Good Guns to get- but which one?
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wally
Member
M1 They ain't making them anymore. The rest you can easily get as funds permit.
--wally.
--wally.
jpwilly
Member
Get the M1 Rifle or the AR IMO
ol' scratch
Member
A good M1 Garand.
wlewisiii
Member
A good FAL is a better user than the others in my experience.
William
William
Leafy Cronmer
Member
Ya just taking into consideration availability, I would get the M1. I don't see to many of them hanging around in my area. The others on your list seem to me, easier to find.
Ignition Override
Member
M-1 Garand: the classic US WW2 Battle Rifle. You've read or seen 'Band of Brothers'?
A year ago I stood in some of the 101st Airborne's (E and F Companies') fox holes in Bastogne, Belgium, where our guys froze and fought with M-1s, and many died.
Even if you must wait a while for one, the CMP is the most recommended way to pursue these. They check each gun and measure, designate the wear.
Many gun show Garands are altered, modified, 'marked-up' CMP rifles. I'm driving to Anniston by this summer with the required papers for my first Garand, 'come hell or high water'.
A year ago I stood in some of the 101st Airborne's (E and F Companies') fox holes in Bastogne, Belgium, where our guys froze and fought with M-1s, and many died.
Even if you must wait a while for one, the CMP is the most recommended way to pursue these. They check each gun and measure, designate the wear.
Many gun show Garands are altered, modified, 'marked-up' CMP rifles. I'm driving to Anniston by this summer with the required papers for my first Garand, 'come hell or high water'.
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XxWINxX94
Member
I'd go with the M1 Garand. My opinion, (I might get flamed for this), Try and grab one that's in .308, they may not be as common, but you will save a lot on ammo if you don't reload.
DSAPT9
Member
DSA SA58 (American made FAL) I have 2 and they work very well. So I guess I am biased.
Good luck with your choice they are all good firearms...
Good luck with your choice they are all good firearms...
By all means avoid the AR 15.
They are all great choices, and have their strengths. Each would be a good addition. But buying into the AR system will bring problems.
It's the only one that comes in three or four distinct military verisions, with different barrel lengths, furniture, and options. It can be built retro or modern, the others look kinda funny with rails on them - if available. The AR takes dozens of sights, red dots, and scopes, frustration galore trying to choose. Lights and lasers just make it worse, improved stocks, free float tubes, and a dozen flash hiders and muzzle brakes compound the indecision, whether to single point the sling, where, and which kind will create hours of deliberation, research, and pondering.
Avoid all that, just choose some other simple gun off the list that doesn't have a dozens of makers and hundreds of aftermarket vendors of accessories. The Garand would be a good choice, no way to improve the loading, gunsmithing charges high enough to prevent working on it, parts are all 50 years old and old school rugged. It would be a real adventure trudging through the woods on opening day with it's iron sights and restricted, legal capacity chasing a whitetail. Nothing like carrying a 16" carbine in 6.8 SPC that hits almost as hard, has less recoil, shrugs off getting dropped on rocks crossing fences, has a tactical red dot that puts the impact point where you see it, and weighs three pounds less.
Choose that collectible blued steel and oiled wood beauty that will sit in the closet because you got the AR later and found it a lot more fun.
They are all great choices, and have their strengths. Each would be a good addition. But buying into the AR system will bring problems.
It's the only one that comes in three or four distinct military verisions, with different barrel lengths, furniture, and options. It can be built retro or modern, the others look kinda funny with rails on them - if available. The AR takes dozens of sights, red dots, and scopes, frustration galore trying to choose. Lights and lasers just make it worse, improved stocks, free float tubes, and a dozen flash hiders and muzzle brakes compound the indecision, whether to single point the sling, where, and which kind will create hours of deliberation, research, and pondering.
Avoid all that, just choose some other simple gun off the list that doesn't have a dozens of makers and hundreds of aftermarket vendors of accessories. The Garand would be a good choice, no way to improve the loading, gunsmithing charges high enough to prevent working on it, parts are all 50 years old and old school rugged. It would be a real adventure trudging through the woods on opening day with it's iron sights and restricted, legal capacity chasing a whitetail. Nothing like carrying a 16" carbine in 6.8 SPC that hits almost as hard, has less recoil, shrugs off getting dropped on rocks crossing fences, has a tactical red dot that puts the impact point where you see it, and weighs three pounds less.
