Any love for the.30 Carbine?

[Scott Tschirhart]

My dad bought one when he got out of the Army in the early 1960s for $15 from the DCM. I recall that it was an Inland.

I killed the first few deer that I shot as a kid with the 110 gr soft point and it’s the first cartridge I ever loaded for. I helped my dad load these cartridges with a Lee Loader kit with a plastic hammer on the kitchen table. Occasionally we would have a primer go off which was quite exciting!

Dad traded that old gun off for a Remington 788 in .243 but he always regretted doing it.

Years later I purchased a DCM M1 Carbine and gifted it to my Dad.

Good memories.

[JimT]

I was discharged honorably from the US Army in 1969. One of the first things I did was buy a brand new Ruger Blackhawk in .30 Carbine. A beautiful gun with a 7 1/2" barrel! I got really upset because the gun store made me fill out a Federal Form in order to buy the gun! I mean, I just got back from where we toted rifles and hand grenades at times and now they want to register me for buying a pistol?!!!!

Anyhow ... I bought a couple boxes of surplus .30 Carbine ammo and headed out into the desert to shoot it. I had a 1964 Fairlane hardtop and standing in front of the front bumper I touched off the first round. No recoil but MY LORD WHAT NOISE! And a back blast in the face! When my ears stopped ringing (no .. we did not use hearing protection then) I could hear the front bumper on my Fairlane going "riiiiiinnnnng" ....

George Nonte had the best description of firing the .30 Carbine in a sixgun. He said it was like "having a dynamite cap going off in each ear while simultaneously someone slaps you in the face with a wet towel." That's about as close to the truth as you could get.

The gun was very accurate. I used to shoot gallon oil cans at 200 yards with it. The big problem was, it had no power. The hot .38 Special handloads would out penetrate it at 50 yards and beyond. The little light bullet worked best out of a rifle. Out of a sixgun it just did not perform at any distance. I tried cast bullets but had problems with lead buildup in the chamber where the case headspaces.

I shot it for about a year and traded it off for a .45 Colt. And never missed it.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I’m not fond of guns with a lot of muzzle blast. That’s probably why I like the .44 Special and.45 Colt at 850-950 fps.

[JimT]

I’m not fond of guns with a lot of muzzle blast. That’s probably why I like the .44 Special and.45 Colt at 850-950 fps.

I am with you.

When I was younger I wasn't so intelligent.

[jeepnik]

With better ammo the .30 carbine was reasonably effective on humans. Dad had one. Not sure where ha got it. He kept it as a house gun because mom found it easy to use.

My uncle, dad's brother, lived in an area that while originally occupied by WWII vet's families was heading down hill. Dad gave him the M-1. My aunt was a polio survivor with some weakness on the left side. She was a country girl (read Arkie). You know the type, hunted, fished and took no guff from anyone. Even a smart mouthed nephew (I really miss her).

My cousin has it now and as her mother's daughter is quite adept with that old M-1.

[Walt]

When I'm feeling rambunctious I still shoot my .41 mags, .44 mags and 454 Casull but these days those bursts of foolishness are coming less frequently. Like you, when I want to enjoy my time shooting I always return to my good old .44 specials and .45 Colts.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I have another Inland now and it comes to the shoulder so easily.

Much like the .357 in a levergun…..it’s awful useful for a lot of things.

[Ysabel Kid]

That was one of the first centerfire firearms Y2K ever fired (the M1 Carbine) and he loved it! I too have a Ruger Blackhawk in that caliber and agree: no kick all blast! If you want to really grab someone's attention, shoot it indoors. Everyone stops and looks over to see what you are shooting. (BTW, I'm not usually "that guy")

I just wish the ammunition was cheap and plentiful. Of course, I wish that for all of our ammunition and components.

