I keep coming back to the M1 Carbine as my GO TO HD Weapon

[gatorwade]

The M1 Carbine would be my easy first choice, it I could only have one firearm. Light weight, reliable, and always gets some range time every time out, because its fun to shoot. My eyes and the Inland are the same age, but with practice, and fine tuning handloads, the group averages keep coming down. But any ammo would do if needed. No, it's not the truck gun on the farm, or the night stand gun. We have a reasonable assortment of a little of everything. But if the day ever comes...when it really matters...the M1 Carbine will get the first call. Gotta get one of those Blackhawks though, to go along with it.

[USGI]

I saw Hornady Critical Defense .30 Carbine 110 Grain FTX Ammo, 25 rounds for $20.89 there.

Hornady Ammo, 25 rounds - 234267, .30 M1 Carbine Ammo at Sportsman's Guide

Turns out it was a Buyer's Club only deal for an extra 5% off on ammo - and got over tonight at midnight CST. Would have shown as $19.85 with the code applied. Was not good until the 29th - sorry about that ! - Bob

[shadycon]

Gotta get one of those Blackhawks though, to go along with it.

They are fun and LOUD!!!

[Faulkner]

My sheriff's department issued USGI M1 carbines for a while back in the 1990's and we did a pretty exhaustive test on available ammo at the time. We used Winchester soft/hollow point and it was every bit as reliable as standard ball ammo. Though I don't necessarily recommend the .30 carbine as a deer hunting round, I have taken several whitetail deer with a M1 carbine using this ammo (all under 50 yards) and they were one shot stops.

I tested a box of Critical Defense and it functioned flawlessly as well, but the Winchester ammo is a bit less expensive.

[imarangemaster]

I have had good luck with the WW 110 JHP in the past, from USGI 15 rounders. I did have an occasional issue frona USGI 30s with the HP in the first few rounds. The Critical Defense has the advatage of the hollow point, with the polymer plug to aid feeding and also help expansion.

[C&R Poor]

Maybe I should haul out one of my M1 carbines. Right now my HD gun is an AR in 5.66 with 2 30 round mags. I figure 60 rounds should get the "bad guys" attention.

[shamrocks]

Maybe I should haul out one of my M1 carbines. Right now my HD gun is an AR in 5.66 with 2 30 round mags. I figure 60 rounds should get the "bad guys" attention.

I like the AR as well. I have my AR-15 equipped with an Aimpoint Pro red dot scope leaning against the wall beside the bed for night time use if ever needed. Rest of the day I have my NPM carbine close by downstairs if needed. I think I prefer the carbine but with the red dot always on, I feel it is easier to acquire a target in the lower light using my AR(especially since it is used with both eyes open.)

[daveccarlson]

Mine is an Italian-used all-postwar F.A.T. 1977 marked carbine, that has a 1951 SA replacement barrel but an Inland/SG Saginaw receiver.

With the under-powered Aguila ammunition, a few tweaks to the windage, and the rear sight pushed up to 150m, it put six of seven rounds in a 3-1/2" circle with one flier at 100 yards. Very nice!
At Cabela's I got some discounted Hornady CT 110gr. FTX cartridges. I've got a new "go to" carbine! And they are fun to shoot!

[INLAND44]

I've been rethinking the HD situation too. I tend to get an idea and just let it simmer for awhile - then one day something happens and the dominoes start to fall. One thing that's been on my mind for years is a pistol-caliber carbine. I will not use my M1 Carbine because it simply is no longer suitable in that role. When I first got it, it was my only long gun and I had plenty of ammo, mags and other supplies for it. I've been maintaining a Remington 11-87 Police in that role but I can't get the carbine off my mind. Finally I decided to sell the shotgun on GB, so I listed it. I got my asking price right away and I think it will go higher. Knowing I would get at least that much, I found a Kel Tec SUB 2000 in .40 S&W - Glock mags and pushed the button on that. I guess what's happening is I've had most of my stuff for 20 years or more and things are different now. There are new things for old purposes. Ammo has improved dramatically. I like the idea of the .40 carbine ergonomics a lot better than the long, heavy riot gun, and it's accuracy and velocity are both improvements over the .40 pistol. I'll be shooting 180 grain JHP.
One thing is still on my mind, and that is an AR in .30 Carbine. Olympic used to make one but they didn't get much action with it. Things are different now and the .30 Carbine is probably the best straight-case carbine round there is, particularly in JHP or SP. I like the AR platform so I'm looking for one of the old Olympics in .30 Carbine. I have 5.56 ARs of course but have no plans to fire anything like that in the house or outside. I'm in a typical subdivision and there are homes in every direction. I now think the pistol-caliber carbine is pretty much ideal for this situation. I don't even keep any ARs or AKs loaded anymore. If I keep getting older, there'll come a time when I'll realize that I no longer need most of that stuff. Possibly I have already started the process of culling out the herd. I guess my sons will be getting some neat stuff over the next ten years. But for now I'm still getting excited over getting a new gun and getting it dialed in and put into service.

[daveccarlson]

I have a Beretta Cx4 subcarbine in 9mm that takes 92 mags. I keep it as an HD gun, but my initial intent was to do so as a defensive firearm either me or my wife could use effectively. I think there's much to be said for it: Very compact, reliable with factory magazines, accurate at realistic ranges, much more stable and user-friendly than a pistol but retaining the same basic controls, etc. I've run a few defensive carbine courses with it, and it is very much quieter than the ARs. It was the only non-AR in all the classes I took.

Nonetheless, my spouse never really warmed to it, and she actually greatly prefers the M1 carbine. The Hornady FTX CD ammo for the M1 carbine, the Winchester JHP, and the Remington SP cartridges all give the carbine a lot of utility for HD or having along on an extended road trip through the country.