AR-15 or M1 Garand

[GarandOwner]

Clearly a flatlander.

Actually I have toted my Garand around some of the mountains of Central PA thank you very much

 

[redneckdan]

PA has mountains? Is that kinda like how michigan has mountains?


I had a garand, didn't need the extra range or weight. "Twas great for wackin stuff at +200 yds but finding that much open distance around here isn't easy. I went to an ar-15 with a .300 whisper upper, even then I usually end up carrying just my flat top .44 when hunting. It'd be a different story if I was the other side of the 100th meridian.

 

[ArmedBear]

The highest point in all of Pennsylvania is 3213 feet. That's a hill.

The highest point in my county is 6533' and there's a LOT of variation between that, sea level, and everything in between, with steep slopes and cliff faces.

 

[mindwip]

Last I checked, I could buy a new one from Springfield. The CMP is just authentic and cheaper, if pretty beat-up.

The "new" springfield rifle Garand is not "The" Garand.Lots of the parts in the "New" Garand are Old parts from real Garands. But things like barrel and receiver and wood is all new and the difference in those parts that are new that make it not a true Garand. So yes no one is making a new real Garand, Garand clones or Old Garands with basicly all old parts i will give you that one. But there are no new real Garands being made.


But thats my 2cents

 

[jkingrph]

The "new" springfield rifle Garand is not "The" Garand.Lots of the parts in the "New" Garand are Old parts from real Garands. But things like barrel and receiver and wood is all new and the difference in those parts that are new that make it not a true Garand. So yes no one is making a new real Garand, Garand clones or Old Garands with basicly all old parts i will give you that one. But there are no new real Garands being made.

Well I got one of the Springfield Armory "Garands" It may not be "the" Garand, but it looks like one, feels like one and shoots good. This thing is so reliable it's unreal. It will feed empty cases, previously fired in another rifle without a hitch( of course you have to cycle the action by hand). I have had some guns that had problems cycling loaded ammo. My reason was at the time there were not too many Garands to be seen, and the one's I did see were so beat up as to be questionable. I wanted a good shooter.

I did install a milled trigger guard /trigger/hammer assembly after slicking up the trigger a little and it went in no problem. I did know that they used some "old parts" and I could tell that but a good solid reciever and new barrel were worth it to me.
Today I might give the CMP a try, but one is enough.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

"...a good solid reciever and new barrel were worth it to me."

I'd focus on the lifetime warranty from SA. The SA folks in Genesseo are aces in my book---and have worked on my GI M-1 on two occasions when I have shown up at their door unannounced--but the receiver they produce is cast and not forged.

I wouldn't go so far as to say it's 'not an M-1' as a result--but it is fair to say it was produced by a different method.

The parts are 100% interchangable with an 'original' m-1 and the new-SA one has that warranty.

 

[mindwip]

Dont get me wrong i am not saying that the SA "new garand" is crap or made poorly. In fact that would be hard to do since most of its parts are old Garand parts. As long as SA uses old parts that are in like new condition you should have a good working rifle.

My point is that SA is not making new garands, there taking old parts that they did not make and making "new rifles" out of it. Thats not a new rifle. As far as the cast vs forge, one will have more of a collector value then the other one. Even right now that can be seen. With forge being better and lasting longer then cast? i dont know if thats true or matters, as has been said SA offers life time warrenty, so if your cast did break they will replace it.

ps i have heard that SA is not even making "new" Garands becuase they ran out of old parts. But i dont know if thats true

 

[Neo-Luddite]

You know--2 years ago I wanted to buy one from them (SA Genesseo) and the only one they had was a commemorative model (D-Day, Iwo, etc). I ended up getting a very nice late '55 for just over 1000 instead.

As much as I like SA--they have never had the best availbility issues with product and trying to get a straight answer about 'when' has ALWAYS been difficult. AFAIK they are using new barrels, receivers and stocks on the current m-1's. W-A-Y back they DID make some of the gas parts, too (in fact, my older GI m-1 has a SA Genesseo gas cylander on it). I think the receivers come out of Lithgow in Australia. The actual durability of their receivers vs. the GI originals won't likely be settled during the lifetime of anyone now living--.

 

[ArmedBear]

See, now a bunch of people are talking about collector value, etc. That's a totally different question from hunting utility -- if that's even what you want.

At the range, the weight makes the rifle nice for offhand shooting. In the field, it's a PITA. A reliable, heavy rifle. With collector value, so you might not be willing to drag it to some ugly places in the field.

