Shot the Garand...now am thinking

[Quoheleth]

that a M1 Carbine would be a fun alternative to Big Brother - especially since commercial ammo can be used without any problems (right?). So, I got to thinking a little bit - I know nothing about the Carbine (and only slightly more about the Garand), so would like a little info.

CMP lists several different manufacturers, and prices range from $429 (Inland) to $575 (Rock Ola). These are Rack Grade guns - service grade are sold out. Accd to the CMP forums, the Rock Olas are on their last breath. That's OK, because that's outside my budget anyway.

I'm reading that these RG Carbines are mostly mix-masters with the receiver as being the identifying part. Is there any practical benefit of buying a $575 Winchester vs a $429 Inland?

Only Rack Grades are left. Will they still be decent shooters - for me "decent" is keep it on a paper plate at 50 yards.

While not having the "oomph" of a Garand, these are supposed to be fun guns to shoot. Cheaper to run, less recoil, just a fun plinker. Any comments?

Last, these basically are smaller-framed Garands in operation, yes? Same system?

Thanks,
Q

 

[MarineOne]

They are a fantastic little rifle!

I picked up a Plainfield M-1 last year from an FFL (a great deal at $525) that got them from a police surplus auction. They were bought as a riot gun and test fired only, and while the stock is horribly dry, the metal still had some factory grease on the springs when I took her apart.

My kids love shooting it, my wife uses it as a HD weapon, and I use it as a camping rifle. I shoot S&B ammo through it and I've never had a problem cycling with it.




Kris

 

[Travlin]

I wrote you a long detailed reply and the internet ate it. Here is the short version. Buy it, you'll love it, and so will everyone else including women and kids. Any Gi manufacture is fine. No ammo problem.

The only downside - They are highly addicting, and if you get hooked on the history it can take over your life.

 

[tobyking8773]

cheap shooting? ...hmmm, I don't know....

30 carbine ammo is NOT as cheap or easy to find as it once was. Something to ponder when using the cheap shooting excuse to purchase. But yup, great little guns and MUCH FUN to shoot

 

[nwilliams]

Get one of each, start with either one

As for the price of ammo...Both are going to be expensive to shoot these days but you could be spending your money on worse things.

I love my Garand and I love my Carbine. Do I like one more than the other? That's like asking a parent which of their two children they love more

I ended up picking up an almost all correct Inland M1 Carbine first and then a few months later I stumbled upon an all correct IHC Garand. I couldn't be happier with either one.

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

You can never go wrong with going with the "pair". I have them and they are wonderful in all respects. A dependable carbine is house defender in it's own right.

 

[dmazur]

Last, these basically are smaller-framed Garands in operation, yes? Same system?

Here's a link to the disassembly / reassembly sequence -

http://www.surplusrifle.com/m1carbine/rifledisassembly/index.asp

The bolt is sort of similar to the M1 Garand. But the cartridge feed is from a box magazine, so the internal parts for the Garand en-bloc aren't there. And the semi-auto action is a short-stroke piston transferring energy to the mass of the operating slide's steel block, rather than the piston being attached to the end of an op-rod.

No reason not to get one, but they aren't a "scaled down" Garand...

 

[USSR]

30 carbine ammo is NOT as cheap or easy to find as it once was.

That's the problem, here's the solution:



Presently reloading .30 Carbine for about the cost of .22 rimfire ammo.

Don

 

[mcdonl]

Don, that is why I buy so many Mosin's.... it is the only round I can reload.

 

[longdayjake]

I am in love with my carbine. It is a lot more accurate than many people make them out to be. Though they aren't modern bolt actions, I seem to be able to shoot just as well with it as I can with my Garand. Both the carbine and the garand are March of 44. That makes me happy.

 

[Quoheleth]

So, you can shoot cast lead out of the Carbine? It doesn't foul up the gas port?

Q

 

[Maverick223]

Is there any practical benefit of buying a $575 Winchester vs a $429 Inland?

