Purchased a Winchester M1 Carbine, now what?

[Sapper740]

Numrich has original mags.

Military Surplus M1 Carbine Magazines for Sale | Numrich Gun Parts

[oldfoneguy]

I bought a mag Pouch that came with 2 new repop mags. After a little fiddling with the feed lips they both function flawlessly, in fact betterthan the original mag that came with my carbine. No markings on them at all so can't say where they came from or who made them.

Listen I'm not trying to be an A$$ or anything but your reciever looks like it spent a significant amount of time under water. Are your raceways smooth or are they heavily pitted like the outside of the receiver? I would bring that to a gunsmith and have it diagnosed to be safe to shoot.

[browningautorifle]

your reciever looks like it spent a significant amount of time under water.

I was thinking a rusted outside and then a sandblast before refinish...but what caused the rust.

[painter777]

Mclemens7,
You being new to the USGI M1 Carbine and this being your 1st, I'd recommend learning to take it down. Deep cleaning everything and inspecting. Look for burrs on the guide rails your Op slide rides in and the inner rails your Bolt rides and rotates in. Check the face of your Bolt and see if the Ejector @ the 6 position pushes in and back out freely. The Firing Pin glides smoothly forward and back. Again on the face see that the Extractor swings open to the left (under spring pressure) and back to the right when you release pressure. Look for the tiny Plunger behind the left side of the Extractor, It's recessed in a hole in the Bolt's big right lug. Make sure the Flat Edge of the Plunger is setting on the Ledge of the Extractor (SEE PICTURE. The Extractor has a lip that grabs the cartridge rim look and feel for and chip, burr there. For now you could use a spray cleaner for your Trigger housing assembly and could soak the Bolt. But in time you'll need a Bolt tool to R and R your Bolt for proper maintenance. Your Op Slide Spring should be ~10 1/4" Most will buy replacements GI equivalent. I use a worn .38 brush between my fingers to twist in the chamber. Use a lightweight grease on the rails where the Bolt Lugs ride/rotates, same with the Op Slide rails. Also dab the tabs on the Op Slide and inside near the pull where the Bolts Right Lug engages.
Look at your Gas Piston Nut to see if it's tight. These take a special wrench so don't try to tighten without the correct wrench. Most Nuts are Staked, but not all.

Some How to Videos from a Club member:
How to Videos and links - The Carbine Collector's Club

We've all been there, so there are no silly questions.

Questions for you... Is that a SA stock and SA rear sight?

[jimb16]

Charlie is correct, the only dumb question is the one that you are afraid to ask. I've been collecting for more than 40 years and I'm still asking and learning. The more you learn, the more you realize that you still don't know. The guys who give people a hard time about asking questions are the ones who usually know the least but think they know everything. Ignore them and ask away! BTW, when you ask some questions, be ready for 10 different answers from 5 different guys! *LOL*