Which piston carbine would you purchase?

[M1911]

Yeah, but try finding .30 Carbine ammo.

 

[40 Creedmoor fan]

Yeah, but try finding .30 Carbine ammo.

Always wanted an M1 Carbine. There is something so… American about it. Like grabbing a WW2 period 1911 or a S&W Model 10.
Alas, ammo is what kept me from ever getting one. I don’t have any safe queens and keeping something like an M1 Carbine and not shoot it ‘no bueno’ for me.

 

[M1911]

Always wanted an M1 Carbine. There is something so… American about it. Like grabbing a WW2 period 1911 or a S&W Model 10.
Alas, ammo is what kept me from ever getting one. I don’t have any safe queens and keeping something like an M1 Carbine and not shoot it ‘no bueno’ for me.

It used to be readily available but after COVID hit it has been much more difficult to find.

 

[40 Creedmoor fan]

It used to be readily available but after COVID hit it has been much more difficult to find.

I’m seriously considering taking one of those reloading classes…

 

[M1911]

I’m seriously considering taking one of those reloading classes…

During COVID you couldn’t even find 30 Carbine brass and carbide reloading dies were also unobtanium. Unlike most pistol rounds, I believe 30 carbine brass needs to be trimmed.

 

[40 Creedmoor fan]

Unlike most pistol rounds, I believe 30 carbine brass needs to be trimmed.

What do you mean? Why? Fixing feeding issues? Just curious.

 

[M1911]

What do you mean? Why? Fixing feeding issues? Just curious.

Just like rifle cases, apparently 30 Carbine brass stretches when resized and needs to periodically be trimmed to proper length. This is a standard procedure for reloading rifle cases, but not necessary for most pistol calibers.

Reloading - case trimming (essential for fired brass)

Fieldsports Press Website

rifleshootermagazine.co.uk

 

[paul73]

Just like rifle cases, apparently 30 Carbine brass stretches when resized and needs to periodically be trimmed to proper length. This is a standard procedure for reloading rifle cases, but not necessary for most pistol calibers.

Reloading - case trimming (essential for fired brass)

Fieldsports Press Website

rifleshootermagazine.co.uk

the articles usually show it to be way too difficult than it is. just need a way simpler tool.
this, and it has it has video there in the listing, it is what i use and it works extremely well and simple.
Amazon product ASIN B07KT8D31QView: https://www.amazon.com/Frankford-Arsenal-Universal-Construction-Functionality/dp/B07KT8D31Q

 

[AmeriKHAN]

Always wanted an M1 Carbine. There is something so… American about it. Like grabbing a WW2 period 1911 or a S&W Model 10.
Alas, ammo is what kept me from ever getting one. I don’t have any safe queens and keeping something like an M1 Carbine and not shoot it ‘no bueno’ for me.

White Birch Amory has .30 carbine available. Just provide a picture of a valid LTC and they will ship straight to your doorstep in MA.

Winchester Ammo X30M1 Super-X 30 Carbine 110 gr Hollow Soft Point (HSP) 50 Bx/10 Cs - White Birch Armory

Super-X ammunition has provided exceptional quality and outstanding performance for all types of hunters and shooters who rely on its time-proven dependability backed by legendary excellence.

www.wbarmory.com

 

[Spartan65]

If I made 400k/year I would just buy one of each.

 

[M1911]

White Birch Amory has .30 carbine available. Just provide a picture of a valid LTC and they will ship straight to your doorstep in MA.

Winchester Ammo X30M1 Super-X 30 Carbine 110 gr Hollow Soft Point (HSP) 50 Bx/10 Cs - White Birch Armory

Super-X ammunition has provided exceptional quality and outstanding performance for all types of hunters and shooters who rely on its time-proven dependability backed by legendary excellence.

www.wbarmory.com

At $1.60 per round. No thank you.

 

[maritz01]

Years past I had a registered receiver and purchased a 7.5” 5.56 upper. The direct impingement system wasn’t reliable causing it to short stroke. I ended up putting an H type buffer into it and purchased an Adam’s Arms piston upper in 7.5”. It works perfectly. Never a hiccup. Now that I sold the RR I have a SBR.

 

[Agnotology]

I have a Scorpion Evo3 S1 SBR that fills that niche nicely. If I go with another PCC, it will be an HK USC/UMP conversion in .45ACP. Not on the list in this thread because I've been focused on rifle calibers, not PCC's.

I misread "piston" for "pistol". my bad. Looks like a lot of other people did as well.

Mutant MK47? AR in 5.45? .300 blackout? You want exotic or something tweakable?

 

[Rocky Mosasaurus]

I HAVE TO CATCH THEM ALL, POKÉMON!!!

 

[mav]

I misread "piston" for "pistol". my bad. Looks like a lot of other people did as well.

Mutant MK47? AR in 5.45? .300 blackout? You want exotic or something tweakable?