[EG73]

I want one of those marlin levers in this cartridge

[AJMD429]

.
I like the concept and the handiness of the M1 Carbine, but the Combination of the Ruger 10/22 being on the less-powerful, but quieter and cheaper to shoot end, and the Ruger Mini-14 being on the more-powerful, and flatter-shooting end, left me never needing to fill that 'middle' part of the handy-little-carbine niche.

Then a friend had a Blackhawk in 30 Carbine, and that incredible blast (even with hearing protectors) was so nasty I decided I'd probably pass on the cartridge - I was having MY fun with a 32-20 and it is kind of a similar-sized round, and leverguns (back in the 70's) were easier to find in 32-20 than 30 Carbine, so I became a 32-20 person.

I have to say the Ruger Blackhawk my friend had was STRONG - he had a habit of handloading with a portable press on the tailgate of his truck, as we were shooting. I was just a kid and don't know what he mixed up, but he had several powder cans in his wooden chest, and he described it as "I put a 30-06 load in by mistake" - the next shot was even LOUDER (I didn't think it was possible), and the cartridge case that would have been around the primer pocket was pretty much absent; just sort of a 'tube' of brass remained...

[Ray]

My son has my old south korean parts gun.....postal meter receiver, inland barrel that needs some work done and probably needs a new slide but he still shoots it from time to time, hand-cycling it with .32 h & r powder level loads. A dummy with a sks bullet seated in a .30 super carry case to normal .30 carbine o.a.l. cycles from the magazine but we haven't garnered the courage to load a live one yet as the powder charge would be way-out in the experimental dimension.

[6pt-sika]

My pop and grandpop both got one thru the NRA for $12.50 each plus $2.50 shipping in 1962 . I have both guns and the reciept etc that came with . I’ve even got a couple hundred rounds of left over Korean War milsurp ammo . My grandfather was heck on turkey with that rifle shooting FMJ’s , but then he scored master with many things in basic of course the carbine and Garand being two of them . I’ve never tried killing a deer with either gun , although I have a truckload of Carbine ammo of which more than a few are SP . My grandpops is an Infield and my pops is a Winchester .

IMG_5517.jpeg

[COSteve]

I've got 2. My first is a 1944 National Postal Meter version that's been through the RRA update after the war I got as a 2 pack with a friend back in 1977 which is so pristine that I've saved it for my son and not shot it more than 50 rds in the 47 years I've owned it.

The second is an Auto Ordnance clone I got some 15 years ago that's been a joy to shoot as it's totally reliable and accurate as heck (for a carbine). As it's not a historic piece, it gets shot a ton. It will shoot a respectable 2½" group at 100 yds with my handloads which is twice as good as my National Postal Meter will with it's pristine original Marlin barrel.

As I handload, I've got 3 different loads for it; 110 grn FMJ and plated bullets as well as Speer 110 grn JSP. All are full power loads and like with all my long guns, it's sighted in at 200 yds which is where I usually shoot it.

Edit to add a picture of both:

12-M1 Carbines.jpg

[Bill in Oregon]

I always admired them and had one briefly -- a tired old warrior with Korean characters painted on the stock. I shot it a few times and it tended to jam, it was so badly worn. I believe Earl had a chance to shoot it.

[hfcable]

the only one i have left is the marlin model 62 lever action in 30 carbine. it is light , handy, and very accurate.

[Gunstore Commando]

I have a Universal. Put a PSA red dot on it and even set myself up to reload, with a Lee Turret press.

I have since stepped boldly into the 1960's and got me an AR, but I still sometimes daydream about going all-in on Carbines...SBR one, get one in 5.7 Johnson, and so on. Maybe when I retire.

It's always fun to take one to the range when there are a bunch of young'uns there. They don't pay any attention to me, no doubt thinking it's a .22, until I actually crank off a round.

"Hey, man, what's that?"
".30 caliber M1 Carbine."
"Oh. When did they start making those?"
"Uh, like, 1942..."

