M1 Carbine accuracy

[mrclark303]

Hi all,

I was wondering what the official acceptable accuracy (group size at 100yds) for new carbines in WW2?

For that matter, what do Carbine owners consider average group size to be at 100yds?

I haven't had a chance to shoot my M1A1 as yet....

Information

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[jond41403]

There is a downloadable PDF on the carbine club site titled"shooting accuracy of the carbine". It goes into quite a lot of detail of how to set up the carbine and different loads of ammunition you can use to improve accuracy. I do not know how to post a link or I would have but it's pretty easy to find if you use Google. I think I typed into Google"carbine club data on M1 carbine accuracy"hth

[W5USMC]

http://thecmp.org/wp-content/uploads...Notes_2007.pdf

[Sunray]

I'd have to be at home to check, but as I recall, accuracy requirements were not spec'd at 100 yards. The Carbine was expected to shoot reasonably well at 300 yards. However, Internet rumour(as in Wikipedia) says between 3 and 5 inches at 100 with military issue ball ammo.
The CMP .pdf talks about ammo and how to get a Carbine to shoot well(don't use milsurp ammo), but not Ordnance Dept specs.

[floydthecat]

A copy of the target used would explain a lot. I can’t upload to this site, but someone else might. It clearly shows were the rounds should print for acceptable accuracy. Me....I am at that age where coffee-cans at 25-yards is completely acceptable.

[mrclark303]

Thanks for the info guys, I wanted to have a rough idea what to expect accuracy wise.

The bore on mine looks 'ok', a bit of wear and the odd bit of frosting (as you would expect from a well used and travelled rifle), but the crown and lead in look to be in good order.

[USGI]

The target is shown on p. 53 of TM 9-1276. When printed out, the black should be 3" wide and the dotted area 4" wide. - Bob

[floydthecat]

At's the one Bob and it's a 25-yard target. Obviously accepting a 3 x 4 inch group at 25-yards doesn't make it a tack driver, or maybe a not-so-good shooter, but was deemed acceptable. Even a man as old and blind as me can shoot 1-inch groups supported at 25-yards. I just zero mine to shoot about an inch high at 25 and the ballistics tell me it will be relatively flat out to 100-125. I can't see past 100-yards anyhow.

[INLAND44]

The 100 yard sighting target is huge, with an acceptable area 16" wide x 12' high. The aiming point is at the centerline on the lower edge of this area. With the rear sight on '1-1.5', and aiming at the indicated point, all shots should be in the acceptable area. So up to 12" high and 8" right or left of the centerline would pass a carbine for deployment, but if it shot a considerable number below the aiming point the sight post would have to be lowered. As you can see, the sights are not set up for zeroing at 100 yards although if your carbine will shoot into the acceptable area, you can adjust the windage if it favors one side over the other.
As far as groups, its pretty good if you and your carbine and its ammo can get together enough to shoot 6" at 100. If you modify the front sight to zero at 100 it will throw off the rear sight range settings.

Even on the 25 yard target, the aiming point is the centerline of the lower edge of the impact area. The carbine utilizes the '6:00 hold'. Soldiers were taught to put the sights on the enemy's belt buckle which should get a torso hit at the appropriate range.

[mrclark303]

Great info Inland,thanks. It's always the way way when you buy a new milsurp and you have no idea what to accept accuracy wise.

Appreciate all the feedback guys, I'm trying to develop a good working understanding of these great little rifles.