Editing M1 carbine (section)

==Features==
[[File:30 Carbine.jpg|thumb|[[.30 Carbine|.30 Carbine cartridge]]]]
[[File:WWII M1 Carbine.jpg|thumb|WW II M1 carbine with a magazine pouch mounted on the stock that held two spare 15-round magazines.]]
[[File:Carbin IMG 2593.JPG|thumb|Closeup of M1 carbine receiver with original flip sight and push button safety]]
[[File:M1CarbineMagazinesCompare.jpg|thumb|Comparison of M1 carbine magazines. Original 15-round magazine on left and 30-round on right.]]
[[File:Cliffs at Pointe du Hoc 02.jpg|thumb|U.S. Army Rangers resting in the vicinity of Pointe du Hoc, which they assaulted in support of "Omaha" Beach landings on "D-Day", 6 June 1944. Ranger in right center is apparently using his middle finger to push cartridges into an M1 carbine magazine. The carbine and a backpack frame are nearby.]]
[[File:USA-PR-Japan-354.jpg|thumb|Paratrooper armed with a folding stock M1A1 carbine fires a [[bazooka]] at an enemy pillbox on Greary Point, [[Battle of Corregidor (1945)|Corregidor]]]]
[[File:Carbine-iwo-jima-194502.jpg|thumb|A [[United States Marine Corps|marine]] armed with an M1 carbine and [[M8 grenade launcher]] attached to the muzzle, during the [[Battle of Iwo Jima]]]]

===Ammunition===
The [[.30 Carbine]] cartridge is essentially a rimless version of the obsolete [[.32 Winchester Self-Loading]] cartridge introduced for the [[Winchester Model 1905|Winchester Model 1905 rifle]].<ref name="BAR"/> The propellant was much newer, though, taking advantage of chemistry advances. As a result, the .30 Carbine cartridge is approximately 27% more powerful than its parent cartridge. A standard .30 Carbine ball bullet weighs 110 grains (7.1&nbsp;g), a complete loaded round weighs 195 grains (12.6&nbsp;g) and has a muzzle velocity of {{convert|1,990|ft/s|m/s|abbr=on}} giving it 967&nbsp;ft·lbf (1,311 joules) of energy, when fired from the M1 carbine's {{convert|17.75|in|abbr=on}} barrel.

In comparison, the [[.30-06 Springfield]] ball round used by the M1 Garand is almost three times as powerful as the .30 Carbine, while the carbine round is twice as powerful as the [[.45 ACP]]-caliber [[Thompson submachine gun]] in common use at the time. As a result, the carbine offers much better range, accuracy and penetration than those submachine guns. The M1 carbine is also half the weight of the Thompson and fires a lighter cartridge. Therefore, soldiers armed with the carbine can carry much more ammunition than those armed with a Thompson.<ref name="George, John 1981 p. 394"/>

Categorizing the M1 carbine series has been the subject of much debate. Although commonly compared to the later German [[Sturmgewehr 44|StG 44]] and Russian [[AK-47]], the M1 and M2 carbines are under-powered and outclassed.<ref name="Rottman_Green"/> Instead, the carbine falls somewhere between the submachine gun and assault rifle and could be called a precursor of the [[personal defense weapon]] since it fulfilled a similar role.<ref name="George, John 1981 p. 394"/>

One characteristic of .30 caliber Carbine ammunition is that from the beginning of production, [[Centerfire ammunition#Primer chemistry|non-corrosive primers]] were specified. This was the first major use of this type of primer in a military firearm. Because the rifle had a closed gas system, not normally disassembled in the field, corrosive primers would have led to a rapid deterioration of the function of the gas system.<ref name="The_AmericanRifleman_to_War">{{cite book |last1=Roberts |first1=Joseph B. |title=The American rifleman goes to war: The guns, troops, and training of World War II as reported in NRA's magazine |date=1992 |publisher=National Rifle Association of America |page=20 |edition=First |isbn=0-935998-63-2 }}</ref>  The use of non-corrosive primers was a novelty in service ammunition at this time.<ref name="Dunlap">{{cite book |author1=Dunlap, Roy F. |title=Ordnance Went Up Front|publisher=R&R Books |date=1993 |pages=240, 293–297|edition=1st|url=https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=30503157727&tab=1&searchurl=sortby%3D17%26tn%3Dordnance%2Bwent%2Bup%2Bfront&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp1-_-seller6}}</ref>  Some failures to fire were reported in early lots of .30 caliber Carbine ammunition, attributed to moisture ingress of the non-corrosive primer compound.<ref name="Shore, C. 1988 pp. 191-195"/>

