Just thinking out loud....

So, we have our beloved M1's and you can buy the somewhat poor Chiappa M1-22, a .22 LR blow back facsimile of the original...

How about going one step further and using the Chiappa bolt design and magazines as a starting point, make a .22 LR blow back conversion kit for the M1 carbine, with a barrel insert?

I don't see any show stoppers here, it would need to be a seperate chamber insert with a screw in liner I suppose, perhaps secured at the crown with a screw on collar, like the old Martini action conversion kits, what do you guys think?

You'll need to re-engineer the return spring and hammer spring for two more. If we use the FN subcal as an example, they used the same hammer spring housing but your bolt return spring was tiny.

Good point Jim, anyone see any real show stoppers here?

Perhaps leave the springs alone and make it .22WMR!

Do you guys think there would be a market for such a thing in the US?

Of course it is interesting and fun to perform conversions. I have a 9mm that was extremely fun to shoot. I say was because we all know 9mm ammo prices have gone crazy. Anyway.....you do know there is a 10/22 model setup with GI style stock and hand guard already? You can even purchase the carbine complete.

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Originally Posted by flydthecat

Of course it is interesting and fun to perform conversions. I have a 9mm that was extremely fun to shoot. I say was because we all know 9mm ammo prices have gone crazy. Anyway.....you do know there is a 10/22 model setup with GI style stock and hand guard already? You can even purchase the carbine complete.

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Hi, I've seen the 10/22 stock sets, just wondering if any Carbine users would be interested in an actual conversion kit?

The ideal solution would seem to be the Italian dedicated .22 LR builds, but the quality is apparently terrible.

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Originally Posted by mrclark303

Chiappa M1-22

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A friend bought one of these new. Nothing but problems for the near year he owned it. Constantly working on it to get it to run.
I was at his private range when he said it was it's last chance. Best I recall he got almost 2 mags to feed when it started acting up again.
Mags stopped feeding, light primer strikes and Trigger not resetting...... etc.
He had tried early on to get Chiappa to service it but was told he had to work that out with the dealer he bought it from.
I heard him take a deep breath, tensed up, unloaded it and broke it to pieces against a cinder block wall.....
Small parts went in the trash can, the bent up barrel and parts of the receiver were tossed in to the truck bed.
All he said as we drove back up to the house was "My time is worth something".
I see him often and make a point of never saying anything 'Chiappa' around him.

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Originally Posted by painter777

A friend bought one of these new. Nothing but problems for the near year he owned it. Constantly working on it to get it to run.
I was at his private range when he said it was it's last chance. Best I recall he got almost 2 mags to feed when it started acting up again.
Mags stopped feeding, light primer strikes and Trigger not resetting...... etc.
He had tried early on to get Chiappa to service it but was told he had to work that out with the dealer he bought it from.
I heard him take a deep breath, tensed up, unloaded it and broke it to pieces against a cinder block wall.....
Small parts went in the trash can, the bent up barrel and parts of the receiver were tossed in to the truck bed.
All he said as we drove back up to the house was "My time is worth something".
I see him often and make a point of never saying anything 'Chiappa' around him.

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That sums it up beutifully Charlie, utter junk. Its a shame, as a many folks would have had great fun with a .22 Carbine, if it could be made to work reliably.

I must admit, my thoughts on a conversion kit were primarily dissecting a Chiappa, looking at what they have done, making suitable adjustments to make it work properly, i.e material changes etc and adding a liner.

The Chiappa M1's are getting cheaper and cheaper here in the UK, as people trade in the junk, so I might buy one with a view to studying it's blow back bolt and properly reverse engineering and correcting their poor efforts....

A 'proper'.22 Carbine would be great fun.

Don’t let me dissuade you in any form-or-fashion, but a lot of stuff has to be considered and it could get into some serious $. However, a man must do what a man must do. If you take it that far, experiment with commercial carbines and parts.

I know the idea is to make it look and act like a 30-caliber carbine, but by the time you get it done, it will likely be something else that just resembles one.

Good luck!

Too, we had M1 carbine lookalikes in the past decades that have faded to obscurity. They weren't so popular at the time either.

Any love out there for the Marlin 99 M1?

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Originally Posted by Fushigi Ojisan

the Marlin 99 M1

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Weren't those a Tube Mag ?
I'd forgot about them. Seems there were quite a few around in the mid 70's.

Will post pics of mine, I think barrel date is 1964.

They had tube and magazine versions, this one is a tube.

Moved the rear sight to be more M1 carbine like, no idea why it's so far forward

Kind of hard to improve upon the original. The .30 caliber is so easy to shoot that moving down to a .22 caliber doesn't really do much for anyone. I guess some might like the cost difference between .22 and .30. Now, lets talk about creating one in .223/.556.....oh, wait, we have the Mini-14.......

At an average of 25 to 30 cents a round for 22, if you can find it, it’s hard to find the joy.

