CMP M1 Carbines.

[stevedrk]

The M1 Carbine has gotten a bad rap. Obviously, it is not the same rifle as the Garand, nor was that the intention. The M1 Garand is a combat rifle; the M1 Carbine was designed for the rear. It was created to provide greater distance and capacity than the .45 pistol, but still light enough to carry in a truck or tank.

You really cannot compare the Carbine to the Garand. The M1 is a great carbine within its intended purpose. It was not intended to shoot enemy combatants at 300-400 yards.

I've also heard the stories about someone's grandfather shooting an enemy 5 times with an M1 Carbine, only to see the enemy get up and continue charging. My grandfather said that meant the soldier who was shooting the M1 Carbine missed the enemy 5 times.

Anyway, I have an IAI M1 Carbine and it is one that I have much fun with at the range. My only complaint is that ammunition is quite expensive.

[beardman2]

If your not afraid of wolf ammo you can get it for about .20 a round. Miwall also makes some brass cased stuff for roughly the same cost.

[wombat13]

Thanks to all who responded for educating me on the differences between the garand and the carbine.

[wolfsburg_de]

Carbines were also manufactured by several different companies including IBM (those are a hot item for computer nerds ).

http://www.odcmp.com/rifles/carbine.htm

[LUVMYSIGP225]

This is the reason that every time I see a screaming deal on a gun, I buy it. I remember when these things were a couple hundred bucks at the guns show because NO ONE wanted them. You could have your pick of manufacturers and grades for under $400.

I could also kill myself for walking away from a cherry Tokarev SVT a few years back for $400.

Now, when I see them, I buy them!

[stevedrk]

Originally Posted by beardman2

If your not afraid of wolf ammo you can get it for about .20 a round. Miwall also makes some brass cased stuff for roughly the same cost.

I use Wolf in all my guns, even in my M1 Carbine. Generally, the .30 is the most expensive of the various ammunition I buy. I do love my M1 Carbine. Did I already say that?

[Kimura]

I'd love to have one, but I think for the money I would rather get the Garand. It it a little annoying to have to go look for a proper mag once you get your rifle.

[Brickboy240]

Wow...they've gotten really pricey!

Back in 1989, I bought a 1943 Carbine made in the Rock-Ola jukebox factory in Chicago in pretty good shape for 125 bucks. Got three 15 rounders and a 30 rounder with the thing and a pretty nice Korean War dated sling. Found out later, that my Carbine HAD been re-built before going off to Korea. Great piece of history. I bet you could not buy the buttstock for 125 bucks today!

I have run TONS of ammo through this little Carbine and have tons of triggertime with the M-1 Carbine. There are lots of misconceptions and untruths circulating about this little rifle.

First, it is not all that inaccurate. Not at all. From my 50yd bench, I can get groups at or under 2 inches. At 100yds, I can still keep most of them under 4 inches. Thats not ALL that different from mant Mausers, Mosins and Enfields I own (except the Swedes...no Carbine will touch that). I have found that the Carbine is not all that inaccurate at all, sorry.

Second, it IS good for hunting...but not deer, wild pigs or bigger game. I have dropped several turkeys with the M-1 Carbine. They fall right on the spot. I even use FMJ ammo, because I can hit them center-mass and not tear up any meat. I have also used it for small varmints, like skunks, raccoons, jackrabbits and if it was 50-75 years out, I'd even pop a coyote with the Carbine if I ever get the chance. You're right, for bigger game...forget it, but the Carbine DOES have some hunting purposes and I have found them. Its short, light and quick to carry around and sight up fast and follow up shots are very easy.

Third, as long as I stick with GI issued 15 round magazines and only use M-1 Rifle Grease (not oil) on the receiver rails for lube, I have found the M-1 Carbine to be VERY reliable. In fact, the only jams I ever had were from aftermarket magazines and using too much oil in the action. Bad idea, because the stuff sprays all over you and everything else when you fire it and attracts dirt into the op-rod grooves. I have not found the M-1 Carbine to be unreliable in the least. It and my 3 SKSs are actually the most reliable semi-autos I have ever owned.

Hey, if you want one...go for it. They're TONS of fun to shoot. Literally no recoil and your ears won't even ring if you happen to shoot it without protection because its not that loud. Its sights are great - if you like the Garand's sights (most people do) you'll love the Carbines because they're very similar.

Its a great gun to ween youngsters off the BB gun or 22 rimfire, without scaring them. If you don't have a big grin on your face, when you're halfway through the magazine...there something wrong with you. The M-1 Carbine is probably one of my favorite rifles to shoot, period.

Ammo prices are not great, but not that scary, either. At least we have more choices nowdays. used to be all we has was Remington green box and Winchester white box and they were both priced high. The newer offerings are cheaper and 30 Carbine ammo is ALOT easier to find these days!

I know that price seems high, but like the Garand and 03 Springer, you're buying history and they'll only get rarer from here on out. Take a look back - US military surplus arms have ALWAYS gone UP in price...not up and down like foreign military surplus arms. They're always a good buy.

Besides, if you think the SKS is big fun...wait until you shoot the M-1 Carbine.

- Brickboy240

[Alaskapopo]

Originally Posted by ScottyPotty

In high school me and a buddy went to the grandparents house to shoot his the carbine. Well my buddy started talking about how accurate these carbines were.

this is what my grandpa said:

"The carbine is a officers gun that you could find laying all over the place because no one wanted to carry that inaccurate rifle. Try shooting someone from over that hill! (it was like 300-400 yards away) as soon as you see the out line of a person you had to shoot because you knew they were going to shoot you."

that's about the only things my grandpa ever said about WW2

The M1 is essenitally a pistol caliber carbine. The round is weak and had a terrible record for stopping power in the military. But it still a fun plinking gun if the price was right.
Pat

[Neomet]

Add another voice to the choir of those who did not care for the M1 carbine in combat. My dad carried one for a short time after his M1 Garand and before his Thompson, both of which he really, really liked. He felt it had inadequate range and would not put an enemy out of the fight with one shot, which sometime was all you got. He was a frontline Noncom, and perhaps it was designed to be an officer's upgraded .45, but more than one wound up at the front where it was pretty much the last weapon of choice, short of a pistol.