Range Report--2 Underwoods

[Bruce McAskill]

The main reason for this problem is that the carbine dove tail was made for the type 1 rear sight and not the adjustable ones. The flip sight had plenty of room in the dove tail to be moved in what ever direction it needed to be for the carbine to be sighted in. The adjustable rear sights have a much larger base that can over hang both sides of the dove tail. The sight can only move so far to the left before it hangs off the the side of the dove tail as it's so big. When the adjustable rear sights were added later on, no one sighted them in before they were staked in place so there is only a little bit of adjustment available and in some cases it's not enough. While carbines are not fragile, 60 years of use and abuse have taken a toll on many of them and they just don't shoot like they used to.

[imarangemaster]

Almost every carbine I have had in the last 30+ years has had the rear sight base offset to the left, some more than others. The early Winchester with flip sight (that I thought was not cool enough at the time) I had around 1982 had the rear sight centered in the bridge, and shot dead on at 100 yards. It was an exception. My original as issued Inland, has the rear sight offset to the left, but shoots dead on. The Standard Products mix-master is actually staked just right of center, though the ramp had to be adjusted left to shoot dead on.

[gatorwade]

For what it's worth, my post war rebuild Underwood shoots on center with 1.25" to 1.50" five round groups at 50 yards with the Lake City bandolier stuff. Also got a 1.50" group with some handloads from a local guy. Generally, with new factory ammo from the current offerings the groups are not so tight, but some groups are under 2". These numbers are best groups though, and lots of my attempts are between 2 and 3 inches. I often wonder what this rifle would shoot with a fresh barrel , and someone with younger eyes behind the sights. Though I have other M1 carbines, this one shoots best and is my favorite gun to go punch holes in targets. I have modern rifles that shoot much tighter, but still love unloading a few mags through that sweet Underwood everytime I go to the range.

[Dave-In-Maine]

but still love unloading a few mags through that sweet Underwood everytime I go to the range.

Ditto! I got the rebuild sighted-in better last weekend, and was managing pretty consistent 2" groups at 50 yards. About 3" above the actual point of aim, but centered right over it, so I am happy. The sight is adjusted slightly to the left of center. Need to try the 100-yard range next, and it should probably be spot-on.

The original flip-sight rifle shoots pretty consistently 12" to the RIGHT of point of aim at 50 yards, so I won't be trying to win any matches with that one......................................

[mike radford]

I would not shoot a mixed bag of ammo and expect any meaningful results. It may be less true with a carbine than most rifles, although I am not sure of that, but just different lot numbers of many calibers of ammo in the same year can change average POI by 2 or 3 MOA. Using different manufacters of the ammo, etc., is just not gonna work well.

I have had good luck with accuracy on many of my carbines. Shooting sporting clays at 100-200 yds is not that hard to do. First time I ever shot a friends original Underwood with original flip sight, he handed me the rifle with 7 rounds in the mag. I had never even fired a carbine with the L sight before, although I had 4 originals at the time. I hit 7 straight clays at 100 yds. I got lucky and had the chance to buy it a few months later. I used to shoot clays at 200 yds with a NPM and would hit just under 50%.

Carbines can be quite accurate. Audie Murphy loved them and took out seven German snipers with one. They can not be real inaccurate and do that.

The normal variables apply with a carbine. Quality of the ammo, stock fit, bore and crown condition, etc..

[USGI]

Where would you typically hold your sight post in relation to the clay pigeon at 200 yds? I've hit quite a few at 50-55 yds, but never tried any at further distances. - Bob

[Brit-Tex]

My IBM has a repro flip sight. I positioned it as close to center as possible. It hits dead on left to right. I took it to the range recently with some longer range weapons to shoot silhouettes at 250 yds. The '96 Krag, 91/30 Nagant, '88 Springfield and '03 Springfield we all consistent and fun. The little carbine was close every time but just couldn't ring the bell. It hit all around the target and certainly would have winged somebody at that range.

[DaveHH]

How well does the carbine group at 100 yds? 50yds is the long shot for pistol matches. Does the carbine hold the black on an SR1 at 100 yds? If so, you have a good shooter. So much with rifle shooting is technique and position, the ability to repeat the same shot over and over will bring out the real potential of a carbine. I suspect that a lot of them are much better shooters than what people think.

I was pulling PM on the Winchester this week and took a good look over the top and sure enough, the front sight is cocked off to the right in relation to the whole weapon. Shoots great though.

Make that "Pigeons"....

[emmagee1917]

A good carbine will do 3-4 inches at 100 . I have mine set up to basicly hit a tin can / plastic water bottle / clay pigeon with a six o'clock hold there ( basicly , 2-1/2 to 3 inches above the sight blade ) at 100 yards . At 200 yds I'm quite low , even with a 250 sight setting. To be "on" at 200 would require sighting in at close to the 12-inches high that the military sighting target allowed . That would be fine for combat , but not so much for fun . Because I shoot mine more for fun at 100 , I just don't use them at 200 , using my choice of about 2 dozen 30-06s for beyond 100.
Chris