Trying to decide between the Auto Ordnance and the Inland is a challenging decision. I am leaning toward an A-O because they have a longer "track record". I don't feel like "cobbling" a parts gun together, because of metal fatigue, unknown parts source(s) and no warranty.
Any insight would help.
CMP has them from time to time. I would get an account set up there and subscribe to the newsletter and watch the forums. Good chance you can get a decent USGI surplus one sometime during the year.
Sadly, I won't have the cash to buy my M1 Carbine until early 2017. In my opinion, CMP will probably not have any Carbines at the time.
Quote from: sqlbullet on March 07 2016 08:00:18 PM MST
CMP has them from time to time. I would get an account set up there and subscribe to the newsletter and watch the forums. Good chance you can get a decent USGI surplus one sometime during the year.
You must be a member of a club to purchase from the CMP. I have no such affiliation. I am not too thrilled with what has been offered because it s between 69 and 75 years old. World War Two/Korea and Vietnam were not kind to these rifles. The wear put on these, no matter how slight, hasn't improved their accuracy.
Fulton Armory rifles are running $1600.00 (all costs inclusive) take between 12-14 weeks to be "hand built" to the buyer's specifications. James River Armory (Rock-Ola brand) are running $1300.00 (all costs inclusive). The new barrels, billet steel receivers and bolts all contribute to these high costs. This is understandable, but not everyone can afford to pay these prices.
The days of the low-priced USGI surplus days are gone. The last CMP M1 Carbines sold were 3 months ago. The odds of finding a reasonably priced USGI surplus M1 Carbine in 2107 will be between slim and none. Unfortunately, this is reality.
Auto Ordnance has had a great deal of difficulty with a poor reputation garnered from feeding problems and poor stock-to-receiver fit. Inland had some "teething" problems due to a run of poor heat treatment of their cast bolts.
I had a conversation with Ron Norton of Inland and he assured me that they had cured the problems associated with the heat treatment. At the 2016 SHOT show, Ron brought out two .30 M1 Carbine "mules" that had 10,000 rounds fired through each rifle. Ron then stripped the Carbines of all their lubrication and began firing the rifles without any lubrication whatsoever. The rifles averaged between 1800-1850 rounds fired before stopping! (This, obviously, was done to prove that the "soft bolt" problems had been more than resolved).
This leaves me in a quandary. Do I save for 6 months and purchase an Inland, or 9 months and
try to buy a James River (Rock-Ola) M1 Carbine? Both have accurate barrels (and shoot very well). Of course, the billet steel will outlast the cast receiver and bolts. The James River (Rock-Ola) are running an average of $300.00 - $350.00 more than the Inland M1 Carbines.
Sometimes I think I am getting too old for this.
The fulton armory is a solid rebuild of USGI guns. You won't be disappointed. And, given that most often the CMP guns are going at auction now, you may not spend that much more.
Regarding the CMP qual's, don't let that deter you if they ever do have something you want. Membership in the Garand Collectors Association counts and is only $25/year. And a CCW permit counts as marksmanship training. For anyone that spends any time with guns the CMP qualifications are not really a barrier.
I have decided on a James River Armory "Rock-Ola" Carbine. All told, it will cost $1300.00 This will serve me the rest of my days. I don't need a "whiz-bang" AR-15 *yawn*. The M1 Carbine is the original "ranch rifle".
February of 2017 is going to be a long wait.