JCooperfan1911
member
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2020
- Messages
- 2,709
As some here may know, I’m a bit of a “carbine bug” as it were. One of my favorites is the M1 carbine, and I believe in redundancy. My original 1943 Underwood is a dandy, but a very valuable and historically collectible dandy. As a camp or truck gun, it’s got too much inherent value that goes beyond the price tag. I cringe at the thought of damaging it.
Enter the Fulton Armory M1 carbine I just picked up from my dealer’s today:
This is a top tier, world class reproduction of the famous War Baby. Now don’t run away just yet, many experts in the M1 field consider Fulton Armory M1 carbines to be the very best repros ever made, with quality that meets or even exceeds the originals (yes, you read that right).
These guns feature forged and milled Lewis Machine & Tool receivers, Criterion match grade barrels, and a mix of original USGI and 100% milspec parts throughout. Even the stocks are linseed oil finished (and boy do they smell good!). Nope, as you might guess these new rifles aren’t so cheap, but they are really, really nice and are MILES ahead of any other repro made, be it past or present.
Upon arrival at home I stripped the gun and degreased the thick factory preservatant, replacing it with CLP. I noticed the machining on all parts was extremely well done. Dark and even parkerizing throughout. The bolt was extremely smooth. Trigger is a service example but is very crisp with no excess creep, quite nice for a milspec trigger. Everything fits together and locks solidly into the wood stock.
With plenty of daylight left, I loaded up 200 rounds of Korean ball and three 15 round virgin never used USGI “UN” (Union Hardware) magazines into my bag and drove into the desert. To sum it all up, the Fulton Armory is an EXCELLENT weapon:
The carbine fired all 200 rounds with perfect reliability. When shooting off the trunk of my sedan, it deposited the casings into a handsome pile at my 4 o’clock rear. Consistent ejection, perfect feeding, just ideal. I even did a 15 round mag dump firing as fast as I could pull the trigger and the gun happily chugged along.
Shooting off the elbows, inconveniently with the sun in my eyes due to the range design, at a target 30 yards away the gun placed all rounds into a roughly 1” group. I am absolutely sure it would shoot much tighter than this off a bench in better lighting conditions, and I am certainly pleased with these initial groups. The rifle was sighted dead on at this distance for windage and I’ll check/adjust elevation on my next outing to the local outdoor rifle range.
Can you tell I’m happy yet? These carbines are made to order one at a time by hand so there was a waiting period, but I am VERY happy to have waited. This carbine is SUPERB and I’ve finally got my desert companion and range gun that I won’t be afraid to run hard and hit the trail with.
The Fulton Armory M1 Carbine scores a 10/10!
-J.C.F.
Enter the Fulton Armory M1 carbine I just picked up from my dealer’s today:
This is a top tier, world class reproduction of the famous War Baby. Now don’t run away just yet, many experts in the M1 field consider Fulton Armory M1 carbines to be the very best repros ever made, with quality that meets or even exceeds the originals (yes, you read that right).
These guns feature forged and milled Lewis Machine & Tool receivers, Criterion match grade barrels, and a mix of original USGI and 100% milspec parts throughout. Even the stocks are linseed oil finished (and boy do they smell good!). Nope, as you might guess these new rifles aren’t so cheap, but they are really, really nice and are MILES ahead of any other repro made, be it past or present.
Upon arrival at home I stripped the gun and degreased the thick factory preservatant, replacing it with CLP. I noticed the machining on all parts was extremely well done. Dark and even parkerizing throughout. The bolt was extremely smooth. Trigger is a service example but is very crisp with no excess creep, quite nice for a milspec trigger. Everything fits together and locks solidly into the wood stock.
With plenty of daylight left, I loaded up 200 rounds of Korean ball and three 15 round virgin never used USGI “UN” (Union Hardware) magazines into my bag and drove into the desert. To sum it all up, the Fulton Armory is an EXCELLENT weapon:
The carbine fired all 200 rounds with perfect reliability. When shooting off the trunk of my sedan, it deposited the casings into a handsome pile at my 4 o’clock rear. Consistent ejection, perfect feeding, just ideal. I even did a 15 round mag dump firing as fast as I could pull the trigger and the gun happily chugged along.
Shooting off the elbows, inconveniently with the sun in my eyes due to the range design, at a target 30 yards away the gun placed all rounds into a roughly 1” group. I am absolutely sure it would shoot much tighter than this off a bench in better lighting conditions, and I am certainly pleased with these initial groups. The rifle was sighted dead on at this distance for windage and I’ll check/adjust elevation on my next outing to the local outdoor rifle range.
Can you tell I’m happy yet? These carbines are made to order one at a time by hand so there was a waiting period, but I am VERY happy to have waited. This carbine is SUPERB and I’ve finally got my desert companion and range gun that I won’t be afraid to run hard and hit the trail with.
The Fulton Armory M1 Carbine scores a 10/10!
-J.C.F.
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