I want to purchase a M1 Carbine Bolt disassembly / assembly tool and would like to know from those who already have done so which one works better - the original USGI version or the new "improved" Brownell's version with the lever instead of the thumb screw. (both around $50 Bucks)

I have been shooting Wolf steel cased ammo which performs well enough but the steel cases have taken a toll on the extractor. Since the Wolf ammo was so cheap when I purchased it, I bought several new GI extractors ($5 bucks each) in anticipation of replacing them and now the time has come after 2000 rounds of the stuff. Since I have plenty more of the steel cased ammo I anticipate replacing the extractor a few more times, but since I am saving at least $15 - $20 bucks a box of 50 rounds on the ammo, I don't mind replacing a $5 part every few thousand round - but want the tool as it makes things so much easier.

Thanks for responses in advance.

Chief38

I use the USGI bolt tool, never tried the Brownell improved version. Haven't seen the need for it. I've never used steel cased ammo so it's not an operation I perform often. (I handload my 30 Carbine ammo so I'm shooting it cheaper than the steel cased)

__________________
Minimize the variables

When I purchased the Wolf 30 Carbine ammo it was so cheap ($9.50 a box of 50 rounds) I bought enough of it that I'll probably never need to reload. I also was lucky enough to get a few cans worth of USGI Lake City Surplus stuff from the CMP which is also great ammo and is Brass so after the Wolf stuff is gone the extractors won't get beat up as much. Unless I live to 100 I probably won't ever have to reload 30 carbine.

If I were starting off today (with the current ammo prices), I'd buy the Dies and only use Brass ammo.

Chief, where did you get the $5 extractors?

I bought them from Orion-7 years ago before all the craziness started and they are located on Long Island, NY. They are still in the waxed paper that the US Military purchased them in.

I just checked their website and the current price is $15.95 - wow triple! Again I bought them YEARS ago and that was when a box of Wolf .30 carbine ammo was $9.50 a box of 50 rounds!

Check your PM

The USGI one works just fine, I actually bought mine on Amazon and haven't had any issues. Here it is --

Here ya go Chief,

M1/M2 Carbine Bolt Assembly Tool

Go for the SARCO tool. A good price, and it works fine. I have one, used it not long ago to rebuild three carbine bolts. Sarco also has all of the bolt parts you'll need.

I have one of the old G.I. tools and it works just fine.
If you're gonna shoot Wolf ammo you will need it. I bought a case of that stuff once and before it was gone had to replace two extractors. I won't shoot that junk anymore.

The USGI M1 carbine is pretty much over engineered for the round it shoots. The only real weak point is the extractor. If you're going to shoot steel cased ammo you'll need a pocket full of spare extractors and a tool, Chief is one of the few people who shoot cheap steel carbine ammo who was thinking ahead.

As a USGI M1 carbine collector I've shot carbines a lot through the years and always stayed away from steel cased ammo and have never had an extractor issue even though I have a small bag of spares set aside around here somewhere.

__________________
- Change it back -