M1a for Self-Defense?

[CH4]

M1As are very cool! By all means use what ever justification needed to get yourself an M1A or any new gun, but for me there are better choices for home/self defense. It's really hard to beat a good ole shotgun. That said, use what makes you happy, but be conscious of your surroundings and the issue of over penetration.

 

[The Gila Bender]

I like the M1A and have a full-size and a scout-size. Can't imagine clearing my home in the dark or firing either without adequate hearing protection. Recently I installed a Stern Defense 9mm upper on an AR lower along with a Sig MSR red dot optic, Inforce weapon light, and a handful of PMAG 27-rd Glock mags. It's fun to shoot and would be just fine for home and urban self defense and to pair with a Glock 17 or 19 9mm pistol.

 

[NYlakesider]

I have a M1A (308) and like it. NY law I'm forced to use the 10 round Mags! With that said and note I live rural my go to house guns are two Mossie pump 12G shot guns. I have a nine shot with the conventional tube Magazine and another with the detachable 10 round Mag.

For normal problems those two and a couple easy to reach handguns are plenty for the wife & I.

If something big is going on and I find I need longer range firepower for some reason the M1A will be called on..

 

[colt_saa]

I'm planning ahead for future gun purchases and am interested in an M1a, both as a momento of my father's service during WW-II (albeit an M1 Garand in 30.06) and for self-defense. Plus, they just look cool! I also don't have a main battle rifle.

As to self-defense at a distance, say counter-sniping (which the LGS suggested), I'm thinking that hiding well and/or getting out of the situation would be the better strategy vs. counter-sniping, or just using a scoped AR-15. I realize that there's only so much one can do, preparing for more likely scenarios is better, and that it's impossible to prepare for every scenario; I'm thinking that counter-sniping would be highly unlikely, the 1990s Balkans civil war notwithstanding.

What are your thoughts?

There is nothing wrong with buying an M1a because you want one. Firearms are for enjoyment

However, I must agree that a .30 caliber rifle is the wrong choice for self defense.

The two long guns that are the easiest to get from my bed are a 12 gauge SxS and a Lever Action Marlin in 45 Long Colt.

There are plenty of great choices in AR style carbines chambered for pistol calibers at reasonable prices right now.

 

[colt_saa]

A M1A out of the box needs extensive accurizing. After that they can kick anatomy out to 600 yds and beyond.

Are you actually saying that an out of the box M1a is not accurate enough to hit a man sized target at normal self defense distances (3 - 20 yards)

 

[giants1]

...The two long guns that are the easiest to get from my bed are a 12 gauge SxS and a Lever Action Marlin in 45 Long Colt.

There are plenty of great choices in AR style carbines chambered for pistol calibers at reasonable prices right now.

Newbie question: what is an "SxS." What type of ammo do you have in it?

About PCCs, I have my eyes on the Ruger PC9 carbine. It's REALLY hard to find out here.

I was looking into Henry's lever actions in .357 Magnum for home defense, but multiple posts on a Cowboy Action Shooting (CAS) forum disparaged the entire line due to the quality being low ("entry level" I believe were the exact words) and jamming during rapid fire.

 

[Beemerguy53]

I absolutely love my M1A...but it's the last thing I would reach for in a home self-defense scenario.

 

[Faulkner]

Newbie question: what is an "SxS." What type of ammo do you have in it?

SxS = side by side; double barreled shotgun. As opposed to O/U = over and under doubled barreled shotgun.

 

[Faulkner]

I'm planning ahead for future gun purchases and am interested in an M1a, both as a momento of my father's service during WW-II (albeit an M1 Garand in 30.06) and for self-defense. Plus, they just look cool! I also don't have a main battle rifle.

However, I'm struggling with the M1a for self-defense and wanted your thoughts.

I agree with several posters that an M1A is a bit much for urban self defense.

If part of your desire is to give a nostalgic nod to your father's WWII service, I agree with one of the suggestions above that a USGI M1 carbine may more fit the bill.

With modern self defense ammo for the .30 carbine it packs a pretty decent punch in the urban setting range. I've taken several whitetail deer with a M1 carbine using soft/hollow point ammo, all one shot stops. With a USGI 15 magazine in the mag well and two more in the stock pouch you'd have a pretty good loadout for a bugging out.

Plus, USGI M1 carbines look cool too.

 

[colt_saa]

Newbie question: what is an "SxS." What type of ammo do you have in it?

I was looking into Henry's lever actions in .357 Magnum for home defense, but multiple posts on a Cowboy Action Shooting (CAS) forum disparaged the entire line due to the quality being low ("entry level" I believe were the exact words) and jamming during rapid fire.

SxS is a Side by Side shotgun

A few years back I acquired one that had it's barrels damaged in a gun shop break in. So I cut them back to 11 inches and made a dandy little Coach Gun for the house.

While it will chamber and fire all 12 Gauge shells up o 3" Magnum, I keep it loaded with the Federal 1 3/4" shells loaded with #8

The short shells are easy for anyone to shoot. There is also an easy to grab ammo bandolier next to the SxS with both #8 and slug rounds

The only two Henry Lever Actions that I own are 22LR and they work fine. All my other Levers are Marlins, Winchesters and Rossis. A few summers ago I converted one of my 1894 Marlins into a take down rifle.

