I have unrestricted M1 carbine coming soon (hopefully), of course I will use it for deer. The question is - what loads should I be buying and what is available in 30 carbine anyway? What kind of penetration at what distances should I expect. I know its rather broad question, but, say at 100 yards - will it penetrate scull. If I hit it of course. Or how about broadside ribcage? Will it do enough damage to boiler room? All suggestions are much appreciated.
30 carbine for deer
- Thread starter 22lr
- Start date
Do you have any other centerfire rifle? The reason I'm asking is almost anything would be better suited to deer hunting. Sounds like you've never shot a 30 carbine before, it's not normally "minute of scull" at 100yards. I certainly hope you have no intentions of trying that stunt.
troutseeker
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Prince George, BC
100 yards paper plate sized target, should be no problem to shoot one in the chest. Any soft point load will do, it's only deer after all...
I've got 303 british, and more 303 british and again , then some 6.5x55 Swede, and then some 7.62x39 and - should I continue? M1 carbine is for my kid - I think it shouldn't kick harder than 22. I am a bit disappointed about M1 carbine accuracy. Paper plate size groups - that is really disgusting news. Anybody knows any special trick that will improve M1 carbine's accuracy?
, then some 6.5x55 Swede, and then some 7.62x39 and - should I continue? M1 carbine is for my kid - I think it shouldn't kick harder than 22. I am a bit disappointed about M1 carbine accuracy. Paper plate size groups - that is really disgusting news. Anybody knows any special trick that will improve M1 carbine's accuracy?
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I think a 30 carbine is a poor choice for hunitng
However, if yo umust..Treat it like a medum handgun- which is what eh 30 carbine was supposed to duplicate, anyway..
50 yards or so, it should work. I would be much less confident in it at any greater range...
However, if yo umust..Treat it like a medum handgun- which is what eh 30 carbine was supposed to duplicate, anyway..
50 yards or so, it should work. I would be much less confident in it at any greater range...
SGTMAJSTEVE
Regular
I used a .30 carbine in the bush. very little deflection in dense bush. great within 150 yrds. but how often do you shoot even a 100 yrds, in the bush?
you can always load with 123 or 135 gr. pointed bullets. just load down a bit till you do some testing. I have been working on 110 gr. round nose .30 carb. bullets in my Ruger Mini 30. so far real good results. I'm looking for 135 gr. round nose bullets if anyone runs across them.
But the M1 carbine is a great little bush gun, after all you don't need a magnum for deer!
you can always load with 123 or 135 gr. pointed bullets. just load down a bit till you do some testing. I have been working on 110 gr. round nose .30 carb. bullets in my Ruger Mini 30. so far real good results. I'm looking for 135 gr. round nose bullets if anyone runs across them.
But the M1 carbine is a great little bush gun, after all you don't need a magnum for deer!
Sorry but, i feel we owe it to the game we hunt, to use a caliber that has a realistic chance of a quick, clean, 1 shot kill. The .22 LR has been used on big game, that doesn't make it a big game cal. Even for young folk, there are far better cals. for deer hunting.
juanvaldez
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Sudbury, Ontario
Use the 7.62x39 if you are worried about recoil for your kid. Probably just the way you worded it, but by your own statements you are already planning on using it before you are sure if it is a sufficient cartridge to do the job. There are lots of choices as well as the managed recoil loads, no sense in using something marginal.
Typically, any bullets heavier than 110 grains and round nose will not fit in the magazine unless they are seated so deeply as to really limit the amount of powder you would use. Most loading manuals list only 100-110gr loads for a reason.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Give your kid a chance and let him hunt with a more practical caliber in a more accurate rifle. The 6.5X55 would be excellent, and has mild recoil with the lighter bullet weights, say 125-130 grs. Get him out shooting prior to the season and let him build up some confidence with the rifle. That will be better for him and the deer. There is no such thing as "it's only a deer."
110gn bullet @ 2000fps
& a head shoot to boot
I'm surprised this thread lasted this long!
IBTL
"...looking for 135 gr. round nose bullets..." Too long for the mag.
"...what is available in 30 carbine anyway?..." 110 grain SP's and HP's. Plus FMJ RN's. No FMJ's for deer though.
"...Paper plate size groups..." That'll do if it's every time, off hand, at 100 yards with good ammo at a 9" pie plate. However, try some different ammo. If you're not reloading, you have to try as many brands as you can to find the ammo your carbine will both shoot well and cycle the action. If you are reloading, work up a load using 110 grain bullets with IMR4227.
"...was supposed to duplicate..." Nope. It was to replace the handgun issued to troopies who either didn't need or couldn't carry a rifle. Radops, drivers, arty types and officers mostly. It's easier to teach a non-shooter to shoot a carbine well than it is a pistol. A medium handgun round it isn't.
