I'm looking into purchasing an M1 Carbine variant as a home defense firearm to supplant my handgun (an IMI 941F in 9mm). What's a reasonable price for such a weapon and what are things to look for (there are a few of them for sale at my local pawn and gun shops)?
M1 Carbine
- Thread starter LoneRider
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mljdeckard
Member
I wouldn't play with the non-military ones. I have my grandfather's Inland, in pretty good shape, I have eyeballed similar guns at gun shows for $700-750. (My grandfather got it for $50 when he joined the NRA.)
I think that they are the ideal HD rifle, but I don't know if I would have gotten around to buying one if I hadn't inherited it.
I think that they are the ideal HD rifle, but I don't know if I would have gotten around to buying one if I hadn't inherited it.
greyling22
Member
allow me to sum up almost all the searching I did into m1 a couple years back:
almost all m1 carbines are rebuilds these days. don't expect matching numbers. or even brands. the rarer makers command higher prices, but are no better or worse. rockola is the rarest, inland the most common.
check out the civillian marksman program http://www.thecmp.org/m1carbine.htm
best prices around, but you have to jump through some hoops to get one. I doubt you will find a GI issue below 600 anywhere else. as far as commercial guns go, steer clear of universal. some of the early plainfields and iver johnsons were ok. the modern auto ordinance guns got off to a rocky start, but I think are fine now.
you could probably buy a cheap AR kit and a mossberg for the same price as a nice m1 carbine these days. might I suggest a 357 lever gun will do most what an m1 will do for much cheaper. (I have both. both are great fun, the lever gun more versatile)
almost all m1 carbines are rebuilds these days. don't expect matching numbers. or even brands. the rarer makers command higher prices, but are no better or worse. rockola is the rarest, inland the most common.
check out the civillian marksman program http://www.thecmp.org/m1carbine.htm
best prices around, but you have to jump through some hoops to get one. I doubt you will find a GI issue below 600 anywhere else. as far as commercial guns go, steer clear of universal. some of the early plainfields and iver johnsons were ok. the modern auto ordinance guns got off to a rocky start, but I think are fine now.
you could probably buy a cheap AR kit and a mossberg for the same price as a nice m1 carbine these days. might I suggest a 357 lever gun will do most what an m1 will do for much cheaper. (I have both. both are great fun, the lever gun more versatile)
carbine85
Member
Why not just get a .30? It's actually a high power pistol round anyway. The M1 makes a good home defense rifle.
mljdeckard
Member
^^(Is that not what you thought we were talking about?)
amd6547
Member
CMP Is definately the way to go...Yeah, you have to jump through some hoops, but it isn't too hard. My CMP Inland is my HD longarm.
although the M1 Carbine is a great firearm for HD, I'd suggest looking into modern, cheaper alternatives.
But if you're set on getting one, you can browse gunbroker. I see good ones regularly going for under CMP prices, and in better condition.
I bought my Underwood M1 off of Gunbroker. It was an LGKNO/Austrian Police loan gun that was virtually unused, and paid only $535ish for it after shipping and transfer.
But if you're set on getting one, you can browse gunbroker. I see good ones regularly going for under CMP prices, and in better condition.
I bought my Underwood M1 off of Gunbroker. It was an LGKNO/Austrian Police loan gun that was virtually unused, and paid only $535ish for it after shipping and transfer.
Nugilum
Member
Also consider the difficulty of finding ammunition. .30 Carbine is "challenging" to find right now.
Ask me how I know...
Ask me how I know...
Tommygunn
Member
I have seen plenty of .30 Carbine from mail/internet order places but I have not seen any at all at the local stores.
Hatterasguy
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While I am a huge M1 Carbine fan, and if your using HD as an excuse to get one don't let me stop you.
But Cabala's was running a special on Mossberg 590's the other week for like $390. That would be a far cheaper and just as affective HD gun. Put a light on it and load with some 00 Buck and your GTG.
But Cabala's was running a special on Mossberg 590's the other week for like $390. That would be a far cheaper and just as affective HD gun. Put a light on it and load with some 00 Buck and your GTG.
amd6547
Member
I have a Mossberg 500, an AR and an AK....I much prefer the m1 carbine for HD.
Snakum
Member
+1
They are a lot of fun and I love shooting them, but I like something with better terminal ballistics than .30 ball for HD, something easier to find ammo for, and something that - at least in my circle - seems a bit more reliable, less mag finicky, etc. Buy one for a fun gun, and get a Mossberg or 870 for the home.
USSR
Member
Getting .30 Carbine ammo is easy. First you melt the lead....
Don
Don
HOWARD J
Member
I have two Iver Johnsons
One in 9MM---pure junk---converted MI to 9MM
One in .30 carbine----not bad if you keep your reloads under full power
also: a ruger .30 carbine blackhawk revolver---great for SD
One in 9MM---pure junk---converted MI to 9MM
One in .30 carbine----not bad if you keep your reloads under full power
also: a ruger .30 carbine blackhawk revolver---great for SD
If you find one that is a Universal RUN!!!
CMP is the way to go. I found an average run of the mill Inland M1 at the local pawn shop the other day, $1100 and my rack grade Inland from CMP looked in much better shape. Somebody broke down and bought it and now another Inland sits in it's spot with an after market folding paratrooper stock on it, $1200 for this one.
