The Inland/MKS Supply M1 Scout Carbine: the un-AR. (Photo: Inland)
Inland Manufacturing has re-imagined the long-running Scout Rifle concept with their new .30-caliber Scout Carbine. Based on an MKS Supply M1 Carbine, the semiautomatic Scout Carbine has been updated with a polymerized stock and equipped with a rail for use with scopes. The Scout Carbine blends old and new, with classic lines and modern features in the spirit of the original Scout rifle.
The Scout Rifle was developed to meet a series of requirements set by small arms icon Jeff Cooper. These requirements include a lightweight build, a forward-set scope rail, detachable box magazine feed system, integral aperture or “peep” sights and attachment points for a sling. While the Scout Carbine deviates from some of the traditional Scout Rifle standards, its many strong attributes make it a versatile all-purpose rifle.
Chambered for .30 Carbine this light rifle is good for self-defense, hunting small and some medium game and plinking in general. At 5.5 pounds the Scout Carbine can be carried all day making it a handy woods or brush gun with or without a scope.
With an overall length of just under 36 inches, the Scout Carbine is compact enough to use indoors and be less likely to catch on brush or branches in the field. As a home defense carbine, the M1 pattern excels; more effective than the bulk of handguns without the muzzle blast of an AR or similar carbine.
To keep the weight down without sacrificing durability the stock is polymer-sealed American walnut with a muted black finish. The railed upper handguard is anodized aluminum with a matte black finish to match the barrel and action. The barrel is threaded for 1/2×28 muzzle devices like the factory old-school conical military flash hider. If you decide to swap out the included flash hider with an aftermarket muzzle device make sure it’s bored out for .30-caliber projectiles–many 1/2×28 devices are made for 5.56 NATO/.223 Remington.
See Also: Take a Look at Inland’s .30 Caliber M1 Pistol
The barrel-mounted rail is a natural fit for long eye relief scopes, the kind of optics Jeff Cooper had in mind developing the concept of the Scout Rifle. But unless you intend on taking the Scout Carbine out to longer ranges that rail is a great platform for a close-range red dot sight, offset light mount and other accessories that have become popular with today’s shooters, especially for protection and home defense.
The M1 pattern has proven to be effective and reliable and has a broad appeal. It’s easy to shoot, with light recoil and good capacity. These ship with standard 15-round magazines or reduced-capacity 10-round magazines for restricted states and optional 20- and 30-round magazines are widely available and inexpensive.
While it’s not a hundred percent true to Cooper’s original Scout Rifle concept, some of the changes make the Scout Carbine a little more versatile and a little more flexible, especially when it comes to self-defense–the action is undeniably faster and easier to use, the capacity is greater and the cartridge more appropriate for protection. The MSRP is up there at $1,239–which puts it between your run-of-the-mill AR or AK and the bulk of bolt-action Scout Rifles–but the appeal is there and it’s not priced any higher than Inland’s other M1-pattern guns.
Real-world prices should start around $1,000 or even a little less if you wait for the right deal to come along. Buyers who register their Scout Carbines within 60 days of purchase will receive a free M1 sling from Inland as a thank you.
Shop for Inland Carbines with GunsAmerica.com: https://www.gunsamerica.com/Search.aspx?T=inland%20carbine
Matched with the appropriate revolver and sadly rare pistol it’s a handy combo – every camp could benefit with a pair ….
After WWII the French Foreign Legion adopted the .30 carbine as their preferred weapon for many years. Alleged similar ballistics as a .357 magnum. IMO it did a great job of doing what it was designed for. A long gun for non-infantry personnel.
TA you are right on. It was intended to be a much easier to carry alternative to the M-1 for the rear echelon troops, cooks, mechanics, motor pool, HQ staff, etc., that was MUCH easier to get hits with than the .45 auto. Also, for a personal defense weapon for those operating much bigger ‘primary’ weapons, like artillery crews and mortar squads. The ones seeing frontline combat were carried because they were MUCH lighter to carry than an M-1, or by officers. In Europe they were prized capture pieces by the Nazi’s because of their light weight and handiness.
