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Posted on 11/17/2003 3:30:47 AM PST by snippy_about_it
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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 Semi-automatic .30 Caliber Rifle The M1, or Garand rifle as it came to be known after the name of its inventor, John Garand, held many advantages over the M1903 Springfield rifle. The semi-automatic operation and reduced recoil allowed new troops to achieve a higher degree of accuracy with a shorter period of training than was previously possible. The sighting system was superior under actual combat conditions. Ease of disassembly, cleaning, and oiling were also a great advantage. Most important was the increase in rate of fire, limited only by the proficiency of the soldier in marksmanship and his dexterity in inserting eight round clips of ammunition into the weapon. In the face of overwhelming odds, the capability of the M1 rifle to deliver superior firepower would most often carry the day. The first production M1 was successfully proof fired, function fired, and fired for accuracy on July 21, 1937. Thus began manufacture of what was to become the greatest production effort in the history of Springfield Armory. During the entire production history of the M1 rifle, Springfield Armory produced over 4.5 million M1s.  General Douglas MacArthur reported on the M1 to the Ordnance Department during heavy fighting on Bataan that: "Under combat conditions it operated with no mechanical defects and when used in foxholes did not develop stoppages from dust or dirt. It has been in almost constant action for as much as a week without cleaning or lubrication."  General George S. Patton Jr. reported to the Ordnance Department on January 26, 1945: "In my opinion, the M1 Rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised."  The M1 rifle was described in military manuals as "a gas-operated, clip-fed, air-cooled, semi-automatic shoulder weapon." The design incorporated a spring-loaded piston operating within a gas cylinder mounted on the end of the barrel. Gas was fed through a gas port in the barrel to a fixture mounted at the muzzle of the barrel. As the bullet passed this point, exiting the barrel, the compressed gas behind it flowed down a port to the piston. The piston drove a 16-inch operating rod to the rear where a cam on the back of the operating rod unlocked a two lug rotary bolt and then carried the bolt to the rear of the receiver. The operating rod, a hollow tube, contained a spring which resisted rearward movement. The spring, in turn, exerted pressure on the follower rod which operated the feeding mechanism of the weapon. Upon firing of the last cartridge, the clip was automatically ejected.  The M1, designed by John C. Garand, was the standard issue military rifle used by the U.S. Army from 1936 to 1957, when it was replaced by the lighter M14 rifle. The M1 was one of the first semi-automatic rifles to see action in combat. It offered a great improvement in fire power over the bolt-action M1903 series rifle it replaced. It was rugged, reliable, and tolerant to the abuses of use in the field. The rifle used .30-06 cal. cartridges in eight-round clips.  The M1C and M1D were sniper versions of the M1 Garand. The two models differed only in the telescope mounts. The M1C mounted a model M81 2.5X telescope; the M1D an M82 2.5X telescope.  A Marine sergeant credited with nine kills poses for a combat photographer during a break in the action in July 1952. Both models were used as sniper rifles during World War II, Korea, and during the early years of the Vietnam war. Although considered obsolete, the M1D remained the official U.S. Army sniper rifle until the mid-1960s. Both versions used the standard Army .30-06 cartridge loaded manually, or in eight-round clips.  The "old timers" who fought with Pershing and Marshall in World War I, opposed the "reduced accuracy" of the Garand rifle as compared to the revered--and sometimes even coveted--M1903 Springfield rifle. Also loudly voiced were fears that the new self-loader would cause horrendous expenditures of ammunition without commensurate enemy troops neutralized. Strange . . . the same thing was said when the 20-round box magazine appeared on battle rifles in the 1950's--25 years later.  There was, however, a difference. The Garand rifle, in spite of its supposed shortcomings, in spite of fears by its critics of disproportionate ammunition expenditures, performed brilliantly throughout its entire military career, compiling a service record as yet unsurpassed by any successor.  From 1936 to, officially, 1957, the Garand was seen in the heat of battle worldwide. Unofficially, it can today be encountered although considered to be "obsolete" by all but the most knowing experts--the ones who haven't forgotten what wins.  Renowned small-arms expert S.L.A. Marshall, in his highly detailed and critical evaluation of the performance of U.S. Infantry weapons during the Korean War, noted the phenomenal love of the American infantryman for the weapon, who, without reservation, candidly stated to him on over a hundred occasions that he could not think of replacing it with anything else.  The legend of the Garand was--and is--based upon the unassailable fact that the weapon, in spite of its theoretical weaknesses, WORKS--in the mud, in the rain, in the snow, and in the dust.  There must be a balance between accuracy and firepower in the general application. On one end of the spectrum we have the traditional bolt-action rifle such as the M 1903 Springfield. On the other end we have the M16. The Springfield was rugged, highly accurate and powerful, but, in the acid test of modern warfare, proved to be more complex to operate than necessary and unable to produce sufficient volumes of fire to be adequately effective.   Springfield 1903 On the other hand, the M16 is fragile, lacks power and range, is only moderately accurate, and designed with the idea that the trooper is to substitute a high volume of automatic fire with an inadequately powered cartridge for marksmanship. Neither one of these concepts is satisfactory, for as with most questions, the answer lies somewhere in the middle. John Garand understood this, for even though the M16 did not yet exist, the principles on which it was to be based did.  The rifle he designed and developed was the solidification of his thinking. It is capable of what has proven over the years to be superb accuracy, far more than one can actually utilize in the field. It functions itself, allowing the operator to spend more time on the basic fundamentals of marksmanship. It is powerful and rugged, capable of sustaining incredible abuse and yet still knock down an enemy at 500 meters.  