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Universal M1 Carbine

phideaux4886phideaux4886 Member Posts: 1,470 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited July 2006 in Ask the Experts
So I've got this Universal M1 Carbine that I bought in the early 80's, I was around 14 years old.
I added a Choate folding stock five or so years later.
I added a scope mount and scope three or so years ago.
The scope mount replaced the rear site and attached at the single screw that attached the rear sight. I don't find it all that strong a mount, but I added some "lock-tight" to the screw.
I believe that from time to time the ejected rounds are striking the bottom of the scope mount.
I'm looking to add something that will deflect the spent shells before they can hit the bottom of the scope.
I can see that on the left side of the receiver, (left in shooting stance), there are four screw holes that I seem to recall a shell deflector could be attached to. They may have been for some type of scope mount, I really am not sure.
I'm looking for advise, thoughts, what have you on this issue.
Thanks,
DSM

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    phideaux4886phideaux4886 Member Posts: 1,470 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I need at slide stop lever for my carbine. It is the redesigned carbines from universal. There are no GI parts on it. The lever holds the slide open. Numrich doesnt have them, and everyone else only has GI parts. Any ideas???
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    phideaux4886phideaux4886 Member Posts: 1,470 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have a universal m1 carbine. . It hits the primer hard enough to dent the primer but it will not fire. The head space as far as I can tell is somewhere around .22thousands. I have replased firing pin and spring. Any one out there having the same problem? What should the head space be for this M1? Thanks 45
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    phideaux4886phideaux4886 Member Posts: 1,470 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have a fellow Paramedic that is wanting to sell me a Universal M1 Carbine. It's in great shape. It comes with a 5 round magazine and two 15 rounders. He says that the 15's won't work, though. He says that Universal changed something with their mags and only Universal Brand mags will work. Any comments? He's offering the gun, sling, and 4 boxes of ammo for $300. Somebody enlighten me!!!
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    phideaux4886phideaux4886 Member Posts: 1,470 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm looking at buying this rifle. I'd rate it at 90%. The store is asking $319 + tax. Is $319 the right price for this rifle? Thanks, Leonard.
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    phideaux4886phideaux4886 Member Posts: 1,470 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I just bought a Universal M1 carbine for $250. I was told that no other parts, except for Universal parts, would work for on it. Also did universal make them on military contract or just on the civilian market? The serial number start out as 346XXX, can anyone tell about how old the rifle is from that serial number. Any comments or knowlegde about this rifles would be appreciated.
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    phideaux4886phideaux4886 Member Posts: 1,470 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My father in-law purchased a Universal M1 Carbine with a broken slide. Apparently this was a common problem with the later Universal models due to being cheaply made. Where would I be able to find this slide? I feel like I have tried everywhere.
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    phideaux4886phideaux4886 Member Posts: 1,470 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have a universal m1 carbine that has a broken extractor. I have been told that you could use a surplus GI issue carbine bolt to fix this problem. We ordered the bolt but it does not fit. Can anyone tell us how to fix this problem.
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    phideaux4886phideaux4886 Member Posts: 1,470 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I am looking for a slide stop lever and spring for a Universal M1 Carbine. If any one knows where to get them other than Numrich Gun Parts please let me know.
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    phideaux4886phideaux4886 Member Posts: 1,470 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Would a Choate folding stock fit my first gen Universal M1 Carbine? I have read that the first gen Universals are GI spec, but it says on the Choate website that the stocks won't fit most Universal M1's. If it does fit, is it worth spending the money on a Universal M1? I used to shoot it years ago and can't recall having any problems with it at all, but I read all these reviews just slamming them. I like the gun but if they really suck that bad, I don't want to spend any money on it. Most of the bad reviews I have seen are in reference to the 2nd and 3rd gen Universals so maybe the first Gens are ok. I haven't seen any reviews on the first gens good or bad.
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    nmyersnmyers Member Posts: 16,880 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Even without a receiver drilled full of holes, the Universal was never considered a safe carbine; some, especially the later ones with dual op rod springs, are subject to firing out of battery.

    Personally, I wouldn't risk my life or my vision firing a poor quality gun. It it were mine, I'd take a hacksaw to it. But, it's yours
    so, do with it what you like.

    The T3 model developed by the US Army from the basic M1 carbine used a bridge-type scope mount. Problems, including the brass problem you experienced, prevented it from ever going into production. I'm not aware of any brass deflector manufactured for the M1 carbine.

    Probably the best scope setup for the M1 carbine is a pistol scope mounted over the barrel in a clamp mount, like the B-Square. It doesn't requiring drilling holes, just the sacrifice of a handguard.

    Neal
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    phideaux4886phideaux4886 Member Posts: 1,470 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
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    hksrulehksrule Member Posts: 318 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
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    abcguns2abcguns2 Member Posts: 2,320 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yes indeed , JUNK !!! 'universal carbine' is swahele for "TURD" !!!
    and real carbine parts will not even interchange ....I hear they almost make good boat anchors ........
    Good Luck !!!
    d.a.stearns
    Gunsmith / LEO
    Niota , Tn
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    gunnut505gunnut505 Member Posts: 10,290
    edited November -1
    Gun Snobs abound!
    If his Universal hasn't blown up or taken off any fingers in the 20 years since purchased; it's not likely that he got one of the "bad" ones. I happen to own 2 M1 Carbines; a Universal and a International Signal, and both of them interchange trigger groups, stocks (except for that pesky rear screw), bolts and op rods with no problems whatsoever. They were inexpensively made with GI parts until they ran out of surplus, and then they were made with whatever was lying around.
    Just because a certain other brand costs $2500 doesn't mean the ones for less are worthless and deserve derision.(Gun Snobbery)
    As far as protecting a scope; try the new Wolf .30 Carbine ammo, it has a milder recoil impulse than surplus and might eject in a more horizontal pattern.
    I see no need for a scope on a short-range piece, unless the eyes are going too bad for a ghost ring.
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    aliasalias Member Posts: 366 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Iv'e seen this "firing out of battery" thing come up a few times on this forum. I have one of the dual operating rod Universals in the corner of the safe, so naturally I tried to find out more about this "problem". Never had mine explode or do anything else (except fail to feed occasionally with 30 round magazines, no such problem with USA Mags 15 rounders). Admittedly, I have not even taken this out of the safe in years, and never really shot it that much anyway. Despite spending considerable amount of time searching the net, I have never been able to find even one documented instance of this happening If nmyers or anyone else can give me a link to a credible source that documents this I would sincerely appreciate it. Personnally, at this time, since I've never seen any firsthand account of this happening, I have pretty much chalked it up as urban legend. That said, I have never been one to deny irrefutable facts. I just have never found such facts on the net, and I'm guessing if it were that big a problem, it shouldn't too hard to find.
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    hicap47hicap47 Member Posts: 516 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Gunnut....What is an 'International Signal'?.......Never run into that one before......
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    phideaux4886phideaux4886 Member Posts: 1,470 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks for the information.
    I've shot the gun often and never had any problems with it.
    I think I'm going to remove the scope and put a laser sight on it.
    DSM
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