I wanted to see how the newer Inland did at 100 yards but the "range" was full of people shooting very close. I still haven't fired the carbines at 100, but it was interesting to compare ease and accuracy with that of the pistols the other guys were using. I was able to knock the cans around pretty handily while the pistol guys were scaring them but not hitting them. It would be a clear choice; if there was something around that I just had to hit, the carbine would be the way to go. Of course carrying the carbine and the .45 would appeal to me...

I agree 100%!
In the 50-80 yard range I can hit WAY more accurately with the M1 than with the M14 or M1903 from standing/offhand - cuz the li'l bugger is so light!

The little M16 popgun is another accurate shooter from the offhand for the same reason.

But when it comes to seriously knocking something down at range, well, the M14/Garand/1903 does a job the li'l popguns can't. To shoot them offhand accurately you have to have some upper body strength. (Us old boys have to stay in shape for that stuff - but with a carbine, even us softies can shoot!)

dvl, you've just rediscovered the reason that the Carbine was fielded. It was originally meant to replace the 1911A1 in a number of instances where a rifle was physically too large, or where there was a good chance that the carrier would be using the weapon in only "where did THEY come from" situations.

The prime reason was the time it took the soldier to learn how to accurately shoot a pistol, versus a rifle. Of additional value was the ability to incorporate a larger magazine capacity, and a more powerful cartridge.

The easiest way to use a carbine in combat is to imagine that you have a high-capacity magnum pistol in your hands. Used for ranges appropriate to that, the little Carbine is a world-beater.

At this age, I figure that waving the muzzle around while I'm trying to aim would frighten the enemy off, a gesture of aggression. Maybe I could get somebody to help hold it steady.

I'm looking forward to meeting an M14. I may have to file adoption papers because I've never seen one on island.

I know that Quagmire has been saying this all along, but the carbine is an addictive pleasure at the range. The ease of handling, the light weight and the accuracy coupled with the feel of wood and steel make it satisfying and an attention-getter as well. It's like walking a puppy through a group of college girls...

Our offer stands. Come down and meet ours. It doesn't bite (as long as you hold it properly), and we have a goodly amount of 7.62x51.

Oh, and we have it's semi-auto little brother, as well.

Your offer is much appreciated and filed toward the front of the drawer. I would like to meet you and yours!

We certainly have room here. The invite is for any member to let us know and come on down. We're roughly an hour North of Atlanta, and I-75 is close to us on the west. The neighborhood is quiet, friendly, and without the constant sound of sirens and planes that all too many of us have grown accustomed to.

I took my youngest son and a few carbines to the range today also. Had the most fun with the hand stamp Inland I picked up weekend before last. Got it sighted in and had a blast shooting soda cans around off-hand.

Here's something you might want to try dvl, it's the 25 yard targeting diagram from TM 9-1276. The TM includes a 100 yard target, but I prefer to target them at 25 yards.

http://www.firemission.com/m1_carbine/c ... geting.jpg

Here's a pic of the target I used with the Inland and a Winchester carbine I'd recently changed the front sight on. The Inland is perfect, but the Winchester is shooting low. I needs to have the front sight filed down a bit, but I haven't decided if I'll do it or not.

http://www.firemission.com/m1_carbine/i ... ra_tgt.jpg

Carbines are like popcorn, you can't shoot just once. We have a friend with a converted (US Army post WWII upgrade) M1 to M2. The thing is like an M16 that never jams!! No recoil, accurate out to 150 yds., and with high-capacity mags. It's like a gun, only smaller.