BETTER GUNS: How many could make do with a .30 Carbine?

[SharpsDressedMan]

We all know there are more powerful and effective semi auto rifles, so please don't waste E-space reiterating on those. What I want to know is how many of you feel confident and competent enough to MAKE DO with a .30 carbine?
I just think it is neat little rifle, enjoy shooting mine, and seem to be very effective with it. Translate that to "I can quickly aim and hit what I aim at." That makes me feel that it just MIGHT have an edge over slower, bulkier, heavier rifles. How many of you feel confident with an M1 carbine, or COULD employ it as well or better than your heavier rifles. Forget about "knockdown", etc.

 

[Batty67]

I have a modern AO M1 and besides more FTFs than I'd like (about 5%; depends on the ammo brand and type, JSPs more like 10%), it is FUN to shoot and pretty accurate to 100 yards or so. Pricey to shoot. At short ranges it is very easy to ppin/shoot/hit, and has plenty of capacity.

 

[Devonai]

That depends on the duration of the fight, I suppose. I can shoot my M1 rifle just as well for the first eight rounds. Once you factor in reloading and shooter fatigue, the edge goes to the carbine.

 

[45_auto]

Forget about "knockdown", etc.

If you're ignoring the power of the cartridge, then yes, you could "employ" it more effectively than something heavier. By the same reasoning you could more effectively "employ" anything lighter than the carbine. A plastic BB pistol would probably be your ultimate firearm.

 

[mokin]

With a little practice I think I could. I like the .30 Carbine and wouldn't feel bad if that was all I had to "make do" with (provided I had good magazines). I've spent enough time with my fast, lightweight, and accurate M-4'gery that I would need quite a bit of practice with the .30 Carbine to gain that same level of profeciency.

 

[Maple_City_Woodsman]

I have always enjoyed shooting an M1 carbine.

I would feel comfortable using it for anything a civilian will ever need to do.

 

[gscrasher]

I have read that Jim Cirillo, the famous NYPD cop involved in many gunfights, thought very highly of the carbine. I have 2, a GI and an IAI, that are reliable.
With hollow points, the carbine should do quite well. A 110 grain bullet clocking 1900 fps is nothing to sneaze at compared to a 115 grain, 9mm at around 1200 fps.

They seem lighter and handier to me than my M-4 type carbine.

 

[firesky101]

absolutely nothing wrong with the m1 carbine. It is a fun lightweight and easily pointable rifle in my hands. As far as the naysayers go about .30 carbine, I like to keep 2 things in mind. I don't hear about many people saying they got shot with the .30 carbine and didn't mind very much, and two the ballistics are far superior to a .357 mag out of a 4 inch barrel (I don't hear alot of complaints about that one). So yes if it hit the fan I would feel more than comfortable with having my m1 by my side.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

"... make do..."? Sure, it's a great carbine bordering on the original "assault rifle" parameters. I knew scores of folk that used them - before they were collectible and while surplus ammo was cheap - for deer, coyote, all sizes of pest and then to get to the more zombified/tactical side, the German's prized the M1/2 towards the end of WWII.

The carbine has taken lots of knocks from folk stacking it against unfair competition and theoretically placing it outside of it's design parameters but in the end, it is still one of the very best carbines ever fielded by any nation.

Low recoil, low report, versatile in it's sighting options, light as 2 pistols, pretty damn nice looking.... "make do"? Absotively!

 

[Walkalong]

I could "make do" with one, but thank goodness I don't have to. Fine little guns, quite versatile.

 

[amd6547]

Audie Murphy didn't seem to mind using it against Germans armed with 8mm rifles and MP40 SMG's. He could have used any of the US small arms, and did use the Thompson and the Garand on occasion. But, the carbine was his choice.
He liked his carbine so much that when the stock cracked, he refused a replacement weapon and wired the stock back together.

 

[bigfatdave]

count me in
With soft point ammo and good magazines, the M1 Carbine is a great DEFENSIVE weapon and a marginal offensive weapon.

I have one, and I'm on the lookout for a second GI carbine, preferably a well-used one with a beat-up stock. Or I just want an excuse to put a refinished Carbine into one of those pretty CMP stocks.

 

[KodiakBeer]

The problem has always been the lack of effective slugs for the carbine. You get great velocity from a small and handy package, but you're still throwing light FMJ's.

 

[amd6547]

110gn soft point loads are available in 30 carbine, and have been for decades.

 

[wheelgun6T9]

The M1 Carbine is on my short list of "must haves" - been researching them for a bit. Based on what I read, the Carbine loaded with softpoints would be a great defensive weapon.

Sure, there could be better weapons for any given set of circumstances...but that's always true. I'd feel secure with the 30 carbine and take it as it comes.

 

[-v-]

I could certainly make do with a Carbine, on the same thread I could make do with a single shot .22 if it is all I had. The carbine is a neat firearm, light, handy, and reasonably powerful. But with other arguably better choices out there, it would not be my first go-to gun.

 

[7.62 Nato]

I feel the .30 carbine cartridge is very capable. The M1 carbine is reliable. I do feel however that the cartridge is limited by the carbine. I would like to see the cartridge optimized to it's potential which, I believe, could include heavier loads, and faster light projectiles. Much the same way the .300 whisper/fireball/blackout has been developed.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

How about a revamped Carbine based on the .300 Whisper? Maybe a lightly beefed up action, like the Mini-14. But the Mini-14 never had the solid reputation of the original GI carbine, nor the accuracy, from what I can see. I wonder why the Ruger never stacked up well that way..............

 

[ball3006]

M1 Carbines are neat little rifles...The reason Audie Murphy liked on is he was about 5ft 2in......chris3

 

[R.W.Dale]

In my opinion the little m1 and especially the m2 are the most misclassified firearms out there.

I really dont think they should even be referred to as rifles or even carbines for that matter. What they are in every sense of the term is a very well made smg that fires a handgun round that nobody bothered to make a handgun for first.

posted via tapatalk using android.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

That's interestingly put and especially in light of the fact that one of the major design incentives was to up-gun otherwise 1911 toting service members.

A pistol cartridge in search of a pistol... I like it.

 

[rszwieg]

I guess i could make do.

If you think of it as a powerful, fun pistol instead of a wimpy rifle you'll be OK.

 

[BruceB]

"Make do"....

Make do for WHAT?

The original post draws no lines in using rifles for various purposes, but the OP DOES mention using the Carbine in place of "heavier rifles".

I'll say two things.

1. I think the M1 Carbine is an excellent defensive rifle for self-defense against humans.

2. Anyone who thinks the M1 Carbine is a valid stand-in for "heavier rifles" against moose, bears, even deer.... is smoking something illegal.

The Carbine is a dandy tool within its limitations (assuming the use of GOOD soft-point or hollow-point bullets). It is a very poor rifle to use against most game animals, and is also range-limited for field use. In a "survival situation", I'd use it for anything, if it happened to be the tool at hand. Given a choice..... pure self-defense is valid for the carbine, but hunting is NOT.

 

[Onmilo]

If I was an urban dweller who did no hunting or competitive target shooting and needed a centerfire rifle for pleasure shooting and defense purposes, I could justify owning an M1 Carbine as my one and only centerfire rifle.
Ammo would be as pricey as any other so handload if you so choose.

 

[USSR]

As a defensive weapon inside of 150 yards, the M1 Carbine is very capable and effective. What it lacks in long range capability, it more than makes up in the ability to deliver rapid and sustained fire within its range limitations. With my sight upgrade, it would be my personal choice for defensive purposes in an urban environment. Just MHO.

Don