M1 Carbine for home defense

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I still depend on my M1 for home defense even though I have an AR that I love.

I honestly believe the vast majority (nearly all) of those with horror stories concerning the .30 Carbine's lack of stopping ability are merely repeating what they've heard... from others who were repeating what they've heard.

I was under the impression the .30 carbine was a joke until I actually had the opportunity to shoot one at reactive targets. Water filled milk jugs and such react so entirely differently when struck by a .30 Carbine than with a pistol round.
I left under a completely different impression of the carbine. This was long ago and I've owned 2 M1 Carbines since then.

The M1 Carbine is certainly no joke as it was designed, from the ground up, as a device to kill humans.

The M1 carbine is plenty deadly with FMJs, but are undeniably more of a "stopper" with expanding rounds.
 
True, Snowdog, but one also ought to keep in mind it simply does not have the ballistics of the .30-'06 or other similar rounds. It is a comparatively close range gun.
During WW2 in the european theater it was often found insufficient when used across fields, or other large open spaces. It simply isn't a great weapon in that environment.
In the Pacific, where jungle fighting, and other close in fighting was more the norm it worked better. One Marine officer who fought in the Pacific characterized the carbine as "the ace weapon of the war."
Some people do claim that it didn't "stop" the enemy very well. Hyped up Japanese soldiers, operating under the Bushido Code, or others knowing they would be shot by their own officers if they ran and had an adrenaline charge, yes, I believe that unless the bullet took out the central nervous system (spinal chord) or a major support bone (pelvis or leg) then you might very well see a soldier continue. But then I think the same might also be true with a Garand or Springfield, or a Colt 1911. The Thompson might have a more serious effect only because it fired 800 RPM and getting whacked with multiple .45 caliber slugs will "leave a mark." But the carbine had a better range than either the Thompson of the 1911.
When much younger I had access to a published study a friend of my mother's made of WW2 wounds. He'd been a WW2 medic and later became a doctor; the study he'd published was one of many that were instrumental in establishing the M*A*S*H units many here will recall primarily from the TV series. In it were listed a number of odd and rather terrifying wounds suffered by soldiers during the Pacific campaign. It is striking that people could survive some of these wounds, and in some cases utterly bizarre that the soldier was completly unaware of being shot as it happened.
A very bizarre example of this was one soldier who'd been shot through the skull, in the middle of the forehead (transecting his helmet & liner on the way in and out) and didn't realize he'd been hit by that sniper's bullet until his company CO took his helmet off and showed the holes to him. The bullet had transected his brain, right down that channel between the right and left hemisphere. The tinyiest fraction of an inch either way and he'd been DRT. And THAT was from a Japanese rifle the power of which no one has debated.
Remember; PLACEMENT IS EVERYTHING.:evil:
 
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The Japanese in WWII were known to enhance their resistance with drugs before an attack. This could also be part of the problem. Same with the N. Koreans in Korea.
 
There are several accounts of the M1 Carbine failing to stop and I do believe that a good percentage of those reports are true.

The round starts off at approximately 1/3 the energy of the '06 M2 ball and I'm convinced that many of those with the M1 carbine engaged the enemy when their colleagues armed with M1 Garands did. Considering those ranges could have been well out of the recommended range of the M1 Carbine, I can see someone firing round after round at an enemy could find their Carbine ineffective.

However, at ranges where a handgun may be reasonably used (and perhaps an additional 100 yards), I believe with proper bullet placement, the .30 carbine is nothing to sneeze at.

The myth that stymied my respect for the .30 carbine were the tales of frozen clothing donned by those of the DPRK stopping .30 carbine ball within the recommended engagement range. I've learned this has been thoroughly debunked and that no amount of frozen clothing capable of being carried by 2 legs will stop the stubby 110gr .30 Carbine.
 