===Sights, range and accuracy===
The M1 carbine entered service with a simple flip sight, which had two settings: {{convert|150|and|300|yd|abbr=on}}.<ref name="FM23-7">{{cite web |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/ref/FM/PDFs/FM23-7.PDF|title=BASIC FIELD MANUAL - U.S. CARBINE, CALIBER .30, Ml|date=20 May 1942|publisher=War Department |format=FM 23-7|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405200655/http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/ref/FM/PDFs/FM23-7.PDF|archive-date= 5 April 2023}}</ref> However, field reports indicated that this sight was inadequate, and in 1944, it was replaced by a sliding ramp-type adjustable sight with four settings: {{convert|100|yd|abbr=on}}, {{convert|200|yd|abbr=on}}, {{convert|250|yd|abbr=on}}, and {{convert|300|yd|abbr=on}}. This new rear sight was also adjustable for windage.<ref name="Leroy_M1"/>

At {{convert|100|yd}}, the M1 carbine can deliver groups between {{convert|3|and|5|in|abbr=on}}, sufficient for its intended purpose as a close-range defensive weapon. The M1 carbine has a maximum effective range of {{convert|300|yd}}. However, bullet drop is significant past {{convert|200|yd}}.<ref name="BAR"/> Therefore, the M1 has a practical effective range of about {{convert|200|yd|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Hogg_Gander_Jane's">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w2vcMiH4J1MC |title=Jane's Gun Recognition Guide |author1=Hogg, Ian|author2=Gander, Terry| publisher=Harper Collins Publishers |date=20 September 2005 | page=330|isbn=978-0-00-718328-9 }}</ref>

===Magazines===
The M1 carbine entered service with a standard straight 15-round box magazine. The introduction of the select-fire M2 carbine in October 1944<ref name="rjmilitaria.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.rjmilitaria.com/m1carbine.htm|title= The M1 carbine – short history|publisher=RJ Militaria|access-date=29 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425135736/https://www.rjmilitaria.com/the-m1-carbine-a-brief-history/|archive-date= 25 April 2023}}</ref> also brought into service the curved 30-round box magazine or "[[Banana clip|Banana Clip]]".<ref name="Rottman_Marines">{{cite book |title=US Marine Corps 1941–45|url=https://ospreypublishing.com/us-marine-corps-1941-45  |author1=Rottman, Gordon L.| publisher=Osprey Publishing |date=15 May 1995|page=14}}</ref> After WWII, the 30-round magazine quickly became the standard magazine for both the M1 and M2 carbines, although the 15-round magazine remained in service until the end of the [[Vietnam War]].<ref name="Rottman_Green">{{cite book |url=https://www.amazon.com/Green-Beret-in-Vietnam-1957-73/dp/B001W0SF22/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= |title=Green Beret in Vietnam: 1957–73|author1=Rottman, Gordon L.|publisher=Osprey Publishing |isbn=978-1-78200-051-8 |date=20 June 2012 |page=41}}</ref>

Perhaps the most common accessory used on the M1 carbine was a standard magazine belt pouch that was slid over the stock and held two extra 15-round magazines. This field adaptation was never officially approved but proved an efficient method to supply extra ammunition in combat. After the introduction of the 30-round magazine, it was common for troops to tape two 30-round magazines together, a practice that became known as "[[Jungle style (firearm magazines)|jungle style]]". This led the military to introduce the "Holder, Magazine T3-A1" also called the "jungle clip", a metal clamp that held two magazines together without the need for tape.<ref>{{cite book|title=The M1 Carbine|author= Leroy Thompson|page=57|isbn=978-1-84908-619-6|year=2011|publisher= Bloomsbury USA}}</ref>

The 30-round magazines introduced for use with the selective-fire M2 carbine would not be reliably retained by the magazine catch made for the original M1 carbine which was designed to retain a 15-round magazine, so the much heavier 30-round magazine would not be properly seated in the M1 carbine magazine well. The loaded 30-round magazine would typically slant (impairing feed reliability) or even fall out, which contributed to the poor reliability record of the 30-round magazines. Because of their thin steel construction, they were also more prone to damage due to their added length and weight when loaded. In response to these issues, early production M1 carbines had to be fitted with the type IV magazine catch used on the M2 carbine (and late production M1 carbines) if they were to be used with 30-round magazines in order to ensure reliable loading and feeding. The type IV magazine catch has a leg on the left side to correspond with the additional nub on the 30-round magazines.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forums.thecmp.org/showthread.php?t=5377 |title=Carbine magazine catches |publisher=Civilian Marksmanship Program|date=January 2010 |access-date=10 February 2016}}</ref>

