Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 30 M1 Carbine

Not known for it's accuracy , but then that was never it's intended purpose. On the other hand , how accurate can it be ? Are there any tweaks to help it along in the accuracy department ?


Mike

I have one manufactured by Underwood, and acquired by late father in the early 1960's from the DCM for $19.95. It's in very nice condition, and I've been surprised at how accurate it is............especially when you take into consideration what it is. It was not meant to be used for target shooting, or sniping.

I have one, it’s not too bad at 50 yards. It’s was a spray and pray weapon.

What level of accuracy are you getting ?


Mike

I bought one from the DCM, probably about the same time as James' father. I shot it quite a bit and never hit much with it. It was my first customizing victim, as I learned how to strip and refinish a stock. Later, I bought an aftermarket synthetic stock for it and bedded it using the instructions that came with the stock. If the accuracy improved any, I couldn't tell it. Most of the ammo available in those days was army surplus, and that probably had a lot to do with the accuracy--or the lack of it.

When my oldest daughter was about 8 or 9, I traded it to a friend for a nice single shot bolt action .22 that I used to teach both of my daughters to shoot. I definitely got the best of that deal.

I can shoot an 1 1-2 group at 50 yards, a 100 yards, forget it. My old eyes ain’t too good no more. The rifle can do better, I’m sure.

My Winchester does about 2" at 50 yards.

Tightening the barrel band tends to help. I have an inland I can hit steel silhouettes at 200 yards with mine. Don't do too bad at 300.

My Inland is the least accurate but that might be due to the "L" rear sight as well as it showing signs of harder use. I can regularly hit 4" gongs at 50 yards but accuracy falls off at 100 though a B27 at that range is in trouble. I have a National Postal Meter in much better condition with the aperture sight that is much more accurate. The B27 is in trouble at 200 yards once one gets familiar with the sight adjustment.

Ammo is a factor in accuracy, the Wolf steel cased stuff is not nearly as accurate in either gun as brass Sellier&Bellot or Privi Partisan. Wolf also ends to stick in the chamber of the Inland though that might be a gun issue rather than ammo. The Federal soft points are also pretty accurate though their cost has kept me from shooting it extensively.

They are each their own beast. Had an Inland Division years ago that shot fair patterns with factory stuff but would do 3" groups reliably with handloads at 100 yds. One I have now is a Khar reproduction that arrived with a lot of S&B ammo. Shot poorly....investigation revealed a defective barrel which they replaced without charge. Still did not do especially well with the S&B ammo but shines with handloads using both Rem bulk or Sierra bullets and Li'l Gun. Shoots as well as the old Inland Div. version.

If a fella is thoughtful about placement it does well on hogs or other nuisances.

Obviously, the carbine was not meant for long range shooting, and it's been a long time since I shot mine. I used it around the farm for varmint control......groundhogs and the such. My eyes were much better then, but I had no trouble hitting what I shot at out to 75 yards or so.

No scope, low power cartridge......I thought that was pretty good.

My 2 do pretty well. Winchester and Quality Hardware

Got one from my father a while back. Have a bunch if ammo, but have yet to fire it; always something else to futz with. I can say it's about the handiest rifle I ever hefted, and quite handsome compared to the current crop of pistol-caliber carbines. Got three doe tags, hmmmm......

50 yards, elbow rest with Rem Bulk FMJ; L.G and /W-W SRP

Minute of NORK.

Ya, but with handloads it's minute of dingus, no?

It is fun with trapped pigs!

Wonder why know one makes an AR upper for it, I’d think it would be more accurate and a fun gun to boot! I know we have the blackout already.

My IBM would shoot into about 6 " at 100 yd. I replaced the hand-guard with a "Carbine Scout" model from www.amegamounts.com and groups are now slightly less than 3" at 100 yd using a Burris Fastfire sight. I found that a 25 yd zero = a 100 yd zero with the Fastfire.

The Amega handguard clamps on to the barrel and presumably increases its stiffness. It is easy to install but if it is rotated a bit to far to the right it interferes with removal of the operating slide.

Good handloads, in order of accuracy (Sierra 110 JSP, 205 primers, Starline cases):
14.5 - 15.0 gn Lil' Gun
15.5 gn 300MP
15.5 gn 11FS

Cheers,
Walt

My old Inland is a 2.5MOA at 100 with my Grandson shooting it.