JAKTIME: I have quite a bit of time with a M1 CARBINE. I used one off and on for two tours I VIET NAM, and never had any type of problems with the ones I carried in the Infantry. And I never felt under armed carrying this rifle, many time I have used the Carbine while on Patrols and Ambushes. I now use 110 GR JSP`S and SPEER 110 GR JHP`S for home defence. Just use the OAL that Speer states in their reloading manual for the 110 GR JHP`S and you should not have any problems with their bullet jaming. I have never had any problems with the 30 round mag`s and carried them 2 taped to grather while in country. And My Carbine sits with in arms reach of my side of the bed. I have not done this yet but I entend to put a good Streanlite light on the rife when I can find the right mount. I feel very comfortable using the carbine for our home defence gun. GOOD LUCK TO YOU: ken
 
I used Remington SP ammo in my Winchester M1 from the middle 70s when my Dad left it to me. He carried an M-1 in the Islands during WW2 as a signal corps officer and really liked them. He kept his stuff in good shape and I grew up with that rifle above the back porch door from the early 60s when he bought a 10 acre chicken farm (he was an electronics engineer) and he killed a few things with it including a pesty buck. In the mid 70s on I used it to slaughter live stock on various California ranches. I used it on steers and sheep and goats I when couldn't get up close to use a pistol .:confused:
The Remington softpoint ammo has been 100% reliable and bores a 1/2" hole more than a foot deep thru a steers head, totally ruining the brain for eating. It drops instantly sheep and goats up to 50 yards with shoulder shots when I was forced to. Cuts Racoons in half BTW and is death on dogs way over 100 yards.
I have zero doubt that it would instantly put down an un armored human up to say 100 yards with a Kzone hit. Mine could do a head shot at 50 yards pretty well if I rested it , and those expanding bullets at that impact velocity of 1700 fps are gonna bulge the eyes and blend the brain pretty much.:) I keep mine loaded but now in a closet safe rather than loose.
 
Come to think of it, the guy I watched dropping cattle when I was in High school used.....a .30 carbine.

There's a BIG difference between expecting it to do a Garand's job, and being able to use it do dump a lot of lead COM in in-house conditions.
 
I recently saw a interesting photo of an "enhanced" M2 carbine in the book "Running Recon" by Frank Greco. These were used as a "back up" by MACV SOG. It's interesting what you can do and use legally during a war.
 
This one lives under my bed.

DSC_0494.jpg

And this one hangs on the wall in my basement. Both are ready for social interaction if need be.

wallcropped.jpg
 
The Jap Imperial Army troops drink lots of saki before a banzai charge. The m1 carbine rounds had to knocked down saki drugged soldiers and they sure dont go down that easily.
 
They are nice closed quarter weapon. Its just the ammo is getting expensive.
 
Nathan - 30 carbine runs about .45 cents a round in any houston area academy store ive been to. Cpmpare that to about .40 per round of .223 and it isnt that expensive at all. You have to remembr when looking at .30 carbine ammo that they come in boxes of 50 unlike normal rifle rounds at 20 round boxes.

The expensive carbine ammo myth is exactly that - a myth!
 
That's funny, my .30 Carbine ammo costs about the same as .22 rimfire.

Don
30carbinebullet.jpg
 
I will soon be reloading my old 30 carbine with Speer 110 gr JHPs. They were on sale at Midway USA. Reloading is definitely the way to go with the less popular rounds. My main reason for posting is to remind you to please check the function of your magazines. My 15 rounders are fine, good thing I bought them before the ban, but my 30 rounder is useless if loaded past the 12 round mark. It was sold as Genuine GI Issue. Well maybe or maybe not but from my experience for peace of mind stay with the 15 round mags. Good Luck.
 
Mi carbine ammo

ArmsAkimber; I use for reloading speer 110gr JHP`S number 1835 speer 100gr (( PLINKERS)) number 1805. I don`t have a mty boxes left from the speer 110gr JSP`S. But the 100gr (( PLINKERS )) are really great the problem is finding them, every time I try to order some they are sold out. Factory ammo that I have had good luck is Federal 110gr JSP`S number 30 CA. I hope this helps you out any other questions, just ask. On the speer 110gr JHP`S just remember to use Speer`s listed OAL. GOOD LUCK TO YOU: ken
 
I seen folks talking about using an " AK-47, Tac Shotguns, Rifles of all sorts, Handguns,
Cross bows, you name it ....so I`d say your M1 carbine would work just as well.
Can`t waite till someone asks if a hand gernade would be ok.
 
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