I've been handgun hunting since the 70's. Killed whitetails and hogs with 357mag and 44mag. I now have a 41mag and I just can't get acceptable groups with it. I think it's me(getting old) and not the gun.
I shook off the dust on my WW2 era M1 carbine. I forgot how sweet that rifle is. It is spot on at 40 yards.
I'm thinking about using the M1 for N.Y. whitetails this year, limiting my range to 50 yards.
Anyone have any experience using an M1 on whitetails?

Is that a rifle??

Yes it's a rifle with handgun ballistics

I was just kidding!

I haven't and won't use one, but I have seen others do so. The killing power was poor.

You may need to get an adjustable gas port for your M1 in order to effectively use modern hunting ammunition. I have heard of bent operating rods due to the higher pressure of hunting ammo vs. Milsurp ball ammo.

I have a buddy that likes to use his for hog hunting. Other than weighing a ton, it works pretty well until it gets near dusk, then the peep sight makes the front blade disappear.

98Redline - I'm asking about the M1 carbine not the Garand.

Let me expand on my original question:
The 30 cal M1 carbine 18" barrel, 110gr, 1990fps = 967 ft-lbs
The 357mag 6" barrel, 158gr, 1235pfs = 535 ft-lbs.

I've killed deer with the 6" 357mag.
The M1 carbine seems to have almost 2 times the energy.
So my question is, if you keep to the same limits that you would use for the 357mag handgun wouldn't the M1 carbine be that much better?

Sorry, I missed the carbine part

I would say that if you kept your shots to .357 revolver distances and take the same shots you would consider if you were shooting a bow you are fine.

While that little 110gr bullet is getting along pretty well, it doesn't have gobs of momentum so if you solidly whacked a shoulder you might not get the penetration you need to make a swift, clean kill.

I'll echo what Redline said .... I had a high school buddy that killed as well as lost a bunch of deer while hunting with an M1. If he took bad angle shots, he almost always ended up tracking and shooting a bunch more.

The problem is that there aren't many .30 cal bullets that are designed to "work" at such a reduced velocity. You can't really compare to the 357 with an XTP. Until recently the .30 Carbine was illegal in MN due to impotency, but now even a 25 acp is "legal" here but I wouldn't suggest using one.

It's like a rifle, only smaller and much less powerful than most hunting handguns....get an M1...but make it a Garand!

For a few decades the m1 carbine was the poor mans brush gun. The carbine is a modern version of the .32 self loading.

I think I would rather use a bowling pin.

my dads hunted with an m1 carbine for as long as i can remember. hes killed more deer than i ever will. we still hunt together some 40 years later. ya we hunt thick woods so most of his shots have been well inside of 100 yrds but not all. he carried one to chosin resevoir and back, must have found it to do the job. my first year hunting was with an m1 carbine ( what type of wing nut gives an 8 year old a semi-auto with 15 rnds?) 1st deer i shot at was safe but the rocks, trees, and stumps took hell. getting hunting ammo may take some looking, but its out there. the 30 carbine will do the job just fine. dont give up on the handgun just yet though.

Don't use military fmj bullets/ammo. If you reload use Sierras 110 grain soft point round nose bullet, this will work much better than the fmj on deer size game. You will still need to keep your shots close and wait for a broadside shot. I have used a Ruger Blackhawk in 30 Carbine sucessfully in the past, it worked, however I was not impressed and have since sold the gun. Your carbine may give enough more velocity to get better results.

I can appreciate you wanting using the closest thing to a hand gun that you could. I used the same reasoning when I went on a moose hunt in Canada.
While my buddies were hauling around big 300 super-duper grand deluxe extra range magnums with 9 x 50 power spotting scopes mounted to them, I traped through the woods with a 45-70 1845 Guide Gun with an 18" barrel and open sites.
In chapter 4 of Max Prasac's book. Big Bore Revolvers, he explains why a slow but big hand gun bullet has more killing power than a fast but little buller out of a rifle.
I would use the old reliable lever action 30-30 in place of a 30 carbine.

Thanks for all the replies.
I understand the 30 cal m1 carbine is not the best choice for whitetails.
I love the fact that handgun hunting puts hunting back into the hunt. You need to get close to the deer. To me a 200 yard shot is not hunting, it's shooting.
I seem to have lost my touch with a handgun and this is frustrating me so I thought that maybe by using my father's WW2 carbine would be a good alternative that would force me to get close (like handgun hunting) and also bring the memory of my dad back to the hunt.
Back in the 70's a lot of experts said the 357mag was too light for deer and I proved to myself they were wrong. I guess the same can be said for the carbine and if I'm lucky I will find out for myself who's right.
If I see a Boone and Crockett buck at 100 yards (not likely) I will need to get closer or he will live to see another day.

Loaded preperly, with the right shot you should be fine....but you will want to make sure you are shooting it accurately..my .02

M1 carbine will get it done. Not with the authority some like but will work. Good luck but don't give up on the 41

[I love the fact that handgun hunting puts hunting back into the hunt. You need to get close to the deer. To me a 200 yard shot is not hunting, it's shooting.

Hear-Hear !

Warren, I haven't seen mention of the rig your shooting: revolver, iron sights, optic, Singe shot pistol? What I'm getting to is; if its an iron sighted revolver, try an optic on it; if its a optic sighted revolver, try a T/C single shot and vise versa. I'm assuming it a revolver, so try your hand at a Contender or Encore. A scoped single shot is a lot easier to shoot accurately than a revolver.

just throwing out option. No need to revert to a rr...rri....rrrriff....(you know) if you don't have to.

KRal -- Thanks for the suggestions. To me a handgun has always been a revolver with open sights and 4 to 6" barrel. A single shot 15" barrel and scoped handgun might legally be a handgun but I see no use for one. If you can't carry it on a belt holster you might as well carry a rifle.
Father time is breathing down my back and I see my handgun shooting abilities fading but still enjoy the challenge.
I own an M1 carbine so there is no need for a new purchase.
As others have said on this sight, the carbine will do the job as long as I work within it's limits.

Warren, where are you located in The great old Empire State?- I tried to pm you but I can't get anywhere with that...