I Finally Shot a Garand Today!

I don't get garand, Mosin on the other hand ... pretty much all the glorious things said about Garand here just replace with Mosin. Must be a commie thing. It's all in your head.
 
Claybreaker! said:
I just started buying guns a few years ago but I grew up with them my whole life. Years ago in college, when I was pondering a major in History, I took a few classes titled The History of WWI. I would like to get my hands on some of them. I get the history part of the Garand but it just seems too long to me. Sorry, the gun itself just seemed too big. Like a small cannon. BTW I am not small.
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Its a good thing that the garand has some weight and bulk.......keep in mind the 30-06 round has much more "horsepower" than the 5.56. The history of the M1 and the men who used them is amazing. That is my draw to loving the M1 garand. If you dont get it you dont get it......whatever.

BTW.......its tough being a 30-06 man in a 5.56 world! THe 30-06 is a devasting round......the 5.56 is not......its that simple.
 
whacko said:
BTW.......its tough being a 30-06 man in a 5.56 world! THe 30-06 is a devasting round......the 5.56 is not......its that simple.
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It's amazing to think that the .03-06 was in the M1903, M1917, BAR and the M1919 family. Essentially, the US went to war in WW2 with 4 rounds for the most part (.45, .30-06, .50 and .30 carbine). In contrast, look at Japan.
 
xcom said:
It is the Cadillac of semi-auto rifles. The last rifleman's rifle. A tactile connection to the past. A quote I like goes as such:

"It satisfies the eyes. It looks warm, robust, serious, and capable. It looks like victory, freedom and liberation. It looks friendly. It does not look evil. It does not look delicate. It does not look cheap.

It satisfies the ears. The clocklike schnick when you pull the bolt back. The warning click as you shove home another 8 round clip. The massive solid slam as the bolt rams another round into the chamber. The deep throated bark of the muzzle as you fire away. The final Ka-Ting as the empty clip is ejected. The horrifying scream of agony as the guy four benches down learns never to hesitate when removing his thumb from a freshly loaded clip.

It satisfies the touch. The warm sculpted wood. The curve of the stock.The curl of the bolt lug. The take-up of the trigger. The robust, solid, yet unsharp push of the kick.

It satisfies the soul. It is the defender of liberty. It is the champion of victory. It is the guarantor of freedom. It will not be used to rob banks. No terrorist will unleash it on a crowd of unarmed victims. No gangster will use it to shoot little girls while missing his imagined gangster enemies.

It is the good guy's weapon. It is just the ticket to liberate a country. It opens the doors of concentration camps. It saves people from tyranny. It topples dictators. It squashes fascists. It pushes communists behind their walls. It defends the homeland. It provides for the common defense. It is necessary for the security of a free state.

It brings joy to women and children as they fire it. It strikes fear in the hearts of those that oppose freedom. It makes friends at the shooting range. It reminds us of the cost of freedom. Its lavish expense is appropriately justified.

It is your duty as an American to own one. Get one now. Buy ammo. Use it. Never mind the price, find the best one you can. You have no excuse. The time is now!!!!!! "
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This is just pure gold. The bold part especially!
 
xcom said:
Just to put a punctuation on a point above, it really is a conversation piece at the range. Many times I have been to the range with something from the odd collection of firearms that I have but always the Garand will bring a "Nice rifle" or "what is that." My reply is always the same, "Wanna shoot a few rounds?" It really does open people up.

anim_sniper2.gif
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Yup.....same here. When you open up the case with the garand in it shooters definitely come by to look at it. And I always have a clip or two set aside for people that have never fired one before(I know they are expensive to feed but I love to let people try my fire arms that is part of the enjoyment).....comments from garand virgins include......it feels like freedom........it commands respect......the power is amazing......the sights just line up naturally.......

OP.....I have never heard anyone walk away from their first time firing a garand and say "meh".[thinking]
 
Boris said:
I don't get garand, Mosin on the other hand ... pretty much all the glorious things said about Garand here just replace with Mosin. Must be a commie thing. It's all in your head.
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Very understandable. Mosin has a long history. You could substitute Mauser as well. They have storied histories and made technological contributions. What is it that draws you to one or the other... or all of them differs from person to person.

