Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The M1 Carbine and M1 Garand: Little Brother or No Relation?
nationalinterest.org ^ | Dec. 21, 2020 | Peter Suciu

Posted on 12/21/2020 9:55:23 AM PST by PROCON

Image: Wikimedia Commons

The “M1 Carbine” was instead the first carbine to be developed and thus while it does have similarities, these are in fact different weapons.

Here's What You Need to Remember: The confusion between the two weapons isn’t helped by the fact that both are designated as firing “.30 caliber.”

Despite its name and the fact that its basic appearance is similar to the M1 Garand, the M1 Carbine—officially the United States Carbine, Caliber .30, M1—wasn’t really a carbine version of the main battle rifle. The confusion lies in the fact that both were designated “M1” but that simply dates back to the U.S. Army naming system, which began on July 1, 1925. From that point, the "M" was simply the designation for “Model” while the number represented the sequential development of the equipment and weapons.

The “M1 Carbine” was instead the first carbine to be developed and thus while it does have similarities, these are in fact different weapons.

The M1 Garand—designed by Canadian-American John Garand at the Springfield Armory—features a gas-operated, rotating bolt system, a concept that has been commonly used with firearms chambered for high powered cartridges. The M1 Carbine also features a rotating bolt but it utilizes a short-stroke piston, which enables better control of the weapon due to the fact that less mass is needed to be stopped at either end of the bolt carrier travel.

The confusion between the two weapons isn’t helped by the fact that both are designated as firing “.30 caliber” but the distinction is that the M1 Carbine fires the .30 carbine (7.62x33mm) whereas the M1 Garand fires the .30-06 Springfield (7.62x63mm) round. In this regard the .30 caliber is similar to how the Soviets utilized various 7.62mm rounds—including the full-size 7.62x54mmR rifle round, 7.62x39mm intermediate cartridge (which was used in the SKS and AK-47) and the 7.62x25mm pistol/submachine gun round.

More importantly, the American .30 carbine cartridge, which was designed specifically for the M1 Carbine, is a light rifle round and shouldn't be seen as an intermediate round—notably those used with modern assault rifles. In fact, the rimless .30 Carbine was basically an improved design based on the much older .32 Winchester Self-Loading cartridge or 1906, which was introduced for the Winchester Model rifle. The .30 Carbine fired a lighter bullet but utilized modern power, so it was six hundred feet per second faster and 27 percent more powerful than its parent cartridge.

The straight case and rounded nose have also convinced some to believe it was designed for use in pistols, but this wasn’t actually the case. In fact, the M1 Carbine was developed as a weapon that offered greater firepower than the military pistols of the era but weigh lighter—and thus easier to carry—than the full-sized M1 Garand. It was clear to military planners that support troops including staff, mortarmen and radiomen; as well as officers and even some NCOs needed a more compact weapon.

The M1 Carbine also addressed the calls for a compact, lightweight defense weapon with a greater range, accuracy and firepower than a sidearm. The fact that the carbine weighed about half that of the Thompson submachine gun or M1 Garand, helped convince the military planners that this was the right weapon for the job.


TOPICS: Government; History; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: banglist; m1carbine; m1garand
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-84 last
To: joegoeny

I started my gf on a S&W M&P .22 LR and promoted her to the M@&P .380 EZ. With her arthritis, it’s about all she can handle, but she’s a pretty good shot with it now.


81 posted on 12/28/2020 8:31:07 AM PST by dirtboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 80 | View Replies]

To: joegoeny
I have been shooting a S&W 15-22 in the sport /M-loc rail version. I have around 2000 rounds through it with zero hiccups. The larger capacity magazines run just fine. Loading the thing with what I would recommend for home defense (yes, for home defense) has been expensive but worth it for testing reliability.

The CCI Velocitor round is getting about 1400 fps from the rife barrel and does sufficient damage to be a viable kill weapon if the trigger is pulled several times. The weapon is light and easily pointable, accurate and can carry a laser out front of the ront sight for pointing accuracy in CQB.

82 posted on 12/28/2020 8:51:55 AM PST by MHGinTN (A dispensation perspective is a powerful tool for discernment)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 80 | View Replies]

To: MHGinTN

The CCI Velocitor round is getting about 1400 fps from the rife barrel and does sufficient damage to be a viable kill weapon if the trigger is pulled several times.
_________________________________________________________
I am a firm believer in pulling the trigger until the Pain goes away.

The weapon is light and easily pointable, accurate and can carry a laser out front of the ront sight for pointing accuracy in CQB.
________________________________________________________
Good to know, I will look into it and pass this on to my cousin. Thanks!


83 posted on 12/28/2020 11:07:16 AM PST by joegoeny ("Nuts!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 82 | View Replies]

To: jimtorr

My dad was a paratrooper w/the 11th Airborne. They
fought in the mountain jungles of Leyte where the
M1 Carbine was considered to be pretty handy. My dad
said most everybody he knew preferred the heavier
Garand. I own a commemorative M1 Carbine given to me
by my dad. He won it at a raffle held at a 11th AB
reunion. It was made by Iver Johnson which did not
make them for WWII. It has a few polished brass
bling things on it and has never been fired.


84 posted on 03/08/2021 12:58:39 PM PST by Sivad (Socialism: Vote your way in, shoot your way out.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-84 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson