M1 Carbine Power

The .45 ACP is rated at 830 FPS and 356 ft. lbs. energy. In a submachine gun, it has notorious performance (Thompson/Tommy Gun). Then imagine a round at 1990 FPS with about 900 ft. lbs. of energy in an M2 select-fire carbine - all things considered, including magazine capacity with the small-diameter round, I think you would have just about the most powerful sub-gun of all. The Israelis may still be using a bull-pup version of the carbine in that role. What a chopper! Even in semi-auto and standard stock, with soft-point/hollow point ammo it is arguably the best home defense carbine there is. As long as you think of it as a pistol-caliber defense carbine you won't find any faults with it. The trouble starts when it is compared to assault rifles with short rifle cartridges and battle rifles. And when viewed in it's original role of more firepower for troops that would normally be armed only with pistols, like Harlan said, 'one of the over achievers of all time'.

Another consideration: If you are not an army you do not have to use FMJ bullets. There are effective soft point and hollow point bullets available for the 30 carbine.

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Originally Posted by us019255

Another consideration: If you are not an army you do not have to use FMJ bullets. There are effective soft point and hollow point bullets available for the 30 carbine.

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Feed reliability may come into play.

Not counting 22RF and shotgun shells I've probably fired more .30 carbine rounds than anything else, I have yet to experience any FTF issues caused by soft or hollow point bullets.

I have seen a tendency for my carbine to have issues with some soft points. I'm working with the cartridge length to see if it helps.

I am exclusively using Remington 110 SP for reloading right now. (Bought a bunch at the same price as Rem FMJ). I have not had a single problem with any feeding into any of my shooters. I also have pretty smooth feed ramps on my shooters. (A couple came with park on the ramps from arsenal rebuilds so I polished them.) For commercial SP, I am also using Remington SP's.

One thing I noticed is the differences between some bullet manufacturers in how much lead is exposed in the SP's. I do not know if it is a quality control or a design issue. Last night I was looking at the rounds in a box of Privi SP at Cabela's. The exposed lead was uneven around the circumference of the bullet. It also seems to extend lower on the bullet than most other manufacturers. I would think that this would increase the chance of the bullet tip dragging on the feeding ramp.

Of course, all of this is conjecture. But next time I go to the range I will be sure to stick my face really close to the bolt and slide handle so that I can see what is actually going on inside.

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Originally Posted by Tired Retired

Of course, all of this is conjecture. But next time I go to the range I will be sure to stick my face really close to the bolt and slide handle so that I can see what is actually going on inside.

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Time to get out of the heat down there and go inside some air conditioning for a bit.

The heat down here got to Ed a long time ago mjanway! Keeping up with him is a full time job. :lol:

Tired, the Remington 110 SP is the bullet I'm having trouble with. The lead tips are horribly inconsistent and smeared everywhere. The bullet also has the same profile as the ball rounds. That fat lead tip rides up the ramp and noses into the edge of the chamber. When that happens it displaces the lead and the end of the jacket hits the chamfer on the barrel. When I get a stoppage I can see the signs of it on the bullet. I'm playing with loading length to see if it goes away. It looks like a bullet seated to magazine length may cure the problem.
The Speer bullets are pointier and feed a bit better. When those are headed for the chamber the smaller lead tip hits inside of the chamfer and there is no trouble. The same goes for the Hornady 100 gr short jacket squishies.

As for carbine power, have a looksie here:
Alaska's Digital Archives : Item Viewer

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...212256_9-1.jpg

I couldn't make a habit of doing what he seems to have done but it apparently worked!

---------- Post added at 05:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:32 PM ----------

Tired, the Remington 110 SP is the bullet I'm having trouble with. The lead tips are horribly inconsistent and smeared everywhere. The bullet also has the same profile as the ball rounds. That fat lead tip rides up the ramp and noses into the edge of the chamber. When that happens it displaces the lead and the end of the jacket hits the chamfer on the barrel. When I get a stoppage I can see the signs of it on the bullet. I'm playing with loading length to see if it goes away. It looks like a bullet seated to magazine length may cure the problem.
The Speer bullets are pointier and feed a bit better. When those are headed for the chamber the smaller lead tip hits inside of the chamfer and there is no trouble. The same goes for the Hornady 100 gr short jacket squishies.

As for carbine power, have a looksie here:
Alaska's Digital Archives : Item Viewer

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._4777980_n.jpg

I couldn't make a habit of doing what he seems to have done but it apparently worked!

I know I have related this before, but I have killed a deer at almost 100 yards with one heart lung shot of a 110 JSP R-P round from a USGI carbine. I could stick 4 fingers and a thumb in the exit hole. Box of truth did some amazing studies on the carbine, and even the GI ball tumbles and yaws in flesh. I shot a 110 JSP through a USGI PAGST Kevlar helmet t 50 yards...

Much of the bad rap comes from Koren War where the distances were great, and it was used as a rifle at 200-400 yards. Undisciplined full auto fire also gave it a bad rep, because of their 20 round burst, 19 did not hit the target. I carried one with utmost confidence as a LEO trunk weapon for most of my 20 year career. For a house weapon and house/farm PDW, I prefer it to my AR15s.

ADDITIONAL: I shoot exclusively Remington 110 FMJs and JSPs from my CMP Inland. I have had zero FTFs or FTEs, and it is dead-nuts on. My Inland is loaded and hanging in my"quick grab place" in the house, ready for two legged goblins, ghouls, or homicidal maladroits...