Until my supplies run out, I am reloading and shooting 30-caliber and 9mm for a few cents a round and much cheaper than 22lr.

Thanks for the feedback guys...

Here in the UK, .22lr is plentiful and much cheaper than .30 Carbine.

It's just a shame the Chiappa is such utter junk.

Unfortunately, it seems fatally flawed due to its construction, i.e pot metal recover, so the slide hold open detent starts to give up the ghost almost immediately....

Very poor Indeed.....

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Originally Posted by Fushigi Ojisan

Any love out there for the Marlin 99 M1

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I found the Marlin 99's Brother... In a current Auction ending 4-12.

I see a Marlin Model 989 M2 Semi Automatic 22LR Caliber Rifle. FEATURES: 18" Barrel, Blued Metal, Military Style Wood Stock (M1 Carbine style). Comes with on detachable Magazine.

Also found this advertisement

Yep, I see those for sale here occasionally but I'd want to change the rear sight to a peep.

I'd put the link to GB but it will get this whole thread moved :dunno:

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

change the rear sight to a peep.

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Agree, but nicer if rear sight was farther back and the front sight more like a GI.
Be nice to see the stock having more of a authentic look.
I've just never been big on the Monte type stocks.
Have a 2 early Weatherby Mark ... somethings .22 LR with Selector lever - Single or Semi action, that are nearly NIB, but never liked the stocks.
Maybe ? a total of 50 rds thru each.... Tags still on them.
Currently buried in the back of the bunker.

The GB Marlin $470 to open :surrender:
#894608346

See another buy now for $999.99
By searching: MARLIN Firearm Model 989 M2

I see a subcaliber insert for a Carbine like taking a Ferrari and putting off road tires on it and using it as a rock climber. It is a poor use of a great weapon.

I have the Ruger 10/22, a very early one. I've put a nice military style sling on it like all of my rifles, Tech peep sights that look not so good but work superbly, a target hammer and slide lock and mag release that slightly extends the release. This would be the very last gun I would part with. Grab a brick and that rifle and you could eat well, protect yourself well and look cool at the same time. I don't understand why people don't think it is a close likeness of the carbine, it definitely is. Light handy, accurate and it just does not jam or FTF. It is a beautiful little tractor, easily one of the great gun designs ever made.

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Originally Posted by painter777

Agree, but nicer if rear sight was farther back and the front sight more like a GI.

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Yes, certainly. It would be at the rear like they are on the M1.

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Originally Posted by DaveHH

I have the Ruger 10/22, a very early one.

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I had one so long ago it's hard to remember, back in the '70s when there weren't many around. I was all military or nothing then and got rid of it. They were much nicer then, it had a really nice walnut stock and dark color.

Finally able to post some pictures of the Marlin 99 M1. I've found I've developed a taste for "Midcentury" .22 rifles and this one is certainly interesting. Comments below the images.


Attachment 116423
Barrel Legend indicates this is a Marlin Model 99 M1, a close cousin to the Marlin Model 60


Attachment 116414
This looks like a slip-on front sight, its very substantial but lacks the "ears" of a rear M1 carbine sight


Attachment 116415
If I read the date code correctly, its from August 1964, very early in the production


Attachment 116416
The original rear sight was moved further back along the groove to mimic the carbine, they left the factory with these sights close to the barrel


Attachment 116417
"Pushbutton" safety similar to the M1 carbine


Attachment 116418
The handguard is REALLY nice


Attachment 116422
With its white line and interesting shape, this might be a Bishop stock, not quite sure.


Attachment 116419
Comparison with an M1 carbine: Note the 99M1 has a longer barrel


Attachment 116420
Comparison with an M1 carbine amidships, note the cocking handle on the 99M1 is further up, but the triggers are in approximately the same location. Additionally, unlike the M1 carbine, the pushbutton safety is at the rear of the triggergard rather than the front


Attachment 116421
Comparison with an M1 carbine at the butt. Note the similar profiles, with the 99M1 having a more traditional sling swivel and its trademark bullseye insert.

I wish I knew more about the development and marketing strategy behind it. It seems to be an attempt at an M1 carbine "junior" market, perhaps capitalizing on WWII vet's familiarity with the carbine as well as the then superheated spy/secret agent craze.

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Originally Posted by Fushigi Ojisan

The original rear sight was moved further back along the groove to mimic the carbine, they left the factory with these sights close to the barrel

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A notch needs to be further up from the eye anyway. I'd have changed the insert and made an aperture for it, same base.

That is a beautiful little rifle and Marlin made very nice guns. That handguard is a dead ringer for the M1.

There is an old rifle that was made to specifically mimic the Carbine. Early 1950s Mossberg Model 142A. They even had a canvas sling mounted on the side of the stock. It is a 7 shot bolt action has front sights with wings and is a handy size, it is one of the most popular Mossbergs.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...aa6406_c-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...457ce9_c-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...a9bc73_c-1.jpg