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Universal Arms Ferret M1 Carbines (.30 cal.)

Isher2000
I recently purchased a Universal M1 carbine in .30 carbine. This carbine will not accept a GI carbine magazine. The shape of the magazine well appears to be right but the magwell is too small to allow a GI magazine to enter. The trigger module / magwell is made of aluminum or an alloy of it. The gun was mounted in a Unviversal Ferret type stock which did not appear to be original. The handguard obscures the standard GI style iron sights and there is no evidence of the side mounted scope base that Universal usually used with .256 Ferrets. The receiver has Univeral, Hialeah Fla. and a patent number stamped at the front top of the receiver. No model designation or caliber marking are present.The bolt is a Universal style part with the cut out shroud around the front of the bolt and no hold back button on the bolt handle.

a) Did I buy a frankengun built from different Universal carbine models?

b) Should Universal carbines chambered for .30 carbine accept standard GI magazines?

c) Was a .30 carbine variantion with the Ferret style stock, no scope mount and iron sights ever a cataloged product of Universal?

Thanks for your time.
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Comments

8 comments

Date Votes
  • rufe-snow
    In my limited experience with Universal carbines, they took GI mags.

    From your description, I got to believe the aluminium mag housing is for the .256. As is some of the other parts you have noted.

    If all else fails. Aluminum is easy stuff to work on. Get the internal dimensions of authentic .30 carbine mag housing. Very carefully open up the mag well with files. Aluminum is way softer than steel, so you have to go slow, or you will screw the mag well up.
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  • 45er
    Isher,

    Sorry to say, the mags are Universal design/built for their .256-WinMag carbine, and are different fron the U.S. GI mags.

    Ref: http://www.m1carbinesinc.com/carbine_Universal256.html

    Look to the bottom of the page for more detail & photos of the magazines.

    More info in this web-site may answer your other questions, also?

    EDIT This is not to say Rufe's solution may/may not work out? If all other specs of the two magazine types are same, and the only problem is the width to fit into the housing?
    Still, I'd look purchase .265 mags, if can be found at all?

    EDIT Oops, my bad-- thanks Rufe, for pointing out my error in caliber. Rather be corrected anyday, than let it slip by.

    45er
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  • rufe-snow
    quote:Originally posted by 45er
    Isher,


    EDIT This is not to say Rufe's solution may/may not work out? If all other specs of the two magazine types are same, and the only problem is the width to fit into the housing?
    Still, I'd look purchase .265 mags, if can be found at all?

    45er





    No offense, I'm not trying to troll you. The OP noted in his original post. That it's a .30 Carbine, receiver & barrel wise. I've never had any personal experience with the .256 Ferret mags. It's questionable if they will work with .30 carbine though?
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  • spas12
    I'm not familiar with universal m1 carbines, but I'm sure it would be easier and better to buy the correct part than to modify the one you have. Also if the one you have is a less common version, if you can someone that needs it, then you can sell it for more than the replacement part would cost.

    I don't know if it means anything, but numrich doesn't list a trigger housing 256, they list other parts specific to the 256, but not that one.

    http://www.gunpartscorp.com/Manufacturers/Universal-33547/Carbine-42460.htm?page=6
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  • nmyers
    I think that what you have is best called a "project gun". Since you didn't post photos, we can only guess how far the project got, or if it was completed & bubba started to turn it back to original configuration.

    You gave us no information about the barrel. Is it USGI, commercial, & is it even .30 cal carbine? Did you try to manually chamber a .30 cal carbine round? Is the bolt correct for .30 cal carbine, or has it been modified?

    If you want to try to figure out what you have, consider buying a copy of "US M1 Carbines, Wartime Production" by Craig Riesch. Otherwise, you may just want to pay a gunsmith to figure out how to make it serviceable.

    Neal
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  • gunnut505
    In order;
    a-maybe.

    b-all mine do.

    c-not to my knowledge.
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  • Sooeyman2035
    My Universal 30 cal. accepts GI mags.
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  • Isher2000
    Thanks to all for some good information and suggestions. I guess getting it running is usually half the fun. [:)]

    I'm guessing that the barrel is GI, the form looks right and I understand that Universal made good use of surplus GI parts in their early years.

    quote:Originally posted by nmyers
    I think that what you have is best called a "project gun". Since you didn't post photos, we can only guess how far the project got, or if it was completed & bubba started to turn it back to original configuration.

    You gave us no information about the barrel. Is it USGI, commercial, & is it even .30 cal carbine? Did you try to manually chamber a .30 cal carbine round? Is the bolt correct for .30 cal carbine, or has it been modified?

    If you want to try to figure out what you have, consider buying a copy of "US M1 Carbines, Wartime Production" by Craig Riesch. Otherwise, you may just want to pay a gunsmith to figure out how to make it serviceable.

    Neal
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