Warbird Information Exchange

Yes, the M1 Garand is a very handy little weapon....
You can even fire it Full Auto with a technique called "Bump Firing".
Shown here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBQrtzSdVDo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U9etphbXkE

Digger

"Bump firing...schmump firing." It AIN'T full auto. The trigger is being actuated each time.
I have two. One (Winchester) I've restored to Oct. '43 (when the receiver was made.) specs. Right down to the correct cartouches and bayonet.
The other, a Springfield, (my shooter) was custom made for me by the armorer at Arlington Ordnance. Just to give you an idea of how accurate it is, a bunch of us used to get together and shoot at clay pigeons placed on a hill about 100 yards away. The others would shoot the disks. He and I would shoot the pieces of the disks that were left. (Then we'd all break out the "Rock 'n Roll" weapons....but that's another story.)
I started reloading but got lazy and just bought bulk lots from "Ammoman".

Mudge the sharpshooter

_________________
Land of the free because of the brave

I think you are referring to the relief cut on the operating rod.

I got mine (a 1942) about three years ago and have literally put thousands of rounds through it already. Its pretty accurate, although when it heats up the bullets tend to drop off a bit.


Great weapon, though. I now know why WWII vets revered it so.

_________________
Kevin Kearney
Vice President
Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation


C-54D "Spirit of Freedom" 43-17228
C-97 "Angel of Deliverance" 52-2718 (painted as YC-97A 45-59595)
C-54E/R5D-4 "Spirit of Freedom" 44-9144 BuNo 90414 (wfu April/2020)
http://www.spiritoffreedom.org

You actually can get the M1 Garand to fire Full Auto (without bump firing it). Some of the Armorers during WW2 used to file down certain parts to get them to do this. Not sure what the exact parts were though??
They were used in both the Pacific & ETO.
Even Dick Winters reportedly used one... Digger

On the left are my two Garands...a 1945 and a 1955, both Springfields. The '45 is in an arsenal rebuild birch stock, and the '55 in a DAS-cartouched walnut stock.

The uncut operating rod really isn't that significant of a problem. In fact, if you DO have an uncut op-rod, don't do anything about it!! They're valued significantly higher to collectors. If you're nervous about shooting it (no Garand collector I've ever heard of is...), then sell it on eBay, because you may be able to get several hundred $ for it.

The safety on the Garand and enbloc clip are the biggest draw back to the weapon being good for full auto. Too damned easy to have it go Full Auto during loading to make it practical in the field. Also it would be a court martial offense should you kill your squad while loading the weapon. Keep in mind the M1A had a magazine for just that reason. The experience gained by US troops during the Second World war showed that the M1 Garand rifle has a lot of things to be improved. The first was the feeding system with 8-rounds en-bloc clips that does not allowed the refilling of the partially full magazine. Others were excessive length and weight of the rifle. The cartridge used in M1 Garand and known as .30-06 (7.62x63mm) was too long and too heavy, effectively limiting the load of ammunition carried by each soldier. First attempts to improve M1 were made during the war, and numerous experimental modifications in .30-06 were built, mostly using the 20-rounds detachable magazines from Browning BAR M1918 automatic rifle. One of such prototypes was the T20 ("T" means "test") of 1944. T20 was basically the M1 Garand rifle fitted with 20 rounds BAR magazine and with selective fire capability. This prototype latter evolved into the T37 rifle, which had gas cylinder moved back a little and was chambered for newest American prototype cartridge - T65. The T65 was no more than .30-06 case, shortened by 1/2 inch (12 mm), but retaining the original ballistic properties due to modern propellants used. It was slightly lighter and cheaper to made than .30-06, and has long effective range and good potential for accuracy, both desired by US Army. The idea of truly intermediate round was not acceptable to the US Military at that period. In the early 1950s T37 evolved into the T44 experimental rifle, which featured redesigned, self-regulated gas system with short stroke gas piston. Further development and tests lead to the slightly modified T44E4 and T44E5 (heavy barreled squad automatic weapon) prototypes, which were finally adopted by US Army as M14 and M15 rifles in the 1957. The M15, a heavy barreled weapon, however, was never brought into production. It must be noted that T44E4 was extensively tested against the only other entree in the US trials, the T48 rifle (Belgian FN FAL rifle made under license in USA by H&R Inc.). Both rifles passed the trials with equally high results, but US finally settled on the T44 because it was slightly lighter, similar to M1 Garand in manufacturing and operation, and, above all, a "Native American" design....
Actually, it was Band of Brothers Veteran Forrest Guth who "modified" the M1 Garands to fire Full Auto.
He gave one to Dick Winters when He Re-enlisted in the 50's .... Digger

