M1 Carbine Power

[Greystone45]

Been doing alot of reading about how the carbine round is frowned upon by some people. Then you have others who praise the round, I happen to be one of them. I've shot a few things from 75 to 100 yards and it's pretty impressive to me.

Does anybody have any test data for the carbine for what it can do at certain distances. Wondering how much power the bullet has at 100, 200, 300, even 500 yards. Are you still going to shatter a wine bottle at 300 yards?

It's hard to believe some people don't think this is a powerful little round, it sure seems impressive to me.

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[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

500 yards is a bit unrealistic. 300 yards might be wishful thinking. If you could hit the bottle with the drop you will encounter it should break the glass. If you have a reloading book it estimates the drop at different distances.

I find mine accurate (2"-3") at 100 yards. A bigger spread at 150 and much bigger at 200. That is as far as I have aimed at a target.

[Tired Retired]

As far as the foot-pounds force power of the carbine round, it is listed on numerous ballistic tables. It is somewhere between a .357 round and a .44 Mag round.

The difference of opinions are based on several factors. The biggest one is a person's expectations. Some people have an expectation that since it comes out of a long gun, it should act like a rifle round. (Even a similar size Mini-14 shoots the 5.56 and that has more power at those distances.) Some people recognize that it was a replacement for the even shorter-ranged .45 pistol round and it has more than power at (and a bit beyond) pistol ranges.

I try to think of using it at the same ranges I would use a .44 or .357 lever action rifle. It just shoots better, faster and more than a 7-shot lever.

But to get the definitive answer on the topic, I would suggest that we ask those that actually got the experience of its use - but I speak neither Germany nor Japanese and I don't talk to ghosts....

Just my two cents...

[bonnie]

Not very scientific, but I have shot a fifteen round magazine, with all hits inside the eight ring of a B27 target at 300 yards, from a rest.

Have also shot through both sides of an old GI kelvar helmet with a FMJ carbine round from 10 yards distance.

This was for my own edification!

[feets]

It is a light for caliber round and a wee bit under powered. It will outrun a 357 Magnum to an extent. After 200 yards, a middle to heavy weight 357 will be traveling faster (and carrying more energy) due to the weight of the bullet. Do not compare it to a 44 Magnum. The power just isn't there. 44s tend to carry velocity a little better again due to the weight.
Would I play catch with a 30 carbine at 300 yards? Not on your life!
It really is a capable little performer when kept inside it's operating range.
We plan on taking the carbines out to look for piggies after I get my I-J project running reliably.

[Bruce McAskill]

The 30 carbine has as much energy left at 300 yards as the .38 spl does at the muzzle with the standard 158 gr. loadings.

[DaveHH]

There are tens of thousands of dead Germans, Japanese, Chinese and Viet Cong who will testify that it is a deadly round....if they could.

Read "Blackhawk Down" and hear about how Somalis were shot multiple times with the M16 green tip Nato round and just flinched and kept going like they were not even hit. The D-Boys were especially ****ed about it and preferred the M14.

Both stories say one thing.....shot placement. A hit in the engine room with a carbine and you are toast.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Yes, and when you consider the nimble little M1 carbine was only designed as a more effective weapon for those who would have otherwise only had a sidearm it must be one of the overachievers of all time.

[phil441]

A neighbor was examining a .30 Carbine round in my little backyard shop and commented that it didn't look like much of a man-killer. My response was, if you're hit in the vitals, do you really think it matters much how far they're splattered? No response.....

[Tired Retired]

... It is somewhere between a .357 round and a .44 Mag round.

...

Hmmmm.... I think I typed "BETWEEN".....

I still think it has a bit more versitility than a lever gun in MOST situations....