Auto Ordnance M1 Carbine

[johnmcl]

Happy With Mine

Hi all,

I bought a Kahr AO M1 carbine this summer and just couldn't be happier. The form, fit, and function are as I'd expect from a miltary rifle. I've only shot MagTech ammunition through it, and the results are great.

I decided on the AO as the surplus one's I've seen in the gun shows were in horrible condition for more than I could buy a new AO. Months after the purchase I'm sure I made the right decision.

In short, gentlemen, buy with confidence.

John

 

[Walkalong]

Sigh.........Remember when they were 150 bucks all day long! Pre Clinton gun ban scare when an SKS was under 100 bucks!

 

[Vic Ferrari]

Where can I find one of these (working or not) for a good price?

My father recently told me of an interesting story when he was in the Military in 1960 (17-18 years old at the time) about his use of an M1 in Maine during the Cuban crisis.

I would love to find one and give it to him as a gift (operational or not, mostly a gift of sentiment, restored on non-restored, but would like one that has been around since the 60's).

I don't really have $2k to drop on a sentimenal gift, but if I could find one that doesn't fire or has been disabled, I may find one cheaper?

Anyone in here selling an M1?

 

[Logan5]

I finally dug out my April 2006 American Rifleman with the article on the new AO carbines. The new ones are very different than the old IAI style ones with the ventilated metal handguards and some surplus parts. For the new one, Kahr borrowed a 1943 Saginaw made carbine, and cloned it, with entirely new manufacture parts including Green Mountain barrels. The sample they reviewed averaged 2inch groups at 100 yards with Magtech 110gr FMJ.

 

[yodar]

Cheap(er) M1's

They dont have M-1 carbines but they do have serviceable M-1 rifles and actions (sans stocks) at CMP

Check their advertisement in SGN or Rifleman Friends who got theirs paid around $700 or less depending on conditon. M-1 carbines amy never reappear as re-imports the way slick willy messed up our gca

I sure ahve no complaints for the fully walnut stocked Kahr-Auto Ord. of mine
Yodar

 

[scotttoland]

Anyone with exp with Iver Johnson M-1 Carb?

I'm looking at a Iver Johnson .30 carb. NIB Sources listed it as mil std. or at least close enough.

Not alot available about this make on the web. Thoughts?
ST

 

[yodar]

IVER JOHNSON

IVER JOHNSONS havent been a real product for years. I have been attending shows since 1964. I would sincerely doubt it was NIB and would suspect it was a made up from parts gun.

That in itself is not that bad in an M-1 cause the gummint made up parts guns during arsenal refurbishment anyway.

But I certainly would not want to pay more than a couple hundred bux for a gun of mixed and undefined ancestry with that cloud of doubt that of IVER JOHNSON not being a curent player for SOME time while the sellers says :"NIB"

uh uh!

yodar

 

[rustymaggot]

accuracy question.

my universal did slightly sub 1 inch at 50 yards with cheap ammo back when i had it scoped. i cant see good enough to do that with the peep sights.

 

[bstump2]

Auto Ord M1

I have one of these pieces of junk!!! Out of the box, action sloppy in the stock(Moves visibly 1/16 inch fore and aft. Can't hit 3'x3' target a 100 yd. Sent back... 18.00. No offer or return label.

Got it back. They fixed the "trigger Guard pin" That wasn't the problem. I also had adjust. sight installed. $58.00. Still sloppy in stock, 50 rounds ALL OVER
3'x3' target. Sent Back $18.00.

Got it back. On the paper. Misfires EVERY first round out of 10 different Mags. and intermittently thereafter. Many FTF.

PIECE OF JUNK!!!! Stay away!

 

[DougW]

My AO works great. No issues. I added the adjustable rear sight. Works well.

 

[Ghost Tracker]

The AO reports have been mixed to say the least. But they ARE a milspec rifle (all USGI parts interchange) unlike Iver Johnson, Plainsfield, etc.

And the street price for the AO is substantially less than you can buy even a ratty-but-authentic M1 Carbine around here. Their prices have skyrocketed in the last two years. There are several "experts" who support the M1 Carbine (with modern ammo) as the near-perfect HD/SD carbine. I've used them effectively on called-up coyote before, loads of fun. If I was to buy one, I would want a shooter...not a collector. The AO would be my pick. Even if something goes wrong with it, there are enough M1 Carbine Gunsmiths around that a milspec rifle SHOULD be fixable.

 

[Blade37db]

I bought one last year for exactly the reasons that Ghost Tracker mentioned. Beat up mixmasters were $700-$800. Once I heard the newer AOs were milspec and going for $600-$650 (at the time) with a 1 year warranty, it was a no-brainer. I wanted a shooter, not a collection piece. After about 800 rounds I found that mine didn't like Wolf ammo or some old Lake City I found. It runs almost flawlessly on Remington UMC FMJ. I have handguns for home defense but I wanted something that could do the job out to 100-150 yards. Plus, I just love the look and feel of M1 Carbines. Next one might be from Fulton Armory.

 

[dscottw88]

My AO M1 works perfectly fine.

I love it, iv'e fired hundreds, if not over a thousand rounds through it as it is somewhat new and have only had a enough jams to count on one hand using Wolf 110gr. FMJ's. The rear sight on mine became somewhat loose, but this is a problem that appearantly happens with alot of M1 carbines, not just Auto ordnance. It's not something a little JB weld can't fix. And yes they are Mil-Spec.

