Plainfield M1 carbine

**Jerry H** · April 26th, 2009, 06:05 PM

Came across a chance to buy a Plainfield 30 cal. M1 carbine mfg in mid 70's with about 200 rds through her.
It's pretty cool, has the heat shield and grease tube in the stock.
I have not had the chance to shoot it yet but it is supposed a really fun rifle to shoot. He as a 15 rd mag and a 30 rd.
My question is how is this puppy? I don't know much about it.
My buddy said make me an offer, but I have no clue.
I did a little research and found out that it is not the best but not bad.
I thought about offering 350.00
What do you all think?

**MikeB0** · April 26th, 2009, 06:12 PM

$350 seems a little high for a Plainfield. That said M1 Carbines are a blast to shoot, one of my favorite rifles. I may be off on the price, I haven't priced an M1 Carbine in at least several years, have a Plainfield and an Inland USGI.

**nfafan** · April 26th, 2009, 09:15 PM

M1 Carbines are a blast - just be advised that they are quite expensive to feed.

**unclesam099** · April 26th, 2009, 09:21 PM

Ammo is pretty much non-existant now. Gun shows might have Wolf at $18/box of 50. Expect to pay upwards of $30/50rds for surplus. New manufacture is about $21/50rds if you catch it at an online supplier in time (before it sells out).

Non-USGI carbines can fire out of battery, check out this article: http://www.m1carbinesinc.com/carbine_universal3.html

Note that is for Universal mfg carbines, but it can/may apply to the others.

**GRIZ** · April 27th, 2009, 12:49 AM

Plainfield was one of the better commercial carbines. Not quite as good as GI but maybe the best commercial. It will take GI parts so that's one thing you don't have to worry about.

I'd offer $300 although if it's really nice it may be worth the 350.

While the FMJ round may not be the best for social confrontations get a box of soft points (feed better than hollowpoints) which makes it very good for such purposes up to 100 yards.

**TJB63** · April 27th, 2009, 08:19 AM

As Griz stated,
The Plainfield came closest to the GI Carbine as far as looks and parts interchangeability goes from that time frame, I believe it will even swap out into a M1A1 aftermarket stock. The Universal Carbine was a different animal all together and was also the cheapest from that era, With that said I owned a Universal back in the early 80's and never had a problem with it.

Cheap ammo is nowhere to be found anymore, most guys reload to feed their habit. As far as price goes, $300 seems high, But then again I never thought I'd see a USGI going for $600 -- If it was me, I'd offer in the $2-$250 range.

Good luck, You'll enjoy it.

TJB

**762xIan** · April 28th, 2009, 07:57 PM

Universals are the ones to steer clear of, that said a friend has a Universal and it works fine.

I have a Plainfield....runs fine (except wolf steel case ammo), GI parts work in it, and if anything is wrong with it, it CAN be fixed.

I just saw one go at a gunshow for $400, good shape and some extra mags/sling.

I bought mine about 5 years ago with 5 magazines AND a set of reloading dies for $350. No regrets. I did replace the recoil spring with a new one from Wolf Gunsprings.