[samsi]

I've never managed to get one for myself but a friend used to have a transferable M2. The bore was pretty well shot out on it. He also had a Sten gun that was surprisingly accurate that would outshoot the M2 at practical (for those two) ranges. It was still a lot of fun.

[hfcable]

I have a Universal. Put a PSA red dot on it and even set myself up to reload, with a Lee Turret press.

I have since stepped boldly into the 1960's and got me an AR, but I still sometimes daydream about going all-in on Carbines...SBR one, get one in 5.7 Johnson, and so on. Maybe when I retire.

It's always fun to take one to the range when there are a bunch of young'uns there. They don't pay any attention to me, no doubt thinking it's a .22, until I actually crank off a round.

"Hey, man, what's that?"
".30 caliber M1 Carbine."
"Oh. When did they start making those?"
"Uh, like, 1942..."

i have an israeli made M1 carbine in 5.7 johnson. is it useful ? i dont know but it sure is a neat little rifle

[Ysabel Kid]

I wonder why they never had an AR-15 in .30 M1 Carbine caliber? Or maybe they did and I missed the memo.

[35 Whelen]

I went through a phase fairly recently in which I was totally infatuated with M1 Carbine's. At one time I had a dozen of them in my safe, now I'm down to 9 I think it is, which includes seven USGI, an Iver Johnson and an older Universal. I loaded, tested and fired many hundreds of handloads at 100, but mostly 200 yds. I found the janky Iver and especially the early Universal's to be the most accurate although a couple of the USGI's were close.



Last deer season I was going to go hunt the back of our place. One of my IBM Carbine's was leaning in the corner of the laundry room so I just grabbed it as I headed out the door. Had I known what would transpire that evening, I'd have picked a different rifle. But as it worked out, the little Carbine loaded with 110 gr. Sierra SP's worked just fine, in one side and out the other, and that buck field dressed at exactly 140 lbs. That little bullet did far more damage than I ever expected!



I really believe these little rifles are the quintessential personal defense firearms. They're very simple to operate, even for the uninitiated, more than powerful enough and more than accurate enough.

[Gunstore Commando]

i have an israeli made M1 carbine in 5.7 johnson. is it useful ? i dont know but it sure is a neat little rifle

I am going to stop hanging out here. You people make me Think Bad Thoughts.

Before I go, though, what kind of reloading data you using for the 5.7 Johnson?

[Gunstore Commando]

I really believe these little rifles are the quintessential personal defense firearms. They're very simple to operate, even for the uninitiated,

I took a young female, one of my EMS rookies, out to the range once. She'd never fired a long before. Let her put a couple of mags through a 10/22 for confidence, then handed her my Universal with the red dot on it. She was keeping about every round on a paper plate at 25 yards.

[Scott Tschirhart]

At one time I entertained a fantasy of going back in time to help out at the Alamo with two M1 Carbines and a couple of cans of ammo.

When I was a kid I remember a recurring dream about defending the house from a large group of bad guys with the M1 Carbine in my father’s closet.

For me, that was the first centerfire rifle I ever used and I was (probably) overly impressed.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I went through a phase fairly recently in which I was totally infatuated with M1 Carbine's. At one time I had a dozen of them in my safe, now I'm down to 9 I think it is, which includes seven USGI, an Iver Johnson and an older Universal. I loaded, tested and fired many hundreds of handloads at 100, but mostly 200 yds. I found the janky Iver and especially the early Universal's to be the most accurate although a couple of the USGI's were close.



Last deer season I was going to go hunt the back of our place. One of my IBM Carbine's was leaning in the corner of the laundry room so I just grabbed it as I headed out the door. Had I known what would transpire that evening, I'd have picked a different rifle. But as it worked out, the little Carbine loaded with 110 gr. Sierra SP's worked just fine, in one side and out the other, and that buck field dressed at exactly 140 lbs. That little bullet did far more damage than I ever expected!



I really believe these little rifles are the quintessential personal defense firearms. They're very simple to operate, even for the uninitiated, more than powerful enough and more than accurate enough.

