USMC small arms in the Korean War

[PhillipM]

As far as the .30 Carbine, I think most of the stuff about it's "lack of stopping power" is urban legend- or old wives tales. Consider: The .357 Magnum was long rated as the top fight-stopping handgun. They used to talk about it being able to crack the block on a car. The FBI swore by it. so: .357 = 125 grain bullet, MV 1400 fps, ME 584. .30 Carbine 110 grain bullet, MV 1992 fps, ME 965!

The .357 benefits by not having to be a fmj, since it isn't an official military round. It is a tiny bit bigger around, and a tiny bit heavier. But the .30 Carbine wins, hands down, in terms of striking power. Not to mention accuracy from an 18" barrel.

No, it isn't a 300+ meter weapon. Bad bullet design for longer ranges. But under 200 meters, its intended envelope, it's plenty powerful enough not to be stopped by padded uniforms! Don't shoot me with one.

Up the street from my office lives a Korean vet who served in the artillery. He isn't a gun enthusiast, although he used to hunt and carries a pistol for self defense. While speaking to my father, another Korea vet, I asked what he carried and he said a carbine. I asked if there was any truth to the lack of stopping power, not penetrating the uniforms, etc., he just looked at me and said, "I didn't find that to be the case."

I related that on the 03 board years ago and an Army Captain from Vietnam said he saw an enemy soldier shot in the magazine chest pack with one that knocked him down but did not injure him. I still wouldn't want to be shot by one.