Choice for personal defense rifle...don't laugh.
Most people would go with some variation of an AR15. A few favor the FAL. Some lean towards an AK type. But lately I'm thinking a rifle from the past might still be a good choice.
Maybe 40 years ago I knew a guy was a Vietnam vet (82nd Airborne) who kept an M1 Carbine ready for use. I thought it an unusual choice but he swore by it. Said he saw ARVN troops using them in the jungle and they worked every time they pulled the trigger. The M16s were breaking down regularly. The caliber isn't real powerful but we aren't talking about elephant hunting here, and men usually fold up when hit by anything. I saw some study where the 30C with ball ammo had an 92% one shot stop rating.
The M1 Carbine is super compact and lightweight. Recoil in minimal. The ammo is small and light so more of it can be carried. I prefer the 15 round magazines for compactness. Still a lot of firepower. I think a good soft point load would improve its effectiveness.
I think a case can be made for the M1 Carbine as defensive rifle. Anyone agree? Or am I kooky?
Maybe 40 years ago I knew a guy was a Vietnam vet (82nd Airborne) who kept an M1 Carbine ready for use. I thought it an unusual choice but he swore by it. Said he saw ARVN troops using them in the jungle and they worked every time they pulled the trigger. The M16s were breaking down regularly. The caliber isn't real powerful but we aren't talking about elephant hunting here, and men usually fold up when hit by anything. I saw some study where the 30C with ball ammo had an 92% one shot stop rating.
The M1 Carbine is super compact and lightweight. Recoil in minimal. The ammo is small and light so more of it can be carried. I prefer the 15 round magazines for compactness. Still a lot of firepower. I think a good soft point load would improve its effectiveness.
I think a case can be made for the M1 Carbine as defensive rifle. Anyone agree? Or am I kooky?
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It is a fine choice and will work well. That is what is was designed for, after all.
Mark made some good points and I agree. I will add that if I was going to leave a gun outside of my safes I would rather it be a cheap AR rather than my M1 Carbine.0 -
With a more powerful cartridge I would be very concerned with over penetration inside a home. Even the M1 carbine with fully jacketed bullets might have that problem.
I would not want a 30 round magazine since I remember when I was in the Army we had problems with them dropping because the catch would not hold them. I seem to recall reading there was a fix made to the M2 carbines for that.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Laredo Lefty
I agree Doc. I frequently carry a Carbine as a car gun while out traveling. Yes, its not as powerful as an AR, but I believe its sufficient to get most jobs done.
A 110gr bullet going 1990 FPS packs a pretty good punch. I have used my carbines for rabbit hunting for decades, and the work great.
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I have one, an IBM. I had others but let friends have them or gave them to members of my family. I love my carbine. But when I bought them they were only $150 each. To buy one now with the intention to have it as a survival or self defense weapon would take close to a thousand dollars on average. You can buy a nice bolt action in a higher caliber in the 3 to 4 hundred dollar range, lots of ammo and a handgun also. Or an AR and a few other things. 0 -
I owned a couple of them in the past. Nothing wrong with the M1C and it should serve you well.
For HD however I am still in the shotgun works best crowd. I use a 20 gauge pump most of the time. Living in a small apartment with nearly 100 neighbors becomes a factor .
For being out and about where range is a factor, I prefer something with a bit more power.0 -
94 in 30-30 0 -
Lefty, color me envious![^] 0 -
No issue with the Carbine.
As I am more comfortable with the AR style platform, other that the .45 ACP pistol that is always nearby, I would probably go to the 300 blackout AR over one of the M1 Carbines.
With subsonic rounds, it has less energy than the .30 Carbine, but a heavier projectile.
With supersonic rounds, it has a slight velocity advantage with the heavier projectile.
The big advantage is obviously with the subsonic round. Using them, I can thwart the burglar and dispose of the body without waking the wife.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Don McManus
The big advantage is obviously with the subsonic round. Using them, I can thwart the burglar and dispose of the body without waking the wife.
Considerate man! Every woman deserves her beauty rest! [:p]0 -
Talked to WWII vet who was issued a carbine in Europe after fighting in North Africa with a Grande. After trying unsuccessfully to stop a German where another American dropped the German with the Grande -06, he bashed the carbine on a tree in order to get issued a the Grande he wanted. 0 -
No caliber is a guarantee. That same Vietnam vet who owned the Carbine told a story about a GI walking down the road to an aid station after taking a 23mm round through the belly. 0 -
No laughing here, Doc.. It's been my goto rifle for 50+ years..I have one right here in my shop, and one in the house..Back in my off-roading years, I always had a beat-up carbine in the GI rack in my MB jeep.. Got my first one in the early 60's, from the DCM- my dad had to buy it since I was underage..Have several now, along with several spam cans of GI ammo left from then-these are the cool cans, with the ammo in 10rd stripper clips, in cloth bandoleers.. .. 0 -
Other regions of the country may be different, but every GI carbine I've seen for sale in California was priced at over a grand. Ammo isn't cheap either; probably 30% more than .223. I guess if you have deep enough pockets you can go out and purchase a collectible firearm for self defense. I'm sure some members use a first generation SAA for daily carry. 0 -
Hi....Just purchased a 1942 Winchester M1 Carbine. Sling, oiler, bayonet and sheath, muzzle and sight cover, soft case, twin mag stock sheath, 3 fifteen round clips & 2 thirty round mags 5 total, two bandoliers of WW II Lake City on stripper clips, wood shipping crate, mil. field manual, RCBS shell holder and dies. Should be fun, lots to learn. BT 0 -
My $125 M1 carbine with the paratrooper stock was my first PCC
I'd use it as a PDW confidently.
A bit more power than the 9mm. More than a bit actually.
https://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2072070 -
Just to throw something into the mix I have been playing with some self defense loads in 30C and worked up a load using an 86 grain JHP at 2,300 FPS. I think it would be an interesting SD load. 0 -
The ones I saw had blown out receivers. 00 buck in a shotgun works for me. 0 -
My choice of personal defense rifle caliber pistol. Though an m1 carbine would do in a pinch, handy lil rifles. 0 -
I think Carbines are great but what advantage do they have over the Mini-14?
It sounds like they can stop attackers most of the time but you might need that little bit of extra power that the 223 has.0 -
quote:Originally posted by wpage
The ones I saw had blown out receivers. 00 buck in a shotgun works for me.
with slugs if needed...Deer slugs make huge holes.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Laredo Lefty
I agree Doc. I frequently carry a Carbine as a car gun while out traveling. Yes, its not as powerful as an AR, but I believe its sufficient to get most jobs done.
A 110gr bullet going 1990 FPS packs a pretty good punch. I have used my carbines for rabbit hunting for decades, and the work great.
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NICE0 -
From the photos LL has posted over the years he clearly has a huge collection of primo firearms. 0 -
Only keep one rifle in the U.S. and it's a .223 mini-14 stainless folder I purchased 40 years ago. Easiest ammo to find. Wouldn't make me feel bad if it was lost.
Today I'd buy an AR clone.0 -
If it's good enough for Clint but not for me. I don't need another caliber [:D]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5TdkOTjObI0 -
I like the carbine...but I think these days for a PD and SHTF weapon I'd prefer the AR15 in 5.56. Easier to get replacement parts and ammo, and is overall lighter in gun size and ammo weight.
But can't go wrong if you have an M1.0
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