Posted on 12/31/2016 9:29:45 PM PST by MtnClimber
In January 1945, just months before Germany's unconditional surrender in World War Two, George S. Patton famously declared the M1 Garand as "the greatest battle implement ever devised."
The accolade is well-deserved. This semi-automatic rifle served American troops in the fields of Northern France, the coasts of Okinawa, the dry heat of Africa, and the oppressive humidity of the Philippines. And in more ways than one, the M1 Garand helped win the bloodiest war in human history.
THE BEGINNING OF A WORLD WAR WEAPON
Fittingly, the gun that would help to liberate France was created by a French-Canadian—John Cantius Garand. Twenty years after moving to America at age eleven, Garand began working at the Springfield Armory in Massachusetts on a series of semi-automatic rifle designs in 1919.
His timing couldn't have been better. After the nightmarish, bloody demonstration of modern warfare that was World War I, the U.S. military needed to replace its bolt-action rifles with a modern semi-automatic weapon that could vastly increase the average infantryman's firepower. During the First World War the U.S. had seen how useful semi-automatic rifles could be, especially the French-made RSC 1917, the first widely issued semi-automatic military rifle.
(Excerpt) Read more at popularmechanics.com ...
I really like my Garand!
I really like my Garand!
Wonderful firearm. I love the look, the feel, the historic aspect, but alas, I cannot appreciate its accuracy myself, because I can’t hit the broadside of a bull’s ass with a handful of peas.
I enjoy breaking it down and cleaning it, love the design.
I have one made in 1942 and has British Markings on it. I assume it was a “lend lease” rifle.
I learned to shoot with peep sights with mine. Not too bad on accuracy.
No mention of the Chauchat machine rifle? LOL
My Dad was 34 just before the Battle of the Bulge. He was field promoted to platoon sergeant and said the hardest part was actually getting his men to fire their M 1,s. He finally stared carrying a BAR to cover fire when they were reluctant. I listened to his advice.
Eh, it is my damned eyes. I can’t get any glasses that will fix things for me for normal use, and trying to see the sights and the target well is impossible, damn it.
But, it is a hoot to fire! I try, and can occasionally hit the target 5 to 8 out of 10, though there is no real grouping.
I have thought about getting a scope, but...it seems too much like cheating!
I’ll bet you did! At 34, he must have been an old man to them!
I got a chance to fire a BAR, that was great-the weapon was very heavy, but I found it was fairly easy to control because of that (in my opinion)
It felt like holding power in your hands!
Years ago, I bought a NM Garand in remembrance of my father who carried one in WWII. It is a tack driver,and shoots better than I can,and it lets me shoot better than I have a right to. Still saving a number of bandoleers of Lake City black tip for that very bad day. If you’re in a thin skinned vehicle or wearing body armor, you’re going to have a very bad day.
My dad said that at the beginning of the war when he was in boot camp they had Springfields.
I have three friends who have Garands, and all four of us went down to the range together...what a wonderful racket they made together! Heh, we had people craning their necks to see...:)
I cannot imagine what it was like with hundreds of men firing them at a range, never mind combat, without ear protection!
It was the rifle I used in basic training at Ft Ord in 1961. It was very loud, especially with one’s ears a few inches from where the round fired. I’m still half deaf in my left ear, the one left exposed when I fired prone on the firing range. I pressed my right ear against the stock and thus saved most of my hearing in it, though it caused me to “bolo.” In 1961 no ear protection was used at Ft Ord. I guess it was thought to be only for sissies. I tried putting cotton in my ears. A Sargent asked me who told me to put it in. “Nobody, Sargent,” I answered. “Get it out,” he ordered.
Please read my post and you'll know.
LOL...”Get it out.”
I could almost hear him saying that in a flat voice.
Garand has a bark, that’s for sure.
Could you imagine having a concussion or being hung over and having to fire a weapon like that? It must have been like having dwarves with pickaxes and sledgehammers inside your brain...
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