CMP is the way to go. I found an average run of the mill Inland M1 at the local pawn shop the other day, $1100 and my rack grade Inland from CMP looked in much better shape. Somebody broke down and bought it and now another Inland sits in it's spot with an after market folding paratrooper stock on it, $1200 for this one.
amd6547
Member
30 carbine ball is not what my Inland is loaded with (though Audie Murphy liked it just fine)...I keep my Inland loaded with soft point Remingtons. No doubt whatsoever about the effectiveness of that load.
I use USGI mags, as well as both 15 and 30rd (I have the M2 mag catch installed) korean mags with zero issues. The only jams (exactly 1) I have had in a couple 100 rounds have been caused by loose primers in MagTech ammo...the fired primer fell into the action and prevented the bolt from closing.
With this Inland, I can shoot a 15rd group the size of a large orange at 100yds without trying hard.
I use USGI mags, as well as both 15 and 30rd (I have the M2 mag catch installed) korean mags with zero issues. The only jams (exactly 1) I have had in a couple 100 rounds have been caused by loose primers in MagTech ammo...the fired primer fell into the action and prevented the bolt from closing.
With this Inland, I can shoot a 15rd group the size of a large orange at 100yds without trying hard.
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Snakum
Member
To quote MSG Ret. Ray Emory Sr. - a former coworker when I was in college, and a Korean War vet with eight Purple Hearts between Korea and Vietnam - when I asked about buying an M1 carbine:
"Yeah you can have fun with 'em. But when the (politically incorrect term for Asians) keep coming after five or six hits don't say I didn't warn you."
They are a lot of fun, though.
"Yeah you can have fun with 'em. But when the (politically incorrect term for Asians) keep coming after five or six hits don't say I didn't warn you."
They are a lot of fun, though.
aka108
Member
For home defense I'd go with a short barreled high capacity 12 ga shotgun. Something like a Mossberg Mariner or similar. M1 carbine is a hell of a lot of fun. Used to check them out from the ships armory with 500 to 1000 rd of ammo. Made a great weekend.
doc540
Member
If that's what you want, go ahead and get one. 30 round mag will lay down enough lead to deter even the most determined zombie.
Plenty of good advice in this thread.
We got this one around 1964 for $25 shipped.
My dad had to explain to me what cosmoline was.
(He's 88, keeps it in the closet along with his 12ga pump for home/perimeter defense)
Plenty of good advice in this thread.
We got this one around 1964 for $25 shipped.
My dad had to explain to me what cosmoline was.
(He's 88, keeps it in the closet along with his 12ga pump for home/perimeter defense)
Maverick223
Member
Nope there are carbines that are more rare than the Rockola, one is the Irwin-Pedersen, but the holy grail of M1 Carbines is the Commercial Controls with only 239 being produced. In this area you can find a Inland or other common carbine for about $600.00, with the average for a nice rifle in good shape being about $700.00USD.
They are outstanding rifles, with a ton of history, plenty of power for HD (can even take a deer with a good shot at close range), are very reliable, svelt and lightweight (great for hiking, camping, et cetera), points great, and are more than accurate enough (couple of MOA). The price as steadily creeped higher with demand, but the price still isn't exorbitant, and it is by far one of the best rifles that you can buy in the price range. Of all my rifles (some of which cost several thousand dollars), the USGI M1 Carbine gets the most compliments. I have "sold" (not myself, but for dealers) many a M1 Carbine because I let a friend or new shooter give mine a shot.
carbine85
Member
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Golden_006
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why does everyone act like these rifles are such poodle shooters? They were in ww2 no? and servicemen used them in combat i.e. paratroopers no?
Is that round the same as a handgun round? I don't mean to be abrupt I'm curious about the gun and am new to the sport.
Is that round the same as a handgun round? I don't mean to be abrupt I'm curious about the gun and am new to the sport.
Maverick223
Member
There were some penetration and stopping issues in Korea, where they used very heavy clothing that would reduce the effectiveness. IMO that is a non-issue unless you live in Siberia and are concerned about the recent abominable snowman sightings.
Yes and no; it was designed for the express purpose of being chambered in the M1 Carbine, however it is loaded with slow pistol powder and roughly to magnum pistol specs. (similar to the .357Mag.), additionally the cartridge has been adopted in several pistols (most notably the Blackhawk and Automag III).
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
No, not quite.
.30 Carbine = 110 grain bullet at 1,990 FPS = 967 Ft/Lb energy.
.38 Special +P = 110 grain bullet at 995 FPS = 242 Ft/Lb energy.
9mm +P = 124 grain bullet at 1,125 FPS = 349 Ft/Lb energy.
.357 Magnum = 110 grain bullet at 1,295 FPS = 410 Ft/Lb energy.
.44 Magnum = 240 grain bullet at 1,180 FPS = 741 Ft/Lb energy.
.45 ACP = 230 grain bullet at 835 FPS = 356 Ft/Lb energy.
The military was forced to use FMJ ammo. You aren't.
Load a .30 Carbine with 110 grain Soft Point hunting ammo and it will stop Atilla The Hun dead in his tracks.
rc
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