The M1 Carbine might not have stellar accuracy, but they are a ton of fun to shoot. With the price of primers and powder these days a plinking rifle becomes a luxury item for many, though.
Years ago I had a USGI M1 Carbine, a Rock-Ola. It was very reliable, and I only fed it j-words. Accuracy was casual--about 4" at 100 yards with the open-based FMJs. Soft-points like the Sierra RN would shrink groups to about 3", so if a lever rifle accuracy standard works for you then all will be well.
While I lived in Ridgecrest I owned a Marlin Model 62 lever rifle in 30 U.S. Carbine. It was a nice little rifle, and was an honest 2.5"-3.0" rifle with open-base FMJRNs. The Sierra 110 SPs would run 2"-2.5" at 100 yards. This one got some Lee Soup Cans and #311316s sized at .311", and these castings kept right up with the J-words in terms of accuracy and velocity. About 8 years ago a collector made me an obscene cash offer I could not refuse for the rifle; with kids still in college I bit the bullet and sold it. This one I miss, but in 2004 I snagged a Marlin 1894CCL in 32/20 that does as well--and in the same performance ballpark.
One firearm in 30 Carbine that I am VERY FOND OF is the Ruger Blackhawk in 30 Carbine. These are at least as accurate at 25-100 yards as the GI Carbines, in my experience. I have had 3 of them, and got talked out of the first two for long dollars--these critters can SHOOT. There is something very attractive about the terrific report/mild recoil combination in a sidearm that appeals to folks. Marie LOVES blasting away with the 30 BH and the 327 Federal SP-101 x 4". If enough people tried out that "30 Super Carry" pistol, the caliber might get traction--esp. if some intrinsic accuracy came along for a ride.
My current Carbine BH is about 10 years old--its throats all run .308"+ and will not pass a .309" pin gauge. The bore & groove spec is .300" x .308". It almost as accurate as my S&W Model 16-4 to 100 yards. It likes everything--cast, jacketed, even the Speer half-jacket Plinkers.
In the past some folks have had trouble with the Carbine BHs chambering reloaded brass fired in carbines with their generous chambers. I have not had this problem; I resize my brass in a steel RCBS sizing die. Also, some Carbine BHs have ignition issues with some primers; again, this is outside my experience but a remedy for some has been to run 32/20 WCF brass into 30 Carbine sizing dies and trim to 1.285" length. This provides a rimmed case and more positive headspacing for lighting off harder primers like in USGI milsurp ammo.
Last but not least--Remington #6-1/2 primers were purpose-designed for rifle cartridges like 218 Bee, 22 Hornet, 25/20, 32/20, and 30 U.S. Carbine. With the components droughts we have dealt with for two decades plus, I have pressed CCI Small Pistol Magnum (#550) primers into service for this niche. They seem to do the right things in 22 Hornet and 32/20.
