Personally the carbine offends me, Not for what is so much as what it was for, so sadly wasn't. How many of our guys got zapped because of it? You look at the Ruger mini-14/ slash min-30 and they're what the gun should have been A reliable, rugged, accurate enough at a hudred yard weapon. The irritating thing is they use technology that was pretty much available at the time. (rant over)
As far as the M1 today, WHY? Its the reason I roll my eyes at most pistol carbines witthe exception of the .44 mag, which is a serious rifle. (Of course its also a serious pistol too, as far as hunting goes). I had fun shooting my M1, bu I sure don't miss it. I'd buy a Saiga in 7.62x39 (around five give take on the net), or a used mini. Why buy a carbine in a non-.44 cartridge, when you can get rifle power for the same money? You'll have a plinker, a short range hunter and you'll significantly raise the ante in a defense situation. Just my .o2
fightig quaker13