M1 Carbine

[Nippy]

Can anyone that owns a M1 Carbine tell me how it performs after a lot of shooting? I guess to be more specific i have a mini-14 and after 60rnds through it in no more than 10 minutes the moa just hits the fan. It gets to a point where I can't hit a 8" steel target at 100yds.

I was wondering how an M1 Carbine would do under similar conditions?

 

[MrMurphy]

Better. The M1 carbine was designed as a military weapon.

I put a hundred rounds through an M1 carbine in about five minutes and still hit what i was aiming at.

 

[shermacman]

You got it! In your question is the answer. The Mini-14 is a cute little handy rifle for the occassional shot at a ground hog. Put a couple of rounds through it and it flings bullets where ever it wants. The M1 carbine is a better gun. This is documented fact. No opinionated comments from me, no way!

 

[Bwana John]

I have owned 2 M-1 carbines and have fondled many more. They are great guns, however you can wear them out with years of automatic firing. Many are worn out from seeing every big war and little insuruction from 1940 untill today. I have had op-rods disengage and bolts fall out while in the middle of shooting worn out M-1s that came back from Korea. Some M-1s wont feed softnose bullets reliably, and M-1 Carbine ammo is expensive, and not really easy to reload for.
That being said, a tight M-1 with a drop in M-2 conversion kit is one of this life pleasures, dumping 30 round mag after 30 round mag perfectly. It is not a precise gun, but they have been accurate for me. (not small groups, but all shots always land in the same area)(+/- ~4MOA)

 

[Nippy]

Thanks for your responses.

Yup I'm not looking for a sub MOA gun, just something I can hit targets with all day and not worry about the spray.

I go out with some co-workers to shoot and they were smart enough to get AR's before the ban in California. I just started up and bought a Mini 14, its a good gun and if I slow fire I get really nice clover leafs with it. But after 60rnds or so things are everywhere.

I guess I'm looking for the next best thing to a AR I can get in Cali. Which I think is either Mini-14 and M1-Carbine. Am I missing anything else?

 

[M2 Carbine]

I have 9 M1/M2 Carbines.

Almost bought another Carbine this week.

I had a Mini 14.

I don't want another Mini 14.


The Assult M2

 

[Mac Attack]

What is a Drop in Conversion kit? I was under the impression that either it is a M2 (Auto) or a M1 (Semi). Everyone knows that an M1 carbine is easy to convert by just exchanging parts but it would not be a registered NFA weapon. Just asking.

Mac

 

[Nippy]

Ohhh nice M2, M2 Carbine

What is the length of pull (LOP) for M1 Carbines?

 

[Rebar]

You can make your mini-14 shoot much better, with a little effort. Look around this site:
http://www.perfectunion.com/forums/index.php?showforum=8

I put mine in a choat stock (tight fit) and put a muzzle break on it, and it helped a lot. I'm planning on cutting the barrel to 16 1/2 inches and bedding the action, which should get it to a consistant 2 moa.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Mac Attack

What is a Drop in Conversion kit? I was under the impression that either it is a M2 (Auto) or a M1 (Semi). Everyone knows that an M1 carbine is easy to convert by just exchanging parts but it would not be a registered NFA weapon. Just asking
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mac,

The feds said some machine gun parts were, by themselves, machine guns.
For instance a UZI "slotted" MG bolt.

If you have several of the M2 Carbine parts, including the Selector/spring and Disconnector you have a machine gun.
Many M1 Carbines legally have M2 parts. They just don't have all the right parts.
The Selector/spring and Disconnector have no use in an M1 Carbine.

You don't even have to own, in this case, a UZI or M1 Carbine.
You still have an illegal machine gun if you have all the prohibited parts.

So, before 1986 you could "manufacture" and license a "parts kit" on a Form 1, the same form you would use to "manufacture" a whole M2 Carbine, UZI, AR, etc.

The beauty of a "parts kit" is the M1 Carbine is only an M2 as long as the parts are installed.

The folks that licensed and built their M1 Carbines into M2 no longer have a expensive machine gun when their receiver breaks, it's history.

Also, once "manufactured" as a machine gun, it's always a machine gun.


Nippy, I don't remember where the LOP is measured from, but the stock is 12.5 inches long from the back of the trigger guard.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Nippy,
Not trying to talk you into or out of either rifle but another advantage if a Carbine is the thing is as simple as dirt.

Break or wear out a part, just replace the broken part and keep on shooting.

When I shot a lot of M2 I had a gallon plastic bag of broken parts, even a broken receiver.

The M2 is a fun gun but it isn't really a good machine gun.

I keep a lot of spare parts.

 

[Nippy]

I can do all the mods to the Mini but then I remembered I had to do something about the magazines as well. Right now the bolt sometimes closes on the mag after the 10th round and so i got to slap the mag out and then open the bolt, lock it then load another 10 rounder in order to get my gun up and running again...


So M2, I'm going carbine but not sure if I should go IAI or USGI. What kind of carbines do you have? All 9 of em USGI?

 

[M2 Carbine]

One of my Carbines is an old Plainfield.
An OK shooter but doesn't compare in any way to the GI models.

The one I almost bought this week was a good looking (looked new) IAI, $375.
I probably should have got it.

Nice, reasonably priced GI models are getting hard to find but if you can find one you have a little part of history.

Going strickly by looks the IAI and Kahrs look like good shooters.


A friend's boy shooting my Plainfield (M2).

 

[threefeathers]

I also am a carbine collector and I carried one in Berlin in 61 and SE/Asia in 66. I have actually sot someone with it and believe me it works damn well. I have many guns but I carry one of my carbines as my truck gun. I constantle hit the steel plate with this at 200 meters with Winchester 110 soft point. I also have 4 30 round mags loaded up for a shtf scenario. But I will have an HBAR and Tactical Morrisson Precision bolt gun for that also. A carbine will stay in the truck because in that case my wife can use it. If you are looking for a plinker that will double as a great defense gun especially in a city situation get one.

 

[MrMurphy]

I would highly consider the new Kahr M1 carbine.


As to the Mini, chopping the barrel to 16.5" apparently helps quite a bit in barrel whip and accuracy. A bull barrel chopped to 16.5" (aftermarket) will help with barrel heatup (which can cause rounds to go all over).

 

[Avery Goodschott]

I have one of the Kahr's ...early build...love it as a shooter.

I also have 5 USGI's...no comparison...but that doesn't take anything away from the Kahr. I'd certainly recommend it for daily use.

 

[SanduneCC]

For a thorough review of the Kahr/Auto Ordnance M1's, check out this thread from BattleRifles and then form your own opinions.

http://battlerifles.com/viewtopic.php?t=34264

 

[ChiefPilot]

I really like my Kahr/AO M1 Carbine. I'd definately recommend it if you're interested in a "shooter" and not a "collector" M1.