06-18-2019, 07:53 PM
The M1 Carbine definitely has fans and detractors! That .30 carbine round isn't nearly as weak as people act. I know people who laughed at it as a silly pistol round, and then managed to punch through steel pistol swingers like butter with it, from 100 yards away. They stopped laughing 
I have one of these, but rarely shoot it. It's really light and handy, has very cool nostalgia, and hey - it's a .30 cal piston operated assault rifle (if you will); which for about a 10 year window, everyone was trying to transform an AR15 into! But in all honesty, today - they... kind of aren't so hot. I tried 3-gun style shooting with one once. Went through over 200 rounds in about 30 minutes.
It was fun but in reality:
-Relatively poor accuracy (not a big deal in the 50 yard range usage)
-Had about a 1% failure rate; due to the ejected casings that bounce off the back of the port, sometimes bouncing back into the action.
-The sight picture tends to be partially obscured by the front handguard.
-Doesn't really snap into a comfortable position and point that great.
On the last note, overall it just doesn't compete with an M4 IMHO. Engaging multiple targets and follow-up shots was just slower than it felt like it should be. I suspect the FN P90 beats it in purpose as a concept for non-primary function armament.
That said, it really is an impressive little nostalgic rifle. In my opinion, an M1 Carbine is worth every bit of $350 and 25 cent ammo as a fun gun.
I have one of these, but rarely shoot it. It's really light and handy, has very cool nostalgia, and hey - it's a .30 cal piston operated assault rifle (if you will); which for about a 10 year window, everyone was trying to transform an AR15 into! But in all honesty, today - they... kind of aren't so hot. I tried 3-gun style shooting with one once. Went through over 200 rounds in about 30 minutes.
It was fun but in reality:
-Relatively poor accuracy (not a big deal in the 50 yard range usage)
-Had about a 1% failure rate; due to the ejected casings that bounce off the back of the port, sometimes bouncing back into the action.
-The sight picture tends to be partially obscured by the front handguard.
-Doesn't really snap into a comfortable position and point that great.
On the last note, overall it just doesn't compete with an M4 IMHO. Engaging multiple targets and follow-up shots was just slower than it felt like it should be. I suspect the FN P90 beats it in purpose as a concept for non-primary function armament.
That said, it really is an impressive little nostalgic rifle. In my opinion, an M1 Carbine is worth every bit of $350 and 25 cent ammo as a fun gun.