Just a note on the CMP M-1s. They are sold out for the forseeable future. They are now selling M-1 carbines (Italian MAP returns) for $495 plus shipping, if you qualify. I'd be wary of the Korean ("Blue Sky") weapons - most all I've seen are re-parked and worn out.

Also be wary of surplus ammo - some foreign is corrosive (Clean bore and op rod with Sweet's 7.62 or mild household ammonia). But at least you can order it thru the mail (CMP has lots of Greek and US GI ball still available). But stock up - it's getting real expensive and scarce.

If you're really into the "Garand thing", CMP has the address for the Garand Collector's Association (GCA).

Me, I've got 5 M-1s - 2xSA, H&R, IH, Win, and 9 M1903/A3s. Like 'em all.

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Bob

I'd love an M1, but here in Australia they are 'banned nasty naughty weapons of mass destruction'! Our chance to own semi-autos is gone.

I'll have to make do with my ten Lee-Enfields, from an original condition 1912 No1 MkIII to a 1953 No4 Mk2, and alot in between!

Cheers,
Matt

The CMP has stopped selling Garands until October.
Here's thier Offical Message:

DUE TO THE UNEXPECTED AND UNPRECEDENTED LARGE VOLUME OF ORDERS FOR M1 GARAND RIFLES, CMP IS TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK OF ALL M1 GARAND OPTIONS. WE DO EXPECT TO HAVE M1 GARANDS AVAILABLE LATER THIS YEAR AND PLAN TO ONCE AGAIN BEGIN ACCEPTING ORDERS FOR M1 GARANDS BEGINNING IN OCTOBER 2007.

WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE CMP PROGRAM

They're expecting 79 containers from Greece very soon, containing 114,000 Rifles. That should hold Us over for awhile....

Be careful when ordering a CMP Garand. Several people have received rifles with neon orange or purple painted stocks & big hippy peace symbols carved in the stocks (I'm serious)
There are very few (if any) reliable gun dealers out there, but Tony Giacobbe sells nice, reliable Garands at His website:

www.garandguy.com

You'll be paying alot more but will probably get a much better one than a mysterious off-the-rack CMP rifle... Digger

Couple of things here...
Randy...Isn't that a Dragonov I see there? Excellent weapon.
OK...Tell me those weapons ARE NOT with you in the UK, 'cause if they are,
YOU'RE UNDER ARREST!!!

Full Auto in a shoulder fired weapon is kind of an unmanageable condition. Most anyone who's tried to fire more than three rounds, full auto, from the M-14 will tell you that from the fourth round on you are, for all intents and purposes, firing an anti-aircraft weapon.

As far as the wood on a Garand goes, I wouldn't worry about what it looks like. If you're lucky enough to get a good shooter, you can always replace an
ugly stock.

Mudge the shooter

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Land of the free because of the brave

I own 2 Garands, that way I have one for each hand. Keep her clean and check your operating rod spring. Mine was broke in 6 places, yet the gun fired normally. They are easy to change and cost less than $10.00. Avoid corrosive ammo if you can and stock up on extra clips. It's one fine weapon. Jake

"Those were the days".

Thanks for all of the support and tips. I will be sure to use everything that I learn here as this is my first one.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Be sure to tell us of your first "Garand thumb". And it's not a question of "if", it's a question of "when".

Mudge the shooter

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Land of the free because of the brave