Iv'e never shot off a bench with it, but I know for a fact that if I'm aiming at something, it's going to take a bullet as it is plenty accurate. The first pic is the rifle brand new with upper foregrip made of perforated metal, i soon ordered a wood grip from cheaper than dirt and it fits great.

Overall, great gun for $550 (how much I paid)

 

[azurevirus]

I been thinking about one myself as they are great "brush" guns..short and light..and I do want a shooter and it will match my IJ Enforcer in my collection..but alot of bucks at the moment

 

[azurevirus]

but I want a barrel heat sheild as my IJE has one

 

[amd6547]

You AO owners can say it as much as you like, but by no measure can the AO carbine be called "Milspec"....It just isnt true.

 

[yodar]

KAHR/AO M-1--RELOAD 'cause ammo aint out there no more

I reload and it behaves splendidly with both my bullet styles








EVERYBODY reloaded M-1 carbine with cast bullets as I entered the Curio & Relics trade in 1964. It's a LOT cheaper to shoot and there ain't NO cheap manufactured .30 carbine out there and when you DO find it, it is almost 50 cents a round

Yodar

 

[Ignition Override]

The AO Carbine was the first rifle I ever bought (Oct. '07: Memphis, "Guns and Ammo"), but it was on impulse with no research and did not know that good GI Carbines etc were probably available for less money.

Although I treated it tenderly (never hit or dropped etc), the bolt somehow got jammed after a few weeks. It came a bit out of the track: was jammed, as in rock solid. The gun smith here decided not to touch it and the factory made the free repair/shipping.
Although such a serious malfunction might have been very rare, I was so dismayed/disappointed by the factory's quality control that I sold it at a real loss and bought both a Mini 30 and an SKS. These are more rugged, very dependable, and the ammo is .25/rd, widely available.

Even those Chinese had much better quality control and with an old Russian design....Had wanted the M-1 Carbine since I watched "Combat" etc in the mid-60s.

I kick myself when seeing prices of good GI Carbines or M-1 Garands at the CMP, for less money than the brand-new AO Imitation Carbine back in '07 ($700)......but am glad that the AO's worked out for other people.

 

[AH-1]

http://www.m1carbinesinc.com/carbine_kahr.html


http://www.m1carbinesinc.com/carbines.html

one of the best sites I have seen on M-1 carbines.

pete

 

[Carl N. Brown]

( FMJ 50rds = $10.00 SP 50rds =$ 13.50 )

Those 2006 ammo prices made my wallet weep.

 

[Deaf Smith]

CMP M1 carbine is cheaper than a AO carbine. So why pay extra?

Deaf

 

[Carl N. Brown]

CMP M1 carbines are more desirable as collectors items than as shooters, but they can be good shooters. I bought an M1 carbine (re-import from US guns issued to Korea, but not a CMP, one of the commercial importers) twenty years ago and am happy with it. The current AO M1 carbine has no collectors value, but is a good shooter and the current version replicates the original early WWII issue--"L" rear sight, no bayonet lug, etc.

 

[MikePaiN]

I'm liking these rifles very much and have been going over and over buying one this weekend. I handled the AO M1 Carbine at a shop this week, the balance and handling felt excellent, plus I loved the look even better in person then in all the pics I've been preening over. The retail was about ~$750 which I thought was high. I've found them on-line for less($680 @ Bud's). Add about $45 worth of stuff from CTD(GI sling & oilier, stock mag pouch and two 15r mags) and I think it would make a very cool and fun retro assault rifle.
I only have one rifle a Saiga .308 for SHTF. My problem with getting the M1 is, I really have no place to shoot it ....I don't belong to a "range"(and there's none I care to join) I shoot at indoor pistols ranges that only allow pistol cal. and .22lr. I have to wait for the occasional invite to a buds range or make the long trip(1hr) to a public rifle range and pay $30/hr to use it

...but I really would like to own one.

 

[DougW]

I bought my AO M1 Carbine about 6 months before the CMP announced the availablilty of Carbines some years ago. Mine shoots great, never had a hangup or FTE. I have used Wolf and locally reloaded brass ammo. Accuracy is very good.

Always wanted a Carbine to go with the Garand. Got plenty of other stuff to shoot for more serious use, so the Carbine is a "fun" gun, along with my Ruger 10/22. Wife even likes "her" M4'gery better than the Carbine. Go figure!

 

[amd6547]

If you have an AO carbine that works and you like it, good on you.
I bought my CMP Inland service grade for about $500. Excellent bore, excellent finish, and an early I-cut stock....picked it out myself at North Store (about 45min from my driveway).
I keep it handy for my HD longarm with a 15rd mag of Remington SP's. I shoot groups the size of a grapefruit at 100yds with this carbine without trying hard.
While the AO carbine may fit the bill for some, I much prefer having the USGI original...plus the fact that it will only go up in value, particularly when the CMP supply dries up (It is already). It has been 100% reliable. The only change I have made is to put an M2 mag catch on it to use the Korean 30rd mags. While I have a good supply of USGI mags (also bought from CMP at a bargain price), I also have both the 15rd and 30rd korean mags...they are excellent and work perfectly.