M1 Carbine

[beertracker]

Hi:

Just received a CMP Underwood M1 carbine. My question is, "should the bolt stay open when the magazine is empty?" Also what can you tell me about cleaning and lubing the gas piston? I will be using non-corrosive ammo.

Thanks,
Beertracker

 

[AtticusThraxx]

Beer tracker here's a link to some good M1-carbine info and parts. At bottom of page there are manuals and DVD's:

http://www.fulton-armory.com/MCarbParts.htm

Enjoy!

 

[davera]

Usually, no the bolt does not stay open on the last round. There are some magazines with the ramp ground down to hold the bolt back.

The gas piston is not "user servicable" and designed to be mostly self cleaning. .30 carbine ammo has always been non-corrosive and the design of the gas piston (not user servicable) was one of the reasons that non corrosive was specified from the beginning.

 

[Roswell 1847]

Yeah the follower of some but not all Magazines has squared back that will hold the bolt back when empty but if you want the bolt to stay back while changing out mags you'll have to push down on the small pin on the slide handle which will engage a ramped recess cut into the receivers rail.

When you insert a fresh loaded mag just pull the operating handle back slightly and the pin will be cammed up out of the way by the ramped cut in the rail, then release the handle and it will slam feed the first round from the fresh magazine.
Takes about 1/100 the time to do it as it does to explain it.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Davera is correct. The Carbine does not have an automatic last shot bolt hold open. GI 30 round mags have a different follower which does lock the bolt open after the last shot, but unless you engage the manual hold open before dropping the mag, the bolt will close when you remove the mag.

WRT to the gas piston, leave it alone unless it's sticking or loose. The gas piston nut should be staked in place. Installation and removal requires the use of a special wrench and should not be done unless truly necessary. It's not part of regular maintenance.

 

[nalioth]

Here's the M1 Carbine TM online for you to read: http://m1.50webs.com/

Here's an owners manual (not a military TM) from Auto Ordnance for their M1 Carbine http://www.auto-ordnance.com/images/aom1_om0907.pdf

 

[beertracker]

Thanks to all who replied. I can't wait to get some range time and see how the Underwood performs.

Beertracker

 

[CU74]

beertracker - you might try the CMP Carbine Forum for information. Folks here know stuff; folks there know more stuff.

http://www.odcmp.org/new_forum/