The theory was a hit wit a 30 carb was preferable than a miss with the 45 acp…. However plenty of 30 cal carbines saw front line use in both theaters in WWII and later Korea and Viet Nam.
In watching the TV series “Victory at Sea”, there are many combat scenes in the South Pacific theater where our front line troops are using .30 carbines. Apparently they were effective enough to put down Japanese troops, so why not as a close range defensive weapon, especially with soft point ammo?
Play nice guys! All comments are to be viewed with respect. I enjoy my M 1 carbines for what they are. Every weapon has it’s niche. Pick the right tool for the right job.
Be nice in 300 BlackOut also. Some of you know it all guys go stand at 450 yards, and let me me shoot that M1 Carbine at you, and well see who lives to say it isn’t effective.
What the hell do we need a scope on an M1 carbine for? It’s effective range isn’t long enough to require a scope. I have a WW2 carbine that shoots just fine- but for over 250 yards? No way. Under that and the iron sights are fine.
Good gun for non enthusiasts who want a lightweight defense carbine seek out good hollow point ammo for shtf and cheap fmj for training.good idea to stick with 15rd mags.this Is the original pdw
Would be nice if it cost around $350.00 can get a AR15 for less in .300 BLK OUT.
In your article you make the statement that this carbine is less bulky than a handgun. Just how is a five pound plus 36 inch carbine less bulky than a handgun? At least know what you are writing about before you claim to be an authority.
Read more carefully. He said ” it’s more effective than the bulk of handguns”, not ‘less bulky than a handgun’. Heed your own advice!
So how is this so different from a Mini-14?
The mini 14 is a mini M14 that fires the 223 instead of the full sized M14’s 308. This M1 carbine is a similar action but an all together different firearm that fires it’s own 30 caliber carbine round which has not relation to either the 308, 7.62×51, 223, 5.56×45.
I haven’t weighed them, but my mini-14 seems to be considerably heavier than my M1 carbine.
Alan you are a fucking idiot. The M1 is ballisticly superior to a revolver. Taken multiple deer, hogs, and coyotes.
John, no need to be an asshole about it. Sure, the carbine is “ballistically superior”, but every one that I’ve shot had lousy accuracy. As in 5″ groups at 50 yards!
And there isn’t much in ammo variety unless one handloads, and even then its very limited compared to a .357 in a 6″ barreled gun.
And do you know how much gun and ammo I can but at that price?
So now I’ll wait for your apology for being so damn Unnecessarily rude.
You deserve one,Alan. There are some people on here that don’t believe this is for info,knowledge,and fun. no need to get rude or ignorant.
Oh – it’s got a RIS rail now! Kewl – a real operator’s gun! Yeah, it’s now an official scout carbine.
No thanks.
I have had a Universal M1 that was my dads. When he died I ended up selling it because it didn’t work consistently. Now Inland it trying it at almost the cost of a Dpms g2, which I also have. I’d rather have the G2!
For a nostalgic plinker I can see it, but as a hunting arm it was NEVER a viable instrument.
The M1 carbine was never accurate, It’s too small for deer and too big for small game.
A handgun in .357 is a better choice, quicker, more accurate and gives a variety of ammo for anything from small game to deer.
I just don’t see it, ESPECIALLY at that price point.
In 1974 I bought a Universal carbine at Western Auto for $100. In 1986 I put it in a silicon gun sock and put it in the closet. A month ago I decided to see if it still worked. I took it out back, chambered a round and fired one off. Aside from slowly cambering the next round it worked just fine. A little oil freed the action up. I did notice I could no longer see through the peep sight.
My other observation is my carbine cost one week’s salary when I bought it. This gun would cost a week and a half’s pay of the best job I ever had. After 40 years of working my earning power dropped by a third.
Go back to its original purpose- a long gun for rear echelon personnel. Never meant to be a hunting rifle. Good personal protection that was simple to operate and light weight.