Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting Piece of military history is mine

[SHobbs]

FedEx just dropped it off today. Always wanted an M1 Garand and thanks to Civilian Markmanship ( CMP ) I now have one. This is what they call a Springfield M1 Garand Special with a new stock and barrel, the rest I understand is refinished USGI. Can't wait to get it to the range.

 

[dclassens]

8 rounds in, 8 rounds out. I have heard enemy soldiers knew the ping sound when the clip spit out. that way they knew it was safe to stand and fire. U. S. GI's would drop an empty clip on the ground to get the ping sound, enemies would stand up to fire and be greeted with 8 rounds in the magazine. awesome guns, fun to shoot, and lots of stories.

 

[kenny61]

Welcome to the club!

 

[SHobbs]

Kenny,

Thank ya sir.





I have two more WWII era rifles coming next week plus alot of surplus ammo and now find my self looking for a safe. I need to stay around the 400 pound mark due to being a full time rv'er. I have been looking at Browning, AMSEC, Winchester and a few others, any suggestions out there?

 

[kenny61]

I got the carbine and one of the old bolt actions( I forgot which one) One of these days I would like to add a BAR and some of the German rifles as well, Gotta finish my garage first

 

[GCroyle]

SHobbs,



Congrats on an excellent addition to anyone's collection. These are one of the most fun and IMHO fascinating pieces of American Military history a civi can possibly own. These still show up in Veterans hands at parades and honorable ceremonies and even recruiting billboards.



I have used mine in the NRA Garand and SRS matches back at MSSA, Memphis TN. I even squeezed on a 600 yd. 3' diameter bulleyes target with one, that is a great challenge and feeling at the same time.



These really work well with the leather claw sling for shooting prone.



Ain't nothing quite like them Garands. Take good care of it and ENJOY IT, IT AIN'T NO CLOSET QUEEN, SHOOT IT!!!!!!!!

 

[GCroyle]

SHobbs,



Pardon me, if you know this, please skip it.



These need TLC in the form of proper lubrication, they gave you a reprint manual with it, learn how to strip it, clean and lube it.



ZERO windage adj is best IMO done with the rear sight SET at your line up marks, then move the front post by loosening the screw and sliding it into a windage ZERO, then your lined up windage ZERO can be adjusted as needed, reset and used A/R.



There is also a setup for 100 yd ZERO that uses the elevation ratchet so you can have a reference ZERO, mine IIRC are at 6-10 clicks or so off of fully compressed.



Enjoy.

 

[SHobbs]

I got the carbine and one of the old bolt actions( I forgot which one) One of these days I would like to add a BAR and some of the German rifles as well, Gotta finish my garage first

I have a German Mauser K98 and a Russian Mosin Nagant coming next week.





Gary,



I have been studying the manual learning the correct way to field strip it. Got to admit I am a tad nervous but it looks fairly easy





Scott

 

[HHhuntitall]

Watch out for "Garand Thumb!" If you shoot it and reload it much, you'll figure out what I mean! When you push the fresh magazine down in it, the bolt slams shut on your thumb... ... I learned that a long time ago. My grandfather just laughed at me..... he knew what happened, and thought it was funny. I guess no one told him in Boot camp, either..... I now have a very accurate and clean one I purchased years ago, and love to shoot. Have fun!

 

[GCroyle]

SHobbs,



I checked my Collecting the Garand, by J. C. Harrison. Your 2. 9 Million S/N puts this receiver as being built "June 1944 to September 1944". He states in the preface that the M1 was made 1936-1957. One of the interesting books to look for is the NRA M1 reprint, lots of history, servicing, accurizing and match shooting info.



I have not been hit with M1 Thumb yet, knock on wood, but it would be a memorable moment.



These don't like to be babied, the OP ROD slams the bolt home to battery, that's what it needs, don't ride the OP ROD and ease it into battery.



The only slight trick to field stripping is rolling the OP ROD of off the bolt, when you see the secret step over toe hold required, it's a piece of cake. Virtually NO FORCE REQUIRED!!!!!!!!



En Bloc clips are still available all over the shows and via the supply houses.



If this is your first experience with the M1, let these guys know and you can get some great experience opinions here, if you carried one for US, please excuse me for stating any of the obvious to a Veteran.



Enjoy it!

 

[kenny61]

Watch out for "Garand Thumb!" If you shoot it and reload it much, you'll figure out what I mean! When you push the fresh magazine down in it, the bolt slams shut on your thumb... ... I learned that a long time ago. My grandfather just laughed at me..... he knew what happened, and thought it was funny. I guess no one told him in Boot camp, either..... I now have a very accurate and clean one I purchased years ago, and love to shoot. Have fun!

