Light carbine concept

[readyeddy]

I agree with the OP that the gun as spec'd could become popular given the gun's handiness and the cartridge's sweet spot between the low end of rifle cartridges and short range pistol cartridges.

But the problem with the concept is economics. The gun needs to be offered at $500 or less. If the carbine is priced around $1000, then most people would go with the cheaper but bulkier AR. But if offered at $500 or less, then it would be worth getting the lighter and handier .30 carbine loaded with Tula steel cased ammo. I would buy one for home defense and range use. I wouldn't use it for hunting, but it would be nice to have a gun that was about as light and slender as a 10/22 but with the power of .30 Carbine.

PCC's are also nice, but not quite the same.

 

[CoalTrain49]

Like the kind a 300 Blackout uses at a much faster speed?

A previous thread...
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-not-made-in-rifles-other-than-the-m1.857562/

The 300 Blackout is a much better cartridge than the 30 carbine. The 30 has max MV of about 2000 fps while the 300 has a max MV of about 2400 fps using the same H110 powder and 110 gr bullets. The problem I see is the 300 was designed as a sub sonic cartridge and very few have actually experimented with lighter bullets and higher MV's. Barrels are 1/7 twists to accommodate slower heavier bullets. That's the wrong twist for a light HV bullet. Should be about 1/12 using 110-124 gr bullets. I would like to see someone build a light carbine like a Mini 30 with a 1/12 twist using 300 Blackout and AR mags.

But 7.62x39 already has that niche nailed down so that would also be redundant. I would however like to load the 300 BLK @ 2400 fps to see how it performed with a proper barrel. I'm not a huge fan of 7.62x39 because it's not really a .308 cartridge.

 

[Demi-human]

110 grain Vmaxs work great in my ten twist 30-06, as well as my seven twist Blackout, neither are starting loads.

 

[eastbank]

my carbine is not going anywhere, I took the piston out and polished it and the inside of the housing(staying off the threads), buffed the bolt lightly and picked out five good 15 round GI magizines. the results are a light carbine the will run 200 rounds with out a jam and as I already have the carbine money saved. if you want folding syn stocks are available that will make it shorter if that is important.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I picked up a commercial M-1 carbine in a folding plastic stock some years ago. Handy and reliable, I sometimes carry it as a truck gun.
I still think that an AR-15 upper and mag adapter in the .30 carbine round would be an interesting option, especially in a synthetic-lower build... .

 

[CoalTrain49]

I picked up a commercial M-1 carbine in a folding plastic stock some years ago. Handy and reliable, I sometimes carry it as a truck gun.
I still think that an AR-15 upper and mag adapter in the .30 carbine round would be an interesting option, especially in a synthetic-lower build... .

It would be for sure. A 300 blk with a 1/12 twist barrel designed for 110-124 bullets would also be interesting. But then somebody would blow themselves up cramming 180 grain ammo in it. I think the 350 Legend will be the straight wall cartridge for the AR going forward. Could be wrong tho.

 

[theotherwaldo]

A 300 blk with a 1/12 twist barrel designed for 110-124 bullets would also be interesting. But then somebody would blow themselves up cramming 180 grain ammo in it.

-That's why I like the idea of an AR-30 Carbine. A moderate round for a light and handy gun.
Why do folks want to put the most powerful round that they can in a light-weight gun and then beat the gun - and themselves - half to death?

 

[someguy2800]

-That's why I like the idea of an AR-30 Carbine. A moderate round for a light and handy gun.
Why do folks want to put the most powerful round that they can in a light-weight gun and then beat the gun - and themselves - half to death?

A 300 blackout beats you and the gun to death???

 

[theotherwaldo]

With 180 grain loads, yes.
Those plastic lowers are light but not really up to snuff for anything approaching real rifle rounds, in my opinion.
Anyway, I like the idea of a carbine that is somewhere between a pistol and a light rifle in power.

 

[someguy2800]

just for some perspective here is a 300 blackout next to a 357 mag. They shoot the same weight bullet with the same powder charge to the same velocity. I don’t have a 30 carbine round but they are the same length as a 357 mag.

 

[someguy2800]

With 180 grain loads, yes.
Those plastic lowers are light but not really up to snuff for anything approaching real rifle rounds, in my opinion.
Anyway, I like the idea of a carbine that is somewhere between a pistol and a light rifle in power.

What are we talking about that has a plastic lower? And what does bullet weight have to do with chamber pressure?

 

[theotherwaldo]

Some of the Franken-ARs have plastic lowers - and it is more a case of recoil-absorption over the years.

 

[someguy2800]

I can promise you a 300 blackout is not going to wear out a normal forged aluminum AR15 no matter what bullet weight you load it with. Its much less power and recoil and bolt thrust than many (actually most) of the other cartridges that have been chambered in the AR15 for many many years. It really isn't much felt difference from a 223.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I've had a project of sorts going on for several years. I have been trying to see how many components in a category of weapon can be replaced by substitute materials and still have a useful and reliable weapon.
It's something of an engineering challenge.
I got set off by a close examination of a Nylon 66... .

 

[Texas10mm]

It would be for sure. A 300 blk with a 1/12 twist barrel designed for 110-124 bullets would also be interesting. But then somebody would blow themselves up cramming 180 grain ammo in it. I think the 350 Legend will be the straight wall cartridge for the AR going forward. Could be wrong tho.

If all you want to shoot is lighter weight bullets then get a .300 Ham'R.

 

[CoalTrain49]

If all you want to shoot is lighter weight bullets then get a .300 Ham'R.

That would be the obvious solution. It has all the right ingredients. Not sure the ammo mfg's will pick it up however. It's in a slow lane.

 

[Buckeye63]

I have a Keltec Sub 2K in 9mm , takes Glock mags ... .. light , realiable... compact ... folds in half ... just great ..

I also have a SKS Paratrooper 16inch barrel ... Just fantastic... I bought it in 1995 ? for $115.00 ... Thousands of rounds out the tube ... two whitetails, a dozen or more coydogs / feral dogs

I have a Marlin JM 336Y 30-30 16inch barrel.... what can I say about this setup ? That isn't known ...


The 350 Legend is a round that has me intrigued ... Id like to see it in a semi auto format other than a AR ...
Maybe like a Ruger Deerfield concept