M1 Carbine or AR?

[gotshotgun?]

Well, I have the gnawing urge to build an AR but I am limited to the number of guns I can have. I have an M1A that I love and will be keeping but I also have an M1 Carbine that I really like as well. My question is would the majority of you sell the Carbine and build an AR or keep the Carbine. Again, I can't have another gun right now, its just not in the cards.

I know the Carbine is worth about half a decent AR but I have Carbine ammo I could sell and some accessories plus the AR could be a build over some time.

As far as fun to shoot at the range and in the boonies goes, which one would you have? The Carbine is from 1943 and does have historical value and is in great shape, I just don't know. What's your folks' perspective?

[TonyMang_89]

keep the carbine, build an AR when you can. Great thing about them is you can buy little at a time and eventually put the rifle all together

[hoffman259]

keep the carbine, build an AR when you can. Great thing about them is you can buy little at a time and eventually put the rifle all together

+1

or option 2 sell me the carbine and build the AR....I would still do option 1

[tileguy]

ditto

[NorcalGSG]

That's a really tought one. I love the carbines and AR's as well. Honestly the AR is a more modern and versatile gun. The 5.56 has better range and power. Don't get me wrong, I love carbines too. But it sounds like you want something new to play with. If you think you can live with yourself afterwards, I'd say sell the Carbine and start an AR project! Its kind of like hacking up a matching #'s muscle car vs. modding a modern car. You don't care what you do to that modern car because there are so many. But if you want to change something or modify something on your classic, you'll probably feel bad knowing you just cut up some classic iron that can't be as easily replaced. The fun thing with AR's is there are so many ways you can set them up/change calibers/uppers, etc. etc that you can literally have a couple different guns with only really one gun.

[NorcalGSG]

keep the carbine, build an AR when you can. Great thing about them is you can buy little at a time and eventually put the rifle all together

I was gonna say the same thing, but the OP said he is trying to limit his overall #. I was just trying to not be such an enabler

[TonyMang_89]

ya i know, but there is always room for one more gun

[Bhobbs]

I say keep the carbine. The AR is in production so it will be around for a while and doesn't have the historical value the carbine does.

[bgoodman]

definitely keep the carbine. what is the manufacture of the carbine? Does it have a type 1 sight or bayonet lug? just curious...

[rc50cal]

Another idea to consider: get rid of the significant other who won't let you buy another gun.

[jshoebot]

"You'll never feel regret for not selling a nice gun."

[savageno4]

Keep it. Buy an OLL and piece it together. You will regret selling the Carbine.

[Blacktail 8541]

Keep the carbine, buy a lower and piece it together over time.

[tacticalcity]

keep the carbine, build an AR when you can. Great thing about them is you can buy little at a time and eventually put the rifle all together

I agree with the above statement. You can start building your AR 1 part at a time. You could start with a $20-30 grip this month, $15 rail panels the next, a $100 lower if you have a good month, and on and on. Before you know it you're done. Can't afford a complete upper in one shot? Buy it in parts. When you buy the very last part send it to a company like CMMG or a another major (yet still service friendly) AR company like CMMG to assemble it for you. Make sure a couple of the parts are theres and they will be more than happy to do it for you.

I sell this stuff for a living and I still do this rather than spend all my money on a complete rifle. Its easier to justify the expense to yourself when it is a little at a time, and more fun seeing how the end rifle turns out.

One tip, don't go cheap. Don't talk yourself into building a $700 total rifle. Instead. Splurge but do it as you can afford it. Only have $10 that month? Find the best (as far as what you are happy with) $10 part for that rifle, no matter how small or insignifcant that part is in the grand scheme and get it - or set aside that $10 for next months part purchase. When all is said and done, every part on that rifle will be the part you wanted and not something you settled for.

[gotshotgun?]