M1 Garand rifle
The M1 Garand (officially designated as United States Rifle, Caliber .30, M1 and later simply Rifle, Caliber .30, M1, and also abbreviated as US Rifle, Cal. .30, M1) is chambered for the .30-06 Springfield rifle cartridge. It was the first semi-automatic rifle to be generally issued to the infantry of any nation. Called "the greatest battle implement ever devised" by Gen. George S. Patton, the Garand officially replaced the bolt-action M1903 Springfield as the standard service rifle of the United States Armed Forces in 1936 and was subsequently replaced by the selective-fire M14 in 1957. However, the M1 continued to be used in large numbers until 1963 and to a lesser degree until 1966. Like its predecessor, the M1 originated from the Springfield Armory.
The M1 is "an air-cooled, gas-operated, clip-fed, semi-automatic shoulder weapon". This means that the air cools the barrel; that the power to cock the rifle and chamber the succeeding round comes from the expanding gas of the round previously fired; that it is loaded by inserting a metal clip (containing a maximum of 8 rounds) into the receiver; and that the rifle fires one round each time the trigger is pulled. After the eight rounds have been shot, the clip automatically ejects causing a "ping" noise to occur.
The M1 was used extensively by U.S. forces in World War II, the Korean War, and, to a limited extent, the Vietnam War. Most M1 rifles were issued to soldiers and Marines, though many thousands were also lent or provided as foreign aid to America's allies. The Garand is still used by drill teams and military honor guards. It is also widely sought by the civilian population as a hunting rifle, target rifle, and military collectible.
History[]
Though the U.S. Army became interested in self-loading rifles with the Bang and Murphy-Manning of 1911, and there were pre-production models in 1916, the M1's origin properly dates to 1919, when armies around the world were realizing standard rifle cartridges were more powerful than necessary for typical engagement ranges, leading to heavier rifles than really required. The Army trials in the 1920s had a .256 inch minimum caliber requirement, compared to the .30-06 then standard.
Development[]
Canadian-born Garand went to work at the United Stats Army's Springfield Armory and began working on a .30 caliber primer-operated breech. In the summer of 1924, twenty-four rifles, identified as "M1922", were built at Springfield. At Fort Benning during the summer of 1925, thew were tested against models by Berthier, Hacher-Bang, Thompson, and Pedersen, the latter two being delayed blowback types. This led to a further trial of an improved "M1924" Garand against the Thompson, ultimately producing an inconclusive report. As a result, the Ordnance Board ordered a .30-06 Garand variant. In March 1927, the Cavalry Board reported trials between the Thompson, Garand, and '03 Springfield had not led to a clear winner. This led to a gas-operated .276 model (patended by Garand on Apr. 12, 1930).
During the spring of 1928, both Infantry and Cavalry Boards ran trials with the .276 Pedersen T1 rifle, calling it "highly promising" (despite its use of waxed ammunition, shared by the Thompson). On Aug. 13, 1928, a Semiautomatic Rifle Board carried out joint Army, Navy, and Marine Corps trials between the .30 Thompson, both cavalry and infantry versions of the T1 Pedersen, "M1924" Garand and .256 Bang, and on Sept. 21, the Board reported no clear winner. The .30 Garand, however, was dropped in favor of the .276.
Further tests by the SRB in July 1929, which included rifle designs by Browining, Colt-Browning, Garand, Holek, Pedersen, Rheinmetall, Thompson, and an incomplete one by White, led to a recommendation that work on the (dropped) .30 gas-operated Garand be resumed, and a T1W1 was ordered Nov. 14, 1929.
M1 Garand with en bloc clips.
Twenty gas-operated .276 T3E2 Garands were made and competed with T1 Pedersen rifles in spring 1931. The .276 Garand was the clear winner of these trials. The .30 caliber Garand was also tested, in the form of a single T1E1, but was withdrawn with a cracked bolt in Oct. 9, 1931. A Jan. 4, 1932 meeting recommeded adoption fo the .276 caliber and production of approximately 125 T3E2s. Meanwhile Garand redesigned his bolt and his improved T1E2 rifle was retested. The day after the successful conclusion of this test, Army Chief of Staff General Douglas MacArthur personally disapproved any caliber change, in part because there were extensive existing stocks of .30 M1 ball ammunition. On Feb. 25, 1932, Adjutant General John B. Shuman, speaking for the Secretary of War, ordered work on the rifles and ammunition in .276 caliber cease immediately and completely and all resources be directed toward identification and corretion of deficiencies in the Garand .30 caliber.
