Hmmm,
The M-1 Carbine used a short tappet gas system and a heavy operating rod assembly to open the action. The piston portion of the tappet system moves less thah half and inch during operation and sets the heavy operating rod assembly into motion and the return spring is a rather small diameter affair monted in a hole in the left side of the reciever and bearing on one side of the operating rod assembly.
THe M-14 and its semiclones use an arrested piston to deliver the blow to the operating rod though its stroke is much longer than the M-1 Carbines and the operating rod assembly is less of a percentage of the weight of te entire weapon. The M-14 makes use of a compleatly different trigger group design than the M-1 Carbine and has a roller on the lug on the bolt that engages the operating rod. THe operating rod spring is centered in the operating rod itself and centered directly under the barrel.
The Mini-14 series rifles make use of a system of what is basically direct gas empingment to the operating rod. The front of the operating rod forms a cup over a spigot that delivers gas from the gas port and barrel there is no piston per se though the system resembles, though uses fewer parts than the actions on the SVT40, G43, or AR-180. The operating rod spring is again centered and inside the operating rod as in the M-14, but as with every thing scaled down to the smaller overall size of the Mini-14. The trigger mechanism and trigger group of the Mini-14 appear to be merely a scalled down version of the M-14's. The mini-14 also goes back to having no bolt roller.
The M-1 Carbine has been produced commercially in .30 carbine, 5.7x33 mm, and 9x19mm. Existing actions have been modified to use a number of pistol or even in some cases revolver cartridges and one of the streached, Magnum .45 auto cartridges.
The M-1A from Springfield Armory while most common in 7.62NATO was also produced and sold in .243 and in .358 both based on the .308 cartridge a civilian version of the 7.62NATO
Mini-14s (or ranch rifles or Mini-30s) have been made in .223, 7.62x39mm and 6.8 SPC.
Date of Births:
M-1 Carbine 1941
M-14 US Rifle 1957
Mini-14 1975
Does this help?
-Bob Hollingsworth