I use Speer Gold Dots for a defense round, but maybe FMJ works better than we thought. Military channel video on Foreign Legion weapons. Start watching at 5:00 for a clay block comparison of the 30-06 to the 30 carbine.
Just a word of caution, be sure to fire at least 2 magazines of the softpoints through any magazines you plan to use in self defense. Preferably more. I know it can get expensive, but consider the cost of a failure to feed when you need the gun to defend yourself.
I have 2 milsurp carbines, an underwood and an NPM, and neither of them are reliable with hollowpoints or softpoints to the point that I would trust them. I've run Remington SPs, Privi SPs, and Corbon hollwopoints. It seems that the bigger the lead section on the tip of the nose, the greater the chance of failure to feed. The Privi Partisan SPs, which had the most exposed lead, encountered the most malfunctions. I don't think I got through a 20 round box of Corbon Hollowpoints without a malfunction.
The Remington Soft Points seemed to do the best, since they had the least lead exposed. But I still encountered feeding problems with them.
I spoke to Clint of Fulton armory and he recommended against the use of softpoints in M1 carbines because of function issues and the possible accumulation of lead in the chamber that might lead to more malfunctions from lead buildup.
My tests certainly are not the most exhaustive, but I would suggest aggressive testing before relying on softpoints for defensive purposes in the M1 carbine.
I have not tested this new critical defense load for the .30 carbine. It looks to have the best chance of reliable feeding due to the plastic cap, But just the same, I would urge anyone planning to rely on this load to test it with the same magazine or magazines that they plan to use in the gun for defensive purposes.
The M1 carbine was specfically designed, from day 1, from the ground up, to use a FMJ US military .30 cal.carbine round. Why is anyone surprised that it generally performs less well w/a different round? The cartridge was designed before the design trials for the carbine were even held. So, again, why are we surprised? JMHO, of course.
Donzi
I don't think anyone surprised that some carbines/magazines don't like to feed soft points. I think that in a world where everyone is used to soft points, they are disappointed, though. In the 40s, 50s, 60s, and even into the 70s, most of the semi-pistol ammo that was fired was FMJ, so people were used to just using FMJs in their carbines.
I have had a carbine or two that did not feed softpoints reliably no matter what I did. I had an Underwood about ten years ago, that seemed like it would jam, even if there was a box of softpoionts on the shooting bench! I did not keep it long. I did not carry any that had feed issues with softpoints as a duty weapon. I would trade them off for another.
My last four carbines: Mash Az import underwood mix-master, CMP Inland, current un-messed with Inland and Standard Products all have fed R-P 110 JSPs reliably from USGI mags. All of these were gone through and detail stripped and cleaned, recoil springs replaced, and ejector and extractor springs replaced. All of my 30 round mags have new USGI 30 round springs in them.
Last edited by imarangemaster; 12-10-2012 at 05:41 PM.
I'm just reporting my limited experience with my 2 M1 carbines.
Since I have other guns that I use for home defense or could use for home defense, I don't have to worry about my carbines functioning with softpoints.
If I had to use them for defensive purposes I would use FMJ since that is what they have proven to be reliable with.
I posted this in another thread about my Standard Products Mix-master, but it is actually appropriate here:
"WOW! I just did an additional function test on the Standard Products at work tonight. I found a local source for 110 JSP PPU (Prvi Partizan) at $23 a box of 50. Using my AYP 30 round magazines and the Standard Products, I first checked for POA compared to the RP ammo I have been using. At 25 yards, the POA was the same as the Remington. I then shot 2 magazines of 30 110 JSP PPU ammo, as fast as I could pull the trigger. Zero malfunctions. Fed slick as ball ammo. So far this SP carbine feeds R-P 110 FMJ and 110 JSP, Lake City Vietnam era ammo, and now PPU soft point. In several hundred rounds from 30 round magazines, I have zero malfunctions."
I have been using Remington SP bullets and making my own reloads. Make them to spec with proper COL. Never had a problem with ANY of my carbines eating those. I also use a combination of USGI 15 rd mags, 15 rd Korean mags and 30 rd Korean mags. The Remingtons do have the smaller area of exposed lead, but I think the real reason is quality control. As far as the reloads,, I actually TRUST my own reloads (been doing carbine ammo for close to 30 years).
As far as reliability, I seem to read periodically about a NYPD cop who used the carbne on a robbery squad (long day - I can't remember his name). Story is that he used hollowpoint or Sp bullets and never had a problem. I do believe that the "trick" is a combo is good ammo, good magazines AND a good mag release that holds the mag in place. Also having a smooth feeding ramp helps too.
Carbine at 100 yards...
PM
Originally Posted by 
