M1 Carbine in an intermediate caliber

[imarangemaster]

A Mini-30 in 7.62x39. (Top) or Mini-14 in 5.56 (Bottom) Both are Mine. Just around 7 pounds..., or lighter in Poly stocks. Bottom pic is poly along with Ruger PC9 and 10-22

[browningautorifle]

Those little PC9 carbines are neat, they also come in .40 but we can't get them in Canada. If I could, I'd have one with the Glock 22 mags...over all those I think. A bit heavy for what they are but it's fine.

[floydthecat]

Those little PC9 carbines are neat, they also come in .40 but we can't get them in Canada. If I could, I'd have one with the Glock 22 mags...over all those I think. A bit heavy for what they are but it's fine.

Got all those and then some, but if I plan to walk-around very far…I go for the M1 carbine. A couple of pounds use to not matter, but it does now.

Yes…the PC is quite heavy.

[imarangemaster]

You got that right! The PC 9 is far heavier than the Minis. The 30 in the wood stock is like 6.9 lbs and the 14 is 7.1. I think the PC is about 8! Compared to the 5.5 pound carbine, a big difference.

[M94/14]

You got that right! The PC 9 is far heavier than the Minis. The 30 in the wood stock is like 6.9 lbs and the 14 is 7.1. I think the PC is about 8! Compared to the 5.5 pound carbine, a big difference.

Shooting the 9mm carbines always had me wanting more horsepower, so I set the minimum (for me) at .30 carbine power.

For a good short range carbine that hits hard out to about 125yds, you can't beat the old Ruger .44 mag Carbine at 6lbs. loaded. Capacity is 5rds, 4+1.

If you can find one, the Universal Vulcan 440 pump action carbine in .44 mag (also 4+1) allows the possibility of a larger capacity using 15rd boxes with a homemade follower. I can get 7rds comfortably into one so modified. Again about 6lbs in weight.

You'd think there would be a market for a locked breech, lightweight semi PC carbine today, but appears they were all made in the past...

[floydthecat]

You got that right! The PC 9 is far heavier than the Minis. The 30 in the wood stock is like 6.9 lbs and the 14 is 7.1. I think the PC is about 8! Compared to the 5.5 pound carbine, a big difference.

The blow-backs are just naturally going to weigh more sense the bolts are heavier. I have AR9’s that are down right just too heavy to be comfortable to me. If I want to pack a 9mm I grab my carbine conversion. Gas operated like the 30 without all the blow-down mass to drag around.

[imarangemaster]

Iver Johnson had a 9mm carbine for a bit. IIRC it used Browning High Power mags.... What I REALLY want is a Marlin Camp 9. It uses Model 59 mags, of which I have a bunch. It is like a 9mm 10-22. They sell for as much or more than PC 9 Rugers....

In the late 70s, I had a Ruger .44 Mag Carbine. Killed a lot of pigs with it in the Los Padres National Forest by Big Sur. I hated the tubular magazine, though.

[floydthecat]

Iver Johnson had a 9mm carbine for a bit. IIRC it used Browning High Power mags.... What I REALLY want is a Marlin Camp 9. It uses Model 59 mags, of which I have a bunch. It is like a 9mm 10-22. They sell for as much or more than PC 9 Rugers....

In the late 70s, I had a Ruger .44 Mag Carbine. Killed a lot of pigs with it in the Los Padres National Forest by Big Sur. I hated the tubular magazine, though.

I had an IJ 9. Me and a fellow enthusiast spent the better part of a year converting 30-calibers to 9mm. Turned out real well.

[USGI]

Pretty sure you guys already know this, but the Ruger PC 9 was the old style. The new ones are just "PC Carbine" - probably because they knew at the time more calibers would be added. I've had one for about 4 years and haven't shot it yet. Bought it because the ammo was so cheap at the time. Yes, that tungsten weight makes it heavy! - Bob

[floydthecat]

Pretty sure you guys already know this, but the Ruger PC 9 was the old style. The new ones are just "PC Carbine" - probably because they knew at the time more calibers would be added. I've had one for about 4 years and haven't shot it yet. Bought it because the ammo was so cheap at the time. Yes, that tungsten weight makes it heavy! - Bob

Pretty sure there are lots of us out here that made decisions based on cheap ammo. The days of 14 to 15-cent 9mm might be gone, but comparing it to everything else in todays environment, it’s still cheaper to shoot.