On Aug. 3, 1933, the T1E2 became the Semi-Automatic Rifle, Caliber 30, M1. In May 1934, 75 M1s went to field trials; 50 were to infantry, 25 to cavalry units. Numerous problems were reported, forcing the rifle to be modified, yet again, before it could be recommended for service and cleared for procurement on Mov. 7, 1935, then standardized Jan. 9, 1936. The first production model was successfully proof-fired, function-fired, and fired for accuracy on July 21, 1937.
Production difficultied delayed deliveries to the Army until Sept. 1937. Machine production began at Springfield Armory that month at a rate of ten rifles per day, and reached an output of 100 per day within two years. Despite going into production status, design issues were not at an end. The barrel, gas cylinder, and front sight assembly were redesigned and entered production in early 1940. Existing "gas trap" rifles were recalled and retrofitted, mirroring problems with the early M1903 Springfield that also had to be recalled and reworked approximately three years into production and foreshadowing rework of the M16 rifle at a similar point in its development. Production of the Garand increased in 1940 despite these difficulties, reaching 600 a day by Jan. 10, 1941, and the Army was fully equipped by the end of 1941.
Service use[]
John Garand points out features of the M1 to Army Generals.
Following the outbreak of WWII in Europe, Winchester was awarded an "educational" production contract for 65,000 rifles, with deliveries beginning in 1943. The British Army looked at the M1 for a possible replacement for its bolt-action Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III, but it was rejected when rigorous testing suggested that it was an unreliable weapon in muddy conditions.
The M1's semiautomatic operation gave United States forces a significant advantage in firepower and shot-to-shot recovery time over individual enemy infantrymen in battle (German, Italian, and Japanese soldiers were usually armed with bolt-action rifles). General George S. Patton called it "the greatest implement of battle ever devised." The impact of faster-firing infantry small arms in general soon stimulated both Allied and Axis forces to greatly augment issue of semi- and fully automatic firearms then in production, as well as to develop new types of infantry firearms.
Much of the M1 inventory in the post-WWII period underwent arsenal repair or rebuilding. While U.S. forces were still engaged in the Korean War, the Department of Defense determined a need for additional production of the Garand, and two new contracts were awarded. During 1953-56, M1s were produced by International Harvester and Harrington & Richardson. A final, very small lot of M1s was produced by Springfield Armory in early 1957, using finished components already on hand. Beretta also produced Garands using Winchester tooling.
U.S. Army infantryman in 1942 with M1, Ft. Knox, Kentucky.
The M1 proved an excellent rifle throughout its service in WWII and the Korean War. Surplus M1 rifles also armed many nations allied to the United States postwar, including West Germany, Italy and Japan. Some Garands wer still being used in the Vietnam War in 1963; despite the M14's official official adoption in 1957, it was not until 1965 the changeover from the M1 Garand was completed in the active-duty component of the Army (with the exception of the sniper variants. which were introduced in WWII and saw action in Korea and Vietnam). In other components of the armed forces, such as the Army Reserve, Army National Guard, and the Navy, Garands continued to serve into the 1970s or longer.
Some military drill teams still use the M1, including the U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Team, the Norwegian Royal Guards Drill Team, the U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Honor Guard, almost all ROTC and JROTC teams of all branches of the U.S. military.
Design details[]
The M1 Garand with important parts labeled.
