M1 Carbine in .30 Carbine or 9mm?

[socalbeachbum]

I've got a desire for a handy, light carbine, easy to 'run' and avoid the dreaded Calif bullet button.

I have a Mini-14 and enjoy no bullet button, unrestricted mag changes. I want a carbine that's easy to operate, and I think it may be the M1.

Was wondering if a better choice than the original .30 carbine would be one in 9mm?

anyone?

 

[MrTuffPaws]

I don't own one, but I know that the 9mm offerings are blow back designs and not the original locked breech design. If they were locked breech, I would have bought one by now.

 

[BruceB]

The .30 M! Carbine cartridge is far more capable than the 9mm in my book...and I like the 9mm, having two 9mm pistols that I rotate for concealed carry.

The "standard" bullet weight for the carbine is 110 grains, and the "standard" (and most-respected) bullet weight in the 9mm is 115 grains. This is a very small weight discrepancy. However, the Carbine drives its bullet about 800 fps faster, and hence the soft points or hollow-points are more likely to expand properly.

Incidentally, I recently loaded some .30 Carbine ammunition with Hornady's .30-caliber 90-grain XTP PISTOL bullet. The speed is up around 2300 fps, and I strongly suspect that anything living that stopped one of these hollow-points would be in a WORLD of hurt. It likely won't penetrate very far, but the damage caused en route will still be.... "considerable".

 

[greyling22]

30 carbine is expensive and hard to find. and m1 carbines are pricey as well. Have you considered a lever gun in 38/357? they are loads of fun, plenty punchy, and don't look scary at all. And you can rip through 9-10 rounds pretty fast.

 

[socalbeachbum]

nice idea!

I had not even considered that.

are any lever actions a bit more accurate than others? I had an old .30-30 Winchester that was horribly inaccurate

 

[amd6547]

30 carbine ammo isn't expensive or hard to find. $20 for 50rds is pretty reasonable.

While I have owned several 9mm carbines over the years, and believe they can be useful HD tools, if I needed to defend home and hearth, I would rather have the M1 carbine in hand than a 9mm.

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

I would recommend that you look seriously for a real M-1 Carbine. They are accurate, fun to shoot, and as stated the ammo is not expensive nor hard to find. When you get real serious you can pick up a Ruger Blackhawk in 30 carbine that will outshoot most of the other pistol calibers available. Ask me how I know....

 

[bikerdoc]

Hard choice. I have both and prefer to use my 9mm Ruger PC carbine more often than not. YMMV, Good luck in your decision.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

I'd go for a "real" M1 carbine. Unlike a 9mm knockoff, a WWII vintage gun will only appreciate with time. They aren't cheap, but they will never be worth less than what you paid for them.

 

[1911 guy]

Purely in discussion of caliber, neither is a slouch in a rifle length barrel. However, the edge does, as stated, go to the .30 carbine. Although it's a "weakling" compared to most other centerfire rifle rounds, you're comparing it to a pistol round. Apples and oranges. The M1 carbine gives you about 960 to 970 foot pounds at the muzzle, the 9mm gives you about 550-580 foot pounds, even from a 16 inch barrel. Taking the high end for each caliber, the 9mm is only 60% of the muzzle energy of the .30 carbine. Just for kicks, the .308 gives you around 3,000 foot pounds at the muzzle.

Formula for figuring Ft.Lb. is:
Velocity=V
bullet weight expressed in grains=W
450240=C

V squared times W divided by C = muzzle energy expressed in Foot pounds.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If you reload I would go with the 30 Carbine. If not I would buy a levergun in 38/357 but if the levergun isn't for you a 9mm carbine instead.

As for accuracy, it's possible the barrel on your Winchester in 30-30 was shot-out. I have a Marlin levergun in 30-30 and it's as accurate as I can ask for. My Marlin in .357 Magnum is extremely accurate even @100 yards.

 

[greyling22]

nice idea!

I had not even considered that.

are any lever actions a bit more accurate than others? I had an old .30-30 Winchester that was horribly inaccurate

My lever guns are as accurate or better than my m1 carbine. I get 1" or better with the right handload or factory with my marlin 30/30, and I get put 10 rounds that all touch each other with my 357 marlin at 50 yds with a peep sight and a sandbag.

But as with any gun, it's all about finding a load your gun likes.

