Most people that don't already have guns will need something light, easy to handle, with low recoil, easy to train on, and be effective to 150 yards, as long shots are going to be beyond most peoples' capability anyway, if they aren't already a shooter.
People of small stature, such as some women, and many teens, or people with various health problems, that aren't already shooters won't be able to handle, much less be effective with full power arms. They are too heavy, too long, and too ungainly, with heavy recoil. And single or stripper clip loading is usually going to be slightly slower than magazine changes for the poorly trained.
I plan on acquiring half a dozen or so Auto-Ordnance .30 M1 Carbines for hand out guns to other members of my family and MAG if I ever can get one together.
I think the .30 M1 Carbine is highly underrated. Yes, it is a nitch round and nitch firearm. But that nitch covers some ground.
Developed as a rear echelon arm for those that weren’t likely to see major action, were often in a vehicle where a full size rifle was too bulky, were often in Close combat in and around urban areas, want to provide a handy arm more easily used by those with small body build, those that couldn’t do well with a pistol, and those that couldn’t handle the recoil of the MBR or full size pistol.
So what nitch does it fit in the prepper world? The same one it did in the service and a couple more, to boot.
1. A dedicated pistol substitute. When the .45 ACP wasn’t enough power or range without enough firepower, and a bit too much recoil for some.
2. A dedicated Carbine. For those tasks that really need a shorter, more compact weapon for specific tasks.
3. A weapon useable by those that can’t physically handle full power weapons, are recoil sensitive, but need more than a pistol.
4. A weapon that is less costly to manufacture and feed, but still adequate ballistics for self-defense, if not a primary MBR.
5. A weapon of adequate performance that personnel can be trained to use quickly and accurately and effectively, with minimum support.
6. A weapon with an ammunition weight and size such that large numbers of rounds can be carried.
And the specific prepper uses.
7. Medium sized animal control where a pistol isn’t a good choice and a full power rifle wastes resources.
8. Surplus LBE webbing for the .30 M1 magazines is fairly cheap.
9. Something that is fairly easy to conceal in a pack (folding stock) or under a long coat (any model)
10. Something more powerful than standard handgun rounds (even .44 & .357 magnum)
11. Something with more firepower than lever action and bolt action lightweight weapons or especially heavy lever and bolt actions.
12. Something just about anyone, no matter why they can’t use a larger, more powerful, more fire power, heavier weapon can learn to use effectively in that 100 yard to 150 yard last ditch defense when it takes everyone on the firing line to hold off those that have set out to hurt you.
13. Compared to the other firearms that try to compete effectively with the .30 Carbine round in an M1 Carbine, the price overall is compatible.
And what won’t it do? It isn’t a hideout pistol. It’s not an MBR. It isn’t for long range shots (over 300 yards). Not for high precision shots. And it won’t take out armored targets.
There are cheaper guns, though they are usually too bulky, too heavy, too long, have too much recoil, can’t be concealed well, the ammunition is also bulky, heavy and longer.
For the $700 - $1,000 price range there are a few weapon/caliber combos that will work to an extent, but suffer the same restriction as the cheaper guns and cost the same or more, or are much more gun than needed for the anticipated situations.
I want those around me to have the best chance to defend themselves as I can possibly give them. That is worth a few bucks extra to me.
Just my opinion.
