Anyone Else Like The War Baby?

[desi2358]

SURPLUS AMMO WARNING: No US made Carbine ammo has ever been loaded with the corrosive Mercury primers! Early ammo did have Chloride base primers (table salt) so normal Nitro solvent will do fine. NOW the scarry part: In the early 90's we started seeing brass that was green from corroded from Mercury priming! It was head stamped "LC 53" and Berdan primed. It came from China and was copied from our ammo. It was in 50 round boxes that looked just like 1953 Lake City boxes, BUT in small print said "Made in China"! You must use solvent for Mercury priming on this ammo, and I have no idea how to get it out of you gas piston/block!

At one point I bought a Ruger Blackhawk in 30 Carbine, It had the 7.5" barrel. Surplus Ammo stuck very badly and even with ear plus or muffs it hurt my ears very badly! the W 296 reloads stuck also. The H-4227 reloads extracted just fine. That is actually a good indicator of how it will do as to velocity in a Carbine! So the rule of thumb is: If it's fun to shoot in a Blackhawk, it's pretty slow in a real M-1 Carbine!

Ivan

I started seeing the Chinese 30 Carbine ammo in the mid to late 80's (shortly after the surplus market took off again thanks changes in the law). Later, working for an ammo vendor at gun shows saw a lot more of it. It came in the typical galvanized cans used by many of the comm bloc nations. Most of it was packed in plain cardboard boxes with a simple rubber stamped description on top (Carbine 30 Cal M1 iirc). We sold a lot of it, I shot quite a bit myself. Older US issue bore cleaner seemed to clean it up okay (I had a lot of it so that was what I used). Never had an issue with corrosion even in the gas piston (my habit of spraying brake clean there may have helped) though I heard of others having problems. The twin flash holes for the Berdan primers were a dead giveaway on the fired cases that they weren't what they appeared to be.

I still run across this stuff at the shows even now, there was an awful lot of it sold here. Though rarely seen now French made 30 Carbine does show up occasionally. It is also Berdan primed and most of it is corrosive (there were some lots that weren't according to some collectors I know) and is very prone to not firing due to age and the type of priming compound used.

The mercury is not the issue with corrosion, it is the chloride salts left after firing Chlorate primers (which were widely used for many years by many countries). You need a water based cleaner to remove Chlorate residue which is what older US military bore cleaners have. Mercury fouling can be removed from the bore by most regular cleaning solvents but tends to attack the brass and it is generally considered unsafe to reload cases that have been used with Mercuric primers as the brass becomes brittle and prone to splitting. Mercuric primers tended to have a shorter life than Chlorate and most countries had abandoned them by the WWII era. ............ As to US Carbine ammo the government decided early on to issue non corrosive 30 Carbine only as better suited to field cleaning methods and not requiring the removal of the gas piston reducing the chances of damage or loss by the troops.

 

[smoothshooter]

Yes.
Don't get to shoot it much lately, but maybe that will change sometime this year.
Mine is an Inland (1943 I think) that has a chromed bore. The chrome job has a couple of really bad places where the chrome was applied over some metal chip cuttings. Barrel is military. Gun is almost new condition. Was probably refurbished at a government arsenal.
A very few were apparently made with chromed bores, but the Army stopped the practice because of QC problems, and cutting the short chambers out to full size was trashing the chamber reamers. Will get the barrel replaced sometime. The guy I got it from said he got it from the DCM in the late 60's or early 70's.

 

[AJ]

I have one carbine left out of my collection, see Post #5. It is an Inland with a stock inspected by Elmer Keith. My Aunt had given it to me when she found out that I was collecting carbines My Uncle had bought it in the mid 1960's for $20.00.

I took it to the range yesterday with some Lake City ammo. Using a 25 yard pistol target at 50 yards was able to keep most every shot in the 10 ring if I did my part.

 

[AJ]

Yes.
Don't get to shoot it much lately, but maybe that will change sometime this year.
Mine is an Inland (1943 I think) that has a chromed bore. The chrome job has a couple of really bad places where the chrome was applied over some metal chip cuttings. Barrel is military. Gun is almost new condition. Was probably refurbished at a government arsenal.
A very few were apparently made with chromed bores, but the Army stopped the practice because of QC problems, and cutting the short chambers out to full size was trashing the chamber reamers. Will get the barrel replaced sometime. The guy I got it from said he got it from the DCM in the late 60's or early 70's.