I just had a Saddle Shop make me a leather roll for the take down rifle, I just need to photograph it. It looks very cool for traveling

I never liked the Henry lever guns because they do not have a side loading gate. It made topping off the rifle much more difficult if you were out and about.

Henry is addressing that issue in their new Levers and I will be a customer for at least one or two down the road

 

[mrmike7189]

All ya need is a double barrelled shotgun!
-Joe Biden

 

[Jack Flash]

...

If part of your desire is to give a nostalgic nod to your father's WWII service, I agree with one of the suggestions above that a USGI M1 carbine may more fit the bill.

With modern self defense ammo for the .30 carbine it packs a pretty decent punch in the urban setting range. I've taken several whitetail deer with a M1 carbine using soft/hollow point ammo, all one shot stops. With a USGI 15 magazine in the mag well and two more in the stock pouch you'd have a pretty good loadout for a bugging out.

Plus, USGI M1 carbines look cool too.
...

Pretty much what I wanted to say.

In 1942, my Dad was drafted into the US Army and issued an M1911A1. Later he was issued an M1 Carbine and liked it "lots better". He told me he could shoot the carbine from the hip and score better than when taking slow careful aim with the pistol. That's why the Army issued them: it is much easier and faster to train a man to shoot one accurately.

The advice about getting a handgun is all well and good, IF you are willing to put in the time to become reasonably proficient with it. That's a big IF, especially in the current environment of ammo shortages and high prices.

For home defense, 15 rounds of more or less pistol-power ammunition before a mag change makes a lot more sense than any full-power rifle in your situation. And it would be a way better momento of your Dad's WWII service than the M1A.

 

[sigp220.45]

Since you’re limited to 10 rd mags, why not just get an M1 Garand? Two extra rounds doesn’t seem like a big deal.

Instead of having one that kinda-sorta looks like the gun your Dad carried, except made by a commercial company using a cast receiver in a different caliber, you could (theoretically) get the actual gun he carried in the war.

I believe they are California compliant, and you can still get one from CMP if you go for the Expert Grade, which at $1000 is cheaper than an M1A.

The “countersniping” thing seems pretty silly. If a real sniper is shooting at you, you won’t be shooting back with that big hole in you.

 

[RCL-09]

While it will chamber and fire all 12 Gauge shells up o 3" Magnum, I keep it loaded with the Federal 1 3/4" shells loaded with #8

Why the shot No. 8 shot shells?

 

[old tanker]

Are you actually saying that an out of the box M1a is not accurate enough to hit a man sized target at normal self defense distances (3 - 20 yards)

At 3 yards, an M14 and an M6 will work just fine

 

[colt_saa]

Why the shot No. 8 shot shells?

They won't penetrate a double Sheetrock wall between rooms, but they will surly be felt by an intruder who gets a butt or chest full

Besides, mini shells are only offered by a few manufacturers and in only a few loadings.

 

[LostintheOzone]

the Ruger Mini 14 was cloned after the military M14 , so it has a Garand style action and can be had with a classic real wood stock. thats what I would get...........and i did!

That was my choice also. I bought mine about 3 years ago before the troubles when prices were around seven fiddy. Reliable like a hammer.

M1 carbines are nice, I have an Inland, but I'll take the Mini-14 and the cheaper, more available ammo. Plus you can hang things on them like scopes and red dots.

 

[giants1]

That was my choice also. I bought mine about 3 years ago before the troubles when prices were around seven fiddy. Reliable like a hammer.

M1 carbines are nice, I have an Inland, but I'll take the Mini-14 and the cheaper, more available ammo. Plus you can hang things on them like scopes and red dots.

I have a Mini-14 (5.56 NATO), which is a safe queen at the moment and quite lonely. If my LGS restocks them, she might just have a playmate.

About WWII mementos, I might just buy a Rock Island Armory 1911 Mil-spec. It would most likely hang in a display on my mantle, .45 ACP being as hard to find as an honest politician

As to the M1 carbine's ammo, the only source I could find was wikipedia, which I'm skeptical about, listing it as 7.62 x 33mm. Is that the correct ammo? If so, where in the world can I find it?

 

[Faulkner]

As to the M1 carbine's ammo, the only source I could find was wikipedia, which I'm skeptical about, listing it as 7.62 x 33mm. Is that the correct ammo? If so, where in the world can I find it?

M1 carbine shoots ".30 carbine" ammo. Probably the only people who call it 7.62 x 33mm are the Israelis.

30 carbine ammo is not any more or less available that most other ammo these days. I always keep an eye out for it and I recently saw 30 carbine ammo for sale on the shelf at Bass Pro and Academy Sports.

 

[dsk]

The .30 Carbine is mostly a proprietary round. Aside from a couple of handguns made for it over the years the M1 Carbine and its various copies is pretty much the only weapon chambered for it. That being said, with all the millions of M1 Carbines made there is still a steady demand for the ammo, although we're long past the Golden Years of the 1960s with all of that cheap government surplus ammo.

As for an M1A as a home defense weapon... if you're going to do that might as well go the whole way and get a .50 BMG. Your hearing will be just as badly blown out either way if you dare touch it off inside a dwelling, and the next five houses in line with yours will all have a clean through-and-through hole in them. With the piddly .308 you probably won't manage more than three.