M1 Carbine or AR-15? Which one to buy?

[seeds76]

I'm trying to decide on which carbine to invest in - an M1 or AR-15? What are the major pros and cons from those who have experience with either or both?

Both have great American history behind them and they're around the same price new. I plan on using for home defense/shtf/range.

 

[SSN Vet]

Which one to buy?

as usual...the answer depends on the intended purpose.

 

[19-3Ben]

What you describe sounds like a good role for the M1, and if you are looking for an investment...well, there won't be any more milsurp M1s. There will be plenty of commercial ARs for a long time to come.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Since you use the word, "invest"...

I suggest a USGI M1 Carbine. Why? They aren't making any more of them. The value will not go down. More likely, it'll appreciate. Ease of acquisition is unlikely to go up.

In contrast, unless there's another AWB, the only thing preventing you from getting an AR-15 is lack of funding. They are probably the most popular single type of rifle in the US now, and that doesn't show any signs of changing. Unless you get some special, rare variant, or there's an AWB with a grandfather clause that permits transfer, it will depreciate.

From a practical user standpoint, ammo costs are comparable now that cheap .223 has dried up. Either will work just fine as a defensive gun (assuming good functional condition and decent ammo). The AR-15 has an edge in terminal ballistics past 100 yards, but unless you're hunting, target shooting past that distance, or using it in a war zone, that's not very important, IMO.

Here's a pic of my 1944 Underwood to further whet your appetite:



And my gussied up 1943 Rock Ola:



Oh, what the heck. Here's my Colt AR-15A3. I have a different scope on it now, though.

 

[NC-Mike]

What you describe sounds like a good role for the M1, and if you are looking for an investment...well, there won't be any more milsurp M1s. There will be plenty of commercial ARs for a long time to come.

Maybe not...

 

[seeds76]

Dave,

That's a beautiful underwood!!

 

[Acera]

I would buy the M-1 carbine, because I have a bunch of AR's. Well that tells you where my priorities are, lol.

 

[shep854]

Dave, can you de-gussify that Rock-Ola?

I would (will) go for an AR; I already have an M1 carbine (a Rock-Ola w/ Winchester barrel. Actually, I want to build an M16A1 clone, first. I am also thinking about returning the carbine to its original configuration with a flip sight and removing the bayo lug.

 

[transformerguru]

I have both get one from the CMP and save for the AR

 

[blkbrd666]

I voted M1 for all the same reasons already mentioned. Plus, I still lack 4 of the manufacturers having the set...which reminds me, I need to take a drive to the CMP store pretty soon. Then there's the excuse, "Audie Murphy would be proud".

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Seeds, thanks. I was lucky to nab this one.

Shep, I can easily restore the Rock Ola to GI condition in about 5 minutes. All I need to do is remove the Ultimak and replace it with the orginal GI handguard. I may actually do this, as I'm thinking about moving the Ultimak/red dot over to another Underwood I have which is in a replica M1A1 paratrooper stock. (Yes, I have 3 M1 Carbines. )

 

[shep854]

Dan, I was pretty sure (you seem to be one who respects his weapons), but it's still a relief to know you didn't "Bubba-ize" that carbine!

 

[possum]

the m1 is a classic but i would go with the ar it is so much blacker and so so evil. the ar has so many more options and upgrades avaliable. i believe that you will be much happier with the ar as commpared to the m1.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

The AR15 is much more practical and useful IMO.

 

[shep854]

Until I picked up a Kel-Tec SU-16C my carbine was my defense/Hit the hills rifle. While the .30 Carbine round (especially with soft-points) is a fine defensive round, the 5.56 gives the extra pop and versatility that is nice for a BUR. For the vast majority of my needs, a small compact rifle like the SU is fine.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

In a civilian setting, the main advantage of 5.56mm over .30 Carbine is accuracy and trajectory past 100 yards. At typical defensive engagement ranges, if one use JSPs in the .30 Carbine, it performs at least as well as the best 5.56mm loads, according to testing performed by Dr. Gary Roberts.

 

[19-3Ben]

NCMike-

too true, and scares the living s**t outta me.

