My M1 Garand

[mac_hunter870]

H&R 1954 U. S. rifle, caliber .30, M1 Garand. Ram-Line black synthetic stock, Ultimak forward optic mount, Burris 2-7x32mm scout rifle scope with ballistic plex reticle.

 

[Ironicaintit]

How do you like that stock? Im debating swapping to a synthetic to avoid damaging the wood on mine.

 

[mac_hunter870]

I like the stock. I hunt with my Garand and did not want to damage the original wood. The synthetic stock also shaves a little weight off the rifle compared to the wood stock.

 

[Thermactor]

Nice gun. How's it shoot?

 

[mac_hunter870]

I haven't shot it yet since putting the scout scope on it. Shooting the peep sight at 100 yards with 165 grain Sierra boat tail soft points over 40 something grains of IMR 4064 I can get 2-3" groups around point of aim. I'm not a great iron sight shooter which Is why I went for the scope on it.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Wish I had an H&R.

Got SAs, got a Binder, got a Winchester but still want an H&R and all correct Beretta.

I had a RamLine when I still hunted my Garands. I too bought it to save beating my wood and noticed a bit of weight savings especially when swinging the rifle. The "grip" portion is superior as well for hunting use. I recall it being a bit louder against dry branches and such.

One thing I didn't try - nor was it available - was a "scout" scope mount. Looks like a hell of an idea. I had cobbed a faux "buckhorn" rear site out of a standard aperture with a match front site.


Todd.

 

[mac_hunter870]

ApacheCoTodd, I too like the pistol like grip on the Ram-line synthetic stock.

I hope to soon have some time to get the scout scope sighted in and have the old M1 ready for deer season this fall. I do like shooting the M1, heck I like shooting any firearm.

 

[chicharrones]

That's a very nice 21st century version of a Garand.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

I thought that I would cringe from the heresy of putting a synthetic stock on an M1 but after further review, its really not bad... I kinda like it.

Now I have to get 2 M1's. One for synthetic and one for classic wood.

I think that my wife already dislikes you for forcing me to make another purchase... or two...

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I got a real kick outa hunting with mine and will some day gear up my "tanker" for mulies here in Arizona.

One of the more interesting aspects of my early hunting was taking flak from my pals for using the old war horse:
It's heavy
It's unscoped
It's particular about ammo
It's
It's
It's...

What I enjoyed reminding them was that each and every one of them had a Garand at home and was carrying around a rifle that cost them significantly more than our DCM Garands cost in the day.

I seem to remember that my Ramline butt pad eventually showed displeasure at my storing the rifle on it's butt.
Coulda been heat, cleaning fluids or an early version. Whatever it was, I took to hanging the rifle upside down or leaning it in the safe on its muzzle.

Oh yeah... for hunting, absolutely consider one of these muzzle brakes. They were made by Ron Smith and work wonderfully for a hunter:
Protect the muzzle in travel and muzzle down storage.
Operate as a bore guide.
-in the above two cases, note the crown protection -
Eliminate a great deal of airborne debris in prone shooting.
Work exceptionally well at controlling the muzzle for quick follow on shots or in your case, getting the scope back on target to confirm the quarry's condition/direction of travel.

With adjustable gas plugs, Ramlines, muzzle brakes and scope options... Why not hunt with one? Well, excluding exceptionally collectible ones but I'm immune to that anyhow.

Todd.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I thought that I would cringe from the heresy of putting a synthetic stock on an M1 but after further review, its really not bad... I kinda like it.

Now I have to get 2 M1's. One for synthetic and one for classic wood.

I think that my wife already dislikes you for forcing me to make another purchase... or two...

I wouldn't worry. There's no real commitment - they slip back and forth... probably quicker and with less consternation than the average gals changes clothes.
Though I don't mean to queer your reasoning for getting a second Garand either.

Todd.

 

[mac_hunter870]

You guys are selling me on that muzzle break...I mean why not, after all the modernizing I did to mine and, my other semi-auto rifles (SA M1A .308, Armalite M-15 .223/5.56, & Red Jacket AR-15 .300 AAC BO) have a muzzle break/flash suppressor?

 

[Thermactor]

With adjustable gas plugs, Ramlines, muzzle brakes and scope options... Why not hunt with one?
Todd.

Easy. When the Garand expends its last round it launches up the enbloc clip with a characteristic "SPROINGGGG" that broadcasts to enemy deer that you're out of ammo.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Easy. When the Garand expends its last round it launches up the enbloc clip with a characteristic "SPROINGGGG" that broadcasts to enemy deer that you're out of ammo.

Too true, signaling just the right time for them to attack...


http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/deer-attacks-steals-smokes-article-1.1204999

Todd.

 

[84B20]

mac_hunter870, I have your almost twin brother. I found my Ram-Line stock on ebay a while back. It was, at the time, the last one available since the company closed, or should I say was bought out by Champion. I see they finally decided to re-introduce them. I made a couple mods to mine so I can shoot commercial ammo and not have to worry about damaging the OP rod and I also replaced to OP rod catch assembly so I can load single rounds and not have to worry about the dreaded "Garand Thumb." I replaced the gas plug with one from Garand Gear which is self adjusting and The Holbrook Device also know as the M1 Thumbsaver. One interesting note, my scope is also a Burris but it is the pistol model. The specs are the same but the labeling is different. Go figure!

