M1 Garand continuation

[Valmet]

Enjoy seeing everyone's pics, nice rifles indeed! I've owned prob a dozen or so over the years but am Garand-less now as I just never shot them very often. I've always wanted to get my hands on a nice Lend-Lease Garand (red paint and all). Maybe someday...

 

[kbm6893]

You described it beautifully. Like the difference between a 55 Chevy and a Ford Taurus. The Taurus gets you to the same place more economically, but not in style.

That's exactly right. A BIG reason why I own a gun is for the beauty and pride of ownership. I don't look at guns as simply tools to fling lead downrange. Sure, an AR fires more rounds and is easier to reload, but I honestly don't envision ever needing a rifle to repel a horde of invaders. And I doubt anybody would stick around when they started receiving semi auto 30-06 fire anyway!

It's like passing down a handgun to a child. Can you imagine putting a Glock or an M&P in a nice presentation case and giving it to your heirs? My gun collection is pretty meager. 6 handguns is all. The plastic ones, my kids have no interest in. But the S&W and Ruger revolvers? They sure do like those! Newer guns are almost disposable to me. I might pick up another AR, just to have one, but it will never "speak' to me like the Garand does.

 

[mg357]

I have seen touched and fired many M1 Garand rifles. But i never had the privilege of owning one maybe i will some day.

 

[BigBill]

The rotating bolt design in the garand was used in the ak47.

 

[Donn]

My Garand took the sting out of not being able to afford an M1a. My M1's very well mannered and goes right where I aim it. As my old D.I. used to say, "That's the object of the exercise."

 

[jpage]

The rotating bolt design in the garand was used in the ak47.

And the trigger group as well !

 

[Diamondtreo]

Currently, my safe holds an even dozen Garands (buy 'em in 3's cause that's the way they stack. LOL) My favorite is an early 1941 Lend Lease Springfield that I found in an LGS here in Seattle - most of my others came from the CMP.

This particular M1 is all correct right down to the cartouche on the stock! As issued in 1941, it appears to have spent all its years in the rack & not in the field. At some point, most of the red paint was removed from the forend (its still visible in the pores of the wood) and of course, every part has been stamped with the crown. Export stamps are there as well.

It is a pristine example that I can take to the range or field & shoot an as-issued original M1 Garand! Only one small defect that takes away from its collector value - somebody drilled the receiver for a commercial scope base (M1C type) and it mounts an original Weaver K4 scope. So much for that, but when my wife asked why I had shelled out 850 for a "butchered" rifle, I pointed out there was at least twice that much value in the parts alone, considering the pre-war drawing numbers, early stock with cartouche and serial number on the receiver. That & virtually no throat or muzzle wear to boot!

 

[Calfed]

I've got 8 Garands...all but 1 from the CMP. My first was a 1944 field grade with the original (or at least period-correct) barrel, bolt and many other small parts. This was closely followed by a Springfield service grade and an H&R correct grade. Next, I had Tom Luhmann, a Garand builder par excellence, put together a JCG match rifle using a newly barreled receiver and the parts from a "woodless Dane" (a field grade Danish return, minus the stock). Glommed a couple of International Harvesters over the years, and a few years back, two "last of the Mohican" 6.0 million Garands.

These 6.0 million Garands, so-called because they have serial numbers above 6 million, were the last Garands made before production was phased out. They both were in excellent condition, with National Match barrels, but with new CMP wood.

.

 

[Joe Kent]

One can never have too many M1's, I always "need" one more.

 

[peyton]

I shot my first deer on FT Hood with a Garand. The next weekend I almost shot down a Huey heliocopter that was hovering above a 10 point deer. I am in the deer stand standing and shaking my fist at the trying to get to leave. The pilot finally "noticed me" and left. The deer was unfazed by the prop wash and noise but left before I got a clear shot.

 

[Grayfox]

Eight years ago I made a little road trip to Anniston. I picked up a May,1943 Springfield. It was marked Field grade I guess because the stock was very dirty. But both the bore and chamber gauged out at 2. Brought it home and the stock cleaned up nicely.
I really don't shoot it enough. Take it to the range maybe once a year. But that is always a really good range day. I love this rifle!

Here tis with a few friends.

It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that PING!

 

[ladder13]

I bought all mine when SG's were $495. Hard to pick a favorite, 6 digit SA, late HRA's, Winnie, IHC, couple of other WWII SA's? The tractor gun is all matching with a beautiul tiger stripe stamped stock.

Picked up a half a dozen 03's and 03A3's as well, missing the RIA. Those are real shooters.

 

[Calfed]

I started getting mine when the SG's were $565. I believe that the CMP is a great place for Garands. I've never found them to be a great place to buy 03's and 03A3's (just my opinion)

 

[MOONDAWG]

The most well balanced, sweetest, softest shooting .30-06 I have EVER handled is the venerable M-1 Garand!

 

[kbm6893]

First time I shot my Garand I was pretty nervous. I was surprised at the pretty gentle "push" of the Garand recoil. Guy next to me was sighting in his 30-06 bolt gun. We let each other shoot a few rounds of each other's rifle. His bolt gun was much more pronounced. I generally shoot 100 rounds with the Garand. Very easy and no sore shoulder.

 

[W.E.G.]

The M1 will only beat you up if you sling up too tight, an let it beat your nose or eye socket.