The M-1 Carbine is perhaps the most misunderstood and underappreciated American small arm of World War II. Constantly, and wrongly, compared to the iconic M-1 Garand battle rifle, uninformed critics deride the Carbine as underpowered and unreliable. Both of those characterizations are incorrect. In fact, the Carbine performed its intended job so well that its role was expanded far beyond its original purpose.
The Army Ordnance Department wasn’t interested in the Light Rifle until the fighting of 1939-40 showed the German Army’s penchant for bursting into its opponents’ rear areas with little or no warning. The need for a better personal defense weapon quickly became apparent.
The new rifle was envisioned essentially as a sidearm, the new cartridge was developed as a suped-up pistol round with a straight walled case. The Army based what became the .30 Carbine round on the .32 Winchester self-loading cartridge,
Submissions had to meet the following basic requirements:
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The Army Ordnance Department wasn’t interested in the Light Rifle until the fighting of 1939-40 showed the German Army’s penchant for bursting into its opponents’ rear areas with little or no warning. The need for a better personal defense weapon quickly became apparent.
The new rifle was envisioned essentially as a sidearm, the new cartridge was developed as a suped-up pistol round with a straight walled case. The Army based what became the .30 Carbine round on the .32 Winchester self-loading cartridge,
Submissions had to meet the following basic requirements:
- Be chambered for the .30 Carbine cartridge
- Have an effective range of at least 300 yards
- Have a semi-automatic operating system and a detachable box magazine
- Weigh 5 lbs. or less

The Great American M-1 Carbine
The M-1 Carbine is perhaps the most misunderstood and underappreciated American small arm of World War II. Constantly, and wrongly,
