New AO M1 carbine 1st range report

[Jeff023]

ordered the part from FA

[oklahomaguy]

Good, I hope it works as well for you as it did for me. Also, if you are having problems with loose heat shield (metal hand-guard) you may wish to purchase the Type 2 or Type 3 barrel band from FA. These have the screw at the bottom. I noted that the AO barrel band spacer was too wide, and did not allow the screw to go in sufficiently, resulting in loose heat shield. Others on M1 forums have complained about this. You would need to remove the front sight with a punch or better yet with a front sight removal tool. I bought mine from Matrix Precision Parts ($21.00). You can review this process on video; really simple process.

[Jeff023]

Luckily, I don't have a heat shield--I'm very happy with the rifle, except for the magazine issue. Mine's really accurate--it shoots better than I do, lol. But I am thinking of it for HD, so need to feel that confidence that it'll go "bang" every time!

Maybe I'll try the wollf spring for the magazine's too. Thanks for the help! IF I have a problem may I let you know?

[oklahomaguy]

Yes, I don't pretend to be an expert, but these are the things I did after reading articles and threads to make my AO more reliable. I was also having an occasional failure to feed. My AO has become my favorite shooter. By the way, the KCI (Korean) mags work really well. I have noted that others have had good luck with them also. They are also much cheaper than the AO mags and have a bolt-open follower.

[ulflyer]

Jeff, I don't know anything about the AO Carbine, but I do know a lot about GI M1 Carbines. Get a GI mag, or find some KCI (Korean) mags. They are highly thought of in the GI Carbine world. Do an online search and you'll find them. I have some brand new still in the wrapper GI mags I'd sell but they aren't cheap ($30). You can prob find KCI's for half that.

http://www.jgsales.com/m1-carbine-15...w.-p-3142.html

[Jeff023]

Ulflyer, thanks for the info! Alas, I live in Connecticut and can't buy mags for over 10 rds. I did get a couple from keepshooting.com, going to try 'em out when the weather warms up.

[ulflyer]

Ulflyer, thanks for the info! Alas, I live in Connecticut and can't buy mags for over 10 rds. I did get a couple from keepshooting.com, going to try 'em out when the weather warms up.

Perhaps your elderly relative left you a couple of GI mags he brought home from WWII? Whats wrong with that? Like, they were dropped off during a visit in 1980 or thereabouts as a souvenir. Surely you could use those.

Edited: Just looked at CMP Forum and came across this thread about 10 rounders. Looks like if your old relative left you a mag, you'd not be able to use it. One
responder did note that the ones you ordered are good mags, so thats a positive.

http://forums.thecmp.org/showthread....nd+mags&page=2

[Jeff023]

Ya, I'd have had to "declare" any mags I had over 10 rounds last year. Connecticut should be thought of as a small communist country, something like Cuba, lol

[CJB]

Been lurking this thread a while...

Love the M1Carbine... great handy little weapon. Shoulders great, generally shoots reliably (sorry for your mag issues) and is easy on the shoulder with recoil. And they're adequate in accuracy at most ranges where the enemy or bad guy would be encountered. Only problem is, they won't even stop a mad dog unless you whack 'em in the head with the butt of the stock. Great handy little shooter though!

[b4uqzme]

^^^ all I know is it kicks the crap out of pop cans... Just sayin'.

[CJB]

Yup!!!!

[b4uqzme]

^^^

[CPTKILLER]

I will guess that you are correct on the break-in.

[ulflyer]

Been lurking this thread a while...

. Only problem is, they won't even stop a mad dog unless you whack 'em in the head with the butt of the stock. Great handy little shooter though!

Ummm, good thing Audie Murphy didn't know that.

[threedogdad]

Mine has gone through 700 rounds of Prvi, Armscor and Aguila ammo so far without a hitch if using the factory mag, but it hates the KCI mags; just hates them. I bought 4 and can't get through more than 4 or 5 rounds off at a time without trouble. And they wobble around in the magwell like crazy. Not a good fit.