Guns & Calibers from the past; Custom M1 Carbine Chambered in Johnson MMJ 5.7mm Spitfire A.K.A. 22 Spitfire

[Smaug]

Beautiful little rifle! I'm sure curious about the ballistics. Could you have custom dies made and neck down. 30 carbine brass?

Last I checked, CH4D makes forming and reloading dies, Graf & Sons has Redding dies, as does Midway.

 

[gmerkt]

hot bluing with contaminated salts that causes the plum color

This is seen on many German guns of the 1940's, some Rugers and a few Smith & Wessons. And likely many others. With collector guns, it can be a sign of original finish.

 

[Mark W.]

As to the plum color I have a Nickel steel Winchester model 1894 saddle ring carbine that was very professionally reblued in the 60's and the barrel has that plum color. maybe a little different shade. But still plum.

 

[Smaug]

I've scored another 5.7 MMJ/".22 Spitfire" carbine - actually 2 of them from a collection back East! These are _apparently_ Plainfields that were originally contracted to Johnson Arms, Inc, and finished in caliber MMJ 5.7; "in 1963 the company experimented with, and manufactured for a short production run during the D series, eliminating the recoil plate and replacing it with an extension at the rear of the receiver. They went back to the use of the recoil plate after several hundred receivers. The change to and from the recoil plate is covered in more detail on the pages devoted to Carbines, Parts, and Markings." (from the "Plainfield" pages on http://www.m1carbinesinc.com/carbine_plainfield.html). These are part of that "D" series with only a very few hundred made in this configuration. They are both beautiful guns and now I no longer have to share one "22 Spitfire" carbine with my wife - just need to load more ammo... (Anyone with a surplus of MMJ 5.7, .22 Spitfire, or .22 Johnson ammo or cases/components they would like to get rid of, please DM me!) Pictures below of the best of these 2 rifles. The blueing is gradually beginning to show a slight hint of "plum" in the right light. This one has a very nice skeletonized front sight, with the caliber marking "MMJ 5.7" in front of the Lyman rear peep sight & "PMC" in an arc behind the sight above the "tang" or extension mentioned above, while the SN is in a "cartouche" along the left side of the receiver above the wood Note that "tang" at the rear of the receiver - The rear of the receiver / wood interface should probably be glass bedded and reinforcement added to prevent cracking of the stock at that area, as that was the only weakness noted about this receiver design. This appears to be one of Plainfield's OEM stocks without sling and oiler cuts.

 

[weimar_police]

About 15 or so years ago I was at a yard sale in Spokane and they had a bunch of Spitfire rounds, dies and brass plus a Garand. I bought them, sold the spitfire ammunition and eventually the Garand.
I'd love if a M1 carbine was made in 9mm or 5.56

 

[Smaug]

About 15 or so years ago I was at a yard sale in Spokane and they had a bunch of Spitfire rounds, dies and brass plus a Garand. I bought them, sold the spitfire ammunition and eventually the Garand.
I'd love if a M1 carbine was made in 9mm or 5.56

The conversion to 9mm was not unknown and a relatively popular pistol caliber conversion during the 1970's thru the 1980's, as was converting to 45 ACP. 10mm would be a very interesting conversion ... hmmm! They've converted M1 Carbines to a variety of pistol rounds for years. The issues were feed issues due to length of the round vs. 30 Carbine cartridges, not being able to open up the bolt face enough to accommodate rimmed rounds?, as well as "rim lock" in the straight Carbine magazines.

 

[hyperdrive]

I MAY have dies. I'm posting here so I can find the the thread again. It will take a day or two before I can dig for them.

I'll keep you posted.

If you have any 5.7 Johnson dies ,I would like a set . Let me know and thanks

 

[hyperdrive]

Appears kinda like a hot Bee, or a mild Fireball. I think I've got a Fajen Mannlicher stock for a carbine around here somewhere.

I'm interested in the stock if you still have .

 

[hyperdrive]

Appears kinda like a hot Bee, or a mild Fireball. I think I've got a Fajen Mannlicher stock for a carbine around here somewhere.

If you still have the stock ,I'm interested. Please let me know, thanks

 

[Camelfilter]

If you have any 5.7 Johnson dies ,I would like a set . Let me know and thanks

Looks like Grafs & Sons has Redding 2 die sets, plus a Redding forming die. Spendy.

REDDING 5.7MM JOHNSON FL SET 2-DIE CUSTOM, S/H #22 - Graf & Sons

Redding dies are made of the finest alloy steels obtainable and machined on Hardinge Super- Precision lathes capable of holding the tightest tolerances in the industry. To maintain tolerances and guarantee that your dies will last a lifetime, all Redding dies are heat treated in...

www.grafs.com

&

REDDING 5.7MM JOHNSON FROM 30M1 FORM #1,CUSTOM - Graf & Sons

Case forming dies are designed to change the shape of the original parent case in small increments to avoid overworking the brass and to prolong case life. After using the proper form dies and/or Form & Trim Die, full length sizing is required.

www.grafs.com

 

[Stengun]

I have a IAI made 5.7mmj rifle that I would part with if anyone is interested.