USGI firearms target practice.

[Faulkner]

After the rain this weekend it's still too wet to cut hay, so decided to pull a few out of the vault for some target practice.

Model M1911A1 - Made by Ithaca in 1943
Model M1903 - made by Remington in 1942
Model M1 rifle - made by Springfield in 1943
Model M1 carbine - made by Quality Hardware & Machine Corp in 1944

For just plain fun to shoot it's hard to beat an M1 carbine.

 

[waffles]

Nah, it's easy to beat an M1 carbine...with an M2 carbine (especially if you have a friend who has one).

Seriously, the garand and carbine are likely my two favorite firearms to shoot, with the 1911 being close. Absolutely outstanding small arms for the time, and still a heck of a lot of fun now.

 

[Puller]

I agree that M1 carbines are fun, but there's something about hearing that 8th round ping from a M1 rifle.

 

[dmthomp32]

I have nearly the same collection of firearms from US WWII. My 1911A1 is a Colt, I found and Ithaca for my Father In Law. I also have a Colt Commando, would love to eventually add a 1917 though!! I agree though out of all of them the Carbine is just the absolute joy to shoot. Nice post OP

Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk

 

[6518John]

I agree that M1 carbines are fun, but there's something about hearing that 8th round ping from a M1 rifle.

When I was little my dad told me that was a bell being rung by John Garand meaning all rounds were bullseyes!

 

[Golddollar]

When I was little my dad told me that was a bell being rung by John Garand meaning all rounds were bullseyes!

You mean they weren't giving angels their wings?

 

[LostintheOzone]

I have a carbine and a 1911 A1 also. I never tire of shooting my carbine on 18" plates at 200 yds.. Amazing to me that it's as effective as it is at that range. A real piece of design genius for a close quarter defensive weapon that was never intended to be a battle rifle. Marines in the Pacific islands loved those rifles for close quarters combat. The Garand was still the king though during WW2.

 

[Gene L]

When I worked in Atlanta, my room mate had been in the Air Force and he told me he shot the M1 carbine on the "Thousand inch range." Which is 83 feet. Anyone heard of this?

 

[Inland7-45]

Very nice WWII playset.

I just got out to the range this weekend with my 1943 Underwood post war rebuild. Also have a Remington 1943 03 A3 , 1944 Remington Rand 1911-A1, 1944 Springfield Armory M1 Rifle ( rebuilt at SA in 1951). Plus 2 US Victory Models and a pre victory Canadian issue 5" M&P .38 S&W Cal.

They are all fun but the M1 Carbine is my favorite of the rifles. My Underwood can hold 3" at 100 yards with PPU ammo or my reloads. Of the handguns the 1942 vintage Navy Victory model is my favorite. This is a very early model that has Navy stamped in large letters below the thumb piece. The victory has a very slick DA pull and shoots very well with cast 158 grain bullet with a moderate charge of Accurate # 5.

I am hoping to add an 03 like your to the collection.

 

[ameridaddy]

When I worked in Atlanta, my room mate had been in the Air Force and he told me he shot the M1 carbine on the "Thousand inch range." Which is 83 feet. Anyone heard of this?

Yup. My grandad, father and uncles all qualified with Garands or carbines at that range in WW2.
I'm guessing it was for familiarization and zeroing for trainees, with combat arms types moving on to the 100, 200, etc longer ranges later in training. That way, you could move a bunch of people through fast without needing pits, target pullers, and the time to move from one range distance to another.