M1 carbine vs Ruger 44 mag carbine
 

While i lack knowledge of these two semi automatics
i would like a descent brush gun and something for home
defense to go along with my shotgun.
What say those that do know???
The Ruger is available to me with 4x9 scope
and box of Win. 44 mag cartridges @ $400
Thanks up front.
-0j0-

Re: M1 carbine vs Ruger 44 mag carbine
 

I have always liked the 44 Rem Mag as a deer cartridge and a PD round.

Re: M1 carbine vs Ruger 44 mag carbine
 

Nice thing is you can compliment the Ruger carbine with a Ruger Redhawk in the same caliber at a later date. Something to be said for a handgun and a long gun using the same ammo. Would be a real nice pack/trail type one-two combo.

Re: M1 carbine vs Ruger 44 mag carbine
 

Ruger has a Blackhawk model in 30 calibre carbine. Goes along with the M1 Carbine quite well and the pistol isn't such a bear to shoot.

I'm not sure if they make that pistol anymore, but over the past year I've obtained three NIB quite reasonable.

CC

Re: M1 carbine vs Ruger 44 mag carbine
 

44 mag will be a little heavier and larger bullet

30 cal (M1) carbine round is fairly effective out to about 100 yards but it IS a lighter round

they are both about the same size and both would be a good brush gun out to at least 50 yds or perhaps 75 yrds - M1 is mag fed, 44 Mag MIGHT be mag fed OR lever action tube fed (I like this option - you can top off your load without changing or removing the mag) - M1 mags hold 10, 20 or 30 rounds and the 44 mag carbine mag will probably be 10 as well, and a long barrel lever action should also hold 10 rounds

$400 is about right, though a 4x9 scope is a waste on this short range a weapon - I would be replacing that with an 1x or 2x scope for quick acquisition of a target

you can find the M1 carbine starting at $400 if you are lucky

30 caliber carbine ammo is available, though it might be a little more difficult to find than 44 mag but the 44 mag will probably cost more on a round for round basis, all things being equal component wise

I'm just going to throw this out there - an SKS will be about the same gun - though ammo should be cheaper than either of those listed above and you can add a scope if you feel like it and it's about the same size and weight and will hold ten rounds

Re: M1 carbine vs Ruger 44 mag carbine
 

For deer or hog hunting, the Ruger would be far better. For a small and lightweight self defense kind of rifle, I would have to go with the Carbine. Those easy to find 15 round mags are the deal clincher. With larger ones available as well.

I have both. I hunt with the Ruger. I shoot the M1 Carbine for fun. So do my children. (My Ruger is the later model with the detachable clip.)

Gregg

Re: M1 carbine vs Ruger 44 mag carbine
 

Biggest drawback to the Ruger is mag capacity and how slow they are to reload (unless you are getting the new model with the 4 round mags)

Re: M1 carbine vs Ruger 44 mag carbine
 

Yeah, that's the model I have but I'm not really sure "how fast you can reload" figures into it. Because the mags are darn pricey. I've started to buy an extra or two several times and then the nearly $30 price hits me. And they are an odd shape so you couldn't easily put five loaded mags into an M16 mag carrier or anything like that. If you want more than a few shots at once, you have to lean towards the M1 Carbine.

Gregg

Re: M1 carbine vs Ruger 44 mag carbine
 

I've always wanted a .30 cal carbine, but the prices are too much for my liking for a mediocre caliber. They sure look like fun, though! Doesn't Auto Ordinance make new ones these days?

Re: M1 carbine vs Ruger 44 mag carbine
 

Buy both. Or get a KRISS super V.

Re: M1 carbine vs Ruger 44 mag carbine
 

For Woods get the 44Mag. For Peeps go with the Carbine.

The 44 allows for some crazy fun and wide load developement if you hand load. Its not finicky and has a very wide spectrum of Powder Charge and Bullet weights it will accept.

The Carbine is developed for protection against multiple attackers in Battle.

The Carbine has potential if hand loaded with Hollow points to be a hunter and a Death dealer far above its origional intention.

It depends completely on what its for. Battle Rifle for battle. Hunting rifle for hunting and it pack a wallop also.

You really can't go wrong in my opinion.

E-A

Re: M1 carbine vs Ruger 44 mag carbine
 

WOW....
thanks for the replies....
looks as if my lean is for the 44 mag...
two reasons....
price has been reduced with two boxes of 50 count
Win. 44 mag cartridges.... that's gotta be about $80+
incentive.

I did locate a 30 carbine for the same price but the Ruger
is in almost new shape both the stock and the action,
and it does include a scope for
what ever that is worth.
It is the older tube feed style.
-0j0-

Re: M1 carbine vs Ruger 44 mag carbine
 

As long as slow reloads and the 4 round mag doesn't bother you the Ruger is a good gun, especially if you plan to deer hunt with it. Just as a thought to make you go mmmmm here is one other option, a Ruger PC4R, this is the Ruger Police Carbine in 40 S&W. It uses the easy to find Ruger P series magazines, is easy to scope, fun to shoot, quick to reload...just a great gun but not legal for deer in some places. Summit has them for $435 w/ 2 mags and peep sights.

Re: M1 carbine vs Ruger 44 mag carbine
 

Good luck on finding a decent 30 Carbine for $400 anyway. Don't know why I didn't pick up a couple of those years ago from DCM when they were cheap.

My dad was a platoon and later company commander with the 101st Airborne in WWII, an M1 Carbine is what he carried.

Re: M1 carbine vs Ruger 44 mag carbine
 

I wouldn't mind having one of the old ones for the collection. And I would shoot it but not very much. My gunsmith has been doing the work professionally for something like 35 years and one day I mentioned I was looking at buying one of those rifles. He cautioned me that he sees them come in for work "more than you would expect" and the big problem is "there just are no spare parts." Some spare parts can be made by an experienced gunsmith but you are going to pay his hourly rate for the time it takes. The tube fed models were discontinued a long time ago so every one of them you see is an older gun. If I was going to buy one I would look at it long and hard with my primary issue being "how many rounds has this rifle fired?" If it is a 90% or better gun, probably I would be a buyer. If it looks like it has seen a lot of use..... I would be cautious. At the very least, I would ask for my gunsmith to check it over first.

Gregg

Re: M1 carbine vs Ruger 44 mag carbine
 

That's the issue I have, the Ruger is great, and you just can't beat a 44mag carbine for "put it on it's tail" power, but it's a commercial rifle that is pretty reliable.

The Carbine (get a USGI one, don't waste time or money on a commercial of any make) is made for reliability, period. They are robust and as reliable as a machine can be made. The 30 carbine is a big step down from the 44, but it will deliver one every time. Plus it's light and handy for the wife and kids.

Full disclosure: I own a Win 94 trapper (16" levergun) in 44 mag, and several carbines. I use the 44 on hogs in brush if I don't take a shotgun, but I shoot the carbines a LOT more. Love them both, but I trust the carbines more.