OTOH a .223 is not the best "all-purpose" round I can think of.

So it still comes down to this: what does the OP want from it?

 

[mindwip]

ArmedBear, by your comment i was wondering which one you would choose?



What do you think about hunting with a heavy rifle 30-06 vs a light rifle .223?

They both can be argued over which is better, i would pick the 30-06, but i dont think those who pick the .223 are wrong either! LOL the best would be a medium 308

 

[Neo-Luddite]

So it still comes down to this: what does the OP want from it?

Based on his 'handle' he needs some big-bore power and doesn't mind weight. He's concerned also about whether the M-1 might be on future AWB's --quite possible. For today however, it can travel legally to every place throughout the whole of N. America North of the Rio Grande.

 

[mindwip]

The op said he wanted a Multi-purpose rifle. Multi-purpose can easily be applied to both rifles, just depends on what factors are more important to you in your multi-purpose rifle

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[ArmedBear]

What do you think about hunting with a heavy rifle 30-06 vs a light rifle .223?

Neither a Garand nor an AR in 5.56/.223 would be my choice for a multi-purpose hunting rifle.

But, my official "huntin' rifle" is a scoped bolt-action .30-06 with a 24" barrel and a walnut stock. Weighs about 9 lb., but that does include a decent-sized scope. It's a PITA to drag up and down mountainsides through the brush, and I'm a pretty well-trained fitness freak certified as a strength trainer.

And I've carried a Mini-14 while scouting around in the brush (for targets of opportunity like jackrabbits, coyotes, or whatever, and just because).

Damn, if that Mini-14 wasn't a real pleasure to carry on steep trails and through thick brush, compared to the .30-06. Except from the accuracy an AR affords, I'd take the Mini over the AR any day, to shoot .223 at moderate ranges; an AR's parts stick out in every %@#$ing direction, and you know what our brush is like when it's dry!

Another little gun I have and like is the Marlin 1894C, a .357 lever gun that shoots .38's very accurately. Good for rabbits with .38's, all the way to big game at closer ranges, with hot loaded .357 carbine loads that can be up there with factory .30-30. 6 lbs., 36" OAL, and man, straight grips carry like nothing else.

For a multi-purpose hunting rifle, I'm looking now at the Howa Ranchland Security rifle, a short-action 20" bolt gun in a Hogue stock. It's light, compact, and inexpensive, and Howas are accurate, durable guns (think rubber-armored Model 7 for half the price, and unlike the Remington, it has a bolt-locking 3-position safety that you really need in our brush). Maybe 7mm-08, or maybe .308.

The AR is a fun, expensive toy. I've used it only a little, but one time I did, it won me some prizes at a charity bullseye shoot. I'd be reluctant to call it a real multi-purpose rifle. Sure, you can get more uppers and shoot .50 Beowulf and 6.8 SPC, but it's not like you couldn't buy a whole rifle for the price of each upper.

That said, for target shooting, plinking, coyote hunting, and just messing around, the AR is a helluva toy, and highly recommended. And .223 is still cheaper than other rounds, provided you're shooting modern ammo -- cheap to reload it, too. Surplus changes the equation, but I wouldn't bank on any given caliber of surplus ammo being plentiful and cheap forever.

All of the above is my own opinion, subject to change without notice, your mileage may vary.

 

[Titan6]

Should I get a AR-15 or M1 Garand, for my next multi-purpose gun?

Well yes. The Garand is cheaper and more interesting, the AR is more useful and versatile.

Will the Garand be banned? That is kind of like asking if it will rain next July 6th. No one knows, and it sure would be a sad irony if the weapon used to save freedom in the last century were banned in the current one.

 

[johnnyonthespot]

Planet of the Apes

ill just have chuck heston hold onto my garand...

they will have to take it out of his cold dead hands!!!

Yuck...

a nice M1 Garand is about ALL i would take from charlton heston's cold dead hands...

the Garand is not just an effective rifle...

You are literally holding History in your hands...
and you can sense it loud and clear...

"smells like...VICTORY!"



I say buy a Garand.

 

[mindwip]

Thanks for the long answer ArmedBear. I cant speak much about hunting as i have not done it, theres a shortage of legal targets in a city. Been making my own Bows and am going to make one for hunting and try my hand at that(traditional bow hunting), so my knowledge on guns and hunting is not as high as others.