Take AKs. Prolific, durable, etc., etc. I really appreciate what they are and the history. I have zero desire to ever own one. They just don't do anything for me.

You are correct. It's something in our heads... I also like the color green... I don't know why.
 
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I went to the range Monday and took one of my Garands. There's a 24" x 24" gong at 225yds that on my previous trip, a guy was shooting at with a scoped bolt gun and hitting it with good frequency. I thought to myself "next rip I want to ring that puppy with an M1".

When I arrived there were a few guys shooting muzzle loaders and various other things. I plinked with my Henry 22 and Model 94 Winchester for a while with a friend. We were shooting at 50yds so she could try out the lever guns. Then I took out the M1, sighted in the gong and fired off-hand...just over the gong... one click down on the rear sight and fired... 'bong' and again, and again. I fired a few clips and noticed two of the younger (than me) guys watching. I asked if they'd like to try it and they ran over. They fired a few rounds and remarked how easy it was to shoot and to hit the gong. They left the range 'needing' Garands of their own.

Somethings I think a Garand has over other firearms of the time and many today is spectacular sights a great trigger and good balance. It's just really easy to shoot well.
 
I've been shooting since the early 80's. I would love to own a Garand. I've handled a few at gun shows but still have a lot to learn about them and don't feel comfortable yet making a decision about buying one. It would be nice just to own a piece of history.

On another note, what would be the most historically correct, or popular caliber, 30-06 or .308? I've seen them in both versions.
 
Yup - you either get them or you don't. Same with 1911s.

Unfortunately, I don't "get" either. Traded my M1 for a lever 30-30. Just didn't feel right to me. The stock seems short and the balance is off - to me anyway.

Looking to trade my 1911 someday. I actually like this pistol, but I hate carrying it, as I hate the idea of needing to take a safety off on a carry gun.

Apparently most people either like both of these, or are afraid to say they don't. Good for you for going against the grain, without going down the same stupid forum road of "I don't like this so it must be bad for everyone".
 
Orion2k said:
I've been shooting since the early 80's. I would love to own a Garand. I've handled a few at gun shows but still have a lot to learn about them and don't feel comfortable yet making a decision about buying one. It would be nice just to own a piece of history.

On another note, what would be the most historically correct, or popular caliber, 30-06 or .308? I've seen them in both versions.
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30-06 is the original issue and far more common cartridge. Conversions to 7.62 NATO were done, I believe, by the Navy initially with a chamber insert and then eventually properly chambered barrels. The only other modification was a magazine block which prevents the loading of 30-06.

My avatar is 7.62x51 NATO in an en bloc clip for one of my M1s
 
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Orion2k said:
I've been shooting since the early 80's. I would love to own a Garand. I've handled a few at gun shows but still have a lot to learn about them and don't feel comfortable yet making a decision about buying one. It would be nice just to own a piece of history.

On another note, what would be the most historically correct, or popular caliber, 30-06 or .308? I've seen them in both versions.
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My advice is to get one. Get one form the CMP and you will get a great rifle for about $650. I have 6 and 4 are from the CMP and I have never got a stinker. Good shooters and pieces of history. It is well worth it!

Sweeney said:
I fired a few clips and noticed two of the younger (than me) guys watching. I asked if they'd like to try it and they ran over. They fired a few rounds and remarked how easy it was to shoot and to hit the gong. They left the range 'needing' Garands of their own.

Somethings I think a Garand has over other firearms of the time and many today is spectacular sights a great trigger and good balance. It's just really easy to shoot well.
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Very true. I always let folks take rounds off of it and push the CMP on them. M1s are natural pointers.

whacko said:
Yup.....same here. When you open up the case with the garand in it shooters definitely come by to look at it. And I always have a clip or two set aside for people that have never fired one before(I know they are expensive to feed but I love to let people try my fire arms that is part of the enjoyment).....comments from garand virgins include......it feels like freedom........it commands respect......the power is amazing......the sights just line up naturally.......