The M1 rifle is a gas-operated, semi automatic, clip-fed rifle. By modern standards, the M1's feeding system is archaic, relying on clips to feed ammunition, and is the principal source of critisicm of the rifle. Officials in Army Ordnance circles demanded a fixed, non-prodruding magazine for the new service rifle. At the time, it was believed that a detachable magazine on a general-issue riflle would easily be lost by U.S. soldiers (a critisim made of British soldiers and the Lee-Enfield 50 years previously), would render the weapon too susceptible to clogging from dirt and debris (a belief that proved unfounded with the adoption of the M1 Carbine), and that a protruding magazine would complicate existing manual-of-arms drills. As a result, inventor John Garand developed an "en bloc" clip system that allowed ammunition to be inserted from above, clip included, into the fixed magazine. While this design provided the requisite flush-mount magazine, the clip system increased the rifle's weight and complexity, and made single loading ammunition possible without a clip.
Garand's rifle was originally chambered for the .276 Pedersen cartridge, charged by means of 10-round clips. Later, it was chambered for the then-standard .30-06 Springfield. With this new cartridge, the M1 had a maximum effective range of 440 yds (400 m), with the capability of inflicting a casualty with armor piercing ammunition well beyond 875 yds (800 m). Because of the larger diameter of the .30-06 round, the modified clip held only eight rounds.
Two of Garand's patents, showing the original gas trap and revised gas port system.
Garand's original design for the M1 used a complicated gas system involving a special muzzle extension gas trap, later dropped in favor of a simpler drilled gas port. Because most of the older rifles were retrofitted, pre-1939 gas-trap M1s are very rare today and are prized collectors items. In both systems, expanding gases from a fired cartridge are diverted into the gas cylinder. Here, the gases meet a long-stroke piston attached to the operating rod. The operating rod was therefore pushed rearward by the force of this high-pressure gas. Then, the operating rod engaged a rotating bolt inside the receiver. The bolt was attached to the receiver via two locking lugs, which rotated, unlocked, and initiated the ejection of the spent cartridge and the reloading cycle when the rifle was discharged. The operating rod (and subsequently the bolt) then returned to its original position.
Features[]
An M1 Garand en bloc clip loaded with eight .30-06 Springfield rounds.
The weight of the M1 varies between 9.5 lb and 10.2 lb unloaded (depending on sling type and stock wood density) - a considerable increase over the previous M1903 Springfield. The length was 43.6 inches. The rifle is fed by an "en bloc" clip which holds 8 rounds of .30-06 Springfield ammunition. When the last round is fired, the rifle ejects the clip and locks the bolt open. Clips can also be manually ejected by pulling the operating rod all the way to the rear, then depressing the clip latch button. Much criticized in modern times, the en-bloc clip was innovative for its era. The concept of a disposable box magazine had not been embraced, and en-bloc clips were cheap and reliable.
The rifle's ability to rapidly fire powerful .30-06 rifle ammunition also proved to be of cosiderable advantage in combat. In China, Japanese banzai charges had previously met with frequent success against poorly trained Chinese soldiers armed with bolt-action rifles. Armed with the M1, U.S. infantrymen were able to sustain a much higher rate of fire that their Chinese counterparts. In the short-range jungle fighting, where opposing forces sometimes met each other in column formation on a narrow path, the penetration of the powerful .30-06 M2 cartridge enabled a single U.S. infantrymen to kill up to three Japanese soldiers with a single round. The Garand's fire rate, in the hands of a trained soldier, averaged 40-50 accurate shots per minute at a range of 300 yds, making it the single fastest-firing service rifle of any nation by a wide margin.
Ejection of an empty clip created a distictive metallic "pinging" sound. In WWII, reports arose in which German and Japanese infantry were making use of this noise in compat to alert them to an empty M1 rifle in order to 'get the drop' on their American enemies. The information was taken seriously enough that U.S. Army's Aberdeen Proving Ground began experimetns with clips made of various plastics in order to soften the sound, though no improved clips were ever adopted. According to former German soldiers, the sound was inaudible during engagements and not particularly useful when heard, as other squad members might have been nearby ready to fire.
The M1 Garand was one of the first self-loading rifles to use stainless steel for its gas tube, in an effort to prevent corrosion. As the stainless metal could not be parkerized, the gas tubes were given a stove-blackening that frequently wore off in use. Unless the gas tube could be quickly repainted, the resultant gleaming muzzle could make the M1 and user more visible to the enemy in combat. The M1 Garand was designed for simple assembly and disassembly to facilitate field maintenance. It can be field stripped (broken down) without tools in just a few seconds.
