Optics on M1 Carbines?

[P. Plainsman]

Thinking seriously about getting one of the new Kahr/Auto-Ordnance M1 Carbines. It looks like a fun gun that I can justify as a decent defensive piece, perhaps a "loaner" to a non-gunny family member in a SHTF situation.

A question, though:

The carbine seems like the sort of 50-yard gun on which a simple red dot sight would be nice. What's involved in fitting an optic to the M1 carbine?

 

[Dr.Rob]

do a search on M-1 Carbine and you'll find a link to a rail mount system that goes in place of the fore-end cover.

 

[BamBam-31]

Hint: Ultimak.

 

[BA110N Man]

Remember...

I use to have a nifty little mount that replaced the rear sight and projected over the top of the receiver in line with the bore. I recall it worked pretty darn well.

I beleive this is the manufacturer:

http://www.scopemounts.com/m1carbine.html

 

[hps1]

PPlainsman:
Pictures below show the S&K mount (#794-001-130) sold by Brownells on M1 carbine w/Millett red dot.

It works great, replaces rear sight w/no drilling or tapping. Makes a great short range coyote rig and a fun gun to shoot.

Regards,
hps

 

[P. Plainsman]

That looks very usable. Thanks for the reference and the pic.

 

[Sven]

Here's the one: http://www.ultimak.com/M6.htm

 

[Pappy John]

I bought a cheap carbine optics mount from Cheaper Than Dirt several years ago. When I put the mount on a carbine I found that the wedge that fit into the rear sight dovetail slot, securing the mount to the reciever, was a sloppy fit that worked loose when shooting. I eventually made my own steel wedge to replace it that was a tight fit into the dovetail. (Half hour total time spent between shaping it on the grinder and drilling and tapping a threaded hole.) It's been a rock solid mount ever since.

 

[varoadking]

1944 National Postal Meter with Wenig walnut stock and Ultimak rail...

 

[Onslaught]

Just my little-ole opinion, but for a defensive carbine, I wouldn't want to use a mount that replaced the irons... For a fun gun, who cares.

Also, for a "non-gunny family", (I've thought about this as well, so I wouldn't have to "loan" my wife's sister an AR!) I just don't know about using an optic at all... It's one more thing they have to remember when you're teaching them how to use it. Odds are, they'll leave the thing on, and unless it's an Aimpoint, the battery will be dead in a couple days.

But for mounting a red-dot to an M1 Carbine for SD, I say Ultimak by a long margin.

 

[RTFM]

http://www.ultimak.com/pic19.htm

 

[Luchtaine]

Uiltimak. oh yeah and Blasphemy!