The infamous M1 Garand "ping" sound

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In all my time in the Army (and I trained on the M1 and used one in combat) I never heard that.
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I have heard of it from a couple people (that served in WWII) and believe it to be true, BUT I don't believe it to be common practice nor do I believe it was effective do to your points above. :)
 
In all my time in the Army (and I trained on the M1 and used one in combat) I never heard that.
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I was in the USMC and trained and used the M1 in combat, (until they issued us the M14). I probably heard the "ping" as well but back then they didn't issue ear protection. All we cared about was hitting the big red spot at 500yds.
 
I just realized we talk generally about combat. But each op is slightly different. There may be times when the Ping don't matter, but other times when it could affect the enenmy responce plus shooters close enough hear can keep track how many rifles are ready.

Combat and raids are complicated. I have been in quite a few and not once did we not debief and learn.



Jim
 
I've always loved the ping even before I knew what it was. That's actually one of the reasons I've always wanted one. My uncle has a few he bought back in the 80's for next to nothing. He's going to let me borrow one. He actually has almost 100 guns. Most WW1 and WW2 rifles. I love having a cool, gun nut relative.

Oh yea, I almost forgot. Watching all the WW2 movies didn't help, not to mention Gran Torino.
 
Well, I guess there may be valid reasons to avoid the sonorous 'ping!' of an 8-round, 150-grain, en bloc clip, though I cannot think of any. In fact it seems any potential enemy willing to make a move based on that sound doesn't really know just how fast another can be shoved in. In fact, I'm seeing the wisdom now in en bloc and stripper clips, though they may have less capacity than banana mags: you will never have to take the time to reload or even top-off a magazine if using en bloc or stripper clips. If you're carrying enough ammo, it's already all ready. The rifle can always be reloaded just as fast, every time (as fast as you can change a bigger magazine, but never have to reload that magazine).

I drove from Austin to Dallas to Anniston, AL and back as far as Vicksburg, MS in one day last week to get my Garand and ammo, and I took the first opportunity to rattle off a clip and hear that sound (I'd say it's more of a 'clang!', but it's all academic at that point...:D ) Joining a rifle club this week just so I can hear that sound of freedom ringing through the air as much as possible!

For those interested, at the CMP I found a field grade SA Garand ser# 5,xxx,xxx in pretty darn good shape, '55 vintage, shoots on at 100yds without adjustment. The guys at the south CMP are gold in my book!
 
My Garand is an H&R, made about the same time.

Actually,the en bloc clip was a weakness in the Garand, but that has nothing to do with tactics. The complicated parts arraingement needed to make the en bloc clip work were difficult to manufacture. As a result, we had only one satisfactory commercial supplier during WWII, Winchester.

I love the Garand, but it would have been a better rifle with a sheet metal magazine.
 
Col. Plink...I read, can't remember which web site.. They took a expert with a M14 an a expert with a Garand....fire for 2 min. straight as much as you can at a 10" circle at 200 yds.. After 2 min. they had fired almost the same amount, an the Garand guy had more hits....hard to believe, he must be a FAST reloader on that Garand!!!!
 
61, as much respect for the M1 Garand as I have, I have a hard time believing that the test didn't have more to do with the "expert's" individual skill level...in short the M1 "expert" was the better shooter. :)
 
[ Is there a way to get rid of the annoying "ping" sound that the M1 Garand makes...]
Try this:
(1) Remove your ear protection
(2) Fire 8 rds
(3) If you can still hear the "ping" (or anything else), repeat as necessary
 
If someone finds the "ping" that annoying perhaps they should be shooting a bolt action. A Mauser, or maybe a Nagant would be more to his likeing.
 
Please sing to the tune of There is Nothing Like a Dame (with apologies to Rodgers and Hammerstein):

. . .
Lots of things in life are beautiful, but brother,
There is one particular thing that is nothin' whatsoever
In any way, shape or form like any other.

There is nothin' like a ping,
Nothin' in the world,
There is nothin' you can sing
That is anythin' like a ping!

Nothin' else was built the same,
Nothin' in the world
As the grey and useful thing
With that glorious sound of "ping"! :evil:
 
I was reading an article about the garand the other day and it had said that during the war the military tried using a composite plastic en bloc mag. This however did not work or catch on. So unless your fighting an enemy that knows that this sound means youre "empty" dont worry about it. Its a beautiful sound that goes with the gun. Ask any WWII or Korean war vet. Also if this sound is just too much for you to handle then by all means sell the garand to me ive been looking for one for a long time.:D
 
I heard that every time a Garand "pings" an angel gets its wings
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I had always assumed that...........but its nice to have it verified.
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The book of Hezekiah, chapter 7, verse 15.

"Loah, when thy righteous rifle rings, an Angel wins his wings"
 
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