Would not change out the barrel. It will kill any value to a collector Sell it to a collector and you will probbably get enough to buy a new reproduction and a ton of ammo JMHO

 

[TheHobbyist]

I had no idea they were selling for that now.

Doesn't matter to me personally as I just have enjoyed them and their history.

Someone could of had a heck of a return years ago...IF I am recalling correctly. Only owned one briefly on a trade, back then when I first started collecting I'd often had to trade long-guns and cash for a Smith & Wesson. Different times.

 

[Ruger 13]

Very nice………and the price was right!

 

[DWalt]

The myth has always been that the 110 gr bullet at 1600 or so fps at around 100 yards wouldn't penetrate the ice and snow encrusted padded cotton coats and underlying uniforms of the Chinese troops.

The reality is that under that large padded cotton coat was a skinny Chinese soldier and a lot of empty space around the edges of that soldier for the bullet to pass.

The reality is also that .30 carbine 110 gr FMJ will penetrate 6-7" of plywood.

Many years ago (late 1960s) I worked with a retired USMC Colonel who fought in both the Pacific and Korea. We once talked about the "bulletproof" Chinese quilted coats. His only comment was something like "every one of them I shot with my Carbine fell down".

My first Carbine was a GI bringback, an Inland, about 1959. I bought it for $40, including around 1000 rounds of ammo, probably a dozen 15 round magazines in pouches, a bayonet, and a bag of various spare parts. I still have it. Not an original WWII version, but a postwar rebuild as nearly all found today were. Most of the postwar Carbine rebuilds were done here in San Antonio at the San Antonio Arsenal.

The previous discussions about Mercury in priming compounds are absolutely incorrect. The use of Mercury compounds in American primers stopped about the time of the Spanish-American war. Until about the time of the Korean War, most US military ammunition used chlorate primers - EXCEPT .30 Carbine which has always used only non-corrosive primers. It is correct that at least French, Chinese, and Dominican Republic .30 Carbine military ammunition did use corrosive chlorate primers. Those should NEVER be used in your Carbine. By far, the best bore cleaning solvent for chlorate-based primers is plain old water as it completely dissolves any chloride salts remaining in the barrel. The old WWII US military issue bore cleaning solvent was an emulsion of oil in water.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I have one and only one. Inland receiver and Win. barrel. I replaced the stock. When I bought it the original stock had been sanded and was cracked. I also rebuilt the bolt and replaced the springs. It's now a reliable shooter. I think the barrel was probably a military arsenal replacement as it hardy has seen any use with 1.3 on my muzzle erosion gauge. That's practically a new barrel. The rifle had been re-parkerized and doesn't show any wear to the finish. Has the exact same finish as my CMP 1911. I bought it from a dealer about 7 years ago for $1000. Probably paid too much for it but it's a really good shooter. Some are so well used the barrels need to be replaced.

 

[smoothshooter]

Kahr/Auto Ordnance and Inland Manufacturing are the two newest commercial manufacturers. I've read good things about the Kahr, not so good about the Inland. Don't have personal experience with either.

Fulton Armory offers them as well as rebuilding/restorations. I've read great reviews for them.

There were a number of commercial manufacturers during the 70s - 90s. Iver Johnson, Universal, Plainfield, Howa, and maybe a couple of others.

Kahr makes theirs with way too much drop in the butt stock.
It irritates me when some company makes copies of something like that when there is no shortage of examples to follow.
It is just as easy to make a correct copy as it is to make an incorrect one.

 

[KEN L]

You can't go wrong with Audie Murphy's weapon of choice! Saw his gun, a 1.1million range Winchester, at a Birmingham show, back in 2010. Very Cool! I've accumulated these cute little boogers for over 40 years. I currently only own 14 of them at this time, including my first, a Rock-Ola with a 5-43 barrel date. The majority of the others are Inlands (they're my favorite!). One of those even has a registered M2 kit installed for when I'm in the mood! Two of them are M1A1's, one IBM, one Inland to Underwood lineout and one Springfield Armory (commercial receiver) with all GI parts to include original SA marked parts. And to answer the OP's original question, well YEAH!

