M1 Carbine

[bb1]

Does anyone have any idea why the M1 Carbine wasn't chambered in .45 auto? A cartridge with some real knockdown power. The .30 round is hardly adaquate for jackrabbits. Hardly enough for someone with evil intentions.
Just curious.
Bill

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[campperrykid]

Possible factors:
Range , trajectory , wieght of ammunition load , mission of the Carbine , and terminal ballistics.

30 Carbine Stopping Power
.30 Carbine 110 gn FMJ , various loads: 79% to 81% first round stops.

45 ACP Stopping Power

.45 ACP 230 gn FMJ various loads ( Barrels over 4 in) : 62% first round stops.

The concept of 1st round stop is a useful measurement tool ( one of many) -- not a tactical concept.
More info on the M1 Carbine as a Personal Defense Weapon:
M1 Carbines - M4Carbine.net Forums

Take a look at the .30 Carbine FMJ yaw cycle ( so-called tumbling ) in gel.
That was a huge surprise to me. There's also a pic and info on updateing the Carbine as a modern defensive tool.
Disclaimer: No valuable historical artifacts were damaged in this process .

[Youngblood]

... The .30 round is hardly adaquate for jackrabbits. ...

Bugsy Siegel along with many others would disagree ... if they could.

[Badger]

There's an excellent video in the Knowledge Library area of "The Screening Room" (click here).

It's titled Infantry Weapons and their Effects (WWII U.S. Training Film) and using the M1 Carbine as one of the weapons demonstrated, shows what happens when the .30 calibre is used against various types of targets from that era.

Interesting video and worth watching in its entirety …

Regards,
Badger

[imarangemaster]

I used an M1 carbine to take down 175+ deer with one shot at over 75 yards. The exit hole was rather large...

I also carried it as a LE trunk gun for years. Lack of "stopping power" of the carbine is a myth, as the articles cited above show. You stand 75-100 yards away from someone and see which works best....especially with SP rounds.

BTW, even my 2A vest would stop 45 Auto, but my 3A needed a shock plate to stop carbine.

The myth started from people employing carbines at ranges it was not intended for (200+ yards), or shooting M2s full auto from the hip and missing Chinese.

[Bill Hollinger]

Read:

The M1 Carbine For SELF-DEFENSE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT | Guns Magazine | Find Articles at BNET

BTW, thanks imarangemaster for posting this article