I have seen a few at a couple of gun shows, what I was wondering was are they restricted? I had a look on the list of guns on the restricted and prohibited lists and did not find the m1 30 carbine on either one. With an 18 inch barrel and overall length of 36 inches would they not be a long gun that needs the mag to be pinned at 5 rounds? It would be fun to have one for coyotes, as a plinker and I found a store that has the ammo in stock. I only have my unrestricted long gun license so I figured I would ask before the next gun show. I might get all excited to buy another gun and then find out that I need my restricted at the last minute.
m1 30 carbine ???
- Thread starter jpappy
- Start date
Yes it's restricted. 18" barrel is the reason. There are some converted to non-restricted by way of an 18.5" barrel. You want a handy little carbine that's non-restricted? Take a look at JR Carbines, they come in 9mm, 40 s&w and 45 acp. They have the added bonus of using glock magazines so you get 10 rounds instead of 5 with the m1.
Original USGI M1 carbines with 18" barrel are restricted. You can find the odd one that was rebarrelled with a longer barrel but they can be harder to find and pricer that the restricted model. Auto Ordanance makes a non-restricted model with a 19" barrel. I recently picked one up and seems to work fine. They run around $850 to $900 new and take USGI mags. I still like the USGI ones better but you can't take them plinking in the bush or coyote hunting.
I purchased mine from the Phoenix Gun Range in Edmonton a little over a week ago. They had two. Good chance the other one is still there.
Take a quick read of the Auto Ordinace M1 review a little further down on the forum page before diving into buying one. A few bad comments on their older models which some have remedied with a little rework and TLC. That being said, I've owned a Universal M1 carbine for a few years and it cycles great except for a feeding issue with a couple of my 5 round mags. There are a lot of negative reviews of the Universal models as well but there are a few good ones out there. It all comes down to the manufacturer's quality control and a little luck picking a good functioning one.
I've always figured they made the legal barrel length for non restricted 18.5 semi autos , just cause they wanted to be sure the M1 carbine would be restricted. 
I cite for proof of that the fact that they won't let you put a barrel extension on it.
Grizz
I cite for proof of that the fact that they won't let you put a barrel extension on it. Grizz
hey jpappie.. last year, 2012, i was selling military gear at the Kamloops Gun Show in April and had a sign up for wanting a M1 carbine. i had 3 sellers contact me by the end of the first day. 2 were unrestricted and 1 restricted. i only have an unrestricted license, so i ended buying one of the unrestricted ones and he included a bunch of ammo too, for alot less than $900. i may still have the name of the seller for the other nonrestricted M1.. i'll send you a PM if you are interested.
I've always figured they made the legal barrel length for non restricted 18.5 semi autos , just cause they wanted to be sure the M1 carbine would be restricted.
Grizz
Actually, that's true. But not for the reason you might think. At one time many years ago, the criminal element in Quebec were cutting down M1 carbines to replicate a version called the "ENFORCER" (search it out for a pic) which had the barrel cut back to the stock band, and the butt stock chopped just behind the pistol grip. Add in the M2 full auto parts which they somehow acquired, and the carnage they caused with robberies etc., and that's one of the reasons we've got the 18.5" rule.
That's the condensed version.
- Location
- pallisers triangle
never heard this one before
Yeah, back in the 70s they were used in a host of bank robberies in Montreal. The police said M1 Carbines were turning up in connection with these robberies and pushed for the M1 Carbine to be restricted.
I hadn't developed much of an interest in the carbine until the mid 80's, by that time, they were already restricted.
I hadn't developed much of an interest in the carbine until the mid 80's, by that time, they were already restricted.
There was a photo of one of the reworked M-1s seized in Quebec published years ago. The auto conversion was not a M-2 set; it was original, and quite clever.
Enforcers are named prohibited firearms. They were designed to use M-1 magazines, therefore any Enforcer magazine is going to be a M-1 magazine.
Enforcers are named prohibited firearms. They were designed to use M-1 magazines, therefore any Enforcer magazine is going to be a M-1 magazine.
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