NRA Gun of the Week: Inland M1A1 Paratrooper Carbine

by
posted on December 19, 2015
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

During World War II, the Dayton, Ohio-based Inland Manufacturing Division of General Motors became one of the largest firearm manufacturers in the U.S., and will be best remembered for its M1 Carbine, producing more than 2.5 million rifles—along with most of the tooling used by other companies producing this rifle—for the war effort. Eventually Inland returned to automotive manufacturing and left GM altogether in 1999, but in 2013 the company was revived under the name of Inland Mfg., and is located close to the original company’s Ohio headquarters. Its products are distributed by MKS Supply.

All of Inland’s carbines are 100-percent American-made with 100-percent American parts, and are faithful copies of the original Inland Manufacturing carbines, right down to part construction and stampings.

The M1A1 Paratrooper is modeled after a late production 1944 M1A1 Paratrooper model with a folding "low wood" walnut stock, type two barrel band, and includes the same adjustable sights that were actually introduced in 1944. It has a 15-round magazine capacity, but a 10-round mag is offered to comply with certain states’ laws.

Watch as American Rifleman’s Kelly Young takes our latest NRA Gun of the Week downrange and highlights many of the carbine’s authentic features.

Specifications 
Manufacturer: 
Inland Manufacturing, LLC.
Distributor: MKS Supply
Model: M1A1 Paratrooper Carbine
Action: gas-operated, semi-automatic rifle
Caliber: .30 Carbine
Finish: Parkerized
Stock: folding wire with leather-wrapped cheekpiece; walnut pistol grip and handguard
Front Sight: fixed
Rear Sight: adjustable aperture
Trigger: 7-lbs., 5-oz. pull
Barrel Length: 18"
Overall Length: 36"
Weight: 5 lbs., 7.5 ozs.
Magazine: 15-round-capacity, detachable box
Twist: four-groove, 1:20" RH
Accessories: owner’s manual, shoulder sling, oiler
MSRP: $1,200

Latest

Untitled 1 7
Untitled 1 7

Headed for Houston? Check Out We The Free’s Limited Edition Guns

We The Free has partnered with Fusion Firearms and Ranger Point Precision on two limited-edition firearms—its way of thanking you for supporting the NRA, Second Amendment and becoming a paid subscriber of We The Free.

I Have This Old Gun: Japanese Type 97 HMG

The Imperial Japanese army learned important lessons during the fighting in Manchuria, and these contributed to the development of its Type 97 machine gun, chambered for a heavier, harder-hitting cartridge.

Skills Check: The Event Horizon Drill

The Event Horizon drill is designed to pull attention away from consequence and return it to process by removing the shooter’s ability to visually reward or punish themselves shot-to-shot.

Ruger HSS Reassembly Aid Going Out of Business

If you've ever struggled to reassemble a Ruger Standard Model pistol, Hammer Strut Support offered an easy, patented solution for decades, but the company recently announced it would be closing its doors.

Taurus RPC: The Bull Does a PDW

Taurus is joining the PDW market with its 9 mm-chambered RPC, a large-format, semi-automatic pistol with plenty of capacity.

Weird Guns & The People Who Like Them

Whenever an unusual firearm crossed the table at Tam's local gun shop, there was always a buyer for it.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.