“Paratrooper” M1 carbine

Got my hands on an Auto Ordnance M1 carbines in folding and standard configurations. I prefer the two-aperture flip sight because it doesn’t jump settings on recoil like the M2 ladder sight. I also like the wood better than the perforated metal heat shield I had on the IAI carbines some years ago. Since I’ve had better luck with 30rd magazines than with 15s in the past, I featured these in the photos. M1C is often called “the girlfriend gun” for its light weight and small size, but it was used by men like Audie Murphy and Jim Cirillo to great effect. With soft point ammunition, it approximates the effect of a .357 Magnum carbine — with 30 round capacity. Spare magazines are slim and fit in jeans pockets — you can see the embossing of a 30-rounder over the left pocket in the photo below.

Lacking the original sling, I used a Magpul universal. The sling attachment is at the bottom of the grip, so the length doesn’t change when the stock is extended. That does make the carbine ride upside down when stowed.

M1911A1 is the traditional close-range backup for the carbine. The holster is made by Dennis at Dragon Leather.

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15 Responses to “Paratrooper” M1 carbine

  1. Siege says:

    Nice rifle, indeed. I’d not mind having one myself.

    But I have to ask, where DO you find all these beautiful women to photograph with firearms? The woman in this series is absolutely gorgeous!

    In any event, thank you for all the work you do for the community and our rights!

  2. Pingback: SayUncle » Gun Porn

  3. docjim505 says:

    How did it shoot? Those AO carbines aren’t cheap; are they worth it?

    • Oleg Volk says:

      I will find out next weekend. I have 550rds of JHP and not a single round of ball. Hope to get some ball before the range trip.

  4. Firehand says:

    One of my favorite rifles to shoot is the Carbine, though haven’t had the chance to try one with the paratrooper stock. Stuck a Ultimak base and a red dot sight on; a very good combination.

    Just to try it out, worked up a load using Sierra 110-grain Varminter HP bullets for it; penetrated four jugs of water completely and was in the bottom of the fifth. The HP didn’t upset at all at that velocity, but the bullet did yaw rather dramatically; I would NOT want to get hit with it.

  5. Roger says:

    The 30 rd mags usually work well but are long and cumbersome. The 15 rd Korean mags are very good as are REAL US GI mags. Be very wary of any other 15 rd mags.

  6. Bill N. says:

    I was disappointed to see it had the push button safety. I heard that was changed on military versions because soldiers were pushing on the magazine button when they were trying to push the safety or pushing on the safety instead of the magazine release. Also I thought rifles had to have an overall length of at least 26 inches to avoid having to register them under the 1934 NFA.

  7. Mike LaForge says:

    Whenever/wherever I see some of your work, I can say without any doubt – “Look what Oleg Volk is up to now”. It is simply unmistakeable. I enjoy your art.

  8. anonymous says:

    > M1911A1 is the traditional close-range backup for the carbine.

    What is that statement based on? The M1 Carbine was designed to be a replacement for the M1911A1.

    from “Small Arms of the World” (12th ed., p. 779):
    CARBINE CALIBER .30 M1, MA1A, M2, and M3
    The carbine was developed to replace the pistols in use by noncommissioned officers, special troops and company-grade officers.

    • Oleg Volk says:

      Basing that on photos showing people carrying both. M1c never worked out as a pure pistol replacement. And it certainly cannot in modern civilian use as long gun carry is often impractical.

      • Duray says:

        Like Oleg implied, one can assume that those using the M1C in a frontline role during WWII were also issued 1911’s, making the pistol by default the “backup” to the M1.

  9. EMS-Guy says:

    I have fired an M2 carbine and it is quite the CQB bullet hose. One WWII US Marine vet I talked to was critical of its actual stopping power however and said the Thompson had more “knockdown”. However; My Father was also a US Marine and said that even the 30-06 would not necessarily do the job unless you hit the central nervous system. Dad fired his M1 Garand until the hand guards caught fire during the battle for Guam, so I tend to respect him as a source.

    BTW; It’s “Audie” Murphy not “Audy”.

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