M1 Carbine or AR-15? Which one to buy?
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FMJMIKE
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I use this late Inland M1 Carbine for my house gun. Probably more rifle than you will ever need. Definitely get a USGI Carbine...........
MCgunner
Member
Both are in pretty useless calibers, but I've always liked the little carbine, handy size, normal rifle ergos (don't like pistol grip guns), and at least an effective home defense rifle if nothing else. It'd make as good a knock around gun as my 10/22, I guess, and the caliber is more effective against humans, if not game.
Anyway, I've just always liked the M1 Carbine. Never did care for ARs. Garands, M14s, M1 Carbines, they have the ergos of a rifle. Quick to the shoulder and don't feel funny when shooting from positions. Pistol grips are for pistols.
Anyway, I've just always liked the M1 Carbine. Never did care for ARs. Garands, M14s, M1 Carbines, they have the ergos of a rifle. Quick to the shoulder and don't feel funny when shooting from positions. Pistol grips are for pistols.
mnw42
Member
For collectors, right now M1 Carbines are very popular. This is especially true since there has been a lack (until recently) of quality commercial guns and a major interest in WWII gear. I doubt the AR will garner the kind of collector interest carbines have because there are a lot of companies making them and a lot more frankin-15s floating around.
The AR is accurate, can be reliable, and has more accessories than you can shake a stick at. It is also modular and versatile platform. you can by one gun and with a simple switch of an upper have a .223 carbine, a 22" HB varmint/target gun, a 6.5mm long range target gun, etc. Really, it is probably better to buy purpose built gear, but if you are on a budget it can work for you. Also, if they ban "evil assault weapons" the value could go up.
I must say: I do like my IBM. It is my primary HD gun, and at HD distances I think the 110 gr Cor-Bon DPXs will be effective. It is reliable, accurate, and oh so handy. Besides, I have a soft spot in my heard for forged steel and wood.
The AR is accurate, can be reliable, and has more accessories than you can shake a stick at. It is also modular and versatile platform. you can by one gun and with a simple switch of an upper have a .223 carbine, a 22" HB varmint/target gun, a 6.5mm long range target gun, etc. Really, it is probably better to buy purpose built gear, but if you are on a budget it can work for you. Also, if they ban "evil assault weapons" the value could go up.
I must say: I do like my IBM. It is my primary HD gun, and at HD distances I think the 110 gr Cor-Bon DPXs will be effective. It is reliable, accurate, and oh so handy. Besides, I have a soft spot in my heard for forged steel and wood.
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jackdanson
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AR is more "useful" but an m1 would be loads of fun.. both!
jackdanson
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No way, the news said pistol grips are for firing into schoolyards from the hip at extreme rates of fire....
I agree though, everyone keeps asking me when I am going to "convert" my saiga 12, why the heck do I need a pistol grip on my shotty, it works perfectly without one.
JesseL
Member
It's all but impossible to make a good financial investment in a firearm, especially one you intend to shoot. I say go for the one that's a better and more flexible weapon. Get the AR.
Daniel Foster
Member
From personal experience I like the M1 carbine much better. To me the AR is waaaay overpriced. Especially for a weapon that jams so easily. You need to keep these immaculately clean and use the best ammo in it in order for it to function properly. The design of the AR/M16 is very flawed. I have a hard time understanding why our military has used this jammer for so long...
Check out the H&K version of the AR/M16 (forgot the actual name). This is a very reliable, well-designed weapon. Our military should switch to these!
As for the M1 carbine, I own an Auto Ornance and it shoots everything but Wolf flawlessly. You can get Prvi Partisan or Georgia Arms ammo cheap for the M1 carbine, both FMJ or SP. Barely more expensive than Wolf .223. The 30 carbine round is a little less powerful than the .223, but as far as home defense or just fun shooting the round is perfect. The energy of this round is roughly that of a 44 magnum. The gun itself is well-balanced. I have no complaints about it.
As for the AR, I have a hard time trying to find good things to say about it...
Check out the H&K version of the AR/M16 (forgot the actual name). This is a very reliable, well-designed weapon. Our military should switch to these!
As for the M1 carbine, I own an Auto Ornance and it shoots everything but Wolf flawlessly. You can get Prvi Partisan or Georgia Arms ammo cheap for the M1 carbine, both FMJ or SP. Barely more expensive than Wolf .223. The 30 carbine round is a little less powerful than the .223, but as far as home defense or just fun shooting the round is perfect. The energy of this round is roughly that of a 44 magnum. The gun itself is well-balanced. I have no complaints about it.
As for the AR, I have a hard time trying to find good things to say about it...
i don't know about all that... mine have not been real high maintenance, but i do clean them once in awhile. yearly, anyway.
i suppose this as good a time as any to mention i have had far more problems w/ my m1 than any of my ar's.
i do have the carbine running well now, but note it seems to be more prone to jamming than my ar's w/ fewer rounds fired. i can usually get about 125-150 trouble-free rounds out of the carbine before it jams. the only ar that has given me jamming problems was related to a mag issue. the gun still jammed, but replacing the mag cured that.
maybe the ar-15 is a flawed design and all that, but i do not think it is any worse than an m1 carbine, and think the ar-15 is a far, far more accurate weapon than the m1. i have trouble getting any real groups out of the m1 once i clear 100 yards, but the ar turns in great groups as far as i care to shoot it.
