America's M2 Carbine: The Rifle That Made the U.S. Military Great on the Battlefield

National Interest ^ | June 30, 2020 | Sebastien Roblin

[C19fan]

Here's What You Need To Remember: The M2 simply does not fit neatly into modern weapon classifications, save perhaps as a personal defense weapon. However, it was indisputably the U.S. military’s first portable long-arm automatic weapon to see wide-scale use. It reflected a growing recognition that infantry engagements typically occurred at shorter ranges, and that sheer portability could be a kind of force multiplier, while also demonstrating the shortcomings of using lower-powered cartridges and trusting inexperienced soldiers to refrain from blazing away with automatic fire at distant targets.

[mylife]

Ma deuce rocks!

[mylife]

The 1st gun I ever owned.

[fso301]

Excellent gun. Maybe not best if you need to penetrate the side armor of a German halftrack at 50 yards but the combination of light weight, light recoil, short length and firepower caused it to be favored in many front line situations such as clearing rooms.

[The Louiswu]

My dad had one and it was easy for me to shoot as a young man.

[karnage]

I’m embarrassed to say that I had never even heard of this one.

So... thanks for educating me!

[Taxman]

“Ma deuce” is the Browning .50 machine gun, so called because the nomenclature is “Browning Machine Gun, Cal. .50, M2.”

I don’t believe the M2 Carbine had a nickname.

[Plain Old American]

The M2 .50 cal machine gun does indeed rock - big difference between the Ma Deuce and M2 carbine.

[Plain Old American]

The M2 .50 cal machine gun does indeed rock - big difference between the Ma Deuce and M2 carbine.

[mad_as_he$$]

True, but I don’t think that is what the subject of the OP is.

[Chainmail]

Uh - they're talking about the M2 Carbine - not the .50.

I carried one for a short while in Vietnam after winning it in a card game. Fun to shoot, low recoil and a whole lot more effective than a submachinegun.

The only thing I killed with it was a smallish (4 1/2 feet) crocodile as we were crossing a river south of Dong Ha.

We threw the dead croc onto our load of artillery ammo and when we arrived at the battery, threw it on the ground to show it off. The XO - a tall and pompous 1st Lieutenant - showed up and said "great! you got an alligator".

I respectfully corrected him that it was a crocodile, not an alligator but he insisted that he knew better and that "when he told a lance corporal that it's an alligator, it's an alligator".

I took my canteen out and opened it and poured water on the croc's head and said "I baptize thee Alligator" and then turned to the XO and said "you're right Sir, it's an alligator!".

I was young back then and easily outran the XO.

[datura]

An easy shooting, fun rifle!! Very reliable, like the M1A, same action.

That .30 cal round makes a fun pistol too in a 1911 frame.

[Joe 6-pack]

The .30 Carbine is a neat little round. For some reason, when I go to the range, my little M1 gets a lot of attention. Of all my firearms, that’s the one most people ask if they can try. Almost to a person, the first impression is surprise at how light it is, even with a full 30 rd mag, and the near absence of any perceived recoil.

[Blood of Tyrants]

A fully automatic M2 carbine? You sure it wasn’t an M1 carbine, semi auto?

[Allen In Texas Hill Country]

I wonder where the 30-40 Krag fit in???

[Blood of Tyrants]

The M1 rifle draws just as much attention.

[Liberty Valance]

The M-1 Garand and the M-1 30 cal carbine

[PAR35]

first portable long-arm automatic weapon to see wide-scale use.

About 600,000 M-2.
About 1.3 million Thompsons.
About 600,0000 Grease Guns.

Grease guns were produced from 1943. Thompsons pre-dated World War II. And the M-2 didn't come into use until late 1944. I suppose the distinction they are making is that the M-2 had an 18 inch barrel, and the Thompson was about 10.5 inches.

[Laslo Fripp]

Thanks for posting that picture. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[Buffalo Head]

No, it did not make the U.S. Military Great on the Battlefield! That honor goes to it's big brother, the M1 Garand, the finest battle instrument ever devised.

The M1 and M2 carbines were woefully underpowered for a front line battle weapon. It is akin to arming law enforcement officers with .22 Long Rifle chambered weapons.

It excelled only as intended, replacing defensive pistols.

In 1944 my cousin put three rounds from his M1 Carbine into a Kraut while fighting in France before the dying German returned one 7.92mm bullet into my cousin, requiring hospitalization for over three months. Ironically, that hiatus from battle ultimately may have saved his life.

I carried an M2 Carbine for a short period in Vietnam but it was not reliable enough for serious use.

I have owned two M1 Carbines in civilian life. Yes, they are a lot of fun to shoot, but are notoriously inaccurate. It is difficult to keep all bullets on a pie plate sized target at 100 yards. The Ruger Mine-14 rifle suffers some of the same design flaws.

The only practical use I could ever find for a Carbine was for hunting Jackrabbits. In that endeavor, it was remarkably superior to a .22 LR chambered rifle. Much more magazine capacity (in the day), more velocity and flatter trajectory. Not nearly as much leade and hold over required to topple running Jackrabbits. Today, the AR-15 and M4 rule the roost for such activities and make the M1 Carbine seem like the toy it is.