M1 Garand or WASR 10

[Fergy35]

The poll results seem to say it all.

The Garand is a classic icon and gets my vote too. I have shot both, and I have shot some of the nicer AK variants. The AK's have their place, but that Garand was well, wow! What a fine rifle.

If you are going to get an AK, save up and get one of the better ones.

 

[NWGunner]

Wasr-10

WASR-10 without question. *Flame suit on*

I appreciate the history of the Garand, recognize that the quality, crafstmanship and overall condition of the gun will likely be better. However, this comes at a cost.

If it's a collection piece you don't plan to shoot, the Garand is the obvious choice. If you want a functional, rough and tumble carbine with 30+ rounds of rock and roll, the WASR is the better choice.

I have shot both, own a WASR, and chose to spend the $1K that could have bought a Garand on a DSArms FAL.

My knocks against the Garand:
*No high cap magazines or drums readily available
*It would be very difficult to "bump-fire" a Garand
*30-06 ammo is relatively expensive compared to 7.62x39
*Larger, heavier and more cumbersome to carry in a self-defense, SHTF situation
*Value of a Garand won't increase appreciably if there is another Assault Weapons Ban - WASR-10 would be front-and-center on a ban list and therefore be more "valuable"

Did I mention the Garand won't accept hi-cap mags?

As previous posters have correctly stated you're really asking about apples and oranges. Garands are great guns and well deserve their place of honor amongst collectors - but I would still go for the WASR.

 

[scientific]

Apart from the history associated with the M-1 rifle, why would someone want one instead of an M-14?

 

[61chalk]

The M1 Garands are more available an much cheaper than the "M14's." The ammo from CMP is cheap. The M14's are semi an full auto, not much chance of getting one, you are probably referring to the M1A which is the semi "M14". After all was said an done with the M14, some in the miltary said it was still basically a Garand...read that somewhere....the "M14", M1A is still a excellent rifle, an the Garand shoots a slightly more powerful bullet, an after all these years they are still a very accurate rifle.

 

[j-easy]

I respectfully disagree on some points, my text in bold

WASR-10 without question. *Flame suit on*

I appreciate the history of the Garand, recognize that the quality, crafstmanship and overall condition of the gun will likely be better. However, this comes at a cost.

If it's a collection piece you don't plan to shoot, the Garand is the obvious choice. If you want a functional, rough and tumble carbine with 30+ rounds of rock and roll, the WASR is the better choice.

I have shot both, own a WASR, and chose to spend the $1K that could have bought a Garand on a DSArms FAL. You can get a Garand from CMP for between $445 and $595, plus like 20 bucks shipping, no sales tax, no dealer transfer required.

My knocks against the Garand:
*No high cap magazines or drums readily available
*It would be very difficult to "bump-fire" a Garand
*30-06 ammo is relatively expensive compared to 7.62x39 you can get 960 rounds of brass cased non corrosive reloadable surplus for 419.75 delivered via cmp, Its actually $75+$8.95 shipping per 192, so you don't even have to buy a case to get that price per round, 7.62x39 is only cheaper if it is non reloadable steel cased
*Larger, heavier and more cumbersome to carry in a self-defense
*Value of a Garand won't increase appreciably if there is another Assault Weapons Ban - WASR-10 would be front-and-center on a ban list and therefore be more "valuable"
with CMP you really are buying a rifle worth 1k for 600 bucks and the value increases steadily every year regardless of legislation

Did I mention the Garand won't accept hi-cap mags?

As previous posters have correctly stated you're really asking about apples and oranges. Garands are great guns and well deserve their place of honor amongst collectors - but I would still go for the WASR.

I own and shoot both and I like my WASR-10 but if I had I could own only one I would go with a garand any day

 

[jaholder1971]

Buy both.

 

[Kevin5098]

My knocks against the Garand:
*No high cap magazines or drums readily available
*It would be very difficult to "bump-fire" a Garand
*30-06 ammo is relatively expensive compared to 7.62x39
*Larger, heavier and more cumbersome to carry in a self-defense, SHTF situation
*Value of a Garand won't increase appreciably if there is another Assault Weapons Ban - WASR-10 would be front-and-center on a ban list and therefore be more "valuable"

When was the last time anyone reading this forum NEEDED to fire more than 8 rounds without reloading?

Bump-fire? Why????

Price of ammo could be a legitimate factor, but Greek ammo is selling for $0.44 a round from CMP, and reloading is always an option.