Absolutely not, all [USGI] carbines are mil-spec and function equally well. The Winchesters tend to exhibit the worst machining, due to running the tooling for longer periods of time than other manufacturers. Besides who wants an M1 Carbine made by a arms manufacturer when you can have one made by a transmission company, typewriter manufacturer, scale company, et cetera. Mine is made by Union Switch and Signal (indicated by a "U" stamped on the slope of the heel of the receiver) under contract from National Postal Meter. It is all original, but has been arsenal refinished and retrofitted (with a round bolt, bayonette lug, and switch safety). Hunk out of the butt courtesy of an unfortunate German.

...But what you really wanted to know is what it is like...It is a blast to shoot. Low recoil, with pretty decent power. Indeed it was based upon the proven design of the M1 Garand, but as others have mentioned, it has many differences in addition to the round it fires. For starters the rifle is MUCH lighter, it is magazine fed, has a switch safety, no LRBHO without modified magazines, and no "ping". It points extremely well and the sights are easy to use, accurate, fully adjustable (when equipped with the new style ramp), and quick. It is my chosen HD rifle.

 

[mcdonl]

Man, those are gorgeous guns.

 

[Maverick223]

TY, mcdonl.

Don, do you use gas checks? Also, would you mind posting (or PMing) reloading info for those cast boolits, I am very interested as loading the M1 isn't terribly cheap (mainly due to the RN bullet). Anyone know if there is a spitzer, or other .308Win/.30-06 projectile that will feed in the Carbine? I don't want to buy any just to try, because I have serious doubt WRT OAL, feeding, and length of bullet vs. powder capacity.

 

[USSR]

So, you can shoot cast lead out of the Carbine? It doesn't foul up the gas port?

Yep. Nope. Guys on CastBoolits.com have been shooting them for years.

Don, do you use gas checks? Also, would you mind posting (or PMing) reloading info for those cast boolits, I am very interested as loading the M1 isn't terribly cheap (mainly due to the RN bullet). Anyone know if there is a spitzer, or other .308Win/.30-06 projectile that will feed in the Carbine? I don't want to buy any just to try, because I have serious doubt WRT OAL, feeding, and length of bullet vs. powder capacity.

No gas check with the bullet mould I use. IMHO, it defeats the intent of loading cheaply, as those little gas checks aren't cheap. But, you have to cast them hard and size them properly. Fortunately, I have some monotype, and I estimate my alloy produces bullets with a BHN of 23. They are coming out at 105gr, and I size them to .310" and load 12.5gr of 2400 behind them. Have yet to chronograph them, but I would be surprised if they coming out at less than 1800fps. Due to the restriction of both case capacity and OAL, you can't use spitzers or other bullets that are typically used for .308 and .30-06.

Don

 

[Maverick223]

Due to the restriction of both case capacity and OAL, you can't use spitzers or other bullets that are typically used for .308 and .30-06.

Figured that much, thank you for the recipe. I may have to give casting a shot after all (would also be ideal for the .45-70, and the .45-120).

 

[K9american]

Here's an interesting commentary from a respected/reputable source regarding breathing new life into the M1 carbine:

http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=19956

Does anyone have experience and/or opinions on the Kahr Auto-Ordnance Carbine clones?

 

[FMJMIKE]

 

[USSR]

Don

 

[Maverick223]

Nice carbine Don, any hint as to where I might be able to pick up one of those nifty folders that doesn't cost a fortune (need not be original, just look like it and be functional)?

 

[ACP230]

Maverick:
SARCO was selling folding stocks in Shotgun News a while ago.

 

[Maverick223]

Thank you very much ACP, I will check that out now.

EDIT: Checked it out, and the price isn't too bad (better than everyone else anyway).

 

[MissouriBullet]

My M1 Carbine is cheap as all get-out to shoot, but that's because I load our 115 grain lead RN bullets. I get 1800 fps with 2400. Cheap and fun to shoot!

 

[USSR]

My M1 Carbine is cheap as all get-out to shoot, but that's because I load our 115 grain lead RN bullets. I get 1800 fps with 2400. Cheap and fun to shoot!

+1. Mine weigh in at 105 grains and are cast HARD!

Don

 

[mgkdrgn]

that a M1 Carbine would be a fun alternative to Big Brother - especially since commercial ammo can be used without any problems (right?).

Well ... there is one minor problem ... have you actually tried to BUY any commercial M1 Carbine ammo?

If you find any, please let me know where it is.