Can we discuss the reliability of M-1 Carbines?????

[bonnie]

This has been an interesting read. I didn't see it covered in all the good comments but then I may have read over it.
Make sure the chamber is clean. Carbines never had a good chamber brush and this area gets neglected during cleaning. I use 9mm bore brushes and a short Chamber Maid rod, a flexible plastic coated steel cable, and clean from the receiver end.
You can also slide your cleaning rod in muzzle first then screw the brush in from receiver and pull it into the chamber to clean.

Information

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[ABPOS]

This has been an interesting read. I didn't see it covered in all the good comments but then I may have read over it.
Make sure the chamber is clean. Carbines never had a good chamber brush and this area gets neglected during cleaning. I use 9mm bore brushes and a short Chamber Maid rod, a flexible plastic coated steel cable, and clean from the receiver end.
You can also slide your cleaning rod in muzzle first then screw the brush in from receiver and pull it into the chamber to clean.

You know, after thinking about it and everything, this very thought came to me. I'm thinking it could be indicative of the kind of malfs I'm getting. Maybe the chamber needs a good working over. I don't think I've ever done it. I clean with a bore snake mostly. Although in the initial cleaning I think I used a traditional brush with hoppes down the bore. But I don't believe I ever worked on the chamber at all. Hmmmmm..............................

Thank you for the thoughts.

Let me ask this issue another way, you guys that have carbines that run, can you move your mags around a bit when they are seated?

[Patrick Chadwick]

you guys that have carbines that run, can you move your mags around a bit when they are seated?

This needs to be quantified. All mags must have some tolerance, so there will always be some movement. But how much is OK, and how much is excessive? If members could measure the fore-and-aft deflection of the mags that work, and those that don't, maybe we could establish a pragmatic statistical result on the lines of "up to ... they seem to work, above ... they are increasingly erratic".

And to start it off: here are two of mine:

Reliable mag....0.126" movement
Erratic mag.....0.106" movement

But there are other factors - in this case, the erratic mag has a much heavier spring. Because of these other factors, it will take quite a few measurements to reveal if there is any correlation between end play and reliability. I observe that the bottom of the mag is pushed forwards almost to the limit of the play when it is locked in, so end play may be largely irrelevant.

P.S: I shall now give the chamber a good clean!

[bonnie]

I cannot cite the source for this information but have used it for many years:

A new USGI 15 round magazine should measure 1.5 inches from bottom of retaining lug to top rear of feed lip using a micrometer. I found this to be a good way to check a good magazine that has gone bad. Usually find the measurement is well under 1.5 inches indicating the magazine retaining lugs are too worn for reliable feeding.