M1 Garand: America’s Original Battle Rifle

Updated 8/17/21The World War II-era M1 Garand chambered in.30-06 was the first semi-auto rifle to be issued to American combat troops. It is top-loaded and fed with an eight-round clip containing.30-06 Sprg. The M1 Garand has been a key weapon in America’s victory on the beaches of Normandy, Iwo Jima, and other places. It was the cornerstone of America’s victory over Europe and the Pacific. The M1 Garand is still in production and provides endless hours of enjoyment. The Garand is a reliable target rifle that can be used to kill multiple deer and is also a solid survival weapon. You can still buy one.
Clips vs. Mags
Operation
Gas System
Figures of Production
Maintenance and disassembly
Sights
Shooting
The M1 Garand Basics: After more than a decade of research, the U.S. Military adopted this revolutionary design in 1936. It was still in use in Vietnam and with reserve troops until the early 1970s. The M1 Garand, which was generally chambered in.30-06 Springfield, was the first semi-auto issued to American fighting men. This was when our enemies and allies were still using bolt-action rifles similar to those of World War I. Although it was officially retired from front line service in 1957, it was still in use. The Garand was still used with the militaries from a dozen friendly countries that we equipped, including the Greek Army, well into the 1980s. Depending on the type of wood used, the M1 can be empty. The scale will rise if you add a sling or buttstock cleaning kit. The weight increases when you add a sling and buttstock cleaning kit. The bolt handle can also be used to help properly seat a round. The bolt handle can also be used as a forward assist to properly seat a round. Modern eyes find the clip mechanism to be the most annoying. This was requested instead of a removable magazine.
What is the difference between a clip or a mag? A magazine holds the ammunition that will be fed into the gun, while a clip holds the ammunition. The M1’s fixed internal magazine is fed from the top with a spring metal clip that holds eight rounds. The M1 is a single-shot weapon without the clip. This means that the shooter can only load one round at once. The clip automatically ejects after the last round is fired. The bolt locks to the rear. Retracting the bolt and pressing the clip latch on the left side will manually eject a full or partially filled clip. Although magazines can be filled with more ammunition, this is not recommended. It is better to simply eject the partially used clip and replace it by a new one. Commercially available are both 2-round and 5-round clips.
M1 Rifle Operation. Although the M1 rifle is easy to use, it takes some practice. Once the bolt has been locked to the rear, insert a full clip through the receiver’s top and press down. The bolt will then release to allow you to load the first round. It is best to use the thumb of your right hand to guide the bolt, while holding the handle in your palm. Otherwise, the bolt could slam onto you thumb, causing the “Garand thumb.” The safety catch is a bit different and reminds me of the ones found on SKS rifles. To activate the safety on M1, press the metal catch in front the trigger guard towards the trigger. The steel tab will be moved into the trigger guard partially blocking access to it. Avoiding the “M1 thumb” is the biggest problem. Simply place your finger on trigger and push the safety guard forward.
M1 Garand Gas System This is why the finish of this part is different from the rest. It is important to note that some military.30-06 ammunition can be corrosive due to the sodium in its primer. Water is required to clean and prevent rust.
Garand Production FiguresDuring World War II Springfield Armory (not the Springfield Armory that we know today) and Winchester Repeating Arms made approximately five million Garands. Another 1.5 million M1s were produced by Springfield Armory and Harrington & Richardson Arms. Beretta even produced Garands using Winchester machinery, and Beretta parts are available on M1s imported from Europe. I have several of these, all purchased through Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). These guns are significantly different from M1s that may have come back to the U.S. through commercial importers. This is because CMP guns are genuine U.S. Government surplus and have been inspected, repaired, and tested fired by CMP armorers.
Maintenance And DisassemblyMaintenance and disassembly of the M1 Garand is straightforward, although at first glance it does seem like there are a lot of parts to keep track of; of course, they must be reassembled in the correct order, too. It is best to assume that all ammunition, except modern commercial, will be corrosive. Once you are familiar with how to feed the clip, it loads quickly. Photo courtesy garandgear.com. M1 SightsThe front blade sight has been fixed. However, the rear peep is impressive with elevation adjustments in 25-yard increments up to 1,200 yards and easy windage adjustments. It is not an easy task to mount a scope on a Garand. Iron sights are better to keep the rifle as original as possible.
Shooting the M1This rifle is large and heavy, and I don’t think I would have loved to have to carry it in combat. It is easy to see why so many American soldiers prefer the M1 Carbine. The rifle is balanced well, can be held by the shoulders and the recoil is manageable, even with the full-sized.30-06 battle rounds. I was able to shoot at 100 yards using the standard iron sights, which were as accurate as any scoped ARs. My best group was 1.4 inches using Remington ammunition, but I also shot a 1.4 inch group using the 1980s Greek surplus ammo. They were also issued in 7.62x51mm NATO (.308 Winchester) after the.30-06 round was phased off.
M1 Garand for SaleThe best place to find a genuine American M1 Garand, is still through the CMP. They have a variety of grades, but supplies are decreasing. Rack Grade guns are the most affordable and have the most wear and replacement parts. CMP ships the rifle straight to your home, so the criteria for purchasing the rifle is simple. It’s not uncommon to see a common model, such a Springfield Armory model, sell for more than $1,000 at gun shows. Even in rough condition, rarer and more collectible models, like the International Harvester M1Garand, command a premium price. M1 Garand.30 Caliber Specifications
Caliber:.30-06 Springfield
Barrel: 24 in.
Overall Length: 43.5 inches
Weight: 10.5 lbs. empty
Stock: Walnut
Sights: Fixed blade front, adjustable rear peep
Action: Semi-auto
Finish: Parkerized
Capacity: 8-round clip
Price: $525
256-835-8455
www.odcmp.comEditor’s Note: This excerpt is from Modern Survival Guns: The Complete Preppers’ Guide to Dealing with Everyday Threats Elwood Shelton contributed to this post.Dig Deeper into the M1 Garand:NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Storm Tactical Printable Target Pack 62 Printable MOA Targets with DOT Drills – Rifle Range in YARDS This impressive target pack from our friends at Storm Tactical contains 62 printable targets for rifle and handgun range use. Target grids and bullseye sizes can be found in MOA. Perfect for long-range shooting! Get free targets