M1 carbine enough gun for deer?

Some good points here, I though have never been of the view that "If the Govt send me to kill an enemy in war with this cartridge that makes it ok to hunt deer with" point of view. In my opinion there is no such thing as overkill and I consider even the 7.62 x 39 and the 30 30 to be marginal on anything outside of close up 50 yards woodland shots!
It is your conscience after all, that and the 3 hours blood trailing.
 
I don't think that military criteria for selection of a firearm, let alone a specialty weapon like the M1 carbine, bears much relevance to chosing a hunting cartridge. Military weapons are typically designed for specific purposes like wounding, long vs short range, compactness or ease of use / carry. If it happens to also suit hunting, that's great, but I wouldn't draw any inference from military use to hunting deer. The M1 carbine had a very specific role and was designed around that as its main criteria. Long range military cartrides will of necessity have more velocity and ability to expand a soft point.
 
TimC said:
Some good points here, I though have never been of the view that "If the Govt send me to kill an enemy in war with this cartridge that makes it ok to hunt deer with" point of view. In my opinion there is no such thing as overkill and I consider even the 7.62 x 39 and the 30 30 to be marginal on anything outside of close up 50 yards woodland shots!
It is your conscience after all, that and the 3 hours blood trailing.
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I disagree with the marginalization of the 30-30 cartridge/rifle.
It seems that on the internet, it is popular to discredit this rifle cartridge.
Usually by persons whom have never taken the time to improve sights on factory rifles,
or spend any significant amount of time with them at a rifle range before purposefully using them for big game season.
My harvest with a peep sighted Winchester 30-30 Carbine (circa-1956) was at 260 yards on Nov'2005. (high sight-in on purpose)
Deer was more than 3/4s facing me, I held for his white-throat patch and into the 'boiler room' the 150 grain silvertip RN bullet went.
Deer fell dead almost immediately after the shot striking it in the chest, two inches left of centre.
I take it, most British or European hunters would not use a 30-30 rifle or carbine by choice for deer hunting?
That's fine too, but don't believe for one second, this old cartridge cannot get the job done on deer, with proper ammunition, in the right hands.
This just takes a little more time at a rifle range, getting to know one's bullet impact at differant ranges.
I got to the point myself of 200 yard offhand shooting, striking a 10 inch gong, with a 90% success rate.

Cheers........
 
Brutus said:
I disagree with the marginalization of the 30-30 cartridge/rifle.
It seems that on the internet, it is popular to discredit this rifle cartridge.
Usually by persons whom have never taken the time to improve sights on factory rifles,
or spend any significant amount of time with them at a rifle range before purposefully using them for big game season.
My harvest with a peep sighted Winchester 30-30 Carbine (circa-1956) was at 260 yards on Nov'2005. (high sight-in on purpose)
Deer was more than 3/4s facing me, I held for his white-throat patch and into the 'boiler room' the 150 grain silvertip RN bullet went.
Deer fell dead almost immediately after the shot striking it in the chest, two inches left of centre.
I take it, most British or European hunters would not use a 30-30 rifle or carbine by choice for deer hunting?
That's fine too, but don't believe for one second, this old cartridge cannot get the job done on deer, with proper ammunition, in the right hands.
This just takes a little more time at a rifle range, getting to know one's bullet impact at differant ranges.
I got to the point myself of 200 yard offhand shooting, striking a 10 inch gong, with a 90% success rate.

Cheers........
Click to expand...
Please accept my apologies the disparaging remarks were intended for those once a year hunters amongst us. I use my CZ In 7.62 x 39 every week as a stalking guide and to make it deer legal here I have to handload it to the point where accuracy isnt what it should be. I also know a chap who is an SCI member who stalks regularly with a lovely Medwell and Perret in 30 30 which he agrees is margnal at best. Shot placement is everything but sadly the original poster doesnt seem to be of either your or my friends calibre when it comes to practise. The UK deer laws may seem odd but they are there to ensure quick safe ans clean kills. Humane is a non starter really but respect
For your quarry should be a high priority!
 
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TimC said:
Please accept my apologies the disparaging remarks were intended for those once a year hunters amongst us. I use my CZ In 7.62 x 39 every week as a stalking guide and to make it deer legal here I have to handload it to the point where accuracy isnt what it should be. I also know a chap who is an SCI member who stalks regularly with a lovely Medwell and Perret in 30 30 which he agrees is margnal at best. Shot placement is everything but sadly the original poster doesnt seem to be of either your or my friends calibre when it comes to practise. The UK deer laws may seem odd but they are there to ensure quick safe ans clean kills. Humane is a non starter really but respect
For your quarry should be a high priority!
Click to expand...
No apology neccessary my friend. It's interesting that you utilize a 7.62 X 39mm in a good rifle. As you say to, it's the person behind the rifle that makes all the difference in the world. I am sure in your line of work TimC, you have witnessed both ends of this spectrum. I take it, you are a careful stalker & more than decent shot. Certainly my ignorance of the UK game laws are readily apparent, my apologies! With a minimal energy requirement by law, I can now see why leverguns would take a back seat to a stronger single shot or bolt action rifle.
Myself as of late, have been target practicing with a Wichita .308, and I patiently await my PSE compound bow, in the shop for maintenace. This will my tool of harvest this year, and at very close ranges I must say.
I have also been meaning to ask, have you 'bumped off' any wild boar as of late, with your nice Ithaca M37?

