M1 Carbine, new versions as Home Defense rifle

[Patrick Aherne]

If you get a surplus one and use good mags and ammo, they are fantastic, especially with the Remington SJHP ammo. Put an Aimpoint on it and you have the perfect house gun.

[smittty]

I always like these. Light weight, low recoil, and they don't look like "assault weapons".

[68Datsun510]

If you get a surplus one and use good mags and ammo, they are fantastic, especially with the Remington SJHP ammo. Put an Aimpoint on it and you have the perfect house gun.

You need a red dot to clear a room!?

[dfletcher]

I've been fiddling with M1 Carbines off & on for about 40 years. The military versions, the commercial types to include the old "Enforcer" pistol and folding stock rifles. I even had a futuristic commercial version in 256 Ferrett.

Every commercial one I bought had some sort of issue. It either didn't feed reliably (my biggest gripe) or just didn't work properly - bolt wouldn't close, gun wouldn't fire. I know folks say there are reliable versions out there, the 1960's made Universals are usually mentioned as being fine. But I've given up on the commercial types, to include the new Kahr or Auto Ordnance. The reports and reviews almost always carry some sort of caveat (excuse) regarding ammo used, magazine fit or reliability. I grabbed a never rebuilt early Inland a few years back and separately a repro folder for use outside CA. It works always - feeds, functions, fires all the time.

[Grumpyoldretiredcop]

I'd go with the Mini-14 in preference to an M1 Carbine. Key issues are reliability (in the commercial models) and effective ammo.

My well-loved Postal Meter didn't work reliably when I got it, I had to reshape the feed ramp to get rid of the slight divot put there by I don't know how many rounds in its history. It won't feed a hollow point or soft point without frequent jams, making it a hardball-only weapon. Not the most effective manstopper, even at hallway distances. At those distances my primary gripe with the Mini-14, wandering zero, doesn't come into play at all, making it the winner in my mind.

[Bhobbs]

If I had to bet my life on a round it wouldn't be the .30 Carbine.

Why is that?

[dfletcher]

If I had to bet my life on a round it wouldn't be the .30 Carbine.

I'd say 110 grains @ 2,000 fps is pretty good - better than a 357 Magnum. And having 30 rounds instead of 6 is helpful too. I like big heavy bullets too but the 30 Carbine load is a capable performer.

[DrewN]

I have a Fulton Armory and it runs and looks like a dream (caveat; with the two mags it came with, which are the only two I have). Pricey though, and I'm pretty sure it won't hold value like a desireable C&R. On the other hand, I can shoot the hell out of it and not think twice. I really,really wanted a nice carbine though, so totally worth the purchase price for me.

[eeeeman]

Carbine ammo is avaible 223 running scarce also there is no current run on carbines.

[Mossy Man]

better get one now before it gets banned

you got an assault weapon there buddy

[Scuba Steve33]

Why is that?

My Grandfather was an infantryman during WW2 and carried the M1 Garand throughout. Most of the guys he knew that were issued Carbines swapped them out for Garands due to the lack of stopping power in them. He was a lifer, fighting again in Korea but issued an M1 Carbine this time. He decided to give it another go and soon swapped it for a Garand. He said the difference was monumental.

I trust one thing and that is personal experience.

For the record, I meant in general, not at one distance over another or things like that, just overall.

[elSquid]

http://www.tactical-life.com/online/combat-handguns/lessons-from-the-stakeout-squad/

Jim Cirillo stated that when loaded with soft points, an M1 Carbine was a better stopper than a 12 gauge shotgun loaded with 00 buck. It was a favorite weapon of the NYPD Stakeout Unit. They shot a LOT of bad guys with them, at very close ranges.

-- Michael

[Bhobbs]

My Grandfather was an infantryman during WW2 and carried the M1 Garand throughout. Most of the guys he knew that were issued Carbines swapped them out for Garands due to the lack of stopping power in them. He was a lifer, fighting again in Korea but issued an M1 Carbine this time. He decided to give it another go and soon swapped it for a Garand. He said the difference was monumental.

I trust one thing and that is personal experience.

For the record, I meant in general, not at one distance over another or things like that, just overall.

Well no doubt the M1 Garand is a more powerful rifle than the M1 Carbine but that's because it's a full power rifle round. The M1 Carbine wasn't supposed to be equal to the M1 Garand. It was to replace the M1911 for people who carried crew served weapons or didn't need an M1 Garand. It is more powerful than most service pistol rounds out to a reasonable distance. With hollow points, it would make a great HD rifle.

[dfletcher]

My Grandfather was an infantryman during WW2 and carried the M1 Garand throughout. Most of the guys he knew that were issued Carbines swapped them out for Garands due to the lack of stopping power in them. He was a lifer, fighting again in Korea but issued an M1 Carbine this time. He decided to give it another go and soon swapped it for a Garand. He said the difference was monumental.

I trust one thing and that is personal experience.

For the record, I meant in general, not at one distance over another or things like that, just overall.

If I used a 357 handgun at 100 yds and pronounced it "inaccurate" would that personal experience preclude its use at -25 yds ranges?

The M1 Carbine was developed as a short range weapon. I would not be enthusiastic using it at +100 yds or so, but at the ranges used for civilian self defense at the home I think it is very effective.

[Scuba Steve33]

Well no doubt the M1 Garand is a more powerful rifle than the M1 Carbine but that's because it's a full power rifle round. The M1 Carbine wasn't supposed to be equal to the M1 Garand. It was to replace the M1911 for people who carried crew served weapons or didn't need an M1 Garand. It is more powerful than most service pistol rounds out to a reasonable distance. With hollow points, it would make a great HD rifle.

I realize what it was intended for but it was still used as a primary weapon for many guys on the ground and his testament in real world, every day combat is concrete for me.

If I used a 357 handgun at 100 yds and pronounced it "inaccurate" would that personal experience preclude its use at -25 yds ranges?

The M1 Carbine was developed as a short range weapon. I would not be enthusiastic using it at +100 yds or so, but at the ranges used for civilian self defense at the home I think it is very effective.

Read the OP again. He wasn't asking for ~25 meter weapons. Combat isn't always mid to far distances. Plus, you're comparing apples to oranges with the .357 comment.