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

[SwordRapier]

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.

I got a headache just looking at one manufacturer's website.

I do have another rifle its a 22 LR. Heck I grew up shooting my dad's old 30-40 kreig. I am now looking at buying another long gun after a pistol binge. I'm dancing back and forth between a .357 lever gun and some sort of semi auto. I've been looking at M1 carbine because it doesn't give me a migraine to try to figure it out. There is just something about simplicity that makes it beautiful.

I know my dislike of AK is most likely an unreasonable bias but at least I'm honest about my bias.

 

[Lee Roder]

To answer your question, yes, 30 carbine can be difficult to find so you really should be able to reload the ones you can get. Today was the first time I have been able to buy a box locally since moving to AZ.

 

[Al Thompson]

something about simplicity that makes it beautiful

Only issue with the M1 is that they are 50 (+) year old rifles. The Mini fits the same niche but with a running factory for support.

 

[LEVRLOVR]

Another vote for the Mini-14.

Really excellent rifles. See if you can find a factory folding stock also as these really enhance the little carbines considerably.

 

[rondog]

I'm biased, sue me.

 

[SwordRapier]

moved to a different thread.

 

[Legasat]

I'm surprised no one mentioned an M1A Scout???

 

[tcalpino]

an ar is a good choice. you can do alot to them, and you can make it suit what you want or need. spend the extra money. an m1 carbine can be hairy, due to some being poorly made (my father is an m1 carbine collector) and has alot of knowledge and know how. but if you dont want to spend 600 plus, try a mini 14. 5.56mm is easy and cheap.

 

[Birddog1911]

Gotta go with M1 Carbine myself. Planning on an aftermarket paratrooper stock, just so I can keep this stock pristine.

Gratuitous gun porn:

 

[ByAnyMeans]

I must admit I am not very knowledgeable about the M! carbine but given what everyone says regarding ammo availability and lack of longer than 100 yard range shooting I would choose a different rifle. I favor the AK but if I did not like that or AR's I would go with a Mini-30. I just like the 7.62x39 round better than .223.

Now if you are going to go for a battle rifle / precision shooting and wanted to keep to one caliber look for something in .308. A nice Savage accu-package and Fal would be my choice.


IF it is just for shooting at the range and I reloaded I would order a Garand and M1 carbine from CMP.

 

[Hatterasguy]

Those carbines are pretty!

Really what do you need to shoot past 100 yards?

 

[Caliper_Mi]

SKS? Cheap ammo like an AK but with a milled receiver and more wood.

Have you thought about ignoring all the complication that some people put into their AR's and just get a plain jane? Any time you think about accessories for it, just hit yourself in the forehead and buy that much more ammo!

 

[offthepaper]

Gahead-- spell it out S.... A .... I.... , you can finish the rest!!!
simple as it gets

What!
No takers?

Gotta say, the "S" word would be my first suggestion. Just pick a caliber.

 

[jeepguy]

mini 14/30 or if you dont like the ak take a look at vz 58. i had a m1 carbine becuse i always wanted one & was board after a few times out. i love my mini 14 even more then my ar. if you get the mini get a 580/581 series model, the one with the tapered barrel. it is more acccurate than the old ones.

 

[Zundfolge]

...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.

The problem isn't ARs its AR users ... they're a contentious bunch. A simple, out of the box AR from any major manufacturer is going to be simple.


You haven't said what your plans are for this carbine.

Home defense? Hunting? Plinking? Zombie Bear Invasion?

If its just a plinker, don't let folk talk you out of that M1 Carbine ... great fun little carbine. Also, most SKS owners will tell you their little Siminov's are tremendous fun.

 

[benEzra]

I doubt you can find a good quality M1 carbine as cheap as a Wal-Mart 580-series Mini-14, but I may be wrong on that. I will say that the mini-14 operates exactly like the M1 carbine (which it arguably resembles more than it resembles the M14, despite the name) and uses more readily available ammunition. I can vouch for the accuracy problems of early mini's, but a 580 series should be fine and will mount optics more easily than an M1 carbine will.

As to the complexity of AR choices....for a starter, all-around AR, you can pretty much ignore the multiplicity of configurations and just get something like this:

http://noveskerifleworks.com/cgi-bi...lrb-556&cat=101&page=1&search=&since=&status=

from a reputable manufacturer. Basically a 16" midlength flattop with a standard forend, adjustable buttstock, 5.56x45mm chamber, 1:7 or 1:9 barrel, and quality flip-up rear sight. That price is the very high end and is MSRP, not typical retail; you can probably get that configuration for $800 or so on the low end, but $1100 or so will buy you higher-grade parts and proper assembly.

 

[Al LaVodka]

SKS? Cheap ammo like an AK but with a milled receiver and more wood.

Have you thought about ignoring all the complication that some people put into their AR's and just get a plain jane? Any time you think about accessories for it, just hit yourself in the forehead and buy that much more ammo!

Exactly right.
Al

 

[Col. Plink]

When I heard carbine I thought 'SKS'. Go with a Yugo M59, or a Russian or Romanian. I can personally vouch for the Yugo M59 (in the right condition!) is a tank, an accurate tank.

I consider the 7.62x39 to be a ramped-up carbine round, not a low-power rifle round (for the extent of our purposes here). With tailor-loaded ammo I could probably get my M59 to do good groups at 100yds, but unless you're going bolt-action don't expect that kind of performance with a 7.62x39. It does, however, blow the 30carbine's doors off.

Ammo availability and price should weigh into your decision as well. 30carbine ammo is just not common and not cheap (neither are the rifles, even at the CMP).

 

[AH-1]

socom II it doesn't get any better than this

the flyer was all me.5 rd group


this "borrowed" this pic but it will give you a idea on size.



10/22
socom
M1 carbine

 

[Opoche]

Love my Vz. 58. Light, short and plenty of parts now. 7.62x39, reliable, simple to disassemble and better designed than an Ak IMHO. Used to have issues with mags, but they are going for about 13 bucks now. Not technically a carbine, but it is just under 3 feet long and weighs about 7 pounds


Just need to dump that cheap sight.

 

[Ignition Override]

The SKS not only costs less money than many .22s, and the non-corrosive Russian ammo is .25/rd and widely available.

7.62x39 is Much easier to find than M-1 Carbine ammo, and costs less. JHP is also easy to find.
The SKS can be equipped with a Tech Sight rear peep ($45), and a cheap recoil pad helps the stock's length to feel normal.

 

[eye5600]

The AR market is complicated, but one AR rifle is not a lot more complicated than any of the alternatives. If you tell the guy in the gun shop (presuming it's a good one) what you want, he will give you two or three to choose from.

 

[FMJMIKE]

Get a Mini-14 or this................

 

[earlthegoat2]

Id spring (pun intended) for the M1A Scout. Not the SOCOM, just the standard Scout.

 

[SwordRapier]

The M1 carbine is still tempting but..... I just don't think I can get a good one for a price of a Mini 14 or Mini 30 As a consequence, I find myself leaning more toward the mini 14 or Mini 30.

I asked my wife what she thought. She replied get one of each.

I'll have to do that, if I can gather enough capital and if I like the things after I see them in person.

AR's are still out. The Market is too complicated for my tastes. Besides, I can get both the Mini 14 and the Mini 30 for about the same price as an AR.

The AK is just too ugly. There I said it. I've come clean and told the real truth. I don't like AK's because they're just plain hideous. See, I told you it was an unreasonable bias.

I'm still open for suggestions on rifles to look at.

.