Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Question for the experts: M1 Carbine vs. Winchester .351

Been looking for a deal on a nice M1 Carbine these last few months in preparing for the eventual Zombie apocalypse. Not willing to pay the current prices - just yet.

But I know where a pretty nice Winchester .351 SL is and can get it for a pretty good price. My friend's dad had one when I was a kid and remember handling it, but that it my only contact with one. I know they were used in prisons back in the day.

Anyone out there ever owned one? How do they shoot as compared to a M1? Thanks.

while finding .30 carbine ammo can be a challenge at times, finding adequate quantities of .351 SL would seem an impossible task.
During the Zombie Apocalypse, you will need more than half a box.

I couldn't even begin to think of a reason to use such a bastard case/bullet size as the 351.

It can be found, and reloading it should not be a problem.

Now you've done it. Sounds like a double dog dare.

If that's what floats your boat. Lots of people seem to enjoy beating their head against a wall.

Don't own one, shot one quite a lot back in the day when a kinsman had one. Heavy, slow, not very accuate, and now days ammo is next to impossible to find.

My advise FWIW is back your ears and get the carbine.

Yeah.......... you can refer to it as "self loading" instead of semi auto and still have that "special feeling".

And I thought .348 Win was tough to find. I'd go with the carbine if you plan to shoot it much.

I've got one for sale on another forum...not the kind you're looking for though...It's a "minty" original Inland.

Get'em both.

Anyone make an AR upper in .30 carbine?

Two absolutely worthless cartridges, 30 cal M-1 carbine and the .351 have provided the insightful highway for some decent rounds. like a .223 and just about anything else.

I think the 30 Blackout is as close to a 30 carbine as a guy wants to get. kwg

I read somewhere that Olympic Arms made a bunch of 30 carbine uppers for Isreal back in the 90s.

I own a 351 and have no problem finding ammo,bullets and cases. I reload my own it is on par with the 44 mag cartridge as far as power is concerned and is very accurate. Don't let people that don't have one tell you what to do .as they have no experiance with them. the only problem I have with it , it throws the cases far and wide, I solved that problem buy buying a nylon case catcher like is used on the AR15 rifles, with a little adjustment it worked fine. I only use it at the range. while hunting I accept the loss of a few cases.It will take a deer up to 100 yds that is as far as I can see them HAHAHA.The carbine is lacking in power to take deer size game. I know people shoot deer with a carbine 30 cal but it does a poor job even at 50 yds. do a search for 351 ammo,bullets and cases and you will find them, also reloading dies..

That's kinda harsh.

Never met a worthless cartridge frankly. Have run across a few folks that didn't know how to use the ones they have though.

While I admit to some bias on the topic I'm pretty certain there's no living thing in N.A. that can't be handled with an M1 Carbine. Whites of the eyes and all that.....

The .351 SL is not a path I'd follow.

The two really don�t compare. The .351 is a great urban defense cartridge, but ammo supplies are extremely limited, and so is magazine capacity. If you get a GI M1 carbine (only one�s worth considering) then you�ll have a REAL military weapon. The M1 Carbine is VERY reliable, sufficiently accurate for most urban needs, and is feather light. Save your pennies and hold out for the M1 Carbine�then save your pennies and start stocking away ammo and magazines.

M1 it will be. Thanks.

I too have an M1, and also two 1907's - both from the first year of production.

The .351 has more power and makes bigger holes. It's an interesting rifle that influenced a lot of later guns. Cons? Ummm...a few:

1. brass and ammo are hard to find. I've had some brass on order for a couple months, now. Limited bullet selection. Reloading dies - Reddings will cost you $100, and that's cheapest you'll find, new. RCBS cost much more.

2. Parts for a 1907 are not easy to obtain

3. magazines are expensive - and the 10 round mags are stupidly expensive. I think they top out at 10 rounds.

4. Pinched fingers when you press the charging rod - unless you're lucky enough to have one of the L shaped buttons.

5. The 1907 is a good bit heavier. It a blow back operated action, and the breech block and action are relatively massive steel forgings.

The .30 Carbine lacks power, but good modern bullets are readily available and help with that dilemma. Otherwise, it is a far more practical platform. There were millions of M1's made, versus a couple hundred thousand 1907's. Between the .300 Blackout, and the 7.62x39, the .351's niche is already filled with modern rounds.

I was pleased to get my latest 1907 for under $500, but that's probably enough.



The M1 with its grandson: