Looking into one for my next purchase. It will be used primarily as a plinker and range gun. My friends are all buying cheap AK's and SKS's, but I decided I wanted something a little more American. Plus it will also be a home defense rifle and I live in the suburbs. One thing I am worried about is the stock not fitting me, I'm 6"2 200lbs would that be a problem?
Tell me about the M1 Carbine.
- Thread starter doubleg
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loadedround
Member
Shouldn't be a prorblem, but if so, both Brownell's and MidwayUSA both sell butt pad extensions that will fit the M1 carbine. These little carbines are a lot of fun to shoot and I even reload for mine. 
telecaster1981
Member
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The M1 Carbine is about as good as it gets for a home defense rifle, provided you use good ammunition with soft/hollow points. There is virtually zero recoil and a fellow can really dump rounds accurately on the target in a hurry. You shouldn't have to worry about over-penetration either. The SKS and AK variants are all fine weapons, but the Carbine is far and away more handy than either. There really aren't any downsides for your applications! Just get one (preferably USGI...all bets are off with the Universals and other commercial production carbines...though I hear the Kahr made Auto-Ordnance aren't bad), and you'll be glad you did!
Steve in PA
Member
I have one and loveit. Only shot it a few times, but it functioned perfectly and was quite accurate. I'm 6'2" and go about 260.....and while its not like my M1 Garand......it is a nice rifle.
The only picture I have of mine is with my wife shooting the Carbine.
The only picture I have of mine is with my wife shooting the Carbine.
Dave Markowitz
Member
You asked for it.
1943 Rock Ola with Ultimak, Bushnell red dot, and Surefire G2 in Viking Tactics mount:
1944 Underwood:
The same Rock Ola as above in a different stock, and a 1943 Underwood in a replica M1A1 folding stock:
By and large, USGI M1 Carbines with be more reliable than the commercial copies. I would consider an Auto Ordnance/Kahr, Plainfield, or Iver Johnson if the price was right and collectibility isn't an issue. I would not buy a Universal.
ReadyontheRight
Member
Great gun to buy if you already have an M1 Garand. www.odcmp.com
LeonCarr
Member
In terms of ballistics, the M1 carbine is basically a .357 Magnum with a 15 or 30 round magazine .
110 grain bullet at 1950-2000 feet per second, not too shabby. Would be excellent as a home defense rifle or vehicle rifle, but I think the most important thing about them is they are just flat out fun to shoot.
My next rifle will probably be an M1 Carbine, or maybe a .264 Winchester Magnum.
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
.110 grain bullet at 1950-2000 feet per second, not too shabby. Would be excellent as a home defense rifle or vehicle rifle, but I think the most important thing about them is they are just flat out fun to shoot.
My next rifle will probably be an M1 Carbine, or maybe a .264 Winchester Magnum
.Just my .02,
LeonCarr
ReadyontheRight
Member
Great gun to buy if you already have an M1 Garand. www.odcmp.com
HOLY DIVER
Member
i grew up shooting dads m1 carbine.....it is a winchester very good rifle!
after i pick up a 2nd top end for my AR i intend on putting a m1carbine in the gun safe!
after i pick up a 2nd top end for my AR i intend on putting a m1carbine in the gun safe!
Ignition Override
Member
Doubleg:
I tried the 30-round mag which was extra.
Not only did the gun jam each 3-5 rounds (brand-new Kahr M1- C.: gun two months old and has been in shop over four weeks with no word from gunsmith [is this normal?], but almost no rounds ever made it out of the large magazine.
Is there something strange about all of this?
I've only owned a single-shot .22 Savage and have no 'autoloader' experience. Between 1985 and this fall, I only fired a rifle once.
I'm wondering about rifles from Kahr, unless it is a lousy magazine spring in the short mag. The gun is fun and hope that the gunsmith is not ignoring me due to my lack of much experience with guns.
I tried the 30-round mag which was extra.
Not only did the gun jam each 3-5 rounds (brand-new Kahr M1- C.: gun two months old and has been in shop over four weeks with no word from gunsmith [is this normal?], but almost no rounds ever made it out of the large magazine.
Is there something strange about all of this?
I've only owned a single-shot .22 Savage and have no 'autoloader' experience. Between 1985 and this fall, I only fired a rifle once.
I'm wondering about rifles from Kahr, unless it is a lousy magazine spring in the short mag. The gun is fun and hope that the gunsmith is not ignoring me due to my lack of much experience with guns.
The problem with the 30 round mags is that most of those you find today are aftermarket. The "fake" 30 rounds mags just don't work well.
Even with USGI mags, the 15 round mags tend to be more reliable then the GI 30 round mags. But, a GI 30 round mag is going to be more reliable then an aftermarket 30 round mag.
Even with USGI mags, the 15 round mags tend to be more reliable then the GI 30 round mags. But, a GI 30 round mag is going to be more reliable then an aftermarket 30 round mag.
Oohrah
Member
I think that they out shine the AKs and SKS especially with expanding,
hollowpoints, or half jacketed Hornady or Speer. Surpass the 357 Mag
a bunch with like bullet weights. I also own a couple of SKSs, but my
Win. .30 Carb is more accurate then they are. The FMJ however, is not
very impressive.
hollowpoints, or half jacketed Hornady or Speer. Surpass the 357 Mag
a bunch with like bullet weights. I also own a couple of SKSs, but my
Win. .30 Carb is more accurate then they are. The FMJ however, is not
very impressive.
Hey ignition, I'm sorry to hear your having problems with your Kahr M1 carbine. My auto-ordnance M1 hasn't given me much guff other than a loose rear sight and piston nut after a few thousand rounds. It eats most junk (wolf and other less quality loads) I throw into it and fires everytime for me. As far as magazines go, I have a few 15s that work everytime and 2 thirtys that work 90% of the time. Best of luck to you and your gunsmith, I hope everything turns out well for you.
Dave Markowitz
Member
The aftermarkets are mostly junk. I lucked out with the 30 rounder that's in the Underwood Paratrooper above. It's an aftermarket that works pretty well, except for the last round in the mag. OK for plinking but not for serious work.
Unfortunately, USGI 30s are hard to find. I found the one in the picture of the Rock Ola with the Ultimak at a gun show, picked up a couple that day, actually. Still haven't tried them yet.
Your best bet for M1 Carbine mags are GI 15 rounders.
22/22mag
Member
Kahr Auto Ord, M1 .30 carbine shoots like a .22lr using Georiga Arms soft point rounds excelent HD rifle.
Henry Bowman
Senior Member
I have heard that too. But I have at least 15 (both old and new) that run just fine. At most, I've done a little tweaking to the lips and cleaned sticky stuff out of them. Of course, YMMV.
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