M1 carbine going rates?

[ChrisO]

What is a nice USGI M1 carbine going for these days? I'm so tired of bullet buttons that I'm thinking of making my go to gun a handy m1 carbine. I reload so I'm not really to worried about the price of ammo. Considering ditching the whole AR thing until I get to a free state and selling it for a m1 carbine.

[Mr.Sandman]

Why not just convert to featureless so you can ditch the button? A whole lot cheaper and easier than selling your current setup or buying an M1. I love the M1 but it just seems like you are going about this the wrong way.

[16in50calNavalRifle]

Check the for-sale forum here, on other big gun websites, and on Gunbroker and AuctionArms to get an idea. I haven't been shopping lately, but I'll take a wild guess of $700 and up for a decent USGI (in CA - definitely cheaper in other places, if you can swing that). Depends on condition and collectible value (you're not looking for a "correct" Rockola in pristine condition, or an authentic paratrooper version, so you should be able to stay in the low end of the range). They are C&R eligible so if you have your FFL-03 that's one more reason to investigate.

And there's the Auto Ordnance/Kahr reproduction, which often doesn't get much love on the web but seems fine to me. I picked one up here from another Calgunner when I wanted to see how I liked the platform before shopping for a USGI - got a very good price on it. It has functioned just fine, and now has a USGI (also bought through contact on this website) colleague in the gun locker.

My interest in them is historical and for plinking and blasting purposes, not likely to have any home defense role, but depending on your situation the carbine could be an excellent tool for that job. There are now self-defense offerings in this caliber from Speer, Corbon, and Double Tap.

Reloading 30C is fairly easy (leaving aside the great debate over trimming cases after a few firings, yeah or nay) and you can load ammo for less than half the factory ammo price (which is a bit high) without breaking a sweat.

[Orlando]

On the CMP forum they come up for sale frequintly in the $600-$750 range

[flak88mm]

Yeah you better buy now if you are thinking about the m1 carbine, the price is going up

[bohoki]

there are loads of 20 carbines out there and they are all overpriced

i have one it works great

i reload for it and i suggest if you reload for it use the hornady new dimention dies and use some good lube the carbide dies often leave your loads looking like may west since the whole case is tapered the sizing undersizes them and wears them out quicker also you have to use lube even with carbide dies

if you are paying more than the going rate for a mini 14 for a shooter m1carbine then you are not getting your moneys worth

that jump in prices recently had even caused people to expect more out of their universal commercial carbines which do work pretty good

[dfletcher]

I think about $600.00 gets a nice Inland, they were most plentiful. I think there are still good deals out there. I bought mine 2 years back for $400.00 and it's an early "never been reworked (L flip, no stake, button safety, no bayonet lug & Type 1 barrel band) carbine with very little wear and a near perfect stock. Wasn't really looking and just sort of stumbled into it, the gunsmith @ Reeds was selling the thing.

I'd check gun shows, but be prepared to dicker. The pricing I see at the shows is based on the theory that someone will out of ignorance or eagerness pay the initial asking price so the seller posts high.

[Fate]

I think about $600.00 gets a nice Inland, they were most plentiful. I think there are still good deals out there. I bought mine 2 years back for $400.00 and it's an early "never been reworked (L flip, no stake, button safety, no bayonet lug & Type 1 barrel band) carbine with very little wear and a near perfect stock. Wasn't really looking and just sort of stumbled into it, the gunsmith @ Reeds was selling the thing.

You stole that. If it is indeed untouched and doesn't have repro parts, it's a $1200+ carbine, easy.

[emcon5]

Was just in Cabela's in Reno, and they had a tired looking Winchester carbine for $299.

It was pretty beat up, (looked comparable to the beaters Big-5 used to carry) but that is the lowest price I have seen on one in a long time.

[InFamous20]

I've seen them priced at
$999 dollars at the Big 5 store in my area...