Self-defense/SHTF? Neither would be my choice for self defense, and IMO SHTF is a fantasy.

Garand value will increase regardless of AWB as previoously pointed out and an AWB seems unlikely.

 

[Frankl03]

I have an M1a and now I want to get a Garand. I say get the Garand.

 

[travellingJeff]

If you don't own a Garand and you're involved in a "Garand or (X)" decision, the answer is always Garand.

UNLESS

The (x) is "TWO GARANDS", in which case, buy that.


If you buy a nice service grade M1 Garand, and the AGI video's about it, you'll be pleased. A few hundred bucks to send it to Shuffs Parkerizing to get it crowned, a trigger job and reparked, and you've got a darn fantastic weapon.

My M1 Garand is, and will be, my END OF THE WORLD gun.

AND if you buy a Hornady progressive loader now, you can get one thousand (!!!!) free 150g FMJ/BT bullets. For the price of a nice FN/FAL, you can have a slightly tweaked M1 Garand, a reloader and dies, a thousand bullets, brass and primers. Then you can buy some of the en bloc clips and in good spirit.

I've never been to the range and done a brief "gun swap" with anyone, for shooting purposes, and been more impressed with what they brought than I was with my M1 Garand.

YMMV, of course. Best of luck either way.

 

[NWGunner]

In response to J-easy's comments:

You're correct on the rifle cost being less expensive through CMP - for some folks who don't belong to ranges or a shooting club, the paperwork required to purchase through CMP may be "objectionable" to some - including a membership cost to a range - I would put the paperwork on par with getting your C&R 03 FFL - some folks don't want that hassle, albeit minor. The least expensive membership to a range near me is $150 for a 1-year membership. I think it would be fair to add this cost to the rifle - putting it closer to $700 depending on the grade that you buy.

The WASR still wins on ammo cost. Even surplus 30-06 ammo (by your figures) is still running ~$.44/round. Steel-cased non-reloadable ammo is all I have ever shot through my WASR and other misc. commie guns. It's still possible to get 7.62x39 at ~$.20/round. That means you can practice twice as much or have twice as much fun for the same cost.

Your arguments for the Garand assume that a potential buyer would already belong to a range or shooting club, not be put off by the paperwork, and that they are setup to reload to take advantage of reduced cost reloadable brass from the surplus ammo. All things being equal, for someone who does not belong to a range/club or reload - the WASR is a more economical choice.


In response to Kevin5098's comments:

The idea of "need" is highly subjective. I "need" as much as is required for my enjoyment. I find rifles which accept high-capacity detachable magazine to be "more fun". More shooting, less loading. Ever done the 5-gallon bucket dance with an AK or AR? It's FUN! With a Garand, your fun is over or at least paused after 8 rounds. The only exception so far (for me) is my Mosin-Nagant M44. That thing is VERY fun.

Ammo cost issue addressed above. SHTF may be a fantasy - but why not be prepared? I firmly believe that if basic services become "unavailable", people's general level of politeness and civility would decline rapidly - maybe share your belief that SHTF scenarios are a fantasy with all the victims Hurricane Katrina - think Superdome.

I'll concede that we cannot be certain as to the investment value of either weapon. Another AWB is only uncertain until new legislation is introduced - or public sentiment is ripe for "change" after another public shooting.

In my mind, the WASR is still the clear choice.

+1 to all the posters suggesting he buy both.

 

[j-easy]

i will agree that the CMP paperwork is somewhat of a hassle to get everything in order, and I did not factor in the cost of joining a CMP affiliated organization, If not already a member of a range you can join the "garand collectors association" for something like $25 dollars a year to fulfill the organizational requirement.

they are both great guns and I believe this is a question of "what should I buy first", both are excellent rifles worth owning.

 

[NWGunner]

"Both Are Worth Owning"

Definitely!

 

[NC-Mike]

Yeah, get both...


I have both and it's good to have both.




The CMP ammo has gone through the roof. The 192 round cans used to be 45.00 not so very long ago, now they are 75.00 a pop but a CMP Garand is still the very best deal in firearms there is. You'll get a rifle that is worth almost double on the open market than what you pay CMP and that's why you are NOT supposed to buy from CMP if your intent is to sell the rifle.

A CMP field grade for 495.00 is light-years ahead of most Garands you see in shops for 800 or 900 dollars. Can image how beat to hades a Garand must be to wear a 495.00 price tag in a gun shop.

