For what its worth, if a M-14 is your dream rifle (mine too!mortar_guy78 wrote:I'm not looking for a full-size battle rifle. The way I figure, if I want to shoot something that far away a bolt action or a single shot, breech-loading hunting rifle (see original post about the NEF Handi-Rifle) will do fine. If the SHTF, I don't think I'll be looking at facing off against too many long range marksmen. Hell, I know civilians who consider themselves good shots who can't hit anything beyond 100 meters or so (which always makes me laugh). AR variants don't really do it for me, and the AK is great but from my experience the accuracy is for shit. I'd like to get an M-14 variant, but there are budget concerns at the moment, so I think I can make do with the M1 for now. Besides, I like it. Then again, I haven't tried to fire it when it has frozen.

As for the M1 Carbine. Good friend of mine was a 18 year old Marine on Okinawa in WWII. As the assistant boozoka (i.e; round humper) he was issued a M1 Carbine. After hearing all the horror stories from older grunts he chucked his soon as he hit the beach and as we use to sing cadence to "Picked up a M1 from amongst the dead". Said he loved the M1 but it was the biggest mistake he ever made cause the carbine was "great in close quarters" and he lamented many times about wishing he had it. As for the knock down keep 'em down aspect he said there were mixed reviews. FWIW.