"...what is available in 30 carbine anyway?..." 110 grain SP's and HP's. Plus FMJ RN's. No FMJ's for deer though.
"...Paper plate size groups..." That'll do if it's every time, off hand, at 100 yards with good ammo at a 9" pie plate. However, try some different ammo. If you're not reloading, you have to try as many brands as you can to find the ammo your carbine will both shoot well and cycle the action. If you are reloading, work up a load using 110 grain bullets with IMR4227.
"...was supposed to duplicate..." Nope. It was to replace the handgun issued to troopies who either didn't need or couldn't carry a rifle. Radops, drivers, arty types and officers mostly. It's easier to teach a non-shooter to shoot a carbine well than it is a pistol. A medium handgun round it isn't.
Gentlemen. I do respect your opinion on caliber choices. Question however was on particular penetration properties of 30 carbine, best ammo choice and any first hand info from experience. If it wasn't punny round I won't be here asking questions in first place.
Well ok, let me put it to you this way. IF you can find ammo in the store it will most likely be either FMJ which is illegal to hunt deer with OR 110gr hollowpoint, which will not penetrate well either. If you did happen to locate some softpoint ammo it would most closely resemble a 110gr .357mag pistol load, powert wise. Not ideal and as others have suggested, get your son something he has a chance with. Let him plink and practice with the M1 to start, get him a 243 or something similar when it come time to go after deer.
If you knew it was such a punny round why would you labour your son with such a caliber that requires expert hunting skills to kill with! Don't you think he'll be a little more traumitized seeing a deer running in circles after being hit with a caliber of such inferior ballistic capabilites
Even the punny 7.62x39 is head & shoulders superior to the old .30 Carbine!!
I agree with the above poster..give your son a chance
SGTMAJSTEVE
Regular
Well I guess I'm just a better shot.L.O.L. I've never had a deer get up or not drop with anything I used. My .30 cal. carb. has done a good job. No maybe it's not the best cal. but it works. But I've seen fools with .300 mags miss or wound them.
Then say they need a ultra-mag???? redictulas!
An old indian friend of mine once said. there's been more deer taken with
.303's or 30-30- Winchester than anything esle they ever used.
Now a days people feel they need an ultra mag. super short mag, or a f___n mini gun or some thing! My father used a .303 all his life, My wifes father used a .250 Savage 99. My Uncle loved his 30-06 Woodmaster, My favorite gun for open field is my custom built .257 Ackley I built myself, 300 yd. hits easy. But we all got our game.
The point is, most guns can do what you need them to if you know what your doing & can shoot!
Make the gun fits you, feel comfortable with it, Learn how to use it. practice & enjoy.
Just never shoot unless you are 100%positive you can make a clean shot!
I've let many game walk because I couldn't be positive of the shot.
There's always another chance!
Then say they need a ultra-mag???? redictulas!
An old indian friend of mine once said. there's been more deer taken with
.303's or 30-30- Winchester than anything esle they ever used.
Now a days people feel they need an ultra mag. super short mag, or a f___n mini gun or some thing! My father used a .303 all his life, My wifes father used a .250 Savage 99. My Uncle loved his 30-06 Woodmaster, My favorite gun for open field is my custom built .257 Ackley I built myself, 300 yd. hits easy. But we all got our game.
The point is, most guns can do what you need them to if you know what your doing & can shoot!
Make the gun fits you, feel comfortable with it, Learn how to use it. practice & enjoy.
Just never shoot unless you are 100%positive you can make a clean shot!
I've let many game walk because I couldn't be positive of the shot.
There's always another chance!
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- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
My brother hunted for years with a 30 M1. He became a laughing stock of sorts. He got the nickname Rambo. He tried to use it (Locked in semi mode) as an automatic, it will fire very very fast, if your finger is up to it. He got many opportunities with the little carbine, but never connected. He was too concerned with rate of fire, and not accuracy.
He always used factory loads, he didn't reload.
I do remember that it would not penetrate a two inch Ironwood tree. (Very hard elm like small tree)
Another fellow hunted with us for a while with one, and he did handload. He used hot loads all the time, and eventually damaged the gas mechanism. He never connected either, but he I don't think really got the chance. Deer were scarce in those days.
He always used factory loads, he didn't reload.
I do remember that it would not penetrate a two inch Ironwood tree. (Very hard elm like small tree)
Another fellow hunted with us for a while with one, and he did handload. He used hot loads all the time, and eventually damaged the gas mechanism. He never connected either, but he I don't think really got the chance. Deer were scarce in those days.
fat tony
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I once had an NRA publication, it must have been from back in the 1960's, there was an article in it about how to bubba/accurize an M-1 Carbine, what they did was get rid of the top handguard, get rid of the barrel band, drill and tap through the separate tang piece, so that the tang piece and the rear of the receiver were like a unit, also they drilled a forward receiver screw in at an angle from the fore part of the stock to the front of the receiver.
