M1 carbine as home defense?

[rm9792]

Shotguns are cheap. Like mentioned earlier you can get 12g pumps for $150 if you look around.

[The Annoyed Man]

My primary "inside a suburban home" defense weapon is a pistol, but I have an AR Carbine leaning against the wall right next to it in the event that a long gun would be necessary. That said, I don't anticipate ever really needing it where I live.

Personally, I think a good running M1 carbine would be a good indoors weapon for a long gun. But I do agree that a shotgun probably beats either my AR or an M1 carbine.

[hirundo82]

As has been stated, virtually any round suitable for self-defense will go through walls easily. The M1 carbine is a fine choice for home defense with the proper ammunition.

If you have a Sig and a Beretta that are not reliable, somethings serious wrong.

Sig doesn't make them like they used to. The classic Sigs are extremely reliable, but all the guns they have introduced in the past 5-10 years (P238, P250, Mosquito) have had reliability issues. As for the Beretta, small .22 pistols seem to be unreliable by nature.

[wally775]

JMO

The M1 carbine is a fine weapon. It would not be my choice.
Given what you stated in your OP I would go with the .380.
It has the least amount of errant penetration and you have one available
for your use.

Why?

You live in an apartment.
Unless trained in using long guns in close quarters they can be taken
from you easier than a handgun.
Long guns are not a natural point and shoot weapon. Again, unless trained, your
motor skills will cause you to try and aim the weapon and take extra time you
may not have.

I would use the .40 except for the apartment thingy.
OR
Trade one of the .380s for a shotgun.
# 71/2 or 8. That way you will be using standard shotgun rounds and won’t seem bloodthirsty or negligent.
In close quarters any shotgun round is a stopper.

You could just get yourself a Judge and have a portion of both worlds.

Whatever you choose you must be comfortable with the choice and not me or anyone else.

Again,

JMO.

[HankB]

My late father carried an M1 carbine briefly in WWII. After seeing it's lack of effectiveness on a Jap, he got himself a Garand, and shortly afterward, a Thompson. No problems with the latter two.

I suspect a good JHP or SP round would help the M1 carbine, but I wouldn't by choice use ball ammo. (Note that some carbines don't work well with anything except ball.)

As for overpenetration - if it's effective on bad guys, it's going to go through sheetrock.

[Weg]

I think it would be a fine choice if you did not live where overpenetration would be an issue. I live in the center of 8 heavily wooded acres and I keep one under my bed as a primary goto gun. I use federal softpoints, and have shot and killed several hogs and deer with it at 50 yards or less and have never had one not drop on the spot. Another reason I like it is that it is much more quite than my AR or AK, this really comes into play at night when shooting critters ( i.e. Possum, Raccoons, Hogs)