i would really like to say that i would grab one of my ar-15's/10, fal's, mini-14's/30's, pc40, ak 47/74's, sks's, hi-point 45/40's, m1, m1a...but i got to say i would deffinetly go w/ the good ole m1 carbine. practical out to 150 yards(ish), good sights, light weight, sturdy, will run clean/dirty/whatever. i dont care what anybody says either the .30 carbine is a plenty adaquate round. sure, ball ammo may totally blow, but w/ modern expanding ammo it is pretty formible. w/ my own humble testing and research (internet, full dog food cans, plato, etc.) i would say it is roughly or maybe even more powerful then .45 rounds are at the barrel at 50 rounds. nobody sneezes at a .45 round at arm reach, but plenty of ppl doubt the .30 carbine at any distance, makes no sense to me.
complaints against the m1 carbine (that i have argued against recently anyway) are as follows: .30 carbine is a insuficient round (totally not true...similar to hot .357's w/ a longer reach), they dont run well in the extreme cold (we have better lube today made specifically for the cold then when we were in korea), 30 round magazines run so-so (but some run flawlessly!! just buy a box of 10 and your sure to get 7 that run awsome...take the springs and bases out and scrap the other 3! plus they are cheap), .30 carbine ammo is not as available as .556/.308 etc (true, but stockpiling some rounds for your go-to-gun is not really a crazy idea you know. plus it is really easy to reload. and how many rounds is one going to need? buy 500-750 good rounds and call it good. sides, i have about 12-13k ball if it really comes down to needing it) its an outdated design (isreal and several state patrolls dont think so...and isreal is pretty effecient at urban combat), and they dont handle as well as rifles w/ pistol grip stocks (oh wait, m1a1 stocks/clones are cheap, and drop in). i can totally see the argument for a .223 round, but i handle the .30 carbine better, its shorter, lighter, and easier to maintain. in a true shtf situation the m1a has a pretty strong appeal, but this is pbly not as likley as rioting/hd, and even in the shtf situation, .30 carbine is lighter.
i dont really see the need for pinpoint accracy out to 200 yds w/ a rifle in these kind of situations. i need something that i can just plain handle well and shoot well. for me anyway, i have no problem resorting to one of the most venerable designs of all time. hey, im just going w/ my gut instinct on this. plus it is so darn handy and light! god i love these rifles. and everyone else should too dammit!! lol. hey...thats just my .30 cents or so.
sides, i can always have a rifle or 12 as a backup anyway, right?
