Any M1 Garand experts here?

[rtimgray]

I'm (hopefully) going to be receiving an M1 Garand from the CMP sometime in the next several months. While I've got a couple of other rifles, this is my first Garand. Are there any particular things that I should be aware of after I receive and prepare to fire it?

I've done some searching and it seems that Garands may need to be fed particular ammunition, either surplus M2 ball or the equivalent, but not regular/commercial 30-06 ammo. I think it has something to do with higher pressures and repeated use of "hotter" loads can cause damage to the rifle like a bent/broken operating rod, etc. I'm not a reloader, so I'll have to purchase the correct ammo.

I'm getting it for more of a collectible than for anything else. I do want to be able to safely shoot it from time to time, but I would bet that I will fire less than 1,000 rounds through it in my lifetime.

I usually have a shooting day on Thanksgiving (weather permitting) when family comes over. I'm hoping to have an Axis vs. Allies shootout, with a group of us shooting an Enfield, a Mosin, an M1 Carbine and hopefully the Garand against a K98, a Carcano, a Czech (Romanian) VZ 24 and a Steyr. I'm pretty sure that M1's will win the day in rate of fire anyway...

I appreciate and comments and advice. Thanks for the help.

Good luck and take care.

 

[davesl708]

I have know guys who shoot off the shelf ammo with no problems. The M1 is built tough. Give it a good cleaning and light on the lube.
You will enjoy shooting that rifle.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I'm (hopefully) going to be receiving an M1 Garand from the CMP sometime in the next several months. While I've got a couple of other rifles, this is my first Garand. Are there any particular things that I should be aware of after I receive and prepare to fire it?

I've done some searching and it seems that Garands may need to be fed particular ammunition, either surplus M2 ball or the equivalent, but not regular/commercial 30-06 ammo. I think it has something to do with higher pressures and repeated use of "hotter" loads can cause damage to the rifle like a bent/broken operating rod, etc. I'm not a reloader, so I'll have to purchase the correct ammo.

I'm getting it for more of a collectible than for anything else. I do want to be able to safely shoot it from time to time, but I would bet that I will fire less than 1,000 rounds through it in my lifetime.

I usually have a shooting day on Thanksgiving (weather permitting) when family comes over. I'm hoping to have an Axis vs. Allies shootout, with a group of us shooting an Enfield, a Mosin, an M1 Carbine and hopefully the Garand against a K98, a Carcano, a Czech (Romanian) VZ 24 and a Steyr. I'm pretty sure that M1's will win the day in rate of fire anyway...

I appreciate and comments and advice. Thanks for the help.

Good luck and take care.

I wouldn't bet that the Garand has a higher rate of fire than the M1 Carbine.

 

[dusty3030]

Federal American Eagle FMJ 150 grain is plenty safe for it. The rifle is strong, but the gas system isn't adjustable so it was made for a specific pressure curve. The operating rod is long and can be tweaked by too much use of the wrong stuff. NOT a major concern. IF you want to be double safe there are aftermarket adjustable gas nuts that allow you to tune the operation with any ammo.

I have collected them since I was in high school and love to shoot them. They have some of the best sights and balance of any rifle I have ever shot. It is so much fun to set up some targets at 300 yards or so and shoot that rifle off hand.

 

[davesl708]

I wouldn't bet that the Garand has a higher rate of fire than the M1 Carbine.

The M1 has a rate of fire of 40-50 rounds per minute. The M1 carbine has a rate of 800-900 rounds per minute.
Big draw back to the carbine is the wimpy round and short range. Garand is more accurate and has longer range with more knock down power. Garand can handle more dirt and abuse than the carbine.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

The M1 has a rate of fire of 40-50 rounds per minute. The M1 carbine has a rate of 800-900 rounds per minute.
Big draw back to the carbine is the wimpy round and short range. Garand is more accurate and has longer range with more knock down power. Garand can handle more dirt and abuse than the carbine.

I have seen those rates before, and although I knew the short-stroke M1 Carbine had a high rate of fire, I thought that had to be a misprint. The M-2...Ma Duce, full auto, only has a firing rate of about 600 rpm and the German M-42 has a rate of about 1200 rpm. Am I missing something? Is the M1 carbine capable of full auto fire? Unless my calcs are off, 600 rpm translates to 10 rounds per second! I can't imagine anyone getting off more than about 3 rounds per second with a semi auto.

 

[bcp]

800-900 rate sounds like M2 carbine numbers.

Bruce

 

[dmccarty]

Just watch out so you don't get the M1 Thumb.... :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Later,
Dan

 

[rtimgray]

Just watch out so you don't get the M1 Thumb.... :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Later,
Dan

I've heard this, but don't know what it means...can you elaborate?

Thanks.

 

[dodge man]

I think some Korean war carbines were full auto.

My understanding is the M1 is designed for the 150 grain round. 30-06 comes in heavier bullets than that but I've shot a lot of commercial 150 grain through mine with no problem.

Mine jammed when I first got it, its also a CMP rifle. I then did some reading and it appears the M1 likes grease, not oil. I use a light grease, it looks like lithium, and there are certain places its suppose to be greased.