Any good M1 Carbine repro's?

moosemike · May 8, 2018, 08:29 AM

I want an M1 carbine in 30 Carbine but I don't want to pay for an ex service rifle. Were any of the reproductions good?

**4V50 Gary** · May 8, 2018, 09:05 AM

I don't like Universal or Plainfield. They were junk in the '70s. I had to work on an IAI reproduction. While better than Universal or Plainfield, it has issues. The assembler bent the rear sight (it was canted) when he hammered it into the receiver. The front sight was offset too. The gas piston housing came loose and had to be restaked. Stay away from IAI.

jonnyc · May 8, 2018, 09:19 AM

Auto Ordnance aren't much better.
Spend once and get a decent USGI.

Targa · May 8, 2018, 11:52 AM

One of the members on here, COSteve if I remember correctly, speaks highly of his Auto Ordnance M1. I wouldn’t hesitate going with an AO if I were in the market for a carbine.

T. O'Heir · May 8, 2018, 12:33 PM

"...Plainfield. They were junk in the '70s..." Late model, two return spring/toggle bolt hold open, Universals are junk. Plainfield Machine Co. Carbines, absolutely are not. The PMC Carbines made after Iver Johnson bought PMC aren't the same.
The original Plainfield was the best of the original 'commercial Carbines'. Had mine for over 40 years. Only thing it has required is a bath. No parts changed or damaged. If any part does need hanging, they take milsurp parts.
IAI reproductions had all kinds of QC issues.
"...don't want to pay for an ex service rifle..." Any of the current repros, like the AO's are running close to a grand or more. The new Inland's MSRP is $1279.
There's an Issue 'rack grade', Rock-ola currently on the CMP's auction site with a current bid of $701. And a 'Service grade' Rock-ola at $989.

Screwball · May 8, 2018, 12:48 PM

Might pay a little bit more, but I heard nothing but good from the new Fulton rifles. So much so that I’m picking one up once I move...

44caliberkid · May 8, 2018, 07:08 PM

No personal experience with one, but Inland Manufacturing M1's have been getting good reviews. Pricey though. You could get a real nice USGI for an equal amount of money.

moosemike · May 8, 2018, 08:30 PM

Yeah if I have to spend $800 plus I'm going with a GI carbine.

sarge83 · May 9, 2018, 07:43 AM

Stay away from Universals, if you find one run over it several times to save some poor suckers $$$. I hear AO and the Israelis make a decent copy.

If you can find a USGI that is the way to go!

moosemike · May 9, 2018, 03:34 PM

There's a Rockola near me for $1,200. I going to offer 1K.

moosemike · May 9, 2018, 05:40 PM

He accepted my offer but it's a Blue Sky import. It's not wore out though and has a good barrel.

agtman · May 9, 2018, 08:20 PM

Nope. Most M1 Carbine repos suck.

Model12Win · May 9, 2018, 08:25 PM

Inland now makes an M1 carbine.

From all reports, it is as good if not better than an original. In a word, they are flawless.

WannabeMiculek · May 9, 2018, 09:51 PM

USGI and Inland are probably your best bets.

taylorce1 · May 9, 2018, 10:25 PM

I've got a Universal, bought it cheap and it does everything I need it to do. If it breaks I'll sell it for parts to Numrich if they'll take it. However, it feeds and functions just fine and it's pretty darn accurate out to 100 yards. I don't recommend buying a Universal M1 Carbine unless you can find one for less than $200 like I did.

moosemike · May 10, 2018, 03:13 PM

Going to look at a Winchester tonight. It's a '46 and supposed to be nice.

chrisp51 · May 10, 2018, 07:24 PM

Winchester did not make any carbines after 1945. If you can't find a usgi at a decent price buy one of the Auto Ordnance carbines. The Fulton and James river carbines were the best repos. Fultons are more expensive than a good quality usgi and James River ran out of parts and stopped making them. Wish I had bought a James River (Rockola) when they were available. The Inland and the AO appear to be the same gun so I would get the AO because its cheaper (I have both manufacturers). I have seen the AO carbines for less than $700.

moosemike · May 10, 2018, 08:18 PM

You're right. It's a 1944 Winchester and it came home with me for 850!

fourbore · May 10, 2018, 09:21 PM

Good deal and good choice.

Dane17 · May 11, 2018, 01:01 AM

My Fulton armory scout m1 is perfect.

Ibmikey · May 14, 2018, 04:41 AM

I have quite a number of Carbines and shoot them all, also have shot a friends AO that he bought new a year ago and found it to be a quality firearm. The AO is accurate, totally reliable and looks like any GI in my collection from a few feet away.
I too would look for a decent GI Carbine but if all you want is a shooter the AO would be a good investment.
I also had the opportunity to examine the New Inland and it too looks good but so does the AO for less money.

May 8, 2018, 08:29 AM	#1
moosemike Senior Member Join Date: July 4, 2009 Location: Lebanon PA Posts: 535	Any good M1 Carbine repro's? I want an M1 carbine in 30 Carbine but I don't want to pay for an ex service rifle. Were any of the reproductions good? __________________ et cognoscetis veritatem et veritas liberabit vos

May 8, 2018, 09:05 AM	#2
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,829	I don't like Universal or Plainfield. They were junk in the '70s. I had to work on an IAI reproduction. While better than Universal or Plainfield, it has issues. The assembler bent the rear sight (it was canted) when he hammered it into the receiver. The front sight was offset too. The gas piston housing came loose and had to be restaked. Stay away from IAI. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

May 8, 2018, 09:19 AM	#3
jonnyc Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2009 Location: PA Posts: 1,731	Auto Ordnance aren't much better. Spend once and get a decent USGI. __________________ 2024 PA Cartridge Collector Show; Aug. 16-17, 2024!!! Buy...Sell...Trade All Types of Ammunition & Ordnance PM or email me for 2024 show details.

May 8, 2018, 12:33 PM	#5
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...Plainfield. They were junk in the '70s..." Late model, two return spring/toggle bolt hold open, Universals are junk. Plainfield Machine Co. Carbines, absolutely are not. The PMC Carbines made after Iver Johnson bought PMC aren't the same. The original Plainfield was the best of the original 'commercial Carbines'. Had mine for over 40 years. Only thing it has required is a bath. No parts changed or damaged. If any part does need hanging, they take milsurp parts. IAI reproductions had all kinds of QC issues. "...don't want to pay for an ex service rifle..." Any of the current repros, like the AO's are running close to a grand or more. The new Inland's MSRP is $1279. There's an Issue 'rack grade', Rock-ola currently on the CMP's auction site with a current bid of $701. And a 'Service grade' Rock-ola at $989. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

May 8, 2018, 08:30 PM	#8
moosemike Senior Member Join Date: July 4, 2009 Location: Lebanon PA Posts: 535	Yeah if I have to spend $800 plus I'm going with a GI carbine. __________________ et cognoscetis veritatem et veritas liberabit vos

May 8, 2018, 11:52 AM	#4
Targa Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2014 Posts: 2,084	One of the members on here, COSteve if I remember correctly, speaks highly of his Auto Ordnance M1. I wouldn’t hesitate going with an AO if I were in the market for a carbine.

May 8, 2018, 12:48 PM	#6
Screwball Senior Member Join Date: May 16, 2012 Location: ME Posts: 771	Might pay a little bit more, but I heard nothing but good from the new Fulton rifles. So much so that I’m picking one up once I move...

May 8, 2018, 07:08 PM	#7
44caliberkid Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2017 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,096	No personal experience with one, but Inland Manufacturing M1's have been getting good reviews. Pricey though. You could get a real nice USGI for an equal amount of money.

May 9, 2018, 07:43 AM	#9
sarge83 Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2000 Posts: 426	Stay away from Universals, if you find one run over it several times to save some poor suckers $$$. I hear AO and the Israelis make a decent copy. If you can find a USGI that is the way to go!

May 9, 2018, 03:34 PM	#10
moosemike Senior Member Join Date: July 4, 2009 Location: Lebanon PA Posts: 535	There's a Rockola near me for $1,200. I going to offer 1K. __________________ et cognoscetis veritatem et veritas liberabit vos

May 9, 2018, 05:40 PM	#11
moosemike Senior Member Join Date: July 4, 2009 Location: Lebanon PA Posts: 535	He accepted my offer but it's a Blue Sky import. It's not wore out though and has a good barrel. __________________ et cognoscetis veritatem et veritas liberabit vos

May 9, 2018, 08:20 PM	#12
agtman Junior member Join Date: July 26, 2001 Location: midwest Posts: 2,374	Nope. Most M1 Carbine repos suck.

May 9, 2018, 08:25 PM	#13
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	Inland now makes an M1 carbine. From all reports, it is as good if not better than an original. In a word, they are flawless.

May 9, 2018, 09:51 PM	#14
WannabeMiculek Member Join Date: December 27, 2017 Location: south-east Arkansas Posts: 25	USGI and Inland are probably your best bets.

May 9, 2018, 10:25 PM	#15
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,242	I've got a Universal, bought it cheap and it does everything I need it to do. If it breaks I'll sell it for parts to Numrich if they'll take it. However, it feeds and functions just fine and it's pretty darn accurate out to 100 yards. I don't recommend buying a Universal M1 Carbine unless you can find one for less than $200 like I did. __________________ NRA Life Member

May 10, 2018, 03:13 PM	#16
moosemike Senior Member Join Date: July 4, 2009 Location: Lebanon PA Posts: 535	Going to look at a Winchester tonight. It's a '46 and supposed to be nice. __________________ et cognoscetis veritatem et veritas liberabit vos

May 10, 2018, 07:24 PM	#17
chrisp51 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2012 Location: NC Posts: 148	Winchester did not make any carbines after 1945. If you can't find a usgi at a decent price buy one of the Auto Ordnance carbines. The Fulton and James river carbines were the best repos. Fultons are more expensive than a good quality usgi and James River ran out of parts and stopped making them. Wish I had bought a James River (Rockola) when they were available. The Inland and the AO appear to be the same gun so I would get the AO because its cheaper (I have both manufacturers). I have seen the AO carbines for less than $700.

May 10, 2018, 09:21 PM	#19
fourbore Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2015 Location: new england Posts: 1,159	Good deal and good choice.

May 11, 2018, 01:01 AM	#20
Dane17 Member Join Date: September 2, 2015 Posts: 30	My Fulton armory scout m1 is perfect.

May 14, 2018, 04:41 AM	#21
Ibmikey Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2013 Location: Now relocated to Texas Posts: 2,943	I have quite a number of Carbines and shoot them all, also have shot a friends AO that he bought new a year ago and found it to be a quality firearm. The AO is accurate, totally reliable and looks like any GI in my collection from a few feet away. I too would look for a decent GI Carbine but if all you want is a shooter the AO would be a good investment. I also had the opportunity to examine the New Inland and it too looks good but so does the AO for less money.

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