Operation[]
Inserting an M1 "en bloc" clip.
The Garand is loaded with a full clip of eight rounds. Once all eight rounds are expended, the bolt will be automatically locked back and the clip ejected (with a distinct metallic ping), readying the rifle for the insertion of a fresh clip of ammunition. Compared to contemporary detachable box magazine, the M1's "en bloc" clip is light, simple, and only has to be oriented with the rounds pointing forward prior to charging the rifle (the clips have no top or bottom).
Once the clip is inserted, the bolt snaps forward on its own as soon as thumb pressure is released from the top round of the clip, chambering a round and leaving it ready to fire. Although it is not necessary, the right hand can be placed in front of the operating rod handle in order to prevent the bolt from closing on the operator's thumb (resulting in "M1 thumb") and after the clip has been pressed into position in the magazine, the operating rod handle should be released, allowing the bolt to snap forward under pressure from the operating rod spring. The operating rod handle may be smacked with the palm to ensure the bolt is closed.
The M1's safety catch is located at the front of the trigger guard. It is engaged when it is pressed rearward into the trigger guard, and disengaged when it is pushed forward and is protruding outside of the trigger guard. 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, but this requires both hands and a bit of practice. In realiity, this procedure was rarely performed in combat, as the danger of leading dirt along with the cartridges increased the chances of malfunction. Instead, it was much easier and quicker to simply manually eject the clip, and insert a fresh one, which is how the rifle was intended to be operated.
In battle, the manual of arms called for the rifle to be fired until empty, and then recharged quickly. Due to the well-developed logistical system of the U.S. military at the time, this wasteage of ammunition was generally not critical, though this could change in the case of units that came under intense fire or were flanked or surrounded by enemy forces. The Garand's en bloc clip system proved particularly cumbersome when using the rifle to launch grenades, requiring removal of an often partially loaded clip of ball ammunition and replacement with a full clip of blank cartridges.
It is recommended that very slow burning powders and heavy bullets not be used in the Garand. This is an issue especially important to handloaders, as the pressure curve of slower propellants can put too much pressure on the gas piston, bending the operating rod, and adversely affect the Garand's accuracy. The Garand is best used with bullets of about 150 grains weight, as in "Ball, Caliber .30, M2" ammunition. However, there are several adjustable gas cylinder plugs availiable that vent excess gas out of the gas cylinder, reducing the pressure on the operating rod.
Accessories[]
Both official and aftermarket accessories were plentiful for the Garand rifle. Several different styles of bayonets fit the rifle: the M1905 and M1942, both with 16-inch blades; the Model 1905E1 with shortened 10-inch blade; the M1 with 10-inch blade; and the M5 bayonet with 6.75-inch blade.
Also available was the M7 Grenade Launcher that fitted onto the end of the barrel. It was sighted using the M15 sight, which fitted just forward of the trigger. A cleaning tool, oiler and greasepots could be stored in two cylindrical compartments in the buttstock for use in the field. Because of the limitations of the Garand's clip-loading magazine, the rifle proved less than ideal for use in launching 22mm rifle grenades, and the M1903 Springfield was retained for use in that role long after grenade launchers for the Garand became availaible.
The M1907 two-piece leather rifle sling was the most common type of sling used with the weapon through WWII. In 1943 a khaki canvas sling was introduced that gradually became more common. Another accessory was the winter trigger, said to have been developed during the Korean War. it consisted of a small mechanism installed on the trigger guard, allowing the soldier to remotely pull the trigger by depressing a lever just behind the guard. This enabled the shooter to fire his weapon while using winter gloves, which could get "stuck" on the trigger guard or not allow for proper movement of the finger.
