Old School Cool!

[Lost River]

It has been a long time since I took my M1 Garand out.

Today I mounted a scope for a Doc friend, who I assume is giving the new rifle (a 30-30 Marlin) to one of his kids. I figured while I was out there, I would shoot 2 clips of some soft point ammo I had loaded up for the M1, just to see if it would function.

It ran the loads like a top, and I had forgotten how FUN it is to shoot an old iron sighted Garand. Mine is an old CMP Garand that I traded into (Traded a J Frame 642) back in the late 90s/or maybe 2000, I can't recall. I forgot how much fun it is to here the "PING!" when the clip ejects.

The thing that really stuck in my mind is that I have never taken a large game animal with this rifle, and I really should. Another thing that crossed my mind is that while the M1 Garand is very dated, it would still make a formidable self defense rifle if you didn't have your regular M4 close at hand.

Any other Garand shooters here?


I unintentionally tested the rifle's ability to run with debris in the action. I was sticking the first 8 round clip in and did not do it right, and had the whole clip pop out and land in the mud. I grabbed some snow and used the snow to wipe off the big chunks before I stuck it in the old warhorse. It did not even hiccup.


http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/IV_Troop/Rifles/IMG_2254_zpseyakcarj.jpg (http://s18.photobucket.com/user/IV_Troop/media/Rifles/IMG_2254_zpseyakcarj.jpg.html)


http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/IV_Troop/Rifles/IMG_2259_zpsjwyldjal.jpg (http://s18.photobucket.com/user/IV_Troop/media/Rifles/IMG_2259_zpsjwyldjal.jpg.html)

[SLG]

I love mine. It is a re import, I believe, but it seems to be all original, and in excellent shape. It was gifted to me by a friend after an overseas deployment some years ago. I don't shoot it enough, but coincidentally, I just got some "Garand safe" 30-06 delivered. :-) After deer season I'll have to heat her up, thanks for the kick in the ***.

[deputyG23]

Another Garand owner/occasional shooter here.
I got my 1941 Winchester Garand from the DCM in the late '80s. It was rebuilt by Springfield Armory in January, 1965 and put into storage until I got it.
That "ping" after the eighth round is distinctive. My son enjoys this rifle as much and maybe more than me. It will be his when I am gone.

[Totem Polar]

I've never owned one, but one of my happier shooting memories is busting bowling pins at 100 yards with simply rugged/Rob Leahy's Garand.

[Lost River]

Oh yeah........

GET OFF MY LAWN!!!!

[Bigghoss]

I really need an M1. I do have a neat Inland carbine that was a lend/lease to Israel and has the name of the person it was issued to over there written on the butt plate.

[ACP230]

Used a "Blue Sky" imported Garand that I bought from the sporting
goods department at Woolworths to shoot NRA Highpower matches in the '80s and
early '90s. Shot very well. Better than I did.

It looks like it went through three wars and, since it was made
in 1943 went through at least two. I thought about a new stock
but decided to leave it as it came back from Korea.

Lots of fun. Last time I shot it my son was hitting around a
milk jug we'd set out at 100 yards. I watched the proceedings
for a while and then said, "Give me that."
The milk jug was holed in short order proving that all the time
I spent dry firing in standing back in my Highpower days wasn't
wasted.

Too much snow to take mine out now, but if spring comes next year
I will go to the range with it.

[Lost River]

I really need an M1. I do have a neat Inland carbine that was a lend/lease to Israel and has the name of the person it was issued to over there written on the butt plate.

I like stuff like that.

I'd love to find out who carried the Garand and get to know some history of the person's exploits during the war.

[serialsolver]

I got a m1. Just a Springfield. My heavy hitter. This is my second one cause I shoulda never let the first one go. I did shoot a deer with my first m1. The deer was drt. Back in the day that m1 was the Big gun in the department. I had a shoulder bag full of clipped ammo. Ya'know in case someone needed to be pinned down or to chew thru some cover. I always wanted a bayonet for it, ya'know reasons. I don't care that the m1 is old, they are cool. Them dudes in ww2 were tuff.
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee179/serialsolver/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps1e26fc09.jpg (http://s233.photobucket.com/user/serialsolver/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps1e26fc09.jpg.html)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Lon]

Sigh. Every time I see a Garand post I kick myself in the ass. I had a sweet low digit serial number garand years ago. And I sold it to help by a car I really didn't need. Need another one.

