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30 carbine
Butchdog3
Member Posts: 940 ✭✭✭✭
Opinions please.
Thoughts on Postal Meter 30 carbine, the good vs the bad.
Next, what is the most reliable 30 carbine, not interested in the new stuff.
What to look for when buying any used 30 carbine.
Thanks.
Comments
National Postal Meter carbines, when new, were as good as any other carbines. But, in 80-90 years, add repairs & overhauls, they vary in originality. You can find all-original carbines, but they are scarce & expensive, Collectors protect themselves by buying carbines that can be verified by reading books.
Start with US M1 Carbines, Wartime Production; inexpensive & very helpful. Any book by Bruce Canfield will be helpful. If you are able to go to local gun shows &/or gunshops, spend your spare time looking for carbines that you can handle before buying. Some sellers will even help educate you.
Avoid commercial carbines. Avoid any carbine that has been shortened at the muzzle. Buy a muzzle-wear gauge; accuracy is not important in a 100 yd rifle.
Neal
There is nothing wrong with the Postal Meter carbine. Like was stated check everything out. Inside especially. Stay away from the cast receiver ones. Nothing is cheap anymore. Buy from a reputable source. Ask questions,don't be afraid to seek advice from others.
National Postal Meter was the 4th largest maker of carbines in a field of ten builders. The parts were made exactly the same so they would interchange, and many carbines have mixed parts after going through the post-war rebuilding process. As for reliability….. after 200 rounds (if you can find .30 carbine on the shelf) the tappet gets carboned up and causes funny things to happen. The parts to make a carbine "correct" are drying up and finding them are prohibitively expensive, so you end up with a "farb" part or a "farb" rifle, or a frankenrifle. The price range of a common 2.6 million Inland is around a thousand. Any others will come close to $1500. Also if you do find an authentic carbine it may show a mixture of Types I, II, or III parts, and you need to identify the exposed ones and who knows what's inside the unit. Don't forget to pick-up a correct khaki C-clip sling which are approaching 200 for your rifle or you can get a green farb one on the cheap.
good luck with that. never again. your always broke.