M1 Carbine purchase help!

[Neal Myers]

Well, he said in his first post that it is was imported by Century Arms, so that makes it "import marked". Imports are sometimes OK & sometimes not; I have never seen a CAI import that was decent. We already know it needs a new stock ($100-200), & I'm guessing it needs a new barrel ($300-400).

Muzzle wear can be measured with a "poor man's" muzzle wear gauge. Take a single round of USGI M2 ball .30-06 ammo, & stick it point first in the muzzle & measure how much copper jacket is showing: 5/16"=new, 1/4"= excellent, 1/8"= pretty good, & 0"=needs replacement. (It just might be worth your while to buy a real gauge, as the cost is far less than replacing a bad barrel.)

CMP does not list rifles that they do not have in their warehouse. However, all they have now are rack grades, which should be avoided because they are worn out. They DO have slightly rusty USGI 15 rd mags @ $15, which you should buy.

Check the auctions on Gunbroker, check local gunshops, & check gunshows. Keep looking, & don't settle for junk.

Neal