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.