See the poll at the top of the thread to see what I am considering. I don’t reload and really don’t have the time so not particularly interested in esoteric or non-common calibers

 

[Agnotology]

See the poll at the top of the thread to see what I am considering. I don’t reload and really don’t have the time so not particularly interested in esoteric or non-common calibers

Then the real question is what do you already have? How do you feel about bullpups? .308? 6.5 Creedmoor? .300 Blackout? 7.62x39 ? Are you OK with $1/round? Or do you want something more in the realm of 50 cents a round? Is the .50 BMG a meme option? Based on things you posted, I'd put the FN Scar up there.

Barret is cool, and the look is neat, but there are better options for a semi-auto .50 BMG than an m107 or m82. Crom CR-50, Serbu BFG 50A, MG Arms Behemoth, AK-50 if Brandon Herrera ever finishes the prototype and/or begin production. Also shooting $4/round hurts when that is the "cheap" ammo. You can buy an entire gun for what you spend shooting just in an afternoon, or 1/4 of the some of the options you have up there.

 

[40 Creedmoor fan]

The direct impingement system wasn’t reliable causing it to short stroke.

The issue is the diameter of the hole in the barrel. Very common. Most sub 16" barrels have undersized holes. SOLGW stuff is correct. So is Daniel Defense's. Most of the cheap stuff is not..

 

[MaroonedinMA]

Those LMT R20 Estonia Reference rifles are pretty sweet, though. I want one to keep my NZ Reference model company on those long cold nights in the safe. Hell, maybe I’ll wake up to an extra small (PDW?) lmt one morning!

What, wrong thread?, I thought this was Gun Porn, my bad.

 

[mav]

Years past I had a registered receiver and purchased a 7.5” 5.56 upper. The direct impingement system wasn’t reliable causing it to short stroke. I ended up putting an H type buffer into it and purchased an Adam’s Arms piston upper in 7.5”. It works perfectly. Never a hiccup. Now that I sold the RR I have a SBR.

My understanding is the DI systems were never meant to run with such a short barrel. Combination of increasing the buffer weight and upping the gas flow with an adjustable gas block might help but you only have so much barrel to burn powder through.

Seems like a piston shorty would be the way to go. I definitely plan on getting an MG in the future, and a piston shorty on a registered auto lower would be my target. I don’t think I’ll go that road until I’m in NH however as Indon’t feel like dealing with green card BS in MA. Besides, how much more could auto receivers go up in the next two years? What’s the rush? They’re already $30k-40k.

 

[mav]

If I made 400k/year I would just buy one of each.

Don’t have room in the safe for one of each. Besides, I’ve already got a BCM, the G36 and a Tavor in 5.56. This would be the last 5.56 platform I buy for a while, aside from maybe a KA because it’s KA. Once I have more room and I’m in a free state, I’ll start expanding calibers/platforms and pick up a few suppressors. Maybe pursue an MG.

Wife also wants me to buy an over-under for trap on Sundays. Even with my income, there is only so much left over after taxes and kids, college and all that shit.

 

[widnerkj]

Winchester model 100. 19" barrel carbine in .308 or .243. Proper way to flex on the poors. You think H&K mags are expensive. Honestly, quick handling great rifle. I'm a little biased as it was my first hunting rifle.

 

[Tartakovsky]

Don’t have room in the safe for one of each. Besides, I’ve already got a BCM, the G36 and a Tavor in 5.56. This would be the last 5.56 platform I buy for a while, aside from maybe a KA because it’s KA. Once I have more room and I’m in a free state, I’ll start expanding calibers/platforms and pick up a few suppressors. Maybe pursue an MG.

Wife also wants me to buy an over-under for trap on Sundays. Even with my income, there is only so much left over after taxes and kids, college and all that shit.

That’s why I keep a bunch of my extra uppers in locking metal cabinets and all my serialized items in the safe.

 

[CMEBoston]

That font of knowledge, Wikipedia, seems to disagree (emphasis mine):


That said, and all that having been said, I like the cut of your jib. Allow me, in parallel, to recommend a Tanker M1A

M1A™ Tanker .308 Rifle - Springfield Armory

www.springfield-armory.com

(though the Garand conversions are sexier...)

Springfield Armory M1 Garand Tanker - For Sale, Used - Very-good Condition :: Guns.com

National Match Armory: We are universally recognized for crafting the finest restored, target and match quality M1, M1A and 1903 Springfield rifles anywhere. We have been selected for twelve straight years to create the highly coveted presentation rifles for the prestigious annual Camp Perry...

www.guns.com

If that’s the case go scout so you don’t have the ugly unified block/brake
And we’ve jumped the rails already
As far a a piston AR I have no clue, but am following

 

[40 Creedmoor fan]

Wife also wants me to buy an over-under for trap on Sundays. Even with my income, there is only so much left over after taxes and kids, college and all that shit.

Does she know the price of a proper OU? A half-decent Caesar Guerini is 10K. A good one is in $30K range. A Krieghoff K-80 is $10-20K easy. Any OE under 10K is hot garbage. There is a reason why Caesar Guerini's double in price every 10 years.