M1 Garand vs. FAL and AR10 for Combat?

[Blain]

Many here love the M14 and M1 Garand, they love everything about the weapons. They love the combination of caliber, ruggedness, sights, function, design, etc. Such fanatics typically consider the M14 as the ultimate combat rifle (as it is a weapon based on the design of the M1, a product improved Garand). Such people would state that they would pick an M14 over any other rifle if they had to go to combat.

Obviously this means picking it over the M16 and all other .223 weapons no matter how high tech and sophisticated they are since M14 fans mostly despise anything under 30 cal for combat. However, this also includes choosing the M14 over the FAL, AR10 and other twenty round 30 caliber battle rifles. Now in these instances the only difference between the three guns is the style and design of the rifle, not the caliber.

The question is, for you M1/M14 fanatics, do you like the M14/M1 action so much that if you were excluded from using the M14 and had to either use the M1 Garand (same action/style/ruggedness as the M14 but only 8 rounds) or a FAL/AR10 with 20 .308 rounds but a theoretically weaker/less rugged/less favorable design, which would you choose??

Would the limited capacity yet "superior" design of the M1 counter act the FAL and AR10s higher capacity but higher possibility to jam as well?

M1 Garand can be in either .30-06 or .308. And though this question is intended for M14/M1 fanatics, any and all may comment as well!

 

[Kaylee]

dunno if I'd count myself as a "fanatic" and I certainly don't expect to be going into any combat during my lifetime requiring anything more devastating than the Flyswatter MkI, No 1.

But that said...

I'll admit I do have a preference for the M14 platform.. mostly though 'cause it seems to me a very adaptable multi-purpose civilian platform... in large part 'cause it handles more or less just like a regular deer rife (albeit heavier), and it don't spook the herd so bad, especially in wood furniture.

For a straight-out fighting gun, any of the three (presuming good condition and decent manufacture) would work fine I guess.. though I think personally if someone said "pick up one of these rifles and shoot the rampaging zombies" I'd pick the AR-10 -- but that's just 'cause I know how the AR system works, and I don't have any "muscle memory" with the M1 or FAL.

It is after all the cook and not the kitchen... and I don't know that many recipies.

-K

 

[hondo68]

The M1 Garand is the easiest to load by far. No mag release or op rod to fool around with. Just slam in a clip and go.

 

[twoblink]

The M1Garand is great if you aren't left handed..

That said, I think the 308 is a better round for something like this, unless you do a lot of hunting, in which case I recommend a bolt action 308 or 30-06 anyways.

But I like the M14 platform. The FAL also.

 

[3 gun]

I know the M1/M14 platform. I'll stick to what I know, give me a Garand. It's not to say the FAL or AR-10 aren't as good or better rifles, I just don't have the faith and experience with them that I have with the M1. If push comes to shove the gain of a few rounds in the mag couldn't offset my lack of knowledge and confidence.

Be careful around a man with one rifle, he'll know how to use it. Sums up my logic pretty well.

 

[Drue]

Of the .308 battle rifles, I would pick the M14(1A) first based on the sights and trigger. The FAL would be next, based on ergonomics(subjective), followed by the H&K. All three of these rifles have been proven on the battlefields of the world since the 1950s. I don't have any experience with the AR10 but the people who have them seem to really like them. I would pick the three above ahead of the M1 based on mag capacity but someone with an M1 is certainly well armed.

My $0.02

Drue

 

[Blain]

The thing with the M1 that is nice, though, is that one can reload clips lightening fast. Much faster than one can change mags in one of the other rifles. Of course, the enblock system has it's problems as well (what doesn't?).

 

[foghornl]

For me, it is the US Rifle Cal .30 M-1 Popularly known as 'The Garand'
1. I am intimately familiar with how it works, and its quirks and oddities....En-bloc clips of 8 rounds, etc
2. My Dad was a WW2 Army Infantryman, earned a Silver Star in the Pacific Theatre carrying [and VERY effectively using] the M-1
3. Dad post-war worked for International Harvester (31 years) and was in the Refridgeration/Machine Works IH plant in Evansville, IN in the 50's, on the M-1 receiver broaching line.

So, the M-1 allowed me to be here in the first place, and gave me my food/clothing/shelter in my early years.

Even though he is not around now, either, I still agree with Gen George S. Patton:

"The M-1 Rifle is the greatest battlefield implement ever devised"

 

[Art Eatman]

If this is a "You're going into combat with a choice from these options," I'd pick the one with the best odds of re-supply of ammo. IOW, not an M1.

The old Belgian-made FAL has been a world standard for a long time. If the offering was of that quality, I guess I'd go that route.

Art

 

[Chris Rhines]

Any of the guns mentioned will do if the shooter will.

For me, I'd pick the FAL. I prefer the right-handed ergonomics, and I have more trigger time on the FAL than anything else.

I wouldn't pass up an M1 Garand, although the FAL gas system is superior (the M1 and M14 gas systems look similar, but are operationally quite different.)

The AR-10 would be my last choice. I've shot a few, but I just don't trust them. The ergonomics leave something to be desired, too. I hate having to unshoulder the rifle to check the chamber.

- Chris

 

[Tom C.]

M-1 / FAL / AR-10?

I would have to go with the M-1. Not that the FAL is a bad gun. It isn't. I just have more familiarity with the M-1 / M-14 family of rifles. They are certainly easier to use with a military sling. Most military rifles don't seem to be designed to be used with a sling.

 

[Blain]

From what I see so far, most don't really consider the 8 round capacity of the M1 that much of a handicap. Interesting.

 

[Jim K]

Depends a lot on whether I can/will/need full auto fire. I like the M14/M1 but the former is useless in FA fire, while the FAL is better and the AR-10 better yet. For semi only, I prefer the M14; the FAL is overweight and clumsy, while I never got to like the AR-10 (though the 500 round back pack was fun!). I never considered it a fully developed rifle and never cared on principle for the gas tube design.

The M1 is easy to load and to care for, but it is heavy and long, so a lot depends on where and how it will be used.

As noted, the availability of ammo is important. There would be little point in carrying an M1 around if the army you are in issues only 5.56mm ammo.

Jim