Variants[]
Quick reference[]
| U.S Army designation | U.S Navy desgnation | Description |
|---|---|---|
| T1 | N/A | Prototype |
| T1E1 | N/A | A single trial rifle that broke its bolt in the 1931 trial |
| T1E2 | N/A | Trial designation for gas-trap Garand. Basically a T1E1 with a new bolt. |
| M1 | N/A | Basic model. Identical to T1E2. Later change to gas port did not change designation. |
| M1E1 | N/A | M1 Garand variant; modified cam angle in op-rod |
| M1E2 | N/A | M1 Garand variant; prismatic scope and mound |
| M1E3 | N/A | M1 Garand variant; roller added to bolt cam lug (later adapted for use in the M14). |
| M1E4 | N/A | M1 Garand variant; gas cut-off and expansion system with piston integral to op-rod |
| M1E5 | N/A | M1 Garand variant; 18-inch barrel and folding stock, for Airborne and Tank crewmen use |
| M1E6 | N/A | M1 Garand variant; sniper variant |
| M1E7/M1C | N/A | M1E6 Garand variant; M1C sniper variant with M81 scope (though the M82 or M84 scope could be used) on a Griffin & Howe mount |
| M1E8/M1D | N/A | M1E7 Garand variant; M1D sniper rifle with M82 scope (though the M84 scope could be used) on a Springfield Armory mount |
| M1E9 | N/A |
M1 Garand variant; similar to M1E4, with piston seperate from op-rod |
| M1E10 | N/A | M1 Garand variant; variant with the Ljungman direct gas system |
| M1E11 | N/A | M1 Garand variant; short-stoke Tappet system |
| M1E12 | N/A | M1 Garand variant; "White" gas cut-off and expansion system |
| M1E13 | N/A | M1 Garand variant; rechambered in .30 T65/7.62x51mm NATO with press-in chamber insert |
| T20 | Mk 2 Mod 0 | M1 Garand variant; select-fire conversion by John Garand, capable of using BAR magazines |
| T20E1 | N/A | T20 variant; uses its own types of magazines |
| T20E2 | N/A | T20 varaint; E2 magazines will work in BAR, but not the reverse |
| T20E2HB | N/A | T20E2 variant; HBAR variant |
| T22 | N/A | M1 Garand variant; select-fire conversion by Remington, magazine-fed |
| T22E1 | N/A | T22 variant; unknown differences |
| T22E2 | N/A | T22 variant; unknown differences |
| T22E3 | N/A | T22 variant; unknown differences; uses T27 fire control |
| T26 | N/A | M1 Garand variant; 18-inch barrel and standard stock, for airborne and tank crewman use |
| T27 | N/A | Remington select-fire version for M1 Garand; ability to convert issue M1 Garands to select-fire rifles; fire control setup used in T22E3 |
| T31 | N/A | Experimental bullpup variant |
| T35 | Mk 2 Mod 2 | M1 Garand variant; rechambered for .30 T65/7.62x51mm NATO |
| T36 | N/A | T20E2 variant; T20E2 rechambered for .30 T65/7.62x51mm NATO using T35 barrel and T25 magazine |
| T37 | N/A | T36 variant; same as T36, except in gas port location |
M1C and M1D sniper rifles[]
Rifle, Cal. 30, M1C with M84 telescope and rear sight protector.
Most variants of the Garand, save the sniper variants, never saw active duty. The sniper versions were modified to accept scope mouns, and two versions (the M1C, formerly M1E7, and the M1D, formerly M1E8) were produced, although not in significant quatities during WWII. The only difference between the two version is the mounting system for the telescopic sight. The procedure required to install the M1C-type mounds through drilling/tapping the hardened receiver was inefficient in terms of tooling and time. This resulted in the development of the M1D, which utilized a simpler, single ring Springfield Armory mount. The M1C and M1D first began to be widely used during the Korean War. The U.S. Marine Corps adopted the M1C as their official sniper rifle in 1951. The U.S. Navy has also used the Garand, rechambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO round.
Rifle, Cal. 30, M1D with M84 telescope and T-37 flash suppressor.
M1E5 and T26[]
Two interesting variants that never saw service were the M1E5 and T26 (popularly known as the Tanker Garand). The M1E5 is equipped with a folding buttstock, while the T26 uses the standard solid stock, and has a shorter, 18-inch barrel. The Tanker
The T20E2 selective fire prototype was designed to feