Nat. Ord.

Got a call from a local shop this morning. They got in a M1 Carbine that would not chamber a round. Called me to see if I could look at it. Got there and it was an early National Ordnance receiver and barrel. Inland bolt and trigger housing. It would not chamber a round because there was one/eights+ inch of case still in the chamber. Case seperation from excessive head space. Owner said he bought it on line for $475.00, was told it was an Inland. He fired about fifty rounds, S & B, through it and then it would not chamber.
I was able to get out the piece on stuck case with a 30-06 case extractor and headspaced it. Inland bolt would close on 1.300" guage easy. He had a replacement Underwood round bolt the would still close on 1.300" with a little drag. I told him it was unsafe to shoot.
This was the first ruptered case I have seen in a carbine. The stock was a nice P-J. So he has maybe $250 worth of parts on a wall hanger.
At least he did not have an out of battery explosion while trying to get another round to fire. I told him that also could happen next time.

I was using a GI test bolt and 1.300" GI guage. They closed easy. Then I switched to his bolts and 1.300" guage.
I have read that GI field guages went up to 1.302". My Forster gauge set has 1.290", 1.295" and 1.299'. I think I will stick to 1.299" or less after seeing this. I don't know if the headspace has always been long or the receiver has lengthened.

I saw another N.O. carbine that had way excessive head space that a walk in guy was trying to sell at a gun show years ago. One person said N.O. receivers could 'stretch'. I have no idea if that can happen with a carbine. Does that sound possible, or would it more likely have just been built out of spec?

** Sorry, Bubba. I was still writing before you posted the second post. I guess they can.

The .30 Carbine is not likely to stretch a receiver unless its cast aluminum.