Boy, you just ruined all the fun... I was waiting for the #@$%! post

 

[SHobbs]

I did alot of reading on M1 thumb. What I understand is that as long as there is downward pressure on the clip the bolt won't shut and you have to be quick to get out of the way. I know every rifle is different and with my luck I do expect to get bit at least once maybe twice. It's worth it to have one of these.



One thing I did not know until I started reading about these rifles is the type of ammunition that is recommended. I currently have 240 rounds of 30-06 m2 ball and another 240 coming from CMP. I plan on a can a month from CMP for as long as I can get it. Got to get what you can of that stuff before it disappears.



Gary,

Yes sir this will be my first experience with the Garand and no sir I never served.

 

[Bill Lins]

I toted one around in '67-68. When pushing the clip in with your right thumb, keep your hand flat against the right side of the receiver & stock- the edge of your hand will hold the operating rod & save your thumb. Don't ask me how I learned this. ;-)

 

[MA2LA]

I have been looking at getting one for awhile , just to own a piece of our history and to have a nice rifle, now i just need to get back on my feet and make money so i can get one.

 

[SHobbs]

Got to love the military surplus ammunition. First is spam can of 30-06 M2 Ball for the Garand and the second is a 680 round crate of 8mm Mauser. The Mauser will arrive next week along with a Mosin Nagant and a crate of 880 rounds of 7. 62x54r for that rifle. Should have another 800 to 1000 rounds of M2 Ball in a couple of weeks.

 

[GCroyle]

I don't recognize the mfgr. someone will, but if it is reloadable, save the brass! I learned to reload my Lake City stuff, a bit more work than CIVI but it was my time and results.

 

[GHarman]

I got the carbine and one of the old bolt actions( I forgot which one) One of these days I would like to add a BAR and some of the German rifles as well, Gotta finish my garage first

Gotta have some money and a Class-3 for a BAR. I used one in Vietnam for a short time. The Korean Marines came incountry with their old US gear and swapped out for M-16's. I went through their pile and picked out a BAR that looked good. Scrounged some magazines and ammo from their . 30 caliber MG's and stripped the ammo out of the links and filled the magazines. Great firepower for perimeter defense during a chopper resupply. All the VC seemed to pop out of the wood work during those chopper landings. They were often shooting at us and the choppers from the tree line at 650-700 meters out. M-16's were useless. The BAR and the ma-duce sure scared 'em. Course, a few minutes of that and the Phantoms blasted'em with bombs and napalm. That was more than 40 years ago. Have some pictures but have no way to digitize them. GregH

 

[kenny61]

Thanks Greg, I'm still learning everyday!! I was under the impression that there was a semi auto civillian version. A quick google search shows I ma confusing it with the modern browning automatic rifle.

However I did find this:

A1918 BAR Semi-Automatic Rifle


And I do hope to move to a class 3 state one day, now I just gotta figure out the money thing... .

 

[GHarman]

Kenny61, There are several versions of the military issue 1918A1. The Full auto units fired from the open bolt position, like a regular MG. The civilian lookalike semi-auto you linked may fire from the closed bolt position? In any case it is a great defensive and attack weapon. However, it is not a precision fire type of weapon. The M-60, as a one man weapon is far superior for supressive and attack type of fire.

Now that would be a centerpiece in your living room! Stored under a glass top table, covered with a doilie:-laf. :-lafWhile sitting around the table with coffee and pie, discussing the worlds problems with yer friends, you carefullly move the conversation to MG's and you flip the doilie up to reveal your prize. "Is that real", your friends say. Yeah, ya want to shoot it?:-lafOo. . Ha Ha. GregH

 

[kenny61]

Greg, my plans or should I say my dreams, consist of me sitting on my porch on a brisk winter morning wrapped in a blanket, sipping my coffee overlooking my property consisting of views of snow covered mountains and forests. Exhaling deeply at the beauty and peacefulness of it all and then letting off half a belt from my railing mounted ma deuce at my 1k meter target range just so I can hear my wife screaming as she falls out of the bed.....

back to reality... I realize that the BAR is not the most controllable weapon, just many years ago when I bought my Garand I thought gee wouldn't it be nice to have a nice military rifle collection? Wife kids and home have side tracked me but I hope to get back on track in another decade or so. I have even quit smoking to make sure I'm around to enjoy myself...