the m1 IS a hell of a rifle

[mshootnit]

I accidently posted on wrong board but I wanted it here:
I wanted to share my first impression with my M1 (soon to be given to my dad). My friend and I took it to the range and we sat down and proceeded to shoot sub 2" groups at 100 yds open sights, not bad for 67 year old battle tested rifle with mixed parts. Next we move on to the long range shooting. After the rifle was fairly zeroed at 200 yds we moved to a target at some 600 yds distant by our estimation up in a canyon. We were shooting greek GXP. I moved the rear sight to 600 yds and took aim from a kneeling position. first shot several feet in front but not bad. Second shot same. Moved sight up 1 or 2 clicks (I forget) and WHUMP direct hit. I realized at that point that a skilled man with this rifle would have been deadly to 800 yds no problem. Perfect for open country or rolling hills.30-06 has plenty of power out there too. Hell of a weapon, and man would it hurt if it came up side your head! Mine would leave an "AN" tatoo!

 

[Frankl03]

Yes awesome rifle! I'm looking forward to getting one when I can afford it.

 

[BP44]

I couldnt say it any better

The M1 is out standing rifle.

 

[rodregier]

The M1 Garand Rifle
"The greatest battle implement ever devised."
-- General George S. Patton, Jr.

 

[Starship1st]

There is something about the M1 that makes you love it.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

The M1 has enough weight ~9.5 lbs to make shooting .30-06 fairly comfortable yet its weight compares well against some "intermediate caliber" modern assault rifles. And it is much better balanced between the hands than the other full caliber semi-auto rifles of WWII. I envy some of the shooters at thr range who have M1 Garands.

 

[61chalk]

"Plenty of power.." Like the poster I once saw said...
"The M1 Garand, turning what you thought was cover, into only concealment."

 

[SaxonPig]

In 1942, despite its imperfections, the Garand was the best battle rifle in the world. By 1944 it was outdated.

Still a good rifle that's fun to own and shoot but the mystique surrounding the Garand is a bit overblown.

*INCOMING!!!!*

 

[robert garner]

In 1942, despite its imperfections, the Garand was the best battle rifle in the world. By 1944 it was outdated.
Elucidate please
robert

 

[RP88]

given what was used by the rest of the world, I'd say the Garand didn't hit its outdated status until the 50's.

Either way, I bought one and it is the milsurp gun that I'm proud to own, along with my M1 Carbine.

I need to get a Schuster plug and some decent ammo and take the Garand out some time. Maybe when I can find .30 carbine I'll do the same with its little sister.

 

[KBintheSLC]

I long for the days when infantry rifles had the power to really reach out and touch someone. The M1 Garand is a fine rifle indeed. I hope to someday add one to my own collection.

 

[RP88]

^check out Southern Ohio Gun, Gunbroker, or the CMP

you can get a good one for $500-600 still.

 

[SaxonPig]

RG- The STG44 (Sturmgewehr 44 or "assault rifle model 1944") became the prototype for all modern military rifles and rendered the Garand and all other designs in use at the time obsolete. In the 1950s the FAL and G3 were developed and while also years ahead of the Garand they were already eclipsed by the true "Assault Rifle" design before they were even put into production.

As for the imperfections comment, no rifle is perfect and the Garand suffers from being heavy, limited to 8 round capacity (superior to the bolt guns of the day but limited for a semi-auto), and having a fairly complicated and sensitive feed mechanism that mandates using ammo within a narrow pressure range.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StG_44

 

[nathan]

Two quick shots at 30 yds away on this 100 lb porkie.

[/IMG]

Exit wound , heart shot. Boy, the blood was spurting like crazy mamma..

 

[FMJMIKE]

Yep !!! A hell of a rifle..................

 

[rskent]

There is just something about eight rounds of 3006 as fast as you can pull the trigger. It just makes me feel good.
Steve

 

[bozzman3]

Yes it is!!! Now go get its brother the M1a!

 

[61chalk]

SaxonPig...I see where your coming from, theres a place an time
for everything, however you could say the STG44 was also obsolete
in WWII because so few were made an actually used....also could you
put a scope on it an hit at long range...like the obsolete 1903 bolt action?
If fact bolt actions haven't even become obselete yet...look at modern day
snipers....in fact the M1 close son the M14, has even been turned into a
sniper weapon still used today in the military. Obsolete is only a mindset, if
it can still be used an can kill....

 

[levallois]

I love my M1 - it's a terrific rifle - sometimes at the range they'll be 3-4 of us shooting our Garands and the "pings" of the clips echo up and down the line makes me smile. My dad carried one for a while in WWII before he got promoted and got an M1 carbine. He liked the carbine for it's low weight but always had a soft spot for the 30-06 round and the Garand until the end.

 

[leadcounsel]

Here is one of mine. I bought it online while I was deployed to Iraq. Came home to a fantastic surprise. A beautiful rifle.

As to the comment about it being outdated by 1944, I disagree. Designs and prototypes aren't as good as the real deal, which is a weapon that has performed reliably and accurately in real combat across several terrains and climates. The Garand performed superbly in the Pacific, Asia, Africa, and throughout the various terrains and climates of Europe. I don't believe it is 'obsolete' even by todays standards, frankly. Since WWII era bolt actions are still used effectively in the world in combat, if the M1 and .3006 ammo were still available in mass quantities in the world they would still be used.

However, in terms of 'obsolete' as the poster has intended, they wouldn't be surpassed in performance until decades after WWII.

 

[amprecon]

I very much doubt that any person on the receiving end of an M1 Garand will ever consider it "obsolete", don't care how modern they think they are.

 

[gasteffens]

I have never shot one, but everything I have seen and read, it seems pretty wicked. I would love to try one at least some day.

 

[bernie]

I for one love them! While I am not a collector, it is my "go to" rifle. As far as obsolete and what not, I think that your opinion may be skewed by whether you are a "battle rifle" or an "assault rifle" guy. I have always been more of a battle rifle guy and I think some recent experiences have proven me right, and wrong. I suppose in each squad you may need both, kind of like how we had it in WWII. I love my M1, however, I would really hate to clear a house with it! But again, it is my "go to" rifle, as I do not have to do much urban combat.

 

[W.E.G.]