Choose that collectible blued steel and oiled wood beauty that will sit in the closet because you got the AR later and found it a lot more fun.
deadeye1122
Member
After reading this post/poll and viewing CMP web site for purchase of a Garand M1, Is the amount of info they required by law or just company policy. Seems like a lot of personal info over the basic application for a permit to purchase/long rifle purchase in my state anyway. DEADEYE
Boba Fett
Member
Another vote for the M1.
1911 - I like them, but it's a 1911 and you can always get them.
AR - same as the 1911; lots of fun, but you can always get one
FAL - that's a close second to the M1 for me, but only because I've always wanted one.
But were I in your shoes, I'd go the M1 route.
Only thing I'll add about the AR is that if you don't have one that might give it some weight in your buying decision making process. Simply from the standpoint of possible bans, yadda yadda yadda. But for that sort of AR I'd recommend a 16" not a 20" barrel.
1911 - I like them, but it's a 1911 and you can always get them.
AR - same as the 1911; lots of fun, but you can always get one
FAL - that's a close second to the M1 for me, but only because I've always wanted one.
But were I in your shoes, I'd go the M1 route.
Only thing I'll add about the AR is that if you don't have one that might give it some weight in your buying decision making process. Simply from the standpoint of possible bans, yadda yadda yadda. But for that sort of AR I'd recommend a 16" not a 20" barrel.
surbat6
Member
I based my choice on the type I think might be more likely to be "regulated" (read "banned") next. Based on that criterion alone, I chose the only handgun on the list.
The AR15 and FAL would be tied for my second choice.
If I based my choice on general utility, the AR15 (in spite of its caliber) would probably have won.
The AR15 and FAL would be tied for my second choice.
If I based my choice on general utility, the AR15 (in spite of its caliber) would probably have won.
Tim the student
Member
For $900, you could get a Service Grade from the CMP, and a couple cans of ammo.
Ignition Override
Member
From what I've read/heard, the vast majority of our fighting men who used the Garand in WW2 and Korea had no fancy gear on their rifles, but had skills with iron sights.
Some conflicts truly decided the fate of the western world.
For their anxious march into the harsh blinding glare of deserts and later, the stumbling rush into bitter, frozen forests etc, and nasty steaming beaches/jungles, the M-1 (with nothing added) is what most of these heroic soldiers had to fight enemies to the death.
Such a rifle might be good enough for some of us, and to honor their sacrifices.
Some conflicts truly decided the fate of the western world.
For their anxious march into the harsh blinding glare of deserts and later, the stumbling rush into bitter, frozen forests etc, and nasty steaming beaches/jungles, the M-1 (with nothing added) is what most of these heroic soldiers had to fight enemies to the death.
Such a rifle might be good enough for some of us, and to honor their sacrifices.
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I understand where you are coming from, but really they didnt add anything to their M1s because back then there was nothing to add.
I am pretty sure if you told a foot soldier in WWII you could make his M1 lighter, more accurate, and faster to acquire targets, he would have gladly done it.
I think something to keep in mind about soldiers (at least here) is alot of them are handed a big black thing and taught how to use it, many don't know anything other than what the curriculum of the military has taught them- which to be honest isn't a whole lot, but it's more training than most of those whom we fight (at least this is true in todays military).
The cmp is simple to qualify to buy rifles through. Join a club that's affiliated and shoot in any competition or in front of an leo. Not a big deal. Not sure if those stipulations were set for by law or if they are just the cmp rules. It is more to go through than stopping by the local shop but you get a rifle that has been checked to work and one you know is all usgi. No rewelds. Lots of history. And about $300 cheaper than if you went to the local shop. If a membership and a day at the range are too much effort maybe the m1 isn't for you.
briansmithwins
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I think the vast majority didn't have much skill with iron sights, either. Ever since WWI the main killers on the battelfield, for multiple reasons, are artillery and crew served weapons.
Back to the OP's original question, I have one of my own: What is it you want to do?
Plinking? The AR15's is the cheapest to feed.
Concealed carry? 1911 is the only choice.
Price of history? M1 Garand hands down.
Design and execution? FAL.
All 4 do different things and have different pros and cons. BSW
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