Very impressive!

[1894cfan]

I wonder why they never had an AR-15 in .30 M1 Carbine caliber? Or maybe they did and I missed the memo.

Actually, the 5.56x45 was developed to mimic at 500yds what the 30 carbine could do at 100yds! YMMV

[junkbug]

It is humorous to consider the Airforce originally adapted the first M-16 pattern in part because General Curtis LeMay thought the M-1 Carbine was outdated. Of course, wanting prestige may have had something to do with it.

[jeepnik]

It is humorous to consider the Airforce originally adapted the first M-16 pattern in part because General Curtis LeMay thought the M-1 Carbine was outdated. Of course, wanting prestige may have had something to do with it.

The USAF didn't think the M-1 was outdated. They were getting worn out. LeMay wasn't looking for a "battle rifle". He was looking for a flightline/base security rifle. In that regard it needed to be fairly light (they were going to be carried a lot and shot very little), low recoil and with a high volume of fire. He also anted something "modern". At the time the M-16 was the best alternative.

As much as I dislike the M-16, it was a good choice for that use. It really sucked for the purposes it was later put to.

[Scott Tschirhart]

The Carbine is just plain fun.

[JimT]

The Carbine is just plain fun.

One year at CSA a friend brought his full-auto version. That was fun!

[kaschi]

Ysabel Kid wondered why nobody ever made an AR15 for the 30 Carbine round. I believe back in the late 80s early 90s, Olympic Arms did offer one. Personally I've always thought that the Ruger Mini 14 would be a good home for the 30 Carbine.

[Bob Hatfield]

I wanted one ever since I saw my Uncle Bill's carbine back in the 60's. Uncle Bill was in the Normandy Invasion and was wounded when his Jeep he as driving crashed after it was ambushed and his Lieutenant in the seat beside him was KIA.

He sporterized his Carbine back in the 60's by makine a form fitting aluminum handguard and he filed the peep like an open semi-buckhorn. I even knew back then at 10 years old that sight modification was "Wonky".

So in 1985 the local "Murphy's Mart" had 9 GI carbines for sale for $149.95. I bought one right then and there. An Inland made in August of '43. Right after Reagan allowed re-importation of surplus guns. I started reloading with 110 soft points and 15 grains of either 296 or H-110 and never looked for another load. 10 shots under 3 inches with a nice round group at 100 yards. Always enjoyable to unleash a 15 round group using a 6-oclock hold at a 100-yard rifle target and all of them placing around the 9 and 10 ring.

Bob

[Carlsen Highway]

I always wanted one, but the ones I saw over here were mostly shot to hell over the years and expensive to boot. I finally had some money and found some good condition ones that had just been imported into the country...and then they changed the firearms laws on me and I wasnt allowed to own semi-auto centrefire rifles anymore.
So annoyed that I cant do it, and relieved that I just nearly escaped having to hand it in the government.
I will always remember how I never got to have an M1 Carbine.
I can still own everything else I need so I am not crying too much. Its not as bad as Australia or places in South America yet. Least I can go hunting every day of the week in public wilderness. You have to be glad of what you have too. I forget that many countries have nothing like what we can do here.

[Scott Tschirhart]

To my Australian Brother,

I am truly sorry that your government doesn’t trust you. We benefit greatly by seeing what your government did.

I pray that one day this silly policy of restricting guns is turned around.

[6pt-sika]

I always wanted one, but the ones I saw over here were mostly shot to hell over the years and expensive to boot. I finally had some money and found some good condition ones that had just been imported into the country...and then they changed the firearms laws on me and I wasnt allowed to own semi-auto centrefire rifles anymore.
So annoyed that I cant do it, and relieved that I just nearly escaped having to hand it in the government.
I will always remember how I never got to have an M1 Carbine.
I can still own everything else I need so I am not crying too much. Its not as bad as Australia or places in South America yet. Least I can go hunting every day of the week in public wilderness. You have to be glad of what you have too. I forget that many countries have nothing like what we can do here.

