Tactical M1 carbine complete with new pics

[foudufoot]

I started this project on another thread (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=5887224#post5887224)
and received a lot of good suggestions and some good-natured criticism for "bubba-izing" a good carbine. This is to show the finished project with a new Bushnell TRS 25 sight ($150 from opticsplanet) and the tactical flashlight (from a board member). The flashlight is mounted under the barrel using a universal barrel mount. The pressure switch is mounted to the right side of the stock and is activated with a slight pressure of the fingers holding the forestock. It's very natural and comfortable way to operate the light. Now all I need is a reasonably priced source for Remington SP ammo...

Thanks again for all the input! The magazine catch is indeed a type IV (M2 type) so It is OK with the 30-round mags. I sleep better with this thing under the bed.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I'm a bit of a traditionalist, but there's nothing on your rifle which would prevent it from being returned to GI condition in about 5 minutes. I like it.

This is my somewhat tac-ed out Rock Ola. Again, no permanent mods were made and to return it to as-issued condition would take about 5 minutes.

 

[j-easy]

I think most collectors only cringe about bubba projects when the "modifications" aren't reversible. drilling receivers for scopes, cutting down barrels, wrecking good USGI stocks, etc. I can appreciate a nice retrofit of simply swapping out parts for modern gear on HD gun.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

I take the collectors wants with a grain of salt. Not every rifle has to be preserved for posterity. Some are meant to be chopped, worn out, or customized out the wazoo. There are certainly no shortages of M1 Carbines. To want all guns left original to keep collectors prices down is a bit greedy.

 

[j-easy]

I take the collectors wants with a grain of salt. Not every rifle has to be preserved for posterity. Some are meant to be chopped, worn out, or customized out the wazoo. There are certainly no shortages of M1 Carbines. To want all guns left original to keep collectors prices down is a bit greedy.

I would say that the desire to have historical guns kept in original condition, or in a state where they can be reverted back to original condition has nothing to do with "keeping collectors prices down" it is more the desire to pass on a piece of history to future generations. quite the opposite of greed actually.

 

[foudufoot]

Thanks gents. As I mentioned in my original post, I selected this carbine for this project because it was a Heinz 57 of parts, including some modern repro parts like the bolt slide. I am a traditionalist myself, but I also like to tinker.

Dave, I like your set-up! is that a box of Remington soft point behind your Rock-Ola?

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

"Some are meant to be chopped, worn out, or customized out the wazoo." "As I mentioned in my original post, I selected this carbine for this project because it was a Heinz 57 of parts, including some modern repro parts like the bolt slide. I am a traditionalist myself, but I also like to tinker."

 

[ECVMatt]

This thread made me pull out my carbine and start playing with it.

How can you tell if your mag release is able to hold a 30 round mag?

Mine works great with 15's but bobbles with the 30's.

Thanks,

Matt

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Dave, I like your set-up! is that a box of Remington soft point behind your Rock-Ola?

Why yes it is.

How can you tell if your mag release is able to hold a 30 round mag?

It has an extra leg on the left side which wraps around the left side of the magazine. The leg is only ~1/4" long. FWIW, I was shooting my 1944 Underwood this weekend with 30 round mags and it worked OK, even though is has the earlier mag catch. But I'll probably swap it out for the later kind, just to ensure it doesn't run into problems.

 

[foudufoot]

Just google "type IV m2 carbine mag catch" and you'll find a few places that sell them for $10-15.

According to the manual, the type IV "M2" catch has an underlined M. See text below:

This is what a type IV carbine mag catch looks like.

 

[cane]

If it has a "M" with a line under it, that's a 30 round mag catch.

 

[carbine85]

I like what you did. I have to look into that Bushnell sight.
Allready have the flashlights

 

[FMJMIKE]

My Blue Sky National Postal Meter M1 Carbine will be wearing a Choate folding stock soon. Yours looks great !!! Thanks for sharing..............

 

[Autopistola]

Looks great to me!

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

both are fine guns. that tacd one is really slick - talk about your urban SHTF gun now.

 

[Glamdring]

Dave and Fondu: Any idea how much weight your optics & lights added? Looks like good choices improve sights & adding light. How much do you guys shoot your carbines?

Dave is that some type of offset mount you used for the flashlight?

 

[greyling22]

how's that bushnell sight working out? AImpoints are just too expensive for my blood and the busy looks decent.

 

[foudufoot]

The TRS 25 micro sight add 3.7 oz to the carbine. The flashlight adds 14 oz not including the barrel mount. So we're talking about 20 oz extra on the carbine. Not negligible, but you need it to absorb all that recoil...

I've been shooting my carbine regularly, but I'm running low on Wolf ammo, which is underpowered anyway. I will not buy Wolf again but remanufactured FMJ ammo in Boxer primed brass so I can reload with soft points. It's time to break out the Lee press. If anyone has some good hunting loads for the carbine, please PM me. Thanks, Dan

PS: I found a source for Taiwanese GI spec 30-round mags made on Winchester tooling for about $12/mag! Bought four and they look just like the original. I'll check them out this weekend and will order more if they function properly. I'll give feedback on the Bushnell sight as well. Stay tuned..

 

[ECVMatt]

Keep the good info coming...I am very interested in the sight and the mags.

THanks,

Matt

 

[USSR]

My 21st century Tactical Carbine:



Don

 

[maniak]

USSR,
Very nice blend of the practical and artful. Elegant.

 

[foudufoot]

Report on 30-round mags and TR-25 micro sight by Bushnell

I took the carbine to the indoor range today to sight in the TRS25 micro sight and test some Lake City FMJ and soft point ammo from Frederal and Remington. I am very pleased with the results. The TRS-25 sighted in nicely and was very easy to use. The Taiwanese mags are USGI quality (only $12/mag!!) and fed the FMJ and SP ammmo flawlessly, although a couple LC FMJ rounds failed to fully eject and stove piped and prevented the bolt from closing on the next round.

The targets below were shot at 25 yard rested slow fire and offhand rapid fire with the red dot sight on reduced silhouettes. Overall, I think the carbine makes an excellent home defense weapon with plenty of capacity, accuracy, and ease of use. I would recommend it to anyone.

PS: I just bought 800 rounds of Lake City FMJ and 1200 rounds of IMI soft point ammo. I'll report on their performance next...

 

[JShirley]

Dave,

I really like your version. I'm guessing the mid-weapon mounts keep the great M1 Carbine balance?

John