Running and Gunning with M1 Garand WOOOOT!

[1KPerDay]

More like lumbering and gunning in my case... LOL

This was a 2-gun (rifle/pistol) match put on by the UDPL and was a lot of fun. The HRA M1 ran flawlessly all day, with HXP as well as my Nosler CC 168 reloads. Dan Wesson Heritage 1911 ran perfectly also. There were a couple surprises for this match; shooting clay pigeons hanging off a string was a new challenge, as was shooting through a tire (not through the rubber, just through the opening).

I got most of my M1 loads done fairly efficiently, though once I started getting really tired after 8 hours of running around in the sun, taping targets, resetting steel, picking up brass, etc. I started fumbling them a little. I had planned on shooting a 1903 but I couldn't find my stripper clips in time... it was probably for the best because I was slow enough with the Garand.

Pics of the rifle and handgun I used this match:





Video below for those interested.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jsDItcZ5uc

 

[Cosmoline]

Great stuff! It's tough getting a bead on anything when you're running around. And I notice you weren't using a sling so that M1 must have been plenty heavy off hand.

I've found the very best training is done when you're tired and there's sweat in your eyes.

 

[Sol]

Watched the video, it had me sweating just watching it, stay hydrated my friends!

 

[1KPerDay]

Yep, drank a lot of water. Luckily it was only dusty and hot blazingly hot. Only about 80 degrees or so. I've shot 3-gun in near 100-degree temps before it it is BRUTAL.

Yeah, cosmoline, my club discourages slings (mostly because they don't want people walking around with slung rifles I guess).

It was a bit of work. I picked up a buddy's AR halfway through the day... it had a heavy barrel, long aluminum rails, etc. and was like... "dang, this thing is LIGHT!"

 

[Beentown]

Thanks for sharing. Wish we had more of that happening in OH.

 

[danweasel]

That's really cool. I have always wondered where the third gun was coming from, anyways.

-Dan

 

[1KPerDay]

Results posted: I placed first in the Heavy Metal Irons division (nobody else in the division) and 25th out of 71 overall. Not bad for a big fat heavy beast. Not to mention my rifle.

 

[Mauser lover]

I'll bet that your buddy with the AR didn't get those steel targets to fall over from hitting a different steel target!

 

[1KPerDay]

You are correct. The big .30 really smacks them. Luckily... because I was having trouble hitting those little suckers.

 

[plodder]

Perhaps if you fired from the correct shoulder, you could score even higher

Seriously, looks like fun and a good way to expend prodigious amounts of ammo.

 

[dprice3844444]

would a tanker or the shuff's 16 inch have worked better?

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

Just Awesome

Running an M1 in a shoot n' scoot type match is actually one of the biggest reasons I am looking to purchase the iconic M1 Garand!

I love shooting them. something about the weight, the push recoil, the accuracy... its a beautiful thing. I shoot my pop's M1 better than my AR. It just fits.
Here in CA, removable mags are not smiled upon so what better rifle to use than an M1 throwing 30-06 rounds downrange till it pings(!).

1KperDay:
Do you have any tips for those of us wanting to use and M1 in a match like this? Where/how do you carry clips, etc?

 

[1KPerDay]

1KperDay:
Do you have any tips for those of us wanting to use and M1 in a match like this? Where/how do you carry clips, etc?

1. Cardio

c. as for where to carry clips, I haven't come up with a perfect solution yet. Mostly I put them in my shirt front (sometimes along the top edges of my pants pockets), with the fabric between my buttons slid between the 2 stacks of cartridges. They are fairly secure like that (heavyish cotton fabric shirt) but I've dumped a few that work loose when running, and I've had one or two instances where I yank the clip and the rounds go flying. A WWII-type ammo belt is okay but you still have to fiddle with the flaps, etc and they don't hold a lot. Ideally I'd like to have a "chest rig" that just held clips in open-topped pouches secure enough to prevent the clips from dropping out when running. Maybe even angled 45 degrees toward my right/loading hand.

The thin OD fabric ammo slings that HXP comes in are worthless in this regard because it takes two hands to remove the clips, and 7 times out of 10 the cardboard comes out with them.

But the tactical upland game vest does okay as it has a large pocket that I can fold the cover down into. It's not ideal, but it works all right. Plus I can carry twinkies in the other pockets.

 

[1KPerDay]

would a tanker or the shuff's 16 inch have worked better?

Dunno... would be a bit lighter and handier but muzzle jump is a bit more, and I don't know about accuracy on the long steel with the shorter barrel and sight radius. I have a tanker but it doesn't run reliably enough yet to try it. People whose opinions I respect say, for example, that a full-size M1A is preferable to SOCOM or Scout/Bush length simply because the sight radius is a huge factor in accuracy and speed. Personally I doubt I'm speedy or accurate enough to be able to tell a difference. I have run an M1A a few times and done pretty well; my M1A has a full length barrel and thin NM front sight.

I don't have a Mini-G... but I really want one.

 

[Mauser lover]

TWINKIES!

I thought that factory shut down? Can you still find them?!

Is your "tactical" upland game vest a normal vest, or did somebody actually market it as "tactical"?

 

[1KPerDay]

LOL It's only tactical because I say so and it bothers the mall ninjas.

 

[627PCFan]

*Ping*

Much easier on the ears than an AR mag clunk

 

[Walkalong]

The big dual spinner you have to turn over is very cool. Great shooting.

 

[03fatboy]

Good job looks like alot of fun.

 

[Piratesailor]

Great vid.. Another lefty..

 

[Ian]

Nicely done - that was a long match!

I really need to done one of my local 2-gun matches with my tanker M1...

 

[SilentScream]

Good stuff! Subscribed!! Bonus points for the pug cover picture. (pug owner)

 

[tomrkba]

I will take a Garand to my next three gun match. That looked like fun!!

 

[1KPerDay]

Thanks guys!

 

[Sam1911]

You inspired me! I helped out a pal putting on a small 2-gun match last weekend and my second time through the stages I ran the 1911 and Garand. Did quite respectably, too!

What a load of fun!