 

[Llance]

War baby only better

I have two. One is original and the other is converted to 5.7 Johnson (.22 Spitfire). Lovely little critter getter it takes a nice firearm shooting a .30cal round leaving the barrel at about 1950 FPS and necking it down to .22cal leaving the barrel at about 3200 FPS. Bullets are expensive so I don't shoot it much.

 

[Calfed]

I have two USGI carbines...an Underwood and an Inland. Got them a few years back when the CMP was selling them. Love them both

The Underwood has a Universal Winding receiver...

Also have a Universal civilian M1 carbine

 

[ironhead7544]

I like the M1 carbine. I think they werent popular with civilians because many states did not allow them used for big game.

I had a number of them over the years. I converted one of them to 357 Auto Mag. Dont worry, it was far from a collector's piece.

My Uncle came up on Normandy. He made it all the way through the war. When I asked him about the M1 Carbine, he said the guys using it did fine in the fighting. He was stuck with a BAR.

I like to watch the old WWII combat films. I have noticed a number of SS troops carrying the M1 Carbine.

 

[SF VET]

About 7 or 8 years ago, bought this mostly '44 Inland at a gun show. I load for it, and it is just a blast to shoot, and share with other shooters at my ranges. Paid $600, but they sell for more now. Of course, a post war rebuild, I think then to DCM, is a "transitional" rifle, push button safety, no bayonet lug. I now have the proper sling and oiler on it. SF VET

 

[SF VET]

War areas are awash in weapons. As an Advisor, had all sorts of firearms to play with. Here, an M2 with the 'trooper stock. All M2's were made by Inland, and did not leave there with the paratrooper stocks, so this one was put together later, by who knows whom. Here, not in any web gear, just target shooting down by the river. I never took it out with me.

SF VET

 

[Aggie1906]

My Saginaw is the same age I am. Sometimes a plan comes together.

 

[Charlie Foxtrott]

They were never meant to be.

They are light in weight and compact, easy to shoot and low in recoil, but not a replacement for the M1 Garand in terms of accuracy or power.

They were to replace the .45 acp for rear echelon troops. Which oftentimes were not able to use the .45 effectively.

 

[Charlie Foxtrott]

All experts I am sure, that heard it from the cousin of someone.

Love my carbine. I only have 1, genuine GI. I want to say Inland, can't remember and I'm not home.

I love how every time I shoot it at the range, some historian points out that "you know the North Koreans just got up, dusted themselves off and kept coming..." I have a standing offer: I'll give you $50 to pace off 50 yds, bend over, and I'll shoot you in the butt with it. It's only a . 30 carbine, probably won't even break the skin...

No takers yet!

That had an uncle that was actually there and witnessed this.
Neither one of mine is going anywhere anytime soon.

 

[bmcgilvray]

Love the M1 Carbine. Grew up around them. First firearm I ever shot was an M1 Carbine at 6 years old. Well... my dad helped me hold it and I pulled the trigger.

I now have that Carbine, a Quality HMC (with the Rock Ola barrel) and also the Underwood that I've had for 40 years now.

I've poured a lot of rounds through the Carbine, at home when I was growing up, at our old family place, on ranges, and hunting. Have always handloaded .30 Carbine. Have used it to take all manner of small game and critters, but it was only a few years back that I took my first deer with a Carbine. It clobbered him at 49 steps.

I think more highly of the M1 Carbine and its cartridge than I do any AR 15. If the Carbine doesn't satisfy on power and range then I'll reach right past the AR 15 and pickup something substantial, like the M1 or M1A.

Quality HMC (top), Underwood (bottom)

 

[kreuzlover]

I bought one from Cabela's, in Buda, Texas, paid 800 for it, has
Winchester receiver, bolt, and barrel, but stock is an M-2, has the
cut-out in stock for selector switch* It shoots excellent, and I
intend to hang onto this one, for quite awhile*