It is a rifleman's rifle--in the purest form--yet it does not encourage wild, inaccurate fire, nor does it break in half when used in close combat. It instills confidence, not disgust. It is the almost ideal compromise between firepower and accuracy, between the old and the "new."  Even outside the military application, there can be no finer rifle for a serious survivalist or adventurer in the field, for most of the same criteria still apply. The box magazine is the result of a need to mass suppressive fire, so important to the successful consummation of squad tactics. It has no value whatsoever to an individual, only the members of a larger group. It is fragile, must be kept separate from its loaded counterparts, catches on things incessantly in the field, and is uncomfortable to carry and manipulate. The 8-round en bloc staggered clip of the Garand is small, light, simple in principle and application, and disposable. Once it fulfills its function, it is automatically ejected from the weapon. Criticisms of the fact that one cannot "top off" a partially loaded clip while in the weapon appear to more theoretical than practical, for if one has time to realize the need to reload, he can simply insert a fresh clip and at leisure reload any partially expended one via single rounds of ammunition carried on his person. This is no secret to the seasoned infantryman, no matter what his generation. No box magazine-equipped rifle compares to the superior balance and "feel" of the M1. It shoulders quickly, positively, and possesses the best human engineering in the world. In the overall context, it is the easiest battle rifle to shoot well.  To many the M1 Rifle has a classic elegance and grace characteristic of a bygone era, when steel was forged in white heat and walnut was carefully shaped for both form and function. "There will never be again such a rifle, so brimming with the genius of an individual mind, so well constructed to outlive us all, so sculpted as to ask the hand to caress."  Criticisms of the M1 are its weight, limited ammunition supply, the fact that single rounds could not be pushed in (8 round clip, or nothing). Also, the spent clip was automatically ejected after the last round was fired, making a distinctive sound, which could be fatal in close quarter or sniper operations.  As a supplement to the Garand the M1 Carbine was developed. It was totally different design philosophy with a smaller, less powerful cartridge and an effective range of 300 yds max. It weighed almost exactly 1/2 that of the M1 Garand. In many ways you could think of the M1 Carbine as a moderately powerful, two-handed, long-barreled auto pistol with a shoulder stock.  Even G.I. Joe carried the M1-Garand.       |
<==Mash Teri
What a fine piece of iron and wood. You guys put together a really "sexy" thread today! ;o)
I agree... I own an M1 carbine that my son loves to shoot.
And I've got a couple of Garands. There's no equivelent today that compares with their workmanship & quality.
Does history repeat itself?
Carried one some, shot one some, tried to kill a few folks with one on a few occasions. Used to try to offhand targets like beer cans someone left sitting on a rock and visible against the sky at 300 yards. Got three out of five with one clip once. Takes position target training done seriously and then a lot of "casual" shooting to become a reasonable shot. "Casual" shooting is intensely, I mean intensely frowned on these days! Looks to me that the day of the American Rifleman is over. Just don't see hardly anyone who can shoot any more. That is why the M16. (The AK47 is actually a better weapon than the M16 for folks who aren't riflemen, just heavier.)
No real point to my story, just talking about the old days. No place I know you can shoot a rifle anymore, except Alaska and the more remote areas out west. You need a place at least twenty miles from the nearest dirt road these days or there will be hell to pay. Always television watcher type jerks on their four wheelers around. They freak if the hear a bullet (not a shot, but the sound the bullet makes going by.)
I got my Garand thru the DCM program years back. After completing the program I anxiously waited - and waited - for mine to arrive. After a few months I called 'em and raised h*ll. SHortly after I recieved it. An International Harvester version in GREAT shape.
And a month or so later I received another.
I really should return the extra but I've kinda grown attached to both of 'em:)
Good Morning. It's a shame.
You wouldn't be willing to part with one would you?
Y'all come on down to sunny Arizona, we've got lots of room and good ranges for practicing your rifle marksmanship. Our NRA State Fund Committee gave away nearly $120,000 this weekend to protect the ability of shooters to practice their passion!
Anyway, here's my contribution to today's lesson. It comes from the Garand Collector's Association home page. They present a trophy for service rifle marksmanship at the Nationals in Camp Perry each year. Here's the excerpt:
At the GCA Board meeting at Springfield in 2000, a GCA/CMP Award Trophy was proposed to honor the winners of the John C. Garand Rifle Matches held each year at Camp Perry, Ohio.With Board approval, a committee was formed and work begun on getting the design completed and approved prior to the matches of 2001.
Bob Seijas, Scott Duff, Alan Cors and Richard Deane were named as the GCA committee responsible for bringing the trophy concept from the wishing stage to reality.
CMP approval of the design was received and work begun on final design and construction with the target date of August 2001. Richard Deane developed the design and along with Carroll Hale completed the rifle casting, Harvey Whitehouse did the metal and wood fabrication and Dennis Scott completed the Parkerizing.
The trophy stands approximately 5' tall and weighs in excess of 150 pounds. Three brass plaques, one depicting John Garand, one the history of GCA and one the biography of Garand adorn the center section of the trophy. A silver bowl with appropriate inscription sits atop the center section with a full sized replica of the M 1 rifle displayed as a crown. The lower section contains 100 brass plates -good enough to provide for 50 years of useful life.
Lots of work to do this week...I'll try to check back in tomorrow!
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