M1 Carbine

[RustyJr]

Have been thinking of getting an M1 Carbine to play with and maybe for a home defense gun at some point (while I am comfortable with and carry an AR carbine on duty I figured the M1 would have less muzzle blast inside a room). I am guessing that my best bet would be to find a surplus model but have also noticed that Auto Ordinance does make one. Does anyone know if these are quality made and reliable? Also would want the wood stocked model and not the paratrooper model.

Thanks in advance,

RustyJr

[Paladin]

M-1 Carbines are getting sort of expensive. Having used them at work (M-2) and play I don’t own one as the round is very limited, the carbine heavier that the M-4, and it is not all that quiet. For the price of a carbine you would be better off getting a suppressor for your (buy one with a can cheaper than a carbine) M-4. There are lots of them out there and the CMP had the real deal if you want history. For what you are describing as the need and this site try a 1892 in .45 Colt.



http://thecmp.org/cmp_sales/

[kaschi]

I agree with Paladin regarding the noise level. The 30 Carbine round really cracks! If I used a long gun for home defense, it would be a 12 gauge double barrel or pump shotgun (the Remington 870 comes to mind). Coupled with a handgun, it will serve your needs and you won't have to worry about over penetration through walls.

[Griff]

For what you are describing as the need and this site try a 1892 in .45 Colt.

http://thecmp.org/cmp_sales/

+1! Or, even an 1873! My newest... 18" rifle... holds 10 in the mag:

[AJMD429]

I agree with Paladin regarding the noise level. The 30 Carbine round really cracks! If I used a long gun for home defense, it would be a 12 gauge double barrel or pump shotgun (the Remington 870 comes to mind). Coupled with a handgun, it will serve your needs and you won't have to worry about over penetration through walls.

Not to nitpick too much, but many 12 gauge loads will go through a couple layers of drywall...

[Griff]

I agree with Paladin regarding the noise level. The 30 Carbine round really cracks! If I used a long gun for home defense, it would be a 12 gauge double barrel or pump shotgun (the Remington 870 comes to mind). Coupled with a handgun, it will serve your needs and you won't have to worry about over penetration through walls.

Not to nitpick too much, but many 12 gauge loads will go through a couple layers of drywall...

Yes, if fired from close range, but... which is why I don't like a long gun for inside the home... once the shot has separated from the wad, not much chance of that... but that's at a distance greater that most house sized rooms. Buckshot, on the other hand, does have enough mass to penetrate...

But the real reason I don't care for them... is if you're inside trying to make sure the rest of the house is clear, a long gun precedes you into the next space... giving the perpetrator a chance to get a hand on the barrel and wrench it out of your hands... a hand gun can be held much tighter to the body and diminishes this risk significantly. And if the 'bad guys' are still outside, then range and lighting conditions can predict which type long gun I'm going for, (rifle or shotgun).

[SteveR]

Have been thinking of getting an M1 Carbine to play with and maybe for a home defense gun at some point (while I am comfortable with and carry an AR carbine on duty I figured the M1 would have less muzzle blast inside a room). I am guessing that my best bet would be to find a surplus model but have also noticed that Auto Ordinance does make one. Does anyone know if these are quality made and reliable? Also would want the wood stocked model and not the paratrooper model.

Thanks in advance,

RustyJr

Hi,
The CMP http://thecmp.org/ would be a good place to start. They sometimes get in a small batch and either auction or open for general sales.
30 Carbine ammo is pretty expensive, maybe handloading would be a good bit cheaper.

But, looking at the numbers, a 357mag is pretty close to the 30 M1, so ammo would be easier to get and a lot cheaper.

Maybe the 300 Blackout would be a lot better for what you plan, you are used to the platform from your job and the ballistics are better.

Steve

[JerryB]

Rusty Jr, ask your dad about Jim Cirillo and the M1 carbine. do some reading on it. These young guys are all about the AR15 and the other little ones, the 30 carbine will still do the job. If you can't find a GI get a Universal or Auto Ordinance they can all be made to run good. Most trouble is bent mag lips.

[Rusty]

So right Jerry. We've talked about Jim Cirillo. We also talked about Audie Murphy. Murphy liked the carbine because it was light and fast handling. After one battle he said most of his shots were head shots with the carbine.
I know a lot of G.I.s that came home from WWII and Korea liked the Carbine enough to use it in the deer woods. When I look at the carbine on paper it looks a lot closer to the .32-20 than it does a .357 Mag.