 

[4v50 Gary]

If it isn't 30 carbine, I'd prefer 22 Johnson spitfire - a 30 carbine necked down to 22. Same magazine, ejector and extractor. No other changes.

 

[Jack Package]

I would say take the carbine, great historical value plus its not to bad of a rifle. You just gotta be a pretty good shot if you want to take down larger animals like hogs and cougars. Shot placement is key with the carbine...unless you use soft points

 

[mavracer]

I sold my 9mm carbine when I got my M1 carbine there's really nothing a (mm will do that the carbine won't do better except shoot 9mm ammo.

 

[scaatylobo]

30 over the 9

I have owned a few 9 mm carbines.

I still own 2 M-1 carbines,they will be kept as if I get feeble and older ,I will always be able to handle and shoot the M-1's.

Its is a bit feeble a round for game,BUT it can take deer and will be a very good S/D round if you find some high end soft point or hollow point [ Cor Bon makes a DPX 100 gr at 2025 fps ].

So my belief is go with the Carbine round ,it was designed as a CARBINE and not a pistol round.

The 30 caliber round will match the ballistics of the .357 - 110 grain round [ from the carbine barrel ].

I found a Kahr as the second M-1,not as smooth but it works.

 

[BCRider]

I'd suggest that the Winchester you had accuracy issues with had problems. I've shot and seen others shoot 1894 Winchesters in .30-30 that were just fine for accuracy. They won't win a Class F match but if they are in good condition they'll make any of us look better than we really are

A nice Rossi or Miroku 1892 or a Marlin 1894 chambered in either .357 or .44 are delightful to operate and shoot. And again as long as cleaning damage or other issues are avoided they'll shoot accurately.

Even if you go with a M1 carbine or other semi auto for now really consider the handgun caliber lever rifle for some other time. As the old saying goes they are more fun than a barrel of monkeys And if you have a good cowboy action gunsmith slick any of them up even to a limited and less expensive degree it'll cycle as smooth as warm butter.

 

[barnbwt]

Numrich Gunpartscorp has 22 Johnson Spitfire M1 Carbine barrels in stock...

TCB

 

[Speedo66]

As mentioned, you'll always get your money back on a carbine if you buy a GI model. I'd pass on any replica, too many bad stories.

If you like 9mm, a Kel-Tec S2000 is fun if you can find one. Match the magazine it takes to your carry pistol, makes a nice combo that fits in a laptop bag.

 

[mac66]

Do they even make a 9mm M1 Carbine?

As much as I like M1 Carbines (I have a 1944 Winchester) and owned a Rockola, I don't see much benefit to them other than historical value. They are fun but expensive to shoot. On the other hand, the Mini 14/30 is about what the M1 Carbine would have evolved into anyway with a much better choice of cartridges.

Point is I shoot my Mini 30 and 9mm carbines a helluva lot more than I do my M1 Carbine simple because of the cost and availability of the ammo.

 

[greyling22]

Do they even make a 9mm M1 Carbine?

As much as I like M1 Carbines (I have a 1944 Winchester) and owned a Rockola, I don't see much benefit to them other than historical value. They are fun but expensive to shoot. On the other hand, the Mini 14/30 is about what the M1 Carbine would have evolved into anyway with a much better choice of cartridges.

Point is I shoot my Mini 30 and 9mm carbines a helluva lot more than I do my M1 Carbine simple because of the cost and availability of the ammo.

http://www.legacysports.com/m-1-9mm-carbine

 

[HKGuns]

No such thing as an M1 Carbine in 9mm.

 

[Mayvik]

Original .30. I am quite intrigued by these Citadel clones...if they offer them in other than 92FS magwell I would be more intrigued.

 

[BruceB]

Once again, we see the problem of ammunition cost being raised.

Once again, I'm VERY thankful that my rifles and handguns are fed on handloads, except that I load my guns with FACTORY ammunition for concealed carry.

100 practice/fun .30 Carbine rounds using cast bullets cost me about seven dollars in direct costs. The Hornady XTP loads I mentioned at the top of this thread cost less than $20 per 100.

With today's ammo costs, a loading outfit can pay for itself in VERY short order, and the option should be considered. Even a small closet can suffice to host a loading bench, and so can a desk.

 

[ewlyon]

Meanwhile factory 9mm can be had for .20 cents a round.

Those citadel carbines are interesting, hoping to get see them on shelves in my area soon.