Recommendations on M1 Carbine Repros

[Moped]

 

7 hours ago, Pickaroon said:

An SKS can be found for $400. Actually very equivalent to a Carbine.

Boy I haven’t seen them lately, that cheap! “Commie” guns used to be cheaper than the AR, but that’s not so anymore.
 

I believe the 7.62x39 is more on par with the 30/30 though.

[A.J. Holst]

My shooter isn't quite as tricked out as @Grayfox54 but I have run it in many carbine classes. 

It.is.awesome.

It is not as reliable as a modern rifle, clearing malfunctions is time consuming.

For example, failure to eject, fresh round still gets stripped from mag, pulling the charging handle to the rear to remove the stove pipe will now cause a double feed.

Mine works optimally with speer or hornady fancy ammo, no stoppages yet.

In normal times, ammo off the shelf is .50-.60 per round. 

If you insist on running 30 round mags, download them to 25 and replace the mag catch with an M2 style. It has a cut out for the extra tabs on a 30 round magazine to help prevent it from sagging in the mag well.

Better option, use 15s and load up your pockets.

FYI, a matching M1 carbine is unusual based on the subcontractor model used to make and assemble and the re-arsenal process.

They're cool, they're awesome, arguably a predecessor of and still functional as a PDW, however, there are probably better choices out there.

[Grayfox54]

Yeah, I remember when SKSs were dirt cheap. My late best friend had a thing for cheap commie guns. His goal was to have a SKS from every factory that made them. When he passed he had over a dozen. According to his records I think the most he ever paid for one was about $125 and it was factory fresh still covered in cosmoline. 

[Pickaroon]

6 hours ago, Moped said:

 

Boy I haven’t seen them lately, that cheap! “Commie” guns used to be cheaper than the AR, but that’s not so anymore.
 

I believe the 7.62x39 is more on par with the 30/30 though.

I haven’t kept up on prices lately but for a long time 4 bills was common. And I meant the SKS was an equivalent type carbine. Arguably even better (sound of can of worms opening). The question was about a ranch gun. I couldn’t bring myself to carry a $1000 gun around in a 4 wheeler. Certainly not an original M1 carbine. An SKS or an old  30-30? No problem.

Edited October 11, 2020 by Pickaroon

[Moped]

7 hours ago, Pickaroon said:

I haven’t kept up on prices lately but for a long time 4 bills was common. And I meant the SKS was an equivalent type carbine. Arguably even better (sound of can of worms opening). The question was about a ranch gun. I couldn’t bring myself to carry a $1000 gun around in a 4 wheeler. Certainly not an original M1 carbine. An SKS or an old  30-30? No problem.

Gotcha! No I couldn’t do that either.