M1 carbine for home defense?

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Which M1 carbine are you speaking of?

I regard the commercial variants such as the Iver Johnson and Universal as little more than borderline junk. I experienced op-rod failure from a cheaply made cast iron op-rod in an Ivor Johnson crack and fail at the 500 round mark. I replaced it with a forged G.I. op-rod.

I have also owned some military M1 carbine guns in the past and their reliablity has not be good either.

None have been as reliable as the more economically priced SKS or AK series of weapons.

The flimsy magazines are easily damaged and are so flimsy that simply taking off the floor plate of the magazine to clean it will bend the cheap sheet metal floor plate and if you do not straghten it absolutely straight it will slip off under fire and cause a jam to the weapon.

30 round magazines in this gun are noted for being very unreliable and the commercial 30 round magazines are little more than junk. The military magazines are better but still are made of very thin flimsy sheet metal and even they are not 100 per cent reliable even in the more common and somewhat more reliable 15 round capacity.

In combat and hunting the M1 carbine has proven to be a dismal failure first class. Its weak and aenemic cartridge is eclipsed by even the intermediate battle rounds like the 7.62x39 or the small caliber .223.

Its weak operating spring must be immediately replaced with a heavy duty one or else partially riding the operating handle down will result in the bolt not fully going into battery. Ever notice a long time user of an M1 carbine constantly double hitting the op-rod after it runs forward to make sure the bolt closed all the way.

The MI carbines gas system needs a special tool to remove the piston for cleaning. If not kept clean this weapon soon malfunctions. Not a very good system compared to the very reliable and easy take down of the AK or SKS series of weapons.


Accuracy is very dismal with this weapon. Basket ball size groups being the norm on a good day at 100 yards.

The rear sight is staked and the stakes often come loose resulting in a loose rear sight. True, they can often be restaked but what a pain the the rear end to have to go through this.

The safety in the lever type is awkward to use under stress and the older push button safety resulted in people hitting the mag release button instead of the safety under stress resulting in ones losing his magazine in a bad moment and often under fire.

I really can not fathom why anyone would choose this weapon over the Ak or SKS series of weapons. The orginal M1 carbines are archaic collectors pieces that go for big bucks compared to the much more economically priced SKS or even AK series of weapons, and the commercial M1 carbines are little more than borderline junk.
 
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BHP9,
This thread concerns home defense, most of your concerns are not important for home defense, ie Long range accuracy, durability of magazines etc.

As another datapoint my carbine has yet to have a part fall off of it or malfunction due to my not cleaning the gas piston, or malfuntion for any other reason for that matter. My MAK90 and my Yugo SKS NEVER get through a range session without a jam. I'm not saying that the AKs and SKSs are junk, although mine seem to be, i'm just saying that they aren't the be-all and end-all of reliability and the M1 carbine is hardly an antiquated wall-hanger.
 
If M1 carbines were as relatively inexpensive and readily available as hey were some years back I'd not hesitate to get one for a truck gun....or house carbine. Slick actions, negligible recoil for anyone, a piece of history to be sure. I too have a Blackhawk in .30 Carbine and it's my hog and dog gun for feral pigs and coyotes. Handloads with 4227 or H110 topped by a Speer FNHP 110gr. are big medicine for those pests.

If I were to find one for a decent price for the condition I'd snap it up.

Regards,
Rabbit.

"If we could just get everyone to close their eyes and visualize world
peace for an hour, imagine how serene and quiet it would be until
the looting started..."
 
M1 Carbine vs. AK, AR

One thing to keep in mind:

If you have to use a rifle/carbine in a home defense situation, and are either prosecuted or sued for it, it will be harder to portray you as an assault-wielding Rambo type with a wood-stocked M1 carbine than it would if you used an AR-15 or AK-47.
 
Defense attorney: "...defended himself using this, ratty old World War II rifle, less powerful than many handguns on the market today..."

Man to Lawyer: "hey, that rifle's in great shape, buddy, and it hits harder than .357 Mag at 100 yards."

Defense Attorney (loud whisper to client): "let me handle this"
 
FYI...Cor-Bon is working on a "Powerball" load for the .30 Carbine. Should work out well for home defense.
 
accuracy & M1

M-1's are showing up more often on these threads.
How accurate are the M-1's? Do they need a lot of work? I found one made in 1944 and I'm tempted to buy it.
I have wondered about over penetration of the available .30 caliber rounds compared to the .223 tactical loads.

I'd like to read some opinions.
 
My M1 Carbine is my home defense weapon. Of course, my only other choices right now are pistols and a Garand.
 
ah, I've always been able to hit tin cans and such with any of the carbines I've had. As far as group size, I guess you could expect three MOA or maybe a bit better.

Penetration? Around the house I'd venture that it's six of one, half-dozen of the other, when comparing the carbine and the .223. Either will go through a sheetrock-style wall or two.

I've always found that if they're kept reasonably clean, they're quite reliable. M1 or M2 versions, same-o same-o...

Tried out my father's carbine from WW II, the other day. Shot just fine. All it needed was a new sling. :)

Art
 
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