And it would still be snapped up in mere hours.

Get a CMP Service grade for 595.00 while they still have them and you'll never regret it.

 

[NC-Mike]

In response to Kevin5098's comments:

The idea of "need" is highly subjective. I "need" as much as is required for my enjoyment. I find rifles which accept high-capacity detachable magazine to be "more fun". More shooting, less loading. Ever done the 5-gallon bucket dance with an AK or AR? It's FUN! With a Garand, your fun is over or at least paused after 8 rounds. The only exception so far (for me) is my Mosin-Nagant M44. That thing is VERY fun.

The idea of "fun" is also highly subjective.

I submit to you that shooting 8 rounds of 30-06 out of a Garand is every bit the equal joy of dumping a AR/AK 30 round mag.

And with the Garand, you also get the ping!

 

[jhco]

garand

 

[NWGunner]

It's pretty clear based on the polling that I'm in the minority and fighting an uphill battle in this regard.

Setting aside the subjective qualities of "fun" and "needs". I'd like to steer the debate back to the technical and economic merits of WASR-10 ownership.

Several technical and economic features of the weapon set the WASR apart as the more advanced and sensible design:

*Detachable magazines
*Small bolt handle vs. large operating rod (This really bugs me about the Garand)
*Plethora of aftermarket support for stocks, main grips, foregrips, barrels, pistons, muzzle accessories, etc. - easy to procure replacement parts
*Relatively cheap ammo
*Proven, highly robust design - longer record of military service (not to say the Garand is unreliable - just that the AK/WASR's are more widely used and still hold their own in a "modern" military force)

Also, let me be clear that I am not trying to bash Garands, the design, or anyone who likes them. They are fine weapons and everyone should have one....right after they buy an AK patterned rifle.

 

[NC-Mike]

Setting aside the subjective qualities of "fun" and "needs". I'd like to steer the debate back to the technical and economic merits of WASR-10 ownership.

Boring...


Besides, the M1 is much purdyier rifle!

 

[Kevin5098]

NWGunner said:

Several technical and economic features of the weapon set the WASR apart as the more advanced and sensible design:

No argument with any of the merits listed in this post. It all boils down to why you want the rifle in the first place. The Garand fits my requirements better than the WASR-10 ever could, but someone else will be much more satisfied with the AK or other rifle.

OP needs to decide what his requirements are and choose the best fit.

 

[NWGunner]

Agreed. The Garand is a majestic looking rifle.

AK's have all the elegance and grace of a spork.

 

[NC-Mike]

Agreed. The Garand is a majestic looking rifle.

AK's have all the elegance and grace of a spork.

Well said.

I do appreciate the AK for what it is though. As I mentioned, its good to have both.

 

[Mikee Loxxer]

The Garand is one of the finest true military surplus rifles available. Accurate and powerful.

The WASR is considered a bottom barrel kalashnikov.

No comparison, no comparison at all.

 

[NC-Mike]

The WASR is considered a bottom barrel kalashnikov.

I have to tell you, there really is such a thing as an AK snob...


I have a WASR-10 and it is sound in every regard. Admittedly I have only 1,000 rounds through it but it has NEVER had any failure to feed, fire or eject a round. I'm rather fond of it.

This is mine with the wood refinished and the metal blued.

 

[Hammerhead6814]

A Garand isn't good in a SHTF situation? Sure it doesn't have hi-cap magazines or for that matter, detachable magazines, but the question is that when you have eight rounds of .30-06 at your disposal, what else could you need? You can shoot through a deer, the tree behind it, the stone behind that, and the Chinese will be wondering "Just what the hell was that?" by the time it's ready to stop.

WASR-10 and the 7.62x39? The deer. So I guess if your going for eco-friendly then YES the WASR-10 is a better choice as tree's and ingenious rocks everywhere will be safer, and the Chinese will be much happier.

 

[JHansenAK47]

Garand is going to be the better shooter and easier to shoot accurately.

The WASR is considered a bottom barrel kalashnikov.

A khyber pass AK is a bottom of the barrel AK. WASRs are low end AKs but with some work are much nicer.

 

[NC-Mike]

WASRs are low end AKs but with some work are much nicer.

I did a good fluff and buff on mine and it also has a Power Custom trigger in it. I added that muzzle brake as well. Never really liked the slant.

Runs like a top.