OP.....I have never heard anyone walk away from their first time firing a garand and say "meh".[thinking]
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My favorite quote for a first time shooter is "that's authority!"
 
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Claybreaker! said:
I just started buying guns a few years ago but I grew up with them my whole life. Years ago in college, when I was pondering a major in History, I took a few classes titled The History of WWI. I would like to get my hands on some of them. I get the history part of the Garand but it just seems too long to me. Sorry, the gun itself just seemed too big. Like a small cannon. BTW I am not small.
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yes small cannon and big club/ knife all tied into one whats not to love. It it was it is you get it or you dont..... its sort of like glocks. I do not understand the love for them either. I love shooting all the old wood and steel military arms. M1, M1 carbine not as fun as a garand, M14 minus the happy switch I dont "get" these, K98, mosin nagant, swiss K31, enfields, 1903s, 1903a3s....and on and on. Everyone has there happy button. Some get all giddy over the trevor and all these other $$$$ plastic guns which IMHO will never have the history or the "life" of all these other "old" rifles.
 
Orion2k said:
I've been shooting since the early 80's. I would love to own a Garand. I've handled a few at gun shows but still have a lot to learn about them and don't feel comfortable yet making a decision about buying one. It would be nice just to own a piece of history.

On another note, what would be the most historically correct, or popular caliber, 30-06 or .308? I've seen them in both versions.
Click to expand...

Easiest transaction buying a garand from cmp, fill out order form send in needed paper work with a check or CC for 650.00 very nice M1 garand will be at your door....at some point.
 
whacko said:
BTW.......its tough being a 30-06 man in a 5.56 world! THe 30-06 is a devasting round......the 5.56 is not......its that simple.
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There was a great line in (I think) the movie "Lone Survivor", "Never shoot a large-caliber man with a small-caliber weapon."
 
[smile]
45collector said:
Agreed, 30-06 is the balls. However, you ever been shot with a 5.56? I assume you'd be "devastated" if you were. [wink]
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no I've never been shot with 5.56 but have used an m4 in combat so have some real world experience with which to compare the two carte ridges......my opinion is that the 30 - 06 is a MUCH more powerful round and I dont think too many will argue that to the contrary.
 
Also consider the amount of women who worked in the factories where they where built. My dads friends mom worked at Springfield from 1939 until they closed. I loved looking at the picture's over her in various parts of the factory house as a kid. Its just a different kind of history.
My grand mother on my mothers side was a young women in England during WWII her jobs included the fire brigade, beach patrol and reserve anti air craft gunner.
Its just cool to think that my garands went through so many hands of history.
 
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whacko said:
[smile]no I've never been shot with 5.56 but have used an m4 in combat so have some real world experience with which to compare the two carte ridges......my opinion is that the 30 - 06 is a MUCH more powerful round and I dont think too many will argue that to the contrary.
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I remember reading someplace that the Marines were very happy that they stuck with the A2 v. the M4 and that, at least in Afganistan, the Army was trucking out M14s for certain folks or M110s (beyond the normal role as a spotter's rifle). It's the great debate but the Garand is 1/0/1.
 
Claybreaker! said:
As a lover of history I can understand that part.That does make it pretty awesome although I would rather have a Carbine as my family fought in the Pacific.
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I had a boss about 20 years ago who was in the South Pacific during WWII with the Army. He was issued an M1 Carbine and he said that he saw the round out of it bounce off the enemy's helmet more the once. He told me one of the first things they looked for when coming ashore was an M1 Garand that some poor Marine was no longer using. (no disrespect intended)
 
BigDaddy-Oh said:
I had a boss about 20 years ago who was in the South Pacific during WWII with the Army. He was issued an M1 Carbine and he said that he saw the round out of it bounce off the enemy's helmet more the once. He told me one of the first things they looked for when coming ashore was an M1 Garand that some poor Marine was no longer using. (no disrespect intended)
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My uncle use to say the same thing about the chi-coms in Korea in the winter. He said the coats were so damn thick that you could see them get hit and keep going. He said the M2 on his Chaffe worked a great deal better.Never saw one get up after Ma Duce was finished with them and even after he got a grease gun he would use his M2.
 

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