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Shot the Garand...now am thinking

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...as I don't have a Carbine.
Yet...which is the problem that we need to solve. You don't have an ammo shortage problem, you have a carbine shortage problem. Just know that we are here for ya'. :D
 
Universal carbine

What's the scoop on post-war Universal Carbines? A local fellow is selling one with accessories (and ammo!) at a good price, $450. I know it's post-war. But I think I remember reading some post-war commercial production Carbines are/were less than stellar.

Q
 
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A local fellow is selling one with accessories (and ammo!) at a good price.
In my opinion there is no such thing as a good price on a Universal. The early models were alright (1st Generation), as they used mostly USGI parts (barrel, bolt group, trigger group, gas system). The second generation are a little worse because they started to make nearly all of the parts, but not horrible because they were made to decent standards (but were not Mil-Spec). It was at this time that they decided to "improve" upon the design. They redesigned the op-rod the springs, and there are many problems as a result. The 3rd and final generation was horrible, as they started to cut corners. I wouldn't really want any of the Universals, but if I got a really great deal on a 1st generation I would pick it up. I would stay away from the 2nd Gen, and would avoid the later ones like the plague. I have a friend that destroyed a 3rd gen. (or rather it nearly destroyed him) with an out of battery discharge. It is a dangerous rifle, and unless it is a great deal and 1st gen. I would really recommend the USGI Carbine. Besides it has much more history (the Universal has history too...history of blowing up), and parts are still readily available after 65+yrs.

The production runs are as follows:
First Generation: Started with SN 0, ended between 93xxx - 104xxx
Second Generation: Started between SN 93xxx - 104xxx, ended between SN 176xxx and 187xxx
Third Generation: Started between SN 176xxx and 187xxx, went until end of production
 
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?
I have the Kahr. Love it a lot. Tight machining, perfect wood fit. It's very cheap to shoot (with lead bullets) and a very fun gun!
 
Don't Be Mis-Lead...

;) I got my first carbine (DCM QHMC, traded even for a S&W M19; thought I'd been had :D ) after the poat-WW2/Korean War flood of cheap GI ammo was about over, and started loading cast bullets from the start. I got an RCBS 120 gr RNGC 2-cavity mold, scrounged up some gas checks and hit the road. At some point I got paranoid about the gas piston, took it loose, cleaned it up, and kept shooting. I have never had a problem with it, though at some point I used blue Loctite to snug it up. I used once fired GI brass, 296 and CCI and WSR primers, and it shot as well as the small amounts of GI ball I had shot. I have a stash of GI stuff from CMP now (and 2 more carbines), plus a bunch of 110 gr FMJ pull-downs, so I haven't been shooting a lot of lead lately, but I still have all the paraphernalia & will start again at some point. If only for the fun of it... :cool:

(and Missouri Bullet has the perfect alloy at a superb price - can't go wrong!)
 
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