee Loader set & you can save $$ by reloading. (Lee Loaders are neat little Caliber specific hand loading sets that sell from $10 to $25 for anyone who hasn't seen one)
One final thought. If I could only keep one it would definitely be the M1 Carbine
"DOC" Jim Ramski
 
Wanna shoot cheap and not worry much about accuracy get the AK...If ya want an American War Baby and not worry much about accuracy ,the M1 Carbine. The M1 at least will go up in value.
 
Much depends on what you're using the rifle for. The whole "which is better" question is exasperating to say the least. When I think of the M1 Carbine, I think of a handy little carbine designed to be used more in lines of defense against people, but giving the option of "defending" out to 200 yards.

Ideally, I would not look to pit the M1 Carbine against an AK-47 in any military-type offensive role (not saying it couldn't hold its own). I do recognize the ballistic advantages of the 7.62x39 (range, penetration, energy, the how shebang). Ammunition is a heck of a lot cheaper as well.

However, it amazes me how little respect the handy War Baby receives from some, as if they are hardwired against this little carbine.
For example, I have a coworker who continues to mention in firearm-related conversation how the .30 Carbine has the same energy as a .38 special despite being corrected on multiple occasion. It has the energy of a .38 special, sure... at perhaps 300 yards (heck, it has a .44 magnum-esque 970 ft/lbs at the muzzle).

I am more than content with the M1 Carbine for what it was designed for (essentially PDW) and feel its already admirable attributes are only improved by use of SP or JHP ammunition. Unless I need something in the realm of a scoped rifle, give me an M1 Carbine any day!
 
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