 

[Coogs.]

I have a few Garands, would LOVE to hunt with one, but, in PA, no semi-auto's!! I'm jealous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Coogs.

 

[agtman]

M1 Shorties ...

Two 7.62 M1s: 16.1" Mini-G (l) and 18" Tanker Garand (r).

The Tanker is a dedicated, all purpose "truck gun," while the MG with scout scope is a quick-handling hog/deer carbine.

Great shooters, both of them. And 50-states legal.

 

[mac_hunter870]

84B20...Nice set-up. I'll have to figure out how to get a sling swivel stud mounted in order to use a Harris bipod like on your stock.

 

[GBExpat]

Easy. When the Garand expends its last round it launches up the enbloc clip with a characteristic "SPROINGGGG" that broadcasts to enemy deer that you're out of ammo.

Actually ... "SPROINGGGG" is the sound that many attribute to the AR-15 buffer spring ... the enbloc ejecting is, by most, considered to be a "PING".

---

The idea of the deer waiting upon that PING to attack reminds me of a story told by one of the great uncles.

Sometime in the early 20th century, he & my maternal grandfather were hunting deer somewhere in the forested hills/mountains (perhaps still in/near Snowmass) when my grandad shot a buck which dropped like it was poleaxed.

My grandad left his rifle and other stuff with his brother and worked his way down the ridge to the "dead" buck. The brother was, apparently, trailing some distance behind him.

About the time grandad arrived at the "dead" buck, it opened its eyes, jumped up and started chasing my grandad 'round&'round a tree, trying to gore him with its antlers.

My great uncle claimed that he couldn't quickly shoot the deer and "save" his brother for two reasons: [1] the deer was too close to his brother and [2] my great uncle was laughing too hard to properly aim.

 

[Reloadron]

I'm still a purist at heart with the Garand.



However, I did cheat a little. The upper rifle pictured is actually chambered in 7mm-08 Remington and bedded with some other accurizing done. It was the result of an NRA armorers course I took about 20 years ago. The lower rifle is a later (Korean Era) SA which is correct and traditional 30-06. While some dislike the "Orange Wood" look I have grown fond of it.

Mac Hunter, enjoy that new to you fine looking rifle, I am sure it holds many, many hours of enjoyable range time.

Ron

 

[84B20]

84B20...Nice set-up. I'll have to figure out how to get a sling swivel stud mounted in order to use a Harris bipod like on your stock.

It is easy. Harris has a plate that fits inside the base to strengthen the stock. It is like an internal washer curved to fit the stock.

 

[OldBrownDog]

I'm still a purist at heart with the Garand....The upper rifle pictured is actually chambered in 7mm-08 Remington and bedded with some other accurizing done....

I've long thought a 7mm-08 Garand would be a neat modern take on the .276 Pederson that the Garand probably should've been chambered for. That's a really neat rifle.

 

[agtman]

I've long thought a 7mm-08 Garand would be a neat modern take on the .276 Pederson that the Garand probably should've been chambered for. That's a really neat rifle.

Yes - not to mention that the prototype/experimental Garands chambered in .276 Pederson ran 10-round en bloc clips.

And if you've read Hatcher's "Garand" book, you know this was during the era of infancy for semi-automatic troop rifles, back when they thought an en bloc clip of eight 30.06 rounds would be "high capacity."

'Course, as Hatcher also notes, every other army in the world was equipped with a 5-shot bolt rifle.

 

[Reloadron]

I've long thought a 7mm-08 Garand would be a neat modern take on the .276 Pederson that the Garand probably should've been chambered for. That's a really neat rifle.

I live in the Cleveland, Ohio area and years ago, about 20 years ago, my brother-in-law Mike and I would head down to Montgomery Community College in NC and take NRA offered gun smithing classes for a week or two. It was educational plus fun. So one year we took the M1 Garand armorer course which included building a match Garand. I ordered a pile of parts from Brownells, including two barrels in 308 as we were going to build match 308 guns. The stuff showed two days before we were leaving for NC and I ended up with two 7mm-08 Garand barrels. Brownells was absolutely great and sent me two 308 barrels and in view of the timing and situation just told me to keep the 7MM-08 barrels.

The barrel was made 12/94 and I believe we built the rifles June of 95, so yeah, about 20 years ago. Still have the brand new 308 barrel and gave the other to my brother-in-law. Never changed it. I put an 11 degree crown on the barrel and that rifle shoots great. It's just unusual to have a Garand chambered in the 7mm-08 Remington. Recoil is light also, a pleasure to shoot.

The Garand is one of those love it or hate it rifles. Me? I love shooting the Garand, likely more than my AR guns but then too I also love shooting my M1A.



Anyway, that is how this 7mm-08 Garand came about. Eventually Mike, my brother-in-law and now deceased sold his to one of his club members and I haven't a clue where that rifle is today.

Again, to machunter, get it out and choot it!

Ron

 

[agtman]

* * * Anyway, that is how this 7mm-08 Garand came about. Eventually Mike, my brother-in-law and now deceased sold his to one of his club members and I haven't a clue where that rifle is today.

Great story! Thanks Ron.