I.A.I. Carbines

[30 Carbine]

hi all, i would like to know how good the I.A.I. Carbines are. now i have an old GI Carbine and i like it a lot, but i would looking to git one of the new one's to use as more as a shooting Carbine. i was look at the new I.A.I. Carbine with the wood hand guard, i know that the first one's had only steel hand guards, but if you have one with the wood or steel hand guard can you tell me how you like the gun over all.

 

[StephenT]

Hi there, I picked up an IAI carbine last week and I recommend it highly for the quality. Mine appears to be quite accuarate and feeds reliably. The best place to get one online seems to be AIM (www.aimsurplus.com). They have them listed for $379. The original GI parts fit this parkerized model, which is not the case with some of the commercial versions (Universal) out there. Hope this helps you.

 

[James K]

IAI carbines

I have seen, but not fired, a few of these, and was not terribly impressed. There have been reports that QC is not consistent. There is a writeup in the January American Rifleman that contains a discrepancy. The writer talks about GI carbines producing only 3-5 inch groups at 100 yards, and says the IMI will group 2 - 2 1/2 "under similar conditions."

But the chart showing an average spread of 2.84" says it was at 50 yards, not 100. So the IMI really is shooting about the same (if not worse) than the average GI carbine. I have no way of knowing if the discrepancy was simply an error or if the IAI is being hyped by the NRA for some reason.

Jim

 

[JNewell]

Two things here. First, these reportedly have "match chambers" that are tighter than USGI. Based on alot of AR experience, I can tell you that if this is what they've done, these are only plinkers. I don't know if you plan to use one of these for defensive purposes. A lot of people dump on them in that role, but the USA issued 6+ million of 'em for that basic purpose. Reliable feeding under a variety of conditions is not a feature of nice, tight chambers.

Second, although I don't know about IAI carbines specifically, almost all non-USGI carbines are not made to USGI specs, either dimensionally and/or in materials. The price of nice USGI carbines has gone up, but IMO you are still well ahead buying one of them. They won't look "new" -- but if you buy carefully, they will function as well as a new commercial one, and probably better. And accuracy? We were shooting one a few weeks ago with trashy yellow-box UMC ammo and getting <2" groups with the iron sights at 50 yds. (I don't recall -- was the Dope Bag test done with iron sights?)