Just got clearance from my job to carry long gun as a patrol carbine. I have a armed contract patrolling dams and powerhouses in the Sierra at night (Homeland Security mandated "Critical Infrastructure Protection") Up to now I have been only armed with 9mm. Considering the plethora of mountain lion (saw 2 different ones this week) black bear (saw 4 this week), Mexican Mafia dope growers in the National Forest (yes, I have run into a few of them already, but they have not messed with me so far, as I am "solemente Seguridad, no Polica"), and the fact that I am on patrol to prevent Akmed and his Muji buddies from blowing up dams, I have been feeling under-gunned . It is a solo patrol, and the county Sheriff is only back up. It is a good gig, three 12 hour shifts a week in a new Jeep Rubicon, but it will be nice to have a rifle backup now.
I have two choices in my personal armory: My recently acquired "un-messed with" Inland, or a Kalifornia legal "featureless" AR-15 build (muzzle brake instead of flash hider, pinned CAR-15 stock, and Hammerhead non-pistol grip In order to use magazines with a capacity of greater than 10 rounds in Kalifornia, it must be a "Featureless" build: i.e. NO pistol grip, no collapsible stock, no EVIL flash hider). In this configuration, I can use my pre-ban 30 round magazines, and not limited to 10 rounders and a bullet button.
While the AR carbine in this configuration still has the firepower, it is not as handy as the carbine. I dismount the vehicle numerous times in the 12 hour shift, and most times will want the carbine on my person. Stopping power, the 5.56 has the edge, but not by a large margin because it is a 16" barrel. The M-1 Carbine has a draw for me, since most of my LEO career, I used a carbine as a trunk weapon, though I had an XM177E2 for several years. I will probably go with the M1Carbine. The old Inland will "ride again."
Information
![]()
Warning: This is a relatively older thread
This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.