Lee enfield vs garand

[gripper]

5.56 Lee Enfield????Damn....ya know,that actually sounds cool as hell!

 

[9mmepiphany]

my personal "dream" Enfield is one chambered in .260 Rem in a "tanker" length

 

[gunnutery]

Personally I like both rifles although only own the enfield of the two. If your speaking of shtf rifle, both are equally rugged and reliable. I must say that I love enfields, however, my current issue with mine (no1 mk3) is head spacing. Fortunately the surplus ammo I bought was correct, but when that runs out I may have to find some other bolt heads(which has been hard at the gun shows). So I guess all that said, the garand would be the better choice(with non corrosive, more standard ammo, not to mention semi auto) but until I own one I'll be content grabbing the enfield.

 

[ken22250]

as was stated, the garand NEEDS the M2 load to function properly, in a shtf, it would be harder to find the a box of any old 303's, but a springfield or 1917 enfield would be good, 2nd easiest cartridge to find (after .22lr) and again, any 30-06 will work, i would go with a bolt gun
ken

 

[John Parker]

If I don't have the US ARMY supply system backing me up then I would go for the Enfield, In one of its short barrel flavors. Maybe a 308 since ammo would be easier to come by.

The standard SMLE is a .303, not .308.

 

[Jmurman]

I'll toss my lot in for the Garand.

 

[PhrankKastle]

I'm definitely in the minority but the one rifle that I will never part with is my #1 MK III Enfield. I've had Enfield #4's and Garands over the years and while there is certainly nothing wrong with them, but for any rifle situation my go to gun is that 93 yr old #1 MK III.

I do admit that now that I'm in my last 1500 rds of .303 and the supply is drying up I do find my 45 colt and 45-70 levers getting alot more work.

 

[krs]

Any Garand that I wound up with would get wrapped up and locked up.

That's just silly, but anyway, have I got a Garand for you! It's a 1943 issue SA rifle and it looks like it was dragged ashore on Omaha beach, banged hard against the anti tank barriers, slammed down on the rocks at the low rise where the sand turned to rock and hard ground firing all the way. It's still got a pretty good barrel and works as it should but there's no reason to protect it as it's already been there and done that yet still has it's original stock blackened and dinged over 98% of it's outer visible surfaces.

That rifle will fire 3 moa with issue ammo even today. Somebody must have loved it dearly for keeping him alive.

It's really too bad that the issueing record for WW2 American rifles wasn't kept. Back then a soldier was issued a rifle in boot camp, memorized it's number and kept that same rifle with him most wherever he went after basic training. So the rifle issued to a member of the 1st Infantry division who was in the first wave at Normandy was the same rifle he was issued in his first few days of basic training, unless something unusual had happened either to the rifle or to him in the interim. How neat would it be to be able to attach names to these Garand rifles we buy from CMP, and be able to research the names.

I guess after this there's no need for me to express my preference per the query by the OP, eh?

 

[chuckusaret]

Garand

I carried the M1 for many years in the military. I was very lucky, never got a "M1 Thumb". The best looking M1's that I have seen were restored by the Garand Guy. His products can be seen at: www.garandguy.com

 

[krs]

The best looking M1's that I have seen were restored by the Garand Guy

Then you haven't seen one by Eric Pierce? http://www.nationalmatcharmory.com/

 

[eatont9999]

Never shot a Garand. Too rich for my blood, I guess. I wish I had one! I do have a 1917 Enfield in 30-06, which is nice. It was sporterized, but the action works the same. I would probably go with a Garand for SHTF if that is all I had. It is semi-auto and can be fed clips pretty fast.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

Reply to 9mmepiphany in red.

especiallly in a situation as you've layed out, the advantages of the Enfield include
1. larger mag capacity...10 vs. 8
2. ability to top off...and stripper clips too the stripper clips are so difficult to use as to be almost worthless except as a way to keep the ammo together, and I can reload the garand at least twice as fast as an enfield.
3. superior open sights...just flip that ladder up You are incorrect by any objective measure. the garand front sight is significantly more visible, and should you ever decide to change elevation, is significantly quicker. additionally, the garand can be zeroed for 200 yards, where its maximum ordinate is only 2.5 inches. the enfield's maximum ordinate for the battle sight (300 yards) is 7.6.
4. fastest bolt action used in battle. Not a patch on a semi-auto. It's also only fast if you don't experience rimlock.

 

[Col. Plink]

I have a Garand (SA '56) that is no safe queen (shows its every ding and nick) but shoots great. I think it's reloading system is clearly the best, followed shortly by anything clip-fed with near the same capacity. Only the en-bloc has really reliably transportable throwaway clips allowing complete reloads as fast as the operator can move. Magazines must be reloaded rather slowly at some point; stripper clips are a close second.

That said, for a bolt-action milsurp I can't see past my Czech VZ-24. Excellent condition, smooth action, GREAT open sights (pointed front sight FRAMED by its sides, never seen anything else like it). Freakin' wonderful machine! (in 8mm)

 

[NJGarand]

I just bought my Garand from The Garand Guy. His collection is IMPRESSIVE, and his services are top notch. Mine is a SA '43 that has been completely restored to better then issued condition.

