camp_gunner
Member
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2006
- Messages
- 67
More thoughts on this issue
As noted, we got there first because of foresight on the part of a few well-placed men.
Now as to some other thoughts that have come up in this discussion.
The Garand for it’s time was a very good rifle, but the FN 49 design is better from a military standpoint. I have owned many of both and have fired thousands of rounds from each. The advantage of the FN design comes in the ability to clear the action when it becomes filled with dirt. The Garand effectively requires that the entire gun be taken apart to remove the bolt or to get into the area behind the bolt in the action. It breaks as a minimum into two large pieces, one of which will then have to be set aside so that cleaning can take place. The FN just requires that the receiver cover be removed to access this area. The cover can be put in your pocket while you clean the action. The gas system on the 49 is better as well; it is more adjustable and stays somewhat cleaner than the Garand. The Garand does offer an advantage in grenade launching, with the spring loaded plug it can automatically turn off the gas, this has to be done manually in the 49.
As to the 276 Pederson cartridge; I think that we missed the bet in not adopting the Garand in this cartridge. The gun would have held ten round, the recoil would have been lighter, and the troops would have been able to carry more ammo. If you have any doubts, put a 276 cartridge next to a 30/06. The size and weight difference is substantial. The statement has been made that it would not have made sense to have two different cartridges in use at the same time, but for all practical purposes, we had that exact situation. The Garand used a 150-grain bullet, and the automatics used the heavier 180-grain bullets.
Now on to the Johnson rifles. The marines hated them. One of my friend’s father was in the first Marine Raiders. They were issued Johnsons. To hear Bill tell it, they were doing a practice landing off Camp Pendleton; they entered the landing boats with their Johnsons, by the time they had reached the shore, all of the rifles had fallen into the water. They were then issued the M1 Garand. They also buried a bunch of Rising Subs out in the back country.
As noted, we got there first because of foresight on the part of a few well-placed men.
Now as to some other thoughts that have come up in this discussion.
The Garand for it’s time was a very good rifle, but the FN 49 design is better from a military standpoint. I have owned many of both and have fired thousands of rounds from each. The advantage of the FN design comes in the ability to clear the action when it becomes filled with dirt. The Garand effectively requires that the entire gun be taken apart to remove the bolt or to get into the area behind the bolt in the action. It breaks as a minimum into two large pieces, one of which will then have to be set aside so that cleaning can take place. The FN just requires that the receiver cover be removed to access this area. The cover can be put in your pocket while you clean the action. The gas system on the 49 is better as well; it is more adjustable and stays somewhat cleaner than the Garand. The Garand does offer an advantage in grenade launching, with the spring loaded plug it can automatically turn off the gas, this has to be done manually in the 49.
As to the 276 Pederson cartridge; I think that we missed the bet in not adopting the Garand in this cartridge. The gun would have held ten round, the recoil would have been lighter, and the troops would have been able to carry more ammo. If you have any doubts, put a 276 cartridge next to a 30/06. The size and weight difference is substantial. The statement has been made that it would not have made sense to have two different cartridges in use at the same time, but for all practical purposes, we had that exact situation. The Garand used a 150-grain bullet, and the automatics used the heavier 180-grain bullets.
Now on to the Johnson rifles. The marines hated them. One of my friend’s father was in the first Marine Raiders. They were issued Johnsons. To hear Bill tell it, they were doing a practice landing off Camp Pendleton; they entered the landing boats with their Johnsons, by the time they had reached the shore, all of the rifles had fallen into the water. They were then issued the M1 Garand. They also buried a bunch of Rising Subs out in the back country.