The FReeper Foxhole Studies the M-1 "Garand" Rifle - November 17th, 2003

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[SAMWolf]

1973 Teri Garr plays the role of a stripper on "The Nurse"

<==Mash Teri

[w_over_w]

Morning Glory Snip & Sam~

What a fine piece of iron and wood. You guys put together a really "sexy" thread today! ;o)

[SAMWolf]

Morning ex-snook.

The "good old days" when they actually taught marksmanship.

Of course a lot of people already knew about that before the Service. Sadly today most people's first experience with a rifle is if they join the service.

[SAMWolf]

Morning Feather.

[skeeter]

Great post this day , it is always good to see what wepons we used to win. I have used the M1 Carbine and it is a kick to shoot.

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.

[SAMWolf]

LOL! Sounds just like our Public School kids here in the States.

[SAMWolf]

Morning w_over_w.

Snippy didi all the work, I just helped find some of the pictures for her.

[SAMWolf]

My son's friend has a Garand and he's been able to fire it. I am so jealous.

[w_over_w]

1927 Tornado hit Washington DC

Does history repeat itself?

[Iris7]

I have, by today's standards, some actual experience with the M1 Garand. The Korea boys are getting rare, and the World War boys are few and far between. (By the way, Townsend Whelen, who knew John Garand intimately, said Garand's name is pronounced not gar-RAND but GAR-rend, accent on the first sylable.)

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.)

[snippy_about_it]

I take back what I just said to you in freepmail.

You are in soooo much trouble. LOL.

[snippy_about_it]

Thank you. Glad you think it's 'sexy'. ;)

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks Iris7 for sharing experience with the M-1. I agree, there is hardly enough open land for shooting anymore and ammunition is getting expensive too for 'casual' shooting.

We would all have to head up to Wyoming or Alaska like you say to find a place. Another sad note is we'd have to check to see if we could even carry one wherever we went. Grrr.

[skeeter]

My son's friend has a Garand and he's been able to fire it. I am so jealous.

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:)

[SAMWolf]

Looks to me that the day of the American Rifleman is over. Just don't see hardly anyone who can shoot any more.

Good Morning. It's a shame.

[SAMWolf]

ME? That's a Classic Teri Garr line.

[SAMWolf]

And a month or so later I received another.

You wouldn't be willing to part with one would you?

[snippy_about_it]

Okay, you're off the hook. ;)

[HiJinx]

Good Morning, all!

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!