Also, it is true that the M1 needs to use .30 Caliber M2 Ball ammunition or a comparable round/reload. Federal American Eagle is now making a "M1 Garand round" that completely mimics the M2 Ball. Here is a good write up on that issue http://carnival.saysuncle.com/002449.html

Back on topic... My list would be: 1) Garand, 2) 1903A3, 3) K98K, 4) Lee-En (only because I have zero experience with them). I do agree that it's a little hard to compare the M1 with any of the bolt actions.

 

[9mmepiphany]

the stripper clips are so difficult to use as to be almost worthless except as a way to keep the ammo together, and I can reload the garand at least twice as fast as an enfield.

It's also only fast if you don't experience rimlock.

these two responses would lead me to believe that you are neither loading the clips nor using them correctly.

you use the same motion with the stripper clips as you would with the en bloc. the difference is that you'll need to pick the stripper out after you've pressed the rounds through

 

[paintballdude902]

both great guns but id take a garand

 

[ChCx2744]

An M1 Garand in .30-06 will dominate ANY LEE ENFIELD BWAHAHAHAHAHA! DO NOT CONTEST!


..Of course this is just my opinion, because I've never handled or shot a Lee Enfield before lol

 

[Ian]

I have both a No4MkII Enfield and a Garand. I've used both in formal rifle classes, as well as informal plinking and target shooting. I do love the Enfield, but I'd definitely grab the Garand if I needed a rifle right now.

Stripper clips may be quick and efficient in theory, but they can be a real pain in practice. I can definitely reload the Garand faster than the Enfield.

As for the ammo issue, I think it's a moot point for a SHTF rifle. If that situation does occur, you will be carrying the rifle around a lot and shooting it very little, much like a hunting rifle. A box or two of ammo would most likely be all you'd actually need, outside of extra for practicing. So you can easily stock enough for actual needs. And if you can't, it's not like a handful of heavy commercial rounds will explode your M1. Heck, if all I had was milspec FMJ and heavy hunting softpoints, I'd keep the rifle loaded with the heavy stuff. If I need to shoot someone, I'd rather have the more effective ammo, and worry about the rifle's long-term health later.

 

[Ignition Override]

But in actual combat the LE was probably never used against the Garand except in a few odd encounters, and the German Mauser, Italian and Japanese bolt-action rifles were likely its main competitors, if machine-guns etc are excluded.
I've never had the chance to try out a Garand.

ChCx: It is most fortunate that some of you guys have never wanted to shop for a Lee-Enfield #4 or #5.
Most fortunate.

 

[Wolfsburg]

I really like my 1915 SMLE, but I think I'd rather go to war with my 1943 Garand.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

If you DESTROY the gas system on an M-1, it would still be a VERY STRONG straight pull bolt gun in .06 or 7.62 Nato. It would be every darn bit the equal to SMLE.

That said, given the ammo (in .303 or .308 / .06) supply being solid---SMLE would serve, too---and certainly has and no doubt will in the future; it is an almost unbreakable weapon and (if damaged) can be smithed with simple machine shop tools if need be.

But for me, no contest, I'd walk into hell armed with the M-1 before any other shoulder weapon; it is a personal doctrine of faith and personal experience with the platform. MANY would say the same of the Enfield (or the Mauser, Springfield or M-14 for that matter).

 

[Mr_Pale_Horse]

I have owned 2 No. 4 Mk II, unissued, fresh from cosmo-mummy wrap. I have neither at this time. I found them finicky in the magazine, feeding and ejection department.

I could never justify spending for a garand. Don't want a semi-auto anyway. Did own a 1903 Mark I for a few years, but it was too much money for a Tchotchke or wall hanger, and the sights were a fuss, even for target work. No wonder the 1917 was so popular. If I could find a Winchester 1917, that is one US rifle I would own.

As for the king of all surplus, Mausers in all their variety by a large margin. Sound, simple, reliable, adaptable, for target or field.

 

[Col. Plink]

Got to go +1 on the Mauser as far as bolt-action combat rifles go. Though my experience is limited, my Czech Brno VZ-24 is a fantastic weapon that is exceedingly accurate and smooth in 8mm. That said, I'd take my Garand to battle and so make sure I came home to admire my VZ-24.

 

[Paradiddle]

Garand. First they are too much fun to shoot, they are accurate, they reload very fast, and there is NOTHING better then the ping.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

these two responses would lead me to believe that you are neither loading the clips nor using them correctly.

I own two enfields, and I know the correct way to load the clips and use them. the design is arguably the worst charger design in the world.

use the same motion with the stripper clips as you would with the en bloc. the difference is that you'll need to pick the stripper out after you've pressed the rounds through.

The bolt does a nice job of kicking the charger out all by itself. I notice that you haven't commented on the other responses.