The M1 Carbine has never been known for it's accuracy. US Army accuracy standards specified a 25 yd grouping of 3 x 3 inches with 5 out of 7 shots. This was probably not unreasonable considering that the Carbine was basically a replacement for the pistol.
I've only shot them as plinkers or as rabbit guns before the 1978 restrictions on them. Yesterday I decided to shoot a couple that I had built from the bench @ 50 yds just to see what they would do on paper. Results were surprising and certainly better than the military standard which was set @ 25 yds.
Rifle No 1 is a 1943 Rock-ola with a 4-45 Inland barrel. Average group size was 2.05 inches using American Eagle and Remington ammo. Rifle No 2 is a 1943 Winchester with a 1-44 Underwood barrel. It produced groups averaging 1.90 inches with the same ammo. The American Eagle ammo proved to be a bit more accurate in both pieces.
The Carbine is a tough one to tweak for accuracy. The barreled action is basically free floating in the stock, except where it is hung from the rear recoil lug. Varying the tension of the barrel band can make a difference. Ammo can make a difference as well. Based on this experience I'm going to try them again with WRA ammo and see what happens.
By way of comparison I also tested a 1944 vintage Springfield Garand with a nice original barrel and a 1942 vintage Remington M1903 Springfield that I had recently re-built with a new 9-44 dated High Standard barrel. Using handloads @100 yds, average group size from the M1 was 1.82 inches, ahead of the M1903 which averaged 1.98 inch groups. Normally it's the reverse with an M1903 showing better accuracy than an M1, all things being equal. Going to try some other handloads in this M1903 as I'd like to get it closer to another one that I recently re-built with a new 7-44 Springfield Armory barrel. That one turned in groups averaging 1.18 inches
.
I've only shot them as plinkers or as rabbit guns before the 1978 restrictions on them. Yesterday I decided to shoot a couple that I had built from the bench @ 50 yds just to see what they would do on paper. Results were surprising and certainly better than the military standard which was set @ 25 yds.
Rifle No 1 is a 1943 Rock-ola with a 4-45 Inland barrel. Average group size was 2.05 inches using American Eagle and Remington ammo. Rifle No 2 is a 1943 Winchester with a 1-44 Underwood barrel. It produced groups averaging 1.90 inches with the same ammo. The American Eagle ammo proved to be a bit more accurate in both pieces.
The Carbine is a tough one to tweak for accuracy. The barreled action is basically free floating in the stock, except where it is hung from the rear recoil lug. Varying the tension of the barrel band can make a difference. Ammo can make a difference as well. Based on this experience I'm going to try them again with WRA ammo and see what happens.
By way of comparison I also tested a 1944 vintage Springfield Garand with a nice original barrel and a 1942 vintage Remington M1903 Springfield that I had recently re-built with a new 9-44 dated High Standard barrel. Using handloads @100 yds, average group size from the M1 was 1.82 inches, ahead of the M1903 which averaged 1.98 inch groups. Normally it's the reverse with an M1903 showing better accuracy than an M1, all things being equal. Going to try some other handloads in this M1903 as I'd like to get it closer to another one that I recently re-built with a new 7-44 Springfield Armory barrel. That one turned in groups averaging 1.18 inches
.
