M1 Carbine replacement barrels

[I.H.1989]

I was thinking of getting a replacement barrel for my Quality Hardware M1 Carbine for when the time comes. What I wanted to know is what should I be looking for and what to avoid.

Are there any places that sell USGI barrels at a decent price that still have a lot of life in them, or are there any commercial ones that meet the criteria of those from WWII?

Information

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[Bruce McAskill]

The problem is that there are no more WW2 carbine barrels to be found. People who have one or two for sale are getting far too much for them and then some. The replacements that were made for Viet Nam turned out to be faulty and were not approved for use by the US military. Commercial replacement barrels are available and for the most part are excellent replacements. They are only about 1/3 the cost of a used USGI WW2 barrel. CMP sells replacement new barrels.

[painter777]

You have to wonder, why would anyone take a perfectly good barrel off of a carbine?

Neal,
No Dis-respect meant, but you may have missed part of what the OP I.H.1989 said:

I was thinking of getting a replacement barrel for my Quality Hardware M1 Carbine for when the time comes.

JimB, Thanks for naming the Herlo barrels. I believe that's what Bruce was referring to, but didn't call the barrel by makers name:

The replacements that were made for Viet Nam turned out to be faulty and were not approved for use by the US military.

I have 5 or 6 Carbines that I'll pick from to take to the range regularly. One, if not my most often shot carbine is a S'G' with Buffalo Arms Blue Sky Stamped Import Barrel with a muzzle that will just touch the brass case on a M2 round when used as a 'Poor Mans Muzzle Gage'. When first measured I thought it had been counter bored..... Nope, But @ 100yrds with my reloads, bench rested it will consistently hit a paper plate.... so go figure.
This S'G' / Buffalo Arms has the best trigger pull I've noticed on any of my shooters.
It has a Unmarked CAST Hammer. I paid $450 for this one, which is a 90% mixer except I believe the barrel is original to the S'G' receiver. It's nice to have one your not worried about scratching or denting, one you can have your friends lite up! And it sure beats $300 plus for just a barrel, that you hope will head space !

FWIW
Charlie-Painter777

[CriterionBarrels]

If you're okay with a reproduction that matches the USGI contour with a much higher quality internal finish, I'd recommend picking up a Criterion barrel. The chrome lined model sold through Fulton Armory recently set a pair of national records at Camp Perry.

Criterion Barrels Shooters Announce Two Additional National Record Setting Performances

[Neal Myers]

On their website, CMP states that most used barrels will not headspace. You have to wonder, why would anyone take a perfectly good barrel off of a carbine?

I'm in line to have CMP install one of their Criterion barrels on my carbine; no point in waiting for NOS barrels to be released, they aren't to be found.

[browningautorifle]

You have to wonder, why would anyone take a perfectly good barrel off of a carbine?

Because they're trying to make it "Original" or "Correct it"...both of which defeat themselves...so used barrels crop up. But you knew this...

[painter777]

I often see USGI barrels complete with original barrel band and front sight... correct per maker for less than this Type III Bayonet band sold for.

C marked bayo band...... $385.00 CRAZY !!!

M1 CARBINE BARREL BAND MARKED C LATE WINCHESTER | eBay

Charlie-Painter777

[painter777]

Forgot about SA barrels, A seller from Norway has 2 SA's from the 50's and a few UEF NOS complete assemblies listed on Ebay, his seller name is stijohnse-4

NOS barrel assemblies:

stijohnse-4 | eBay

CH-P777

[us019255]

A few years ago I wanted a folding stock carbine. Couldn't afford a real one so purchased a reproduction, and a very pitted receiver. I had the rest of the parts except for a barrel. Purchased a reproduction one. Since I do not have a lathe, I had a local gunsmith turn the shoulder to time it. He didn't know squat about carbines, but followed my instructions and got it timed perfectly. A few minutes with a pull through reamer, and I now have a great paratrooper.

Not wanting it to ever be passed off as a "real" one I stamped both the barrel and the stock with "SISU".

[manteo97]

Re Norwegian seller on Ebay. Just a friendly reminder that the US State Dept has restrictions on imports (into the US) of firearms and components. Barrels, receivers, and pistol cylinders all require import permits. Had a friend try to ship a carbine barrel into the US by Post, and was turned around at the border and returned to sender. I have a dozen carbine USGI take-off barrels that I would like to sell into the US, but no-can-do.