 

[threefeathers]

I have 9 AR's and 3 M-1 Carbines.
If you are going for just one and you have the possible defense of your family in mind in a shtf situation you have to go with an AR-15.
With the Dems having a good possibility of controlling both houses and the exectuive office there is real danger of an AWB.
I'd go to AR15.com and look at the E&E and see if you can pick up a sweet deal.
Then I'd pick up 9 30 round mags, a red dot optic, and then save for an M=1 carbine.

 

[lmccrock]

Voted "Other", i.e., BOTH!

Why? To invest, M1 carbine. For defense, AR15. Very different. Certainly, M1 carbine is adequate for home defense but AR15 is far more flexible to customize to your exact wants.

The political thing may or may not happen. I warned my wife that based on the outcome of the primaries, "we" will be putting a bunch of money into every gun I think I may want for the rest of my life, at least the ones that will be unavailable.

Lee

 

[paintballdude902]

ars will be around for a long time get a cmp m1 carbine or garrand before they either run out or become unaffordable

 

[dakotasin]

i went out this evening in search of the definitive answer to this question.

i took a full-blown custom ar-15, a ww-2 era m-1 carbine, some 30 carbine ammo, some 223 ammo, a 5 year old girl, and an 8-year old girl to the range.

after the brass stopped piling up, we had a split decision: the eight year old girl says the m-1 carbine is the superior weapon. the 5 year old girl says the ar-15 is better.

the range is maybe 2 miles from my house. yeah, we had to stop halfway home to stop the bickering. and get ice cream.

at any rate... there is no clear decision. the older girl likes the m-1 better because she likes wood. the younger girl likes the ar better because "its better, daddy. can't you see?"

 

[Sunray]

"...they're around the same price new..." The only new M1 carbines are the AO/Kahrs. Too much money at $775 MSRP. A real Colt AR-A2 runs $1300ish.
"...if one use JSPs in the .30 Carbine..." Use JHP's with IMR4227. 13.5 to 15.0(compressed). Blows a hole in a ground hog the size of a grapefruit with no feeding issues.
An AR15 isn't a carbine. It's a commercial copy of a battle rifle. The short barreled models don't take advantage of the cartridge either. Neither do short barreled .308's.
"...a 5 year old girl, and an 8-year old girl..." Chicks! Geezuz, they always argue about everything. Especially sisters. That is funny though. Wait until they're teenagers. snicker.
"...Since you use the word, "invest"...I suggest a USGI M1 Carbine..." Absolutely. Even commercial carbines have skyrocketed in value in the last 10 years or so. Mind you, not all commercial carbines are equal, but even junker late model Universals have increased in value. Far moreso than any AR of the same vintage.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

An AR15 isn't a carbine. It's a commercial copy of a battle rifle. The short barreled models don't take advantage of the cartridge either. Neither do short barreled .308's.

Since we're getting into semantics...

What's your definition of carbine? Dictionary.com lists the definition as a "a light, gas-operated semiautomatic rifle."

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/carbine

The AR15 certainly fits that description...

Also, according to the definition as I know it, the M16/M4 is not a "battle rifle". It is an "assault rifle".

As to the barrel length... M4 length (14.5" barrel) AR15's work just fine. With milspec ammo, they still are capable of fragmenting at ranges out to 60-100 (and more in some cases).

Do you think that it's likely to ever need an AR15 "carbine" for anything more than 50 yards? It's EXTREMELY unlikely to need an AR15 for most average folks in the first place... and considering that coupled with the likely ranges of a defensive firefight... the ranges afforded by the M4 length (and others like 16") are plenty for 99% of all scenarios one might encounter.

That is assuming you are stuck with milspec ammo like M193 or M855. There are better choices out there for us civilians ammo wise as well. Some that frag out to longer ranges, some that expand...

 

[guntotinguy]

The AR15 is much more practical and useful IMO

+ 1,I fully agree with this,nothing against the M1,but i have found my RRA and Colt to be more easily 'workable',and by function.

 

[shep854]

After reading RockyMtnTactical's last post, it occurred to me just how valid the topic question is. The original AR-15 was adopted by the USAF as a replacement for M1/M2 carbines used by AF security troops! Compared to the M1 or M14, the AR platform is just as much a "carbine" as the M1 carbine is.

What's funny is that the M16s have been called "Long Rifles" by M4 toters. My, how times change! An infantryman from the 1800s or earlier would probably laugh at the .30 cal "Battle Rifles" as peashooters compared to their "manly" .45 to .71 caliber boomers.