ThomasT
Member
I voted "Other".
I can't make myself like the AR15 rifles. I've tried. They just don't "do it" for me. I do like the M1 carbines. I just haven't found one for the right price.
The bottom line is this. I prefer my Mini-14 580 series or my Remington 7615 to either of the other guns. Heck, i like my SKS rifles better than the M1 or the AR.
I can't make myself like the AR15 rifles. I've tried. They just don't "do it" for me. I do like the M1 carbines. I just haven't found one for the right price.
The bottom line is this. I prefer my Mini-14 580 series or my Remington 7615 to either of the other guns. Heck, i like my SKS rifles better than the M1 or the AR.
dispatch55126
Member
I thought the bayonet lug came out on the M2 and didn't appear until Korea?
In the long run, of course, you WILL have both.
For the time being, try to shoot both and get a feel for them.
CMP is the way to go for the carbine. You'd better move FAST though: they are running out.
http://www.odcmp.com/rifles/carbine.htm
Looks like the Rack Grade Saginaw or National Postal Meter is the Best Buy at $479.
(I grabbed one of the last Inlands a few months ago.)
Anyway, a GI carbine, perhaps with an Ultimak and a red-dot, in either a Choate folder or a repro M1A1 folder from Numrich, would be very compact, light, and practical HD weapon. Lot of fun at the range, too. Good resale value.
But for serious, non-romanticized HD/ anti-zombie work, the AR is probably the way to go. I do have both, and in a Katrina/ L.A. Riots situation, I'd probably go for the AR.
(but http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=4705664&postcount=192 )
For the time being, try to shoot both and get a feel for them.
CMP is the way to go for the carbine. You'd better move FAST though: they are running out.
http://www.odcmp.com/rifles/carbine.htm
Looks like the Rack Grade Saginaw or National Postal Meter is the Best Buy at $479.
(I grabbed one of the last Inlands a few months ago.)
Anyway, a GI carbine, perhaps with an Ultimak and a red-dot, in either a Choate folder or a repro M1A1 folder from Numrich, would be very compact, light, and practical HD weapon. Lot of fun at the range, too. Good resale value.
But for serious, non-romanticized HD/ anti-zombie work, the AR is probably the way to go. I do have both, and in a Katrina/ L.A. Riots situation, I'd probably go for the AR.
(but http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=4705664&postcount=192 )
Mortech
Member
I voted for the M1 , but I have both . Until I read this thread I was going to sell my 1943 Inland . Now I think I'll just hang on to it .
shep854
Member
"I voted for the M1 , but I have both . Until I read this thread I was going to sell my 1943 Inland . Now I think I'll just hang on to it ." Mortech
Good man. I still have the random urge to kick myself around the room for selling my AR (an Olympic/SGW) A1 clone.
Good man. I still have the random urge to kick myself around the room for selling my AR (an Olympic/SGW) A1 clone.
mljdeckard
Member
M-1s aren't exactly cheap, $6-700 for a good Inland.
There are a good number of reasons I love my grandfather's heirloom Inland. It's small enough for my wife to handle comfortably, the cartridge ends the overpenetration/sufficient HD cartridge argument, etc. However, I wish it were more versatile, and I could get some good night sights for it. I love it, but if I hadn't inherited one, I don't know if I ever would have gotten around to buying one.
There are a good number of reasons I love my grandfather's heirloom Inland. It's small enough for my wife to handle comfortably, the cartridge ends the overpenetration/sufficient HD cartridge argument, etc. However, I wish it were more versatile, and I could get some good night sights for it. I love it, but if I hadn't inherited one, I don't know if I ever would have gotten around to buying one.
Daniel Foster
Member
breaking in?
It is true that when I first got me Auto Ordnance, I was very upset with it because it only wanted to fire American ammo. After at least maybe 100 rounds it started to shoot prvi partizan ammo just fine. Is it normal for a firearm to require breaking in? The only other one that I have bought new was my Saiga, .223 which of course is the perfect gun
It is true that when I first got me Auto Ordnance, I was very upset with it because it only wanted to fire American ammo. After at least maybe 100 rounds it started to shoot prvi partizan ammo just fine. Is it normal for a firearm to require breaking in? The only other one that I have bought new was my Saiga, .223 which of course is the perfect gun
Matt-J2
Member
[jedi hand wave]You want to buy an AR[/jedi hand wave]
The more people that buy M1 carbines now, the less that will be around in 4-6mths when I have the money to get one!
Seriously, I'd get the M1carbine if you're looking for a collector piece.
The more people that buy M1 carbines now, the less that will be around in 4-6mths when I have the money to get one!
Seriously, I'd get the M1carbine if you're looking for a collector piece.
rbernie
Contributing Member
The carbine was handy when it and the ammo it shoots could be had as cheap surplus. Now that those days are gone, I do not myself see much value in either.
I prefer the AR; it shoots a more powerful round, is more ergonomic, is clearly more customizable, is not significantly larger/heavier than the M1 Carbine if you stay away from the HBAR variants, and in general I find it far more satisfying to use.
I prefer the AR; it shoots a more powerful round, is more ergonomic, is clearly more customizable, is not significantly larger/heavier than the M1 Carbine if you stay away from the HBAR variants, and in general I find it far more satisfying to use.
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