M1 Carbine Magazine

[bdg146]

A friend of mine has an M1 Carbine that hasn't been shot in some time. I shot it tonight and it pretty much shot flawlessly, not to mention it was a lot of fun.

The only problem was it had trouble chambering the last round. I don't know a lot about magazines, but it appeared that the mag spring didn't have enough power to push the last round up so the bolt could catch it. I was going to take it apart and see what I could do, but the magazine is locked up pretty tight and I don't think I can mess w/it without the risk of ruining the magazine.

Where is the best place to find a normal M1 magazine? I checked CDNN but they only carry the high-capacity ones. Then I found these here: http://www.keepshooting.com/firearmaccessories/magazines/m1carbinemag.htm
and they appear to be as close to the original as I could find. Does anyone know anything about this website or can anyone offer any advice? Thanks...

Bryan

 

[shuvelrider]

You can try a quick fix of pulling out the follower and spring and give it a little stretch and reassemble , sometimes helps. They don't cost much so your better off getting some new ones, try Cheaper Then Dirt catalog or Sportmans Guide as they always have fair prices. Google them, good websites to order from, maybe check out a gunshow in your area, the shows always have that stuff, find a 5 round mag for hunting season if thats your thing. FWIW. I shoot a 1943 Inland that I bought from a 3 war vet I knew in Illinois, his brother bought it soon after WWII and kept it all those years till I got it.

 

[bdg146]

Sounds like a nice rifle. One I'd LOVE to have. I'm pleasantly surprised by shooting the rifle, and if it weren't for the 'no semi-auto hunting' regulations in PA, I'd give it a shot in the field.

I'm not too sure about the history of this one, but I'd definitely like to find out. I posted in another thread recently started about an M1 carbine, but maybe I should've kept to my own thread.

Most of the carbines I've seen have wood over the barrel (between the muzzle and the action). Not sure of the technical term for it. Anyway, this one has metal instead. Does this say anything about the manufacture of this rifle? I've looked for markings, but the only thing other than serial number I can find is covered up by the rear sight. On second thought, I think it says "US Carbine" somewhere on it as well. I don't have it sitting here at the moment so I'd have to check on that. I'd be interested in knowing a little more about it though if anyone knows anything.

At any rate, thanks for the help with the mags. I'll check out cheaper than dirt and sportsmans guide.

Bryan

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Just order a new replacement spring from wolf springs.

 

[bdg146]

Oh yeah, regarding stretching the spring and/or replacing the spring... I can't get the darn thing open. At least not without risking permanently damaging the magazine. With my pistol mags I just slide off the base of the mag and everything comes out. Not so with this magazine. It's got metal 'clips' on the inside of the magazine that prevent it from moving without bending one of those out of the way. I would give it a shot, but This is the only magazine he has at the moment and I don't want to ruin it.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Carbine mags...

(1.) Order up about 5-6 mags from CTD, NOW!!! Then if/when one malfunctions (unlikely, BTW) you're not stuck. You want the regular 15-round GI mags. The smaller and the larger commercial mags are more prone to malfunction.

(2.) The bottom of a M1 Carbine mag slides off--there is a little spring clip thingie which is all that locks it in place. You just ease the catch over the edge of the mag, and the bottom slides right out of its grooves. Then you have access to the inside of the mag, the spring, and the follower. Clean, oil VERY lightly, and that's that.

(3.) When re-assembling the mag: put the follower back in the same way it came out. The top end of the spring goes toward the front of the mag so that the rounds are angled up, if angled at all, and tend to slide up the feed ramp rather than nosing down into the mag when the action cycles. The bottom of the mag slides back into its little grooves, the little catch engages the edge of the mag with a click, and you're done.

The CMP website has a several-page paper on the care & feeding of the M1 Carbine, which I have found to be very helpful. Website: www.odcmp.com At that website, click "Sales," select M1Carbine, and then there are a selection of information choices.