"Inland" Manufacturing M1 Carbines - 1st hand experience

[Sleeplessnashadow]

Hi. Replied via e-mail or so I thought. Dont do much forum time. No, the bolts are not the same as GI. Neither is the slide.

"Parts the same as GI" is subject to interpretation as to the definition of "same". They look like GI, are based on GI, or are M1 Carbine parts. Etc.

The bolt may have worn down too. You probably saw the pictures of the one I posted on the first carbine I bought that I posted when I started this thread. It's been a consistent problem with many of their bolts. The bolt in the 2nd one they sent me was different than the first but still not to GI dimensions. And a used bolt, not new as the replacement carbine was.

The page will have to wait until I get this next replacement as I want to encourage them to get it right. I truly wish they'd get it right.

My recommendation for now is hold off and see if they make the changes needed. Until then, buy a Fulton Armory barreled receiver with the bolt, barrel band and front sight when they are on sale when they are about $675. Add a trigger group, rear sight, slide and wood and the cost won't be that much more than an Inland and well worth the price. They'll outlive us all. High quality and truly to GI specs. Only commercial carbine that ever has been, despite many claims. The "RockOla" by James River is close to GI spec but does not have the attention to detail and finish as those by Fulton Armory. also, the James River receivers are machined to accommodate the commercial M1A1 stocks, not the other way around. Problem is the recoil plate of the M1 stock will not lock up properly because of the cut to accommodate the M1A1 stock. Finish on the first receiver I ordered from them was spotted from poor parkerizing. Their response was it was still functional, like it was acceptable. Different manufacturer for a different time.

Also, the Fulton receivers alone are less expensive than the James River receivers, especially when Fulton has a sale going. They do sales most holidays and will likely have a Christmas and New Years sale. Both receivers are machined from Forged steel. Those used by Fulton are manufactured by Lewis Machine Tool (LMT), same folks that produced the GI spec carbine receivers in the late 90's for Springfield Armory of Geneseo, IL. But SA stopped short of making the entire carbine.

Jim