I've about convinced myself I want a semi auto carbine.

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

SwordRapier

Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2008
Messages
107
Location
Utah
Okay, so I have about convinced myself that I should get a semi-automatic rifle/ carbine. I'm looking for a carbine that is fun to shoot and can be pressed into service for defense if necessary.

I have been looking at the AR, and to be honest AR's make my brain hurt. They are too complicated and come in too dizzing an array of options. I think I would rather ponder the beginning of the universe than try to understand AR's.

I know the above statement is going to rub all of the AR lovers the wrong way. That's okay, you're more gun savvy than I am.

As for AK's and their variants, I just don't like them. I know, It is an unreasonable personal bias and quite possible a character flaw :) Never the less, I still don't like 'em.

I have been looking at the M1 carbine. I know this topic has been done to death and I'm not looking to start a caliber war. People either lover or hate the .30 carbine round. Are there more effective rounds yes, I don't care. Is the .30 carbine possibly difficult to find in a disaster situation. Maybe, I still don't care I have other guns on more common calibers.

What I would like to know is this: how good are the CMP rack grade rifles? I'm not a gun smith, nor do I own very many tools. I don't know how to fix a rife to make it shoot-able. So if the CMP Rack Grade M1 Carbines are not shoot-able right out of the box, I don't think they are the gun for me. If they're not shoot-able out of the box I may have to consider the Auto-Ordinance re-manufactures.

I have looked at some M1's that are in better condition, or that have been reconditioned, quite simply they're too expensive. I'll leave those for the collectors who will appreciate them properly.
 
try a ruger mini-14 or mini-30 they come in 223 and 7.62X39. they are based on a M1 Garand action if i am correct and are very sturdy. you can get 5,10,20, and 30 round mags for it and you can get it in all-weather or just the "ranch rifle" configurations
 
I know how good two CMP rack grade rifles were in the last few months.
The first one was a dud, the gas block had a major crack after ~200 rounds of CMP-sold factory ammo, I assume the crack was there but too small to see when I took that carbine home.
The CMP made it right, let me pick out another rack-grade carbine and even let me keep the nicer wood from the first one ... no charge, no argument.
The second carbine is in better shape mechanically, which I was able to tell better after some time inside the first one and a lot of research in between.
Of course, I live in the neighborhood of the North Store, I literally can drop in after work when I'm on a short dayshift, and they're only 15 minutes away on a day off ... you might want to go with a higher grade, or look for a local deal, those carbines are antiques and ordering one for serious use from afar has an obvious pucker factor. That being said, I have a new favorite rifle, I like it so much I mocked up a 10/22 to match as a cheap trainer/plinker.
 
vermont88993, the mini-14 is based on the M14, and is a nice carbine in all configurations.
MrsBFD refused to put one back in a case a while back, personally I would take a mini-30 given a choice, but she wanted the mini-14 and I wasn't going to argue.
Aftermarket mags are a crapshoot with the mini-14, but beyond magazine gripes I think it is a great platform ... now I want an M14 and can't justify the expense ... maybe after Appleseed.
 
Ruger Mini 14/30 is a good weapon, just kinda pricey for my budget. Now is a better time than any to get a semiauto, too bad you didn't get started when SKSs were dirt cheap and ammo was 10 cents a round. I bought mine back in 91 NIB for $125. When they were plentiful in the 70s to the end of the 90s, they weren't held in very high regard but they are no longer being imported, they are close to the price of a Romanian WASR AK. For the prices of the Rugers, I'd go with an AK 47 but that's all my budget can handle.
 
As an owner of an M1 Carbine, I'm very biased towards it. Whenever I take guns to go shoot, I always bring the M1 because it's an all around great carbine. I don't hunt with it, nor does it have the power of a .308 or '06, but it is one of the best plinking guns! It is small enough to conceal wherever you may need. You can buy various magazines that go anywhere from 5-30. You can find a lot of .30 Carbine ammo at gun shows, or sometimes places that have other surplus calibers will have it.
 