[6pt-sika]

My grandfather liked his Carbine loaded with FMJ's for wild turkey of all things .

[Sixgun]

I believe the best gun for home defense is the one you use the most...and in your case, the M-4. We all read (hopefully, will never experience). that in times of extreme stress, your memory from training will take over........so who wants to fumble with the antiquities of an M-1 carbine when your M-4 will come out smooth as glass, not to mention the unfortunate possible occurrence of a stovepipe.

I like the M-1 carbine and have a blast playing with it but if I have to shoot in anger, I'm shooting what works the best for me in a scary situation......and that's a single action Colt........with an SKS 30 rounder by my side----6

[Bill in Oregon]

I have a 1943 Inland that I'd part with ...

[Les Staley]

Bill in Oregon, PM sent. (After Rusty Jr, of course).

[mohavesam]

Methinks the carbine is a fine choice beit home or ranch. Inside 100 yards it has more impact energy than a 44 mag revolver (load selection considerations) Is that not enough to perforate human torso? Consider any SD shooting you're likley to face will be inside ten yards?

We went around the table at a shooters' breakfast session and came up with a few notables :
They sure killed a bunch of battle-hardened Nazis. No one can argue that. And with ball ammo.
Now Cor-Bon has a 100-gr DPX load that reviews at 2015 fps and regularly gets sub-MOA grouping. That is very close (no perp will know the difference) to a 62gr load from any 16" 5.56/223.

Auto Ordnance is making fine guns with modern steels and technology, and the repro M1 is one of their passions.
They are owned, funded, and manufacturing operations directed by Kahr Arms under an ISO9000 QMS.
They carry a lifetime warranty, which the milsurps do not!
They are very very reliable.
They sell a pistol-grip folding-stock version. 'nuff said for hallway commandos.
They are handy and some say point themselves.
They have a 'cool' factor no AR copy can touch.
Noise? well it IS a supersonic report, like anything heavier than a 38 special!
They sling better than most short rifles, flat against your back, etc.
And the wood stock separates you from the trendy magazine "tactical ninja" crowd.
Choose softpoints or load up your own for ranch work.
The M1 is never a bad choice IMHO. Jus sayin.
And that an Ultimak top rail gets you painlessly into a laser or red-dot or scout scope in any case.

Oh yesh, 5, 10, 15 and 30 rounds mags are very available.

[Mescalero]

No one looks twice at my carbine or 5.7MMJ
while my CAR and my Daewoo do frighten people.

[Ben_Rumson]

I could not convince a co-worker that the FMJ ammo that came with the M1 carbine he barrowed for pig hunting was a bad choice ... He argued it was a good choice because he had killed two with one shot using it... Sheese!...through and through on piggy #1 into piggy #2 behind him. Whatta-ya-gonna-do!?

[Terry Murbach]

Another fighting corps that had much use of, and high praise for, the M1 Carbine were French Legionairres. They were highly impressed with it's DRT up-close-and-personal killing ability. That really blunt RN FMJ bullet is a killer all out of proportion to it's numbers.
And so it goes...

[4t5]

While I was at the club last year, a club member was shooting was shooting a m1 carbine, it sounded like a pop gun compared to the mini 14 ranch rifle I was shooting , I have since sold the mini, loved the gun, hated the muzzle blast, would love one in 9mm.( Ruger are you listening)

[Ysabel Kid]

It is a shame how much M1 Carbine ammo has gone up in the last few years. I remember when you could get new white-box Winchester ammunition, 50 rounds, for a $10 spot, + or 1, depending on the sale...

[jeepnik]

No one looks twice at my carbine or 5.7MMJ
while my CAR and my Daewoo do frighten people.

Where do you find brass or loaded ammo for the 5.7 Johnson? My BIL has one and can't find the stuff. He doesn't reload, and doesn't shoot all that much, but he'd really like to take this one out more. He could probably talk me into reloading some for him.

[Mescalero]

When the good doctor in Alaska first bought his, I sent him some brass to reload.
I could send you some brass if you like.

[Mescalero]

BTT,
For jeepnik.

[jeepnik]

When the good doctor in Alaska first bought his, I sent him some brass to reload.
I could send you some brass if you like.

I'd appreciate that, but no need to put yourself out. If you can just let me know where you got yours that would do. I'll likely spend a fair amount on dies and such, but what the heck I enjoy reloading, and my BIL really want's to shoot the darned thing.