New guy from Houston(ish)

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   Thanks for letting me join. I'm in a small town that's basically just part of Houston now. I've inherited my dad's Universal M1 carbine. I hope to learn more about it and get to enjoy it. It's S/N 235xx which I believe makes is around 1963 give or take a year. I believe that means nothing had yet been changed from original specs. I presume it is fine to use any standard ammo like the S&B 110gr. I bought. What about the Buffalo Bore I have only looked at? Is it safe with that power level ammo also? Any advice/tips/tricks/hints/warnings a day one new guy should know? Thanks again.

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LDB415 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Recruit Joined: Nov 23 2025 Location: Friendswood Status: Offline Points: 11	Post Options Post Reply Quote LDB415 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: New guy from Houston(ish) Posted: Nov 29 2025 at 10:15am
	Thanks for letting me join. I'm in a small town that's basically just part of Houston now. I've inherited my dad's Universal M1 carbine. I hope to learn more about it and get to enjoy it. It's S/N 235xx which I believe makes is around 1963 give or take a year. I believe that means nothing had yet been changed from original specs. I presume it is fine to use any standard ammo like the S&B 110gr. I bought. What about the Buffalo Bore I have only looked at? Is it safe with that power level ammo also? Any advice/tips/tricks/hints/warnings a day one new guy should know? Thanks again.

floydthecat Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Hard Corps Joined: Oct 13 2016 Location: Mississippi Status: Offline Points: 2307	Post Options Post Reply Quote floydthecat Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: Nov 29 2025 at 1:25pm
	Comments posted on your other thread as well. My 2-cents are to stick with spec ammo. Buffalo Bore makes good stuff too, but why beat-up a gun when you don’t have to. We see lots of comments concerning Magtech. That might be a brand to avoid.

sling00 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Hard Corps Joined: Apr 21 2016 Location: Tennessee Status: Offline Points: 961	Post Options Post Reply Quote sling00 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Nov 30 2025 at 6:52am
	Welcome to the forum. I'll second "My 2-cents are to stick with spec ammo." Hope you and all the other members had a great Thanksgiving.

Jond41403 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Hard Corps Joined: Feb 21 2021 Location: East Tennessee Status: Offline Points: 874	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jond41403 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Nov 30 2025 at 5:43pm
	welcome to the forum from Tennessee! If you plan on shooting her a lot I would recommend getting a bolt tool for disassembly and assembly to clean it every now and then. Depending on how often your dad cleaned it, it may need a good cleaning now. that will give you an opportunity to also Make sure she's oiled.I would also stick with USGI magazines for it

LDB415 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Recruit Joined: Nov 23 2025 Location: Friendswood Status: Offline Points: 11	Post Options Post Reply Quote LDB415 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Nov 30 2025 at 6:16pm
	Where is the best source to get the bolt tool? And USGI magazines? I bought 10 magazines not knowing any better but will at least add a few USGI as I plan for this to be my do everything. Who needs a dumb ole AR anyway? :)

floydthecat Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Hard Corps Joined: Oct 13 2016 Location: Mississippi Status: Offline Points: 2307	Post Options Post Reply Quote floydthecat Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Nov 30 2025 at 6:30pm
	Several sources for the bolt tool. Ebay, Sarco, Numrich. Just about anybody that sells carbine parts. Don’t pay more than $40 for it. You don’t need a “vintage” example. I can only suggest that you stay away from most commercial magazine brands or you will spend your time trying to bend feed-lips to get them to work. Magpull, Auto Ordnance and others are designed for their carbines and most all of anybody’s I have tried require adjustment…..some I just throw away. You can find authentic USGI carbine mags, even on ebay. Usually listed as 10-rounds just to get by the stupid liberal gun-grabber rule not to exceed 10-rounds. I doubt you find the need to be taking your carbine to war. Two or three good ones is all you will ever need…..don’t get carried away loading up a stack of magazines.I will expose myself to forum abuse and say the very best feeders for me are the Universal polymer magazines. I pick one up whenever I can. They will feed a corn cob. Edited by floydthecat - Nov 30 2025 at 6:53pm

Matt_X Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Hard Corps Joined: Nov 10 2020 Location: Phila, Penn Status: Offline Points: 1047	Post Options Post Reply Quote Matt_X Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Nov 30 2025 at 8:22pm
	I've done OK with Korean made 15 rnd magazines with the U stamped on the back. Might as well try what you have since you bought 10.

LDB415 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Recruit Joined: Nov 23 2025 Location: Friendswood Status: Offline Points: 11	Post Options Post Reply Quote LDB415 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Nov 30 2025 at 8:29pm
	Yeah, probably not the smartest, but seemed like a good idea at the time. I'll get a couple of GI and hopefully at least 2 out of 3 of the new ones will be good. We'll see what happens.