M1 Carbine's or Garand's

[Gary K]

Anyone got either one of these they want to get rid of???

[cx]

Those are pretty different tools, Gary. You got no preference?

No, I don't own either, sorry.

[John Bridge]

At different times in the Service I carried both of those weapons. Both are certainly worth having. No, I can't help you, either.

[Kman]

They're both a bit difficult to get, although you can get a non-working Garand replica fairly easily.

Plan on spending anywhere from $800 to $2000 for either, depending on the condition. Of course, there are collector's models that are more than that.

I looked at them a couple of years ago, but wasn't prepared to spend that much. I ended getting a 1944 Russian Mosin Nagant instead, which is pretty fun to shoot. I think I paid about $150 for it. Just a little piece of history.

[Gary K]

CX,

I'm leaning toward the Carbine, but if I found a Garand for a good deal I wouldn't pass it up.

Kman,

I'm looking for original's, not reproductions. I can find repro's of the carbine all the time, but I want an original...

John,

All that RV'ing you do, you should come across one sometime, let me know when you do.

[Steve C]

Eugene Sledge gives some good insight as to the M1 carbine's use. He was on a 60mm mortar crew on Peleliu and Okinawa. This book is a good, good read.

http://www.amazon.com/Old-Breed-At-P...+the+Old+Breed

[John Bridge]

Why a carbine? When I was in the Army the only reason a guy would choose a carbine over an "M1" (rifle) was its size and weight; it was much easier to carry. I suppose it was the predecessor of the modern M-16 type weapon. The rifle, on the other hand, although weighing in at around 13 pounds when fully equipped, is a far more powerful and more accurate weapon. My first M1 rifle was in basic training, and it was made by Winchester. It was a left-handed model, and, coincidentally, I was and am left-handed.

[Lazarus]

Wow. I've owned a couple of Garands and have never seen or even heard of a left-handed version. Do you mean that the op rod is on the LEFT side?

[Gary K]

John,

I want the carbine for just plinking at the range, I have other rifles that will get out there and touch you...

Plus I've always wanted an M1 carbine for the collection...

[John Bridge]

Yep, on the left. You loaded it with your left hand.

The M1 (or M2) carbine is definitely easier on you at the rifle range. The rifle would really beat you up.

[Lazarus]

Being gas operated, my M1 is a whole lot gentler than my 30-06' Enfield bolt gun!

[Lazarus]

John...Did an extensive search on the subject and found references to "left hand loading," and "left hand shooting," and even a "left hand cheek pad," but pictures, forum discussions and questions show that the M1 was never issued with an op rod mounted on the left side.

I don't necessarily doubt that you used one as it might have been custom built or something...but can you point me to an article, picture, or anything else that might confirm this? If it exists, it would be rare as all get out and I'd love to see one!

Thanx~~~

[John Bridge]

I can't (easily) find anything either, but man, it's been over fifty years ago.

I did have to learn to use the standard M1 rifle -- loading it left handed. The advantage of that is that you can use your forefinger against the operating rod handle as you shove the clip down with your thumb. They used to tell us that you didn't have to worry about holding the operating rod back if you loaded the clip correctly, but I never believed it. Stories abounded about the "M1 thumb."

[cx]

I never suffered M1 thumb, but others in my "class" did.

The thing I remember best about the M1 Garand was the effective range of the thing with nothing more than the standard iron sights. 'Course, 52 years ago I was a good bit younger and could actually see 600 yards, but we actually shot targets out that far to qualify as Expert riflemen.

I think the bull's eye was in the neighborhood of 30 inches in diameter, but when I consider that today I may or may not be able to tell a large truck from a small car at that range, I'm still impressed that we could shoot that far with open sights. And hit something we were actually pointin' at.

[Lazarus]

I love the M1. I have a Korean War example and an M1D Sniper rifle from the DCM Lottery about thirty years ago. Both are beautiful examples !