[Lost River]

I got a m1. Just a Springfield. My heavy hitter. This is my second one cause I shoulda never let the first one go. I did shoot a deer with my first m1. The deer was drt. Back in the day that m1 was the Big gun in the department. I had a shoulder bag full of clipped ammo. Ya'know in case someone needed to be pinned down or to chew thru some cover. I always wanted a bayonet for it, ya'know reasons. I don't care that the m1 is old, they are cool. Them dudes in ww2 were tuff.
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee179/serialsolver/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps1e26fc09.jpg (http://s233.photobucket.com/user/serialsolver/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps1e26fc09.jpg.html)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Pulling out an M1 today as an LEO would surely raise some eyebrows of the other cops, bystanders and bad guys!

I would love to see the look on a crook's face when you took them down with one in your hands. It would be even funnier with a bayonet attached. :)

[JAD]

I got a CMP Garand because I could. I devote way too little time to rifles, and always feel like I need to work with the AR when I do. I should oil the old girl up and take her dancing.

[Lost River]

Sigh. Every time I see a Garand post I kick myself in the ass. I had a sweet low digit serial number garand years ago. And I sold it to help by a car I really didn't need. Need another one.

I think I would correct that problem ASAP, as they are certainly not going to get cheaper.

Near as can tell, based on the interwebs, the last ones made by the government (aside from the short run of M1s made commercially in the late ? 1980s?. I remember the advertisements but really cannot recall the time period.) was 1957, so we are fast approaching 60 years ago.

[serialsolver]

Pulling out an M1 today as an LEO would surely raise some eyebrows of the other cops, bystanders and bad guys!

I would love to see the look on a crook's face when you took them down with one in your hands. It would be even funnier with a bayonet attached. :)

The m1 was never an "authorized" weapon. It was one of those, well.... it went like this.

Higher ranking officer: "you got that big rifle handy, don'tcha? ya'know, just in case?"

Me: "yessir"

The bayonet, I always thought fixing bayonets would be a good crowd control technique. I know it was always good for a roll of the eyes from command staff.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Lost River]

Bayonets would certainly help cool peoples jets when it comes to crowds.

[MistWolf]

An afixed bayonet is a good way to get your point across

[Lost River]

An afixed bayonet is a good way to get your point across



http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/IV_Troop/ba_dum_tss_pirates_band_of_misfits_zpsmyibu41a.gif (http://s18.photobucket.com/user/IV_Troop/media/ba_dum_tss_pirates_band_of_misfits_zpsmyibu41a.gif .html)

[gkieser92]

I too got a Garand from the CMP. Figured it would be a novelty. Quickly realized that it was a damn fine rifle and I would not hesitate to stake my life on it of I had too. Not many 60 year old mechanical devices I can say that about.

[ralph]

I've got two from the CMP, both made in 1945, one in March, the other in June, both have the original barrels, The rifle made in June I suspect was used in Korea, it had a open box SA rebuild stamp,(early 50's) and the barrel has some pitting in the grooves, With a the original lockbars, and a uncut op-rod, it's a good example of a WWII rifle. The rifle made in March has the op-rod cut, and the lockbar rear sights were replaced, (as this was standard practice for rebuilding rifles with lockbars still on them, post WWII) But the barrel shows/gages little actual wear. The Parkerizing is almost perfect. Both are great shooters, and in the hands of someone who knows how to use it, The M1, IMO, is still a formidable weapon. I've personally made 300yd shots with open sights on steel with it, it was surprisingly easy.

[11B10]

Sigh, what memories. The M1 was the first military rifle I ever fired. All of us were conditioned to expect ALL rifles to run when they were loaded up with sand, dirt, snow, whatever crud there was. The reality was different. Fortunately for me, the slide into the AR "won't-fire-unless-it's-spotless" abyss was gradual because the very next rifle I shot was the M14. As much as I loved the M1, I preferred the M14. It just seemed to "fit" me better. I've always known both would make great deer rifles, but never had the chance to try them. This is a great thread - please keep it going, guys.