You’ve got wild free ranging BIG Sika deer on North Island that’s much better than having a M1 Carbine or two !!!

[COSteve]

You’ve got wild free ranging BIG Sika deer on North Island that’s much better than having a M1 Carbine or two !!!

Who says you can't have both?

[Eddie Southgate]

Grew up shooting a Winchester my uncle sent home from Italy during WWII . I got a lunch box per week of GI ball from a supply Sargent friend of my dad's stationed at Ft Campbell late 50's to mid 60's and then the Tennessee National Guard Armory in Nashville untill he retired in the 70's . In the 80's uncle Charlie decided he needed the Winchester back so I was without a carbine for the next 30 or so years . In 2017 my oldest son inherited my wife's fathers DCM Rockola which he wanted to sell to buy a guitar. I traded him one of mine so I am now back in the M1 carbine business. It sits in the corner with two extra mags where I can grab it if something goes bump in the night.

[yooper2]

I had a Universal M1 for a few years that I used for feral dogs. It was was suited to that purpose with cast hollowpoints over H110. I bought it due to good results with a Marlin Levermatic a friend had but could never really warm up to it.

I traded it off for a 43 Spanish rolling block carbine and I haven't missed it. The rolling block carbine is a keeper though!


Eric

[Sixgun]

Mmmm…it is what it is…I’ve had old model Rugers and countless carbines…all rock shooters……I feel as though it’s underrated by those who just shoot it and read about it, like me.

A truck driver whose trailer I loaded for many years, who was a Korean War vet told me it did a fine job of killing Chinese. His punishment for punching a lieutenant was a beeline to the front where he said the 30 carbine did a great job…..this guy was laughing saying, “ah geeze, those little Chinese may have weighed a hundred pounds and a shot from the carbine dropped em like a sack of potatoes. He also said that if a chinaman made it to their lines ,he’d drop his rifle, if he had one, and run for freedom.

[JBowen]

They are a fun little rifle. I have an early model Universal.
I don’t shoot it much because ammo is so high and I haven’t started loading for it. I have 3 “good” 15 round magazines for it. It is pretty particular in that department. The factory Remington 110 gr. Soft points are pretty accurate and will kill a ‘possum handily.

JBowen

[Paladin]

I have used M-1s and M-2s but never bought one thinking the 5.56 had more power and was a lighter carbine. Please remember I was the hard-headed SF Guy who carried a M-14 in Iraq because I wanted more hitting power.

[6pt-sika]

I have used M-1s and M-2s but never bought one thinking the 5.56 had more power and was a lighter carbine. Please remember I was the hard-headed SF Guy who carried a M-14 in Iraq because I wanted more hitting power.

I understand where you’re coming from . I suppose my affection for the Carbine is more of a sentimental thing having grown up literally with the two that are in my possession . On the other hand which many won’t agree I’ve NEVER ever cared for the 5.56/223 mattered not whether in an AR platform or a 700 HB . Just plain and simple never cared for the cartridge .

[6pt-sika]

This thread has rekindled my desire to kill a deer with one of the Carbines I posses . I have factory Norma , Remington and Winchester SP ammo from the 50’s-70’s as well as the recent manufacture Hornady stuff . Have to take one or both out and check the sight ins at 25 and 50 yards with all four brands . I have a sneaking suspicion I’ll end up using the Norma as that’s what my grandpop carried in one clip if hunting . He always carried two clips one with the Norma SP for a possible deer and the other with Lake City FMJ’s for Turkey .

[35 Whelen]

I have used M-1s and M-2s but never bought one thinking the 5.56 had more power and was a lighter carbine. Please remember I was the hard-headed SF Guy who carried a M-14 in Iraq because I wanted more hitting power.

