I went out shooting yesterday on a buddies land. I took the M1 Carbine and .303 Enfield rifles that my Grandfather had bought many years ago...
It was a fun time plinking with the kids...It was also awesome to get to shoot the Family Heirlooms and share them with some youngsters. I think Grandpa would have been smiling and proud...
I was a little nervous about shooting the guns as they are 60 years old, and the M1 hasn't been fired in 40 years. I loaded up the magazine with (gahd knows how old) Milsurp GI issued ammo (stamped L C 5). I was a little surprised when the gun smoothly chambered the 1st round... I had already checked the barrel with a flashlight to make sure it was unobstructed but was a little nervous about that 1st shot...
I held the rifle away from my body at hip height and squeezed the trigger for the 1st shot. I was quite pleased when the gun fired and chambered the next round. I shouldered the rifle, took aim at a pop can, sucked in and squeezed....The pop can and mud flew 15 feet into the air!
...now at this point...I am grinning from ear to ear
I wasn't sure the gun was going to work, the poor girl hadn't put one down range (according to my Father) in over 40 years. So, to not only have the gun function, but hit on target on the 1st aimed shot made my day!
We shot the remainder of the old ammo (except for one 10 round stripper clip...we left that original and untouched). The gun did have a few jams and probably needs a good cleaning.
So, this brings me to my questions...
1.) Can anyone provide me a good link to some info on cleaning M1 carbines?
2.) Info on this gun. Serial number "3919XXX". The barrel is stamped "I.B.M. CORP." . The serial number seems to be consistent with an IBM made in 1944 (from the info on the web I have found). The magazine release has an underscored "M" stamped on it. The strap around the barrel and stock has a "SA" stamped on it. The gun has a bayonet mount.
Pics to come!
It was a fun time plinking with the kids...It was also awesome to get to shoot the Family Heirlooms and share them with some youngsters. I think Grandpa would have been smiling and proud...
I was a little nervous about shooting the guns as they are 60 years old, and the M1 hasn't been fired in 40 years. I loaded up the magazine with (gahd knows how old) Milsurp GI issued ammo (stamped L C 5). I was a little surprised when the gun smoothly chambered the 1st round... I had already checked the barrel with a flashlight to make sure it was unobstructed but was a little nervous about that 1st shot...
I held the rifle away from my body at hip height and squeezed the trigger for the 1st shot. I was quite pleased when the gun fired and chambered the next round. I shouldered the rifle, took aim at a pop can, sucked in and squeezed....The pop can and mud flew 15 feet into the air!
...now at this point...I am grinning from ear to ear
I wasn't sure the gun was going to work, the poor girl hadn't put one down range (according to my Father) in over 40 years. So, to not only have the gun function, but hit on target on the 1st aimed shot made my day! We shot the remainder of the old ammo (except for one 10 round stripper clip...we left that original and untouched). The gun did have a few jams and probably needs a good cleaning.
So, this brings me to my questions...
1.) Can anyone provide me a good link to some info on cleaning M1 carbines?
2.) Info on this gun. Serial number "3919XXX". The barrel is stamped "I.B.M. CORP." . The serial number seems to be consistent with an IBM made in 1944 (from the info on the web I have found). The magazine release has an underscored "M" stamped on it. The strap around the barrel and stock has a "SA" stamped on it. The gun has a bayonet mount.
Pics to come!
