M1 Carbines...

[The Annoyed Man]

Just like when I lusted for my M1A for 40 years before finally buying one, I've had a long term love affair with the M1 Carbine, except that it has gone unrequited. Part of it is that my dad carried one on Iwo Jima, as well as his personally owned 1911. I inherited his issue 1911 when he died, but his carbine did not survive the incident that led to his wounding. In fact, it was partly to blame......but that is another story.

Anyway, the little carbines always struck me as a handy little rifle. Also, the .30 Carbine ammo seems like a good interim cartridge in power, somewhere between a .357 Magnum cartridge and and a 5.56 NATO round. I know that some of the ones you see today are junk, compared to a really good WW3 example, but I'm not very knowledgeable about who makes them, which ones are better than others, and generally speaking, what you would expect to pay for one these days. I know that the CMP is out of them.

First of all, which of you guys actually own one, and what do you think about yours? Are they generally reliable? How hard is it to find ammo for them these days? If I were going to be on the market for one, where would you steer me, and what should I expect to pay for one? I can't afford to buy one right now, but the more I think about it, the more I'd like to make a M1 Carbine my next long gun purchase.

[74novaman]

From a brief search, ammo will be a concern. Looks like most of the surplus .30 is dried up. AIM Surplus has new manufacture ammo...20 bucks for a box of 50.

There is apparently also some steel cased stuff out there(but I know your feelings on that, so)... unless you're interested in reloading your own, looks like its going to be an expensive bugger to feed.

That said, I think they've very neat, handy little guns. If having one has sentimental value for you, go for it!

[sookandy]

G26ster seems to know a lot about them. He let me shoot his out at the Haltom City range. I'd like to get one some day, my grandfather carried one in Italy..and he hated it lol G26 recommended some. I think I still have the list somewhere. I know I've seen ammo around at a lot of different places. But I didn't pay attention to price.

[sookandy]

This is what he sent me when we were talking about them.
"There were 11 makers of USGI Carbines during WWII (Production 1942-45). All production ended in 1945. Inland, Irwin-Petersen, IBM, National Postal Meter, Rock-ola, Saginaw, Saginaw Gear, Underwood, Winchester, and Quality Hardware. Auto Ordinance (AO) made some receivers for Winchester, but the Winchester name was on them, with a small AO underneath. Do not buy a commercial carbine. They are junk. As for USGI, they all look their age somewhat. You are buying a piece of history, and it shouldn't look new. Just buy one in decent shape, with no fake parts, from a reliable source, and shoot the heck out of it."

[speedsix]

...good defensive ammo (SP or HP) is very expensive...Georgia Arms may provide bulk at a reasonable cost...ball is borderline for defense...the biggest gripe in WWII and Korea was that it didn't have enough stopping power...it's designed for a close quarters defensive weapon...the Tommy Gun and M3 were better for assault...there's something about the M1 Carbine that haunts me, too...had three at different times...but I'd rather have an AK for defense...for a nostalgic shoot-for-fun gun...go for it!!!

[The Annoyed Man]

...good defensive ammo (SP or HP) is very expensive...Georgia Arms may provide bulk at a reasonable cost...ball is borderline for defense...the biggest gripe in WWII and Korea was that it didn't have enough stopping power...it's designed for a close quarters defensive weapon...the Tommy Gun and M3 were better for assault...there's something about the M1 Carbine that haunts me, too...had three at different times...but I'd rather have an AK for defense...for a nostalgic shoot-for-fun gun...go for it!!!

Yeah, I get that. I think my AR15 carbine is generally a better rifle for that kind of use too. But, I don't spend money on any guns without considering their potential for selfdefense.....unless you consider my bolt rifles (and I'm not sure that 1,000 yards is still "selfdefense" distance ).....and if I bought an M1 carbine there would be no exception for it. I would expect it to function reliably. Whichever gun you have in your hand when "something arises" had better be a working gun. In any case, it would likely be primarily a plinker.

[doc540]

Mowed yards in 1963 to earn the $20 my dad mailed to the NRA.

Had my fingers crossed that I wouldn't get something that had been used as a boat paddle in the Pacific theater.

Opened the shipping box and was introduced to the devil's grease: cosmoline

1944 Winchester








Tried to shoot a match with it just a few weeks ago, but my eyes are no longer good enough for the peep sight when shooting quickly.

And don't worry, that cheap, Wolf hardball shoots just fine.

[olafpfj]

I've been trying to start a WWII collection but I have a caveat. All my guns (for starters) have to be reliable shooters. Like TAM, I have been lusting after an M1 Carbine but have been really looking at its shortcomings as a battle rifle. While it was not ideal on the battle field I feel its shortcomings make it ideal as a CQB home defense rifle. I don't think it will be very difficult to find a thoroughly reliable Carbine despite its age.

My research has shown they run from $800-$1200 depending on what you want. Obviously the collector items tend to run a bit on the higher end. Factory ammo is ridiculisly(sp?) expensive but I feel if you're going to go old school you should embrace reloading.

I treat my M1 Garand as a zombie apocalypse rifle and have a great hand load for it and keep quite a few clips (yes they really are clips ) loaded at all times. I would treat an M1 Carbine the same way.

I think the M1 Carbine is ideal as a CQB home defense weapon, but only for the enthusiast that is up to the challenge of handloading for plinking and developing a "modern" home defense load.

FWIW I load my M1 Garand with 45grs IMR 4895 Hornaday 152gr A-Max. It shoots delightful and feeds reliably in mine. Soft recoil and very accurate.

Edited:On the other hand I bought a mini14 as a "modern" M1 carbine. Am I wrong in that assessment?

[atxtj]

I've got a 1943 IBM, and I love it for what it is, a piece of history I can go out and shoot. It has been utterly reliable and is a pleasure to shoot. I found it wearing a cheap folding stock at a dealer in California, I asked him if he had the original stock and the answer was yes. Checked it all out and asked him how much. 450 he said.... . First rifle I bought out of basic training!

[doc540]

truth be known....my dad who will turn 90 in November has forgotten that I earned the money for that carbine.

Over the years, it's become his home defense rifle.

He keeps it handy with a loaded, 30 round mag.

I'm totally fine with that, and once in a while I ask if I can "borrow it" for a range trip.

[olafpfj]

truth be known....my dad who will turn 90 in November has forgotten that I earned the money for that carbine.

Over the years, it's become his home defense rifle.

He keeps it handy with a loaded, 30 round mag.

I'm totally fine with that, and once in a while I ask if I can "borrow it" for a range trip.

AWESOME!!!

[The Annoyed Man]

I've been trying to start a WWII collection but I have a caveat. All my guns (for starters) have to be reliable shooters. Like TAM, I have been lusting after an M1 Carbine but have been really looking at its shortcomings as a battle rifle. While it was not ideal on the battle field I feel its shortcomings make it ideal as a CQB home defense rifle. I don't think it will be very difficult to find a thoroughly reliable Carbine despite its age.

My research has shown they run from $800-$1200 depending on what you want. Obviously the collector items tend to run a bit on the higher end. Factory ammo is ridiculisly(sp?) expensive but I feel if you're going to go old school you should embrace reloading.

I treat my M1 Garand as a zombie apocalypse rifle and have a great hand load for it and keep quite a few clips (yes they really are clips ) loaded at all times. I would treat an M1 Carbine the same way.

I think the M1 Carbine is ideal as a CQB home defense weapon, but only for the enthusiast that is up to the challenge of handloading for plinking and developing a "modern" home defense load.

FWIW I load my M1 Garand with 45grs IMR 4895 Hornaday 152gr A-Max. It shoots delightful and feeds reliably in mine. Soft recoil and very accurate.

Edited:On the other hand I bought a mini14 as a "modern" M1 carbine. Am I wrong in that assessment?

Well, I've seen your Garand, and you keep her in beautiful condition. As far as reloading goes....I'm already reloading for .308 and .223. Loading .30 Carbine wouldn't be a problem at all.

[doc540]

For ammo, check Widener's regularly

http://wideners.com/itemview.cfm?dir=18|830|856

[jimlongley]

I have my grandpappy's WWII M1 Carbine, and when I was a kid I shot it a lot, and even took a deer (a doe) with it when I was young and foolish. I considered doing one of the conversions that was popular back when these beautiful little guns were "a dime a dozen" and am very glad I didn't, because it is in all original condition, except for having a couple of hundred rounds put through it.

I am so sorry that I didn't buy a couple more when I could have.

[fannypacker]

When the DCM announced there were no more carbines available the price shot up. I became interested and bought a mixmaster with a Winchester action. Sometime after the war they were strIped, cleaned, inspected for wear and the parts placed in bins. They were then put back together without regard to maker. Thus the term mixmaster. The best book on the little rifle is "War Baby !" by Larry L Ruth. There are a few (no one knows how many) bring backs. They easily fit in a GI duffle bag. With millions of GIs coming home all could not be searched. I shot my little gun Friday. About as much fun as an old man can have. They made just over 6 million in all. Manufacture did not resume when the Korean War started.