I understand where you’re coming from . I suppose my affection for the Carbine is more of a sentimental thing having grown up literally with the two that are in my possession . On the other hand which many won’t agree I’ve NEVER ever cared for the 5.56/223 mattered not whether in an AR platform or a 700 HB . Just plain and simple never cared for the cartridge .

I keep a bolt .223 in laundry room gun rack for deer and hogs, and coyotes that get too close to the henhouse. I killed a big whitetail (175 lbs. dressed) with it and have killed several hogs with it as well. It'll do the job, but one must be careful with bullet selection and shot placement. I have no love for the .223 either and the only reason I own one is because I wanted a bolt rifle chambered in a common cartridge.
As to the .30 Carbine and its power, while on paper it has less power, with a bullet with in some cases twice the mass of a .224 bullet, it will penetrate better. In the buck pictured above, the Sierra 110 gr. SP broke a rib going in, angled back, broke the last rib on the far side, then exited, all while showing good expansion.

[6pt-sika]

I have used M-1s and M-2s but never bought one thinking the 5.56 had more power and was a lighter carbine. Please remember I was the hard-headed SF Guy who carried a M-14 in Iraq because I wanted more hitting power.

I understand where you’re coming from . I suppose my affection for the Carbine is more of a sentimental thing having grown up literally with the two that are in my possession . On the other hand which many won’t agree I’ve NEVER ever cared for the 5.56/223 mattered not whether in an AR platform or a 700 HB . Just plain and simple never cared for the cartridge .

I keep a bolt .223 in laundry room gun rack for deer and hogs, and coyotes that get too close to the henhouse. I killed a big whitetail (175 lbs. dressed) with it and have killed several hogs with it as well. It'll do the job, but one must be careful with bullet selection and shot placement. I have no love for the .223 either and the only reason I own one is because I wanted a bolt rifle chambered in a common cartridge.
As to the .30 Carbine and its power, while on paper it has less power, with a bullet with in some cases twice the mass of a .224 bullet, it will penetrate better. In the buck pictured above, the Sierra 110 gr. SP broke a rib going in, angled back, broke the last rib on the far side, then exited, all while showing good expansion.

I dug out several boxes of factory SP ammo a few minutes ago . The Remington from the 70’s has a good bit more exposed lead at the tip than the Remington from the 90’s , got two different age boxes of Norma they look pretty much the same , couldn’t find the box of Winchester but it’s here somewhere . Also dig out a box of PPU SP and the Hornady Critical Defense stuff . I got on a kick seven or so years ago and bought a pile of Carbine ammo a good bit came from the sell out at Jerry’s and AccuSport but I also bought some old stuff on GB or as it’s marketed “Vintage” . Think I’m down to about 5k rounds after having sold off two ammo cans of milsurp a year or two ago .

[Ysabel Kid]

For anyone interested, a Ruger Blackhawk in .30 M1 Carbine has come up for auction...

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/ ... 384e61428f

[COSteve]

I always thought that a pistol in .30 Carbine was just a skinny .357 mag. Just sayin.

[Bullard4075]

What is the reason the muzzle blast and sound is so loud (out of a pistol) compared to similar rounds. The 357 has a similar powder charge but it's blast is I would say half that of the 30 carbine . Or is it just me?

[KWK]

What is the reason the muzzle blast and sound is so loud (out of a pistol) compared to similar rounds. The 357 has a similar powder charge but it's blast is I would say half that of the 30 carbine. Or is it just me?

I've never experienced the 30 in a revolver, but friends who have told me it was remarkably loud. Part of it is lighting off nearly the same charge in a barrel having about 25% less volume. When the bullet uncorks the barrel, the same volume of gas hasn't expanded as much so there's more pressure left. Part may be due to a difference in the burning curves in the powders. There also seems to be something with the frequency spectrum coming from smaller bores, but I don't understand the physics of that. The fellow who owned a 30 Carbine Blackhawk said his 327 Federal was also an ear splitter.