M1 Garand







During World War II the French Canadian-born John C. Garand's M1 rifle's semiautomatic operation gave United States infantrymen a significant advantage in firepower and shot-to-shot recovery time over enemy infantrymen armed primarily with bolt-action rifles. The semi-automatic operation and reduced recoil allowed soldiers to fire 8 rounds as quickly as they could pull the trigger, without having to move their hands on the rifle and therefore disrupt their firing position and point of aim. The Garand's fire rate, in the hands of a trained soldier, averaged 40-50 accurate shots per minute at a range of 300 yards. At ranges over 500 yards, a battlefield target is hard for the average rifleman to hit. Therefore, 500 yards is considered the maximum effective range, even though the rifle is accurate at much greater ranges.

Contrary to widespread misconception, partially expended or full clips can be easily ejected from the rifle by means of the clip latch button. It is also possible to load single cartridges into a partially loaded clip while the clip is still in the magazine

Unless the gas tube could be quickly repainted, the gleaming muzzle could make the M1 Garand and its user more visible to the enemy in combat.


M1 Garand technical specification sheet

Creation: USA
Denomination: M1 Garand
Manufacturer: Springfield, Winchester
Production:5.5 million units during WWII, 6.25 million in total
Firing mode: semi-automatic, gas-operated rotating bolt
Calibre: .30 in (7.8 mm)
Ammunition:.30-06 Springfield cartridge
Clip size: 8 cartridges
Muzzle velocity: 853 m/s
Barrel length: 609.6 mm
Utilisation range: 450 m
Efficacity range: 2000 m
Maximal range: 4000 m
Weigh: 4.31 kg
Length:1,107 mm