Cheers.....
 
we have had some close calls but all local porkers seem to have been taken with .308s recently. Not for want if trying. I had to check some slots as I didnt believe my ears but the deer prints were the size of dairy cattle!
 
Hats off to you

I takes a certain additional fortitude to stand in the way of these tusky beasts.

Americans who hunt these more often than us, recommend anti-chain saw protective boots, for close calls.
While in Manitoba, I too was informed of these over-sized deer footprints, that turned out to be wild boar, not deer.

Perhaps the adrenal rush, keeps one coming back for more excitement.
 
Hell of an assumption to make about a hunter you have never met... With regards to 7.62x39mm. They can be loaded with up to 150 grain bullet which will out class any 30-30 load as a spitzer bullet can be used in magazine fed rifle. Anyone who thinks a 30-30 is on the light side for deer maybe shooting at moose mistakenly... Better have a look a the pics in the reg book! Knowing your shot placement and range are the key to any successful kill.
I've personally witnessed perfect boiler room shots at White Tail (hitting both lungs & heart) with a 270 with a 139 grain bullet of excellent construction. Bugger still ran up about a 45 degree incline & finally pooched out about 75 - 100 yards from where she was hit. It still happens & White Tails are a crazy prey. Sometimes they lay down right where they stood, sometimes not & looking for a blood trail is what you have to do.
A 30 Carbine at 40 yards (as stated by the original poster) with a well placed shot & properly constructed bullet will put down a deer no problem. The same goes for a 30-30, 7.62x39mm, 44-40 & many other pistol cartridges I haven't mentioned.
A 200 yard shot or better, I would say no but within 75 - 100 yards I would consider it reasonable. The original question is a valid one, as not everone, myself included has hunted with every type of caliber out there...
 
Brutus said:
I takes a certain additional fortitude to stand in the way of these tusky beasts.

Americans who hunt these more often than us, recommend anti-chain saw protective boots, for close calls.
While in Manitoba, I too was informed of these over-sized deer footprints, that turned out to be wild boar, not deer.

Perhaps the adrenal rush, keeps one coming back for more excitement.
Click to expand...

Last week whilst walking through the wood by the pheasant pen looking for foxes I came across this;
2O2SfOPz1jhij4iXSzFwUA
I saw this, racked the action on the AAA cartridge and pushed in a slug instead. The piuc shows a 3" slug.
 
As a military cartridge, the M1 was designed to replace the 45acp, a sidearm that many quickly trained soldiers were less than proficient with. Also remember a wounded screaming soldier ties up more resources than a dead one.

Does this sound like the criteria to base a hunting cartridge on?

Again, within it's range it will work. If that's all you have, then mind the distance you are shooting at and hope that once-in-a lifetime buck doesn't present itself at 125yards.
 
Never shot a deer with mine although I shot a bear in the yard that was bold as hell and decided to tear the door off my shed.Now not the best choice for the job at hand but it was all I had ammo for.Shot it in the head at 25 yards ,entered just below the eye and exited the back of the neck,went down like he was hit with a sledge hammer,bullet was a 110 fmj.
Now would I shoot a deer with it? Under 50 yards with a expanding bullet yep I would. As long as it was a broad side shot,no shoulder bones in the way its toast.
All these threads about would you use ''such and such cartridge for deer'' can easily be ansewered with pick your shots carefully be prepaired to let the animal walk if you aren't 100 percent positive you can slip a good bullet in the boiler room at close enough range .Stand hunting ,or still hunting is the best bet for light rounds, deer drives or deer on the run ain't where its at.It is ####ty to wound and loose an animal so if you going with a light cartridge keep the range short and broad side heart / lung shots and success will be yours,spray bullets at a white "flag' motoring away from you and wounded deer has a week or two to suffer one awful agony of a death.
 
TimC said:
Some good points here, I though have never been of the view that "If the Govt send me to kill an enemy in war with this cartridge that makes it ok to hunt deer with" point of view. In my opinion there is no such thing as overkill and I consider even the 7.62 x 39 and the 30 30 to be marginal on anything outside of close up 50 yards woodland shots!
It is your conscience after all, that and the 3 hours blood trailing.
Click to expand...

Hasn't the 30-30 taken more animals in North America than any other cartridge? That's the rumour anyway. It's mildly sad that more and more people think that they need to have a 300 Win Mag to take a deer down. Anything less would be marginal. Well yeah, if you shoot the deer in the guts with a 30-30 you're going to have to walk. When it comes down to it, you just need shot placement.
 
stuckon308 said:
Hasn't the 30-30 taken more animals in North America than any other cartridge? That's the rumour anyway. It's mildly sad that more and more people think that they need to have a 300 Win Mag to take a deer down. Anything less would be marginal. Well yeah, if you shoot the deer in the guts with a 30-30 you're going to have to walk. When it comes down to it, you just need shot placement.
Click to expand...
This was covered earlier, control the urge and read the post, its about the person not the cartridge!;)
 
While the 30/30 has taken a heathy percentage of deer in North America I'd have to say the most used big game cal's will be a toss uo of the 30-06 or the .303brit here in Canada.
The M1Carbine will make a good survival gun , but thats where it stops.

I've also seen WhiteTail run after being hit hard on more than one occasion...it's amazing...and bewildering.
The WhiteTail is tougher than moose , lb for lb
I've warned fellas about using buckshot too ...if they still use it , they're on thier own .
 
I suppose its no different to using a bow! Not an argument I'm starting but shot placement is vital. Take your time and get the shot right, above all practise for every situation imaginable!
 
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