Initial combat reports noted that the M1 carbine's magazine release button was often mistaken for the safety button while under fire.<ref name="Leroy_M1"/> When this occurred, pressing the magazine release caused the loaded magazine to drop, while the safety remained in the ''off'' position. As a result, the push-button safety was redesigned using a rotating lever.<ref name="Leroy_M1"/><ref name="M1_Warrior">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.gunsandammo.com/blogs/history-books/m1-carbine-americas-unlikely-warrior/|magazine=Guns & Ammo|title=M1 Carbine: America's Unlikely Warrior|author1=James, Garry|date=6 October 2014|quote=The M1 carbine (M1A1 shown) was one of America's most widely used arms in three major conflicts and a popular lend/lease item to Allied countries.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109173307/https://www.gunsandammo.com/editorial/m1-carbine-americas-unlikely-warrior/249858|archive-date= 9 January 2023}}</ref>

===Accessories===
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2021}}
Originally the M1 carbine did not have a bayonet lug, but personnel equipped with it were often issued with an [[M3 fighting knife]]. Due to requests from the field, the carbine was modified to incorporate a bayonet lug attached to the barrel band starting in 1945.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rjmilitaria.com/m1carbineb.htm|title= Collecting The M1 carbine|publisher=RJ Militaria|access-date=29 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128111001/https://www.rjmilitaria.com/m1-carbine-collectors-guide/|archive-date= 28 January 2023}}</ref> However, very few carbines with bayonet lugs reached the front lines before the end of World War II. After the war, the bayonet lug was added to many M1 carbines during the arsenal refurbishing process. By the start of the [[Korean War]], the bayonet lug-equipped M1 was standard issue. It is now rare to find an original M1 carbine without the bayonet lug. The M1 carbine mounts the [[M4 bayonet]], which was based on the earlier [[M3 fighting knife]] and formed the basis for the later [[M5 bayonet|M5]], [[M6 bayonet|M6]] and [[M7 bayonet]]-knives.

A folding-stock version of the carbine, the M1A1, was also developed after a request for a compact and light infantry arm for airborne troops. The Inland Division of General Motors manufactured 140,000 of them in two product runs in late 1942.<ref name="rjmilitaria.com"/> They were originally issued to the 82nd and 101st airborne divisions but were later issued to all U.S. Army Airborne units and the U.S. Marine Corps.<ref name="rjmilitaria.com"/>  The folding-stock M1A1 is an unusual design in that the stock is not locked in the open or closed position, but is instead held in place by a spring-loaded cam.

As carbines were reconditioned, parts such as the magazine catch, rear sight, barrel band without bayonet lug, and stock were upgraded with current standard-issue parts. Also, both during and after World War II, many semi-automatic M1 carbines were converted to select-fire M2 carbines by using the T17 and T18 conversion kits.<ref name="Firearm_ID">{{cite book |title=Cartridges and Firearm Identification |author1=Walker, Robert E.|publisher=CRC Press|edition=1st |page= 254|isbn=978-1-4665-0206-2|date=2012-11-26}}</ref> The conversion included a modified sear, slide, and trigger housing, and added a disconnector, disconnector lever, and selector switch that could be set for semi-auto or full-automatic fire.

During World War II, the T23 (M3) [[Flash suppressor|flash hider]] was designed to reduce the muzzle flash from the carbine, but was not introduced into service until the advent of the M3 carbine.<ref name="Ruth, Larry L. 1992 pp. 621-623">{{cite book |author1=Ruth, Larry L. |title=War Baby: The U.S. Caliber .30 Carbine, Vol. 1|publisher=Collector Grade Publications |isbn=978-0-88935-117-2 |edition=1st Limited|date=1992|pages= 621–623}}</ref>  With the exception of T23 hiders mounted on M3 carbines, few if any T23 flash-hider attachments saw service during the war, though unit armorers occasionally hand-built improvised compensator-flash-hiders of their own design.<ref name="Ruth, Larry L. 1992 pp. 621-623"/><ref name="Dunlap"/>

Combat tests of the M2 carbine resulted in an Army Ground Forces request that led to development of the T13 [[Muzzle brake|recoil check]] adopted September 1945.<ref>Larry L. Ruth, ''M1 Carbine: Design, Development & Production'', The Gun Room Press, 1979, {{ISBN|088227-020-6}}, p.193</ref>

The M1 carbine was used with the M8 grenade launcher (see [[M7 grenade launcher]]), which was developed in early 1944. It was fired with the .30 caliber Carbine M6 grenade blank cartridge to launch [[22 mm grenade|22 mm rifle grenades]]. However, the stress from firing rifle grenades could eventually crack the carbine's stock, and it also could not use the launcher with the M7 auxiliary "booster" charge to extend its range without breaking the stock. This made the M1 carbine with M8 grenade launcher a type of emergency-use weapon.