New AO M1 carbine 1st range report

[b4uqzme]

b4, I'm planning on taking the mini-14 to the range on Monday. I'll shoot it at 50 and 100 yeards and post a range report. It's a really good rifle. I think I paid about $600 for it back in '05 or thereabouts. It's a Ranch rifle, which means it throws the empties sideways so that you can install a scope over the receiver.

I've seen them locally over $850, but this is CT, where they're at a premium because they aren't classed as "assault weapons" unless they have the folding stock or have been re-stocked.

They're not super-accurate, although I think there are things that can be done to get them to shoot 1" or less groups.

Jeff, I went ahead and bought a mini14. I like it alot but I like the m130 much better. Light and easy shooting and I am more accurate with the m1. Gonna go ahead and sight the mini in again plus I have a scope coming. Should be fun. Might have to ante up for some better ammo if I want some accuracy. Been shooting wolf and tula. Never expected to enjoy semi auto rifles this much but these are great and they will get shot alot.

[Jeff023]

Hi All--

b4, glad the mini is working out for you! I had mine out on the range the other day (I usually shoot Federal Eagle range ammo or PMC), and it was fine. At 50 yards, it's all in the ten ring; at 100 yards, it's usually in there This is shooting with my elbow on the bench, not off a rest or led sled. I have a 1-3X Bushnell scope on it, which works out pretty well. I hear the most recent ones are more accurate than the earlier model. Mine's fine for what I expect of it--If I want sub-moa groups I get out my bolt-action Ruger M77.

Also, I finally got my M1 back from AO today! So it was about a month, which is what they say on their website for turn-around on long guns. The work order says they "reworked the magazines and magazine catch." It doesn't say so, but I can see they also polished the feed ramp. It still had back paint or blue on it when I had the gun before, but now it's nice and shiny. I will head to the range on Monday, weather permitting, and will come back and let you all know how it goes. I must say that they were good about communication and doing the service. The service rep I talked to was Jay D'Andrea, who was quite professional and even checked on the status of the job for me after the rifle had been there for awhile.

I'm happy to have it back--really missed shooting it!

[Wolverines]

If I told you how accurate my AO carbine is at 100 yards you guys wouldn't believe me so I won't. I will say it bests any USGI carbine I've ever shot and I've shot a lot of them. The AO bests them by a good margin. I know it's not fair to compare a 70 year old rifle against a brand new rifle but even if the USGI rifles were new I doubt they would be as accurate as the AO is.

[b4uqzme]

I agree Wolverines (not Michigan I hope) WELCOME. I really cannot explain it. I'm not sure whether it's the AO carbine that's so accurate or whether I'm just more accurate shooting it. Either way, I hits what I aims at.

Not so with the Ruger Mini14. I just checked the sights with a laser bore sighter and they are dead on...but somehow I'm still shooting left. The sights are real similar

[O'Dell]

Hi Jeff, welcome to the forum, BTW. I remember shooting one of these little jewels at the range when I was qualifying with the M1 and 45. That was 1960, but I remember I really liked the little carbine. We qualified the M1 on the 200 yd range, but shot the carbine at 100 yards. I recall it had no recoil to speak of and was quite accurate. I even thought about buying one 10 or 12 years ago, remembering in the 60's you could buy them all day for $50. After the initial sticker shock, I bought a Hi Point carbine.

[Pointblank]

This makes me want one. Nice rifle.

[Jeff023]

Well, it's been quite awhile, but I thought I'd report back. After a couple more trips to the range, my M1 AO carbine was still jamming, usually because the cartridges weren't going up the feed ramp smoothly. I sent it back to the factory a second time, and it was back in about three weeks. It now works much better--they said they made alterations to the mags (not sure what--maybe pried the lips back a bit?). They now seat well and the shells go up the feed ramp much more easily. It's favorite brand of ammo seems to be Armscor FMJ, which feeds and ejects very nicely. It also worked well with Sellier and Bellot FMJ and Magtech FMJ. I tried some privi soft points and it shoots them but still jams open every so often. Accuracy was fine--all in the X ring at 50 yards, as long as I was paying attention.

I've put 450 rounds thru it so far and it does seem to be loosening up. Any ideas re: getting soft points to function really reliably would be welcome, although I don't really mind sticking to FMJ. I have some Remington FMJ that I want to try next. The little rifle is a joy to handle, point, and shoot--very light recoil of course. Here in CT, I can only have ten-round mags, but it's still a solid HD weapon I think.

Best to all--should I try polishing the feed ramp with Flitz or something else? Messing around with the mag lips? Or just leave well enough alone?

[100percent]

My wife has one. She hardly shoots it. Wish the rear sight had an elevation adjustment.

[b4uqzme]

shoot the Fokker... in time you will probably find it reliably feeds more various ammo. Really glad it is running better for you.

[Jeff023]

Thanks b4--nice quotation in your signature, BTW. I'm pretty happy with it, think I'll keep shooting, oiling, cleaning and see what transpires :-)

[oklahomaguy]

Jeff023, I replaced the recoil spring and magazines springs with Wolff springs. I then changed out the magazine release with Fulton Armory release (Easy change out). The magazines seat better and there are no hiccups. I use Auto Ord., KCI (Korean) and Keep Shooting magazines. I shoot Auguila and Magtech ammo. Hope this helps.

[Jeff023]

Wow, thanks for the advice. I'm not the least bit a gunsmith, so what you describe sounds challenging. But maybe there are some videos on how to do it.

The rifle's shooting ok now as long as I keep it fairly clean.

[oklahomaguy]

Edit, I replaced the magazine catch (not release) with a Fulton Armory part.

[oklahomaguy]

Jeff023 it is not challenging at all. There are videos on how to change the magazine catch. It is literally a 5 minute job. It made a big difference in how my magazines were seating, resulting in better feeding. My AO now runs flawlessly.

[Jeff023]

Ok, I'll take a look on youtube--thanks alot for the help!