Half the M1 carbine's problem was coming out in an age in which 7.62 NATO, considered a "full-power rifle round" today, would be thought underpowered compared to German 7.92x57, Russian 7.62x54, the US 7.62x63 (.30'06) and others like them. The 30. carbine round is, according to Wikipedia, 7.62x36mm, placing it well out of the pistol range of 19-25mm long casings (only the 5.7x28 and 4.6x30 are longer. Seems 25mm is about the length limit for pistol rounds) and closer to the 7.92x33 Kurtz and 7.62x39 in power, though, admittadly the .30 carbine round is round-nose rather than pointed and the casing is strait. Still, .30 carbine is NOT a pistol round. Yes, some pistols are chambered. Still dosn't make it a pistol round.
The above issue bugs me almost as much as the whole "M1 Garnad ping got guys killed/used fake ping to expose enemies" nonsense.
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