"rocinante
Why wasn't M1 carbine celebrated like the STG44 or AK47
It was a short piston design and it came out in 1941, long before German or Russian equivalents.
The 30-30 round is ballistic equivalent to the AK 7.62x39. True it is not a necked down chopped off rifle round but so????
It was lightweight, a mere 5.2 lbs empty. Compact at 36 inches, even more so with paratrooper folding stock.
It had detachable high cap 30 round magazines.
Some versions were full auto.
It was produced by the millions and in active use from WWII to Vietnam.
Is it that they put it in a wood stock and it lacks a pistol grip?
Weight, ballistics, magazine makes it equal to if not better than european stamped receiver "assault rifles". Or was that ease of manufacturing the distinction?"
The STG44 and that family, fired a 125grain 7.9MM bullet at around 2250fps.
The AK47 and that family, fires a 123grain .311 bullet at around 2400fps.
The M1/M2 Carbine fires a 110/111grain .308 bullet at 1900fps. More or less a rip off of the WWI Pederson pistol round.
The .30 Carbine round is not the 30-30 round.
The STG44 got a lot if not most of its fame because it was the first heavy machine pistol in offensive use with a high volume of fire. With in the ranges encounter in house to house fighting, the round was very suitable.
The AK47 round is more of a leaner and meaner version of the 7.92X33 with greater range and energies. By far the simplest and loosest mechanism, making it as reliable as inaccurate. A suitable trade off for a battle weapon.
The M1/M2 Carbine, don't confuse it with the M1 Garand, was to supplement the more costly and slower production of the 1911 pistol. It also provided a more stable platform than the pistol. The round is in it's military loading a poor pistol round. Too small of diameter with too slow of velocity and that hard full metal nose.
Slick little rifles, easy to carry and normally reliable. But no better than the old .45 in a fire fight (not that the .45 isn't potent).
So, a mediocre pistol substitute being compared to a 'ground breaker' and the quintessential assault weapon of the world. Nope, the M1 Carbine just doesn't make it.
Full disclosure. I have owned a number of M1 Carbines in the past and a Ruger pistol in the same caliber. I have never, nor will I ever own an AK or any variation of it. I see the positives and know my views. I don't like anything that me or mine has been shot at with.