I've heard that the Ruger Mini rifle have accuracy problems? Any truth to that?
 
AR's are simple, easy to understand, work on, and clean. There are plentiful parts, they are super-fun, ammo is cheap and readily available. They are America's carbine. You will not regret it. Get some Advil if you feel a headache coming on but I think you'll find you won't need any.
 
Sounds like you want a military pattern rifle that isn't a AR or AK.

The M1 carbine is a neat little rifle. But I really wouldn't want it to be my only long gun. It's expensive for what you get, as is the ammo.

There are other detachable mag rifles available. My short list would include the FS2000, the Sig 556 series, the FAL, or one of the PTR HK clones. 5.56 is generally more pleasant (and cheaper) to shoot, but 7.62 NATO is still available, if higher priced.

It really comes down to what you're wanting to do with the rifle. BSW
 
QUOTE: I've heard that the Ruger Mini rifle have accuracy problems? Any truth to that?



Older ones, yes, though relatively easy to fix with the Accu-Strut or similar barrel device.

Ruger has effectively fixed the problem with the latest 580 series models with thicker barrels, tapered in front of the gas block.
 
If you don't want an AR or an AK, an AUG type rifle like the MSAR would make a great companion for the alien invasion! :D

msar1.jpg
 
I think the Ruger Mini 14 meets your criteria quite well as has been mentioned. It is very reliable without a lot of careful cleaning on a regular basis. It is essentially why I bought one in the first place. It's there if I ever need it or feel like shooting off a couple hundred dollars worth of ammo in a few hours.
 
i would look at the difference in price. A ruger mini may be ok....but for a few hundred more you can get into an ar-15 and the variety of parts, add ons, and versatility makes it more than worth the price difference. look at the cmmg bargain bin guns. For A rifle, one rifle, first rifle i can't reccomend anything else than an ar-15, they just do so much. If rugers are what you want though, they are selling ruger factory mags to the general public now and they are supposed to be what works best. If you want an m1 carbine go service grade, good nice rifles for the money, I bought two.
 
The M1 carbine is a really, really great pistol.
Get a simple AR carbine. Heck, even the Infantry can use 'em!
Al
 
If you don't want an AR or an AK, an AUG type rifle like the MSAR would make a great companion for the alien invasion! :D
Click to expand...

I thought we where preparing for the zombie invasion? WHAT NEXT?! you people keep changing the monsters who will attack us :rolleyes:
 
While the M1 carbine is a neet little gun it is and always has been somewhat wanting as a battle rifle or even a home defence rifle. Yes, if you have 10 or 20 mags and a ton of ammo it would be fine for a shtf or whatever rifle. The original intent of the gun was to replace the 1911 among company comanders and crew served weopons. In that form it is better than a pistol! It is however a poor excuse for a rifle. I would suggest almost any AR, AK, Saiga, SKS rifle in place of the M1 carbine.
 
SR, the new Mini-14 is accurate, reliable with Ruger factory magazines and is (like all Garand actions) easy to understand. I have a new one and it works fine. :)
 
Well, you may not like AK's now, but I've never met someone who didn't like them after they used a good one. They're solid, reliable, easy to work on. My father, who had never owned or shot an assault rifle, was greatly impressed with my AK's.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

3
  • Locked
A Question on the M1 Carbine
Replies
3
Views
457
CU74
C
S
  • Locked
New to CMP... M1 Carbine Rack Grade or Service Grade
Replies
7
Views
1K
1KPerDay
1KPerDay
D
  • Locked
Best M1 carbine makes
2
Replies
33
Views
10K
Tinpig
Tinpig
B
  • Locked
I want an Inland M-1 Carbine, but...
Replies
3
Views
369
sarge83
S
N
  • Locked
Muzzle gauge (CMP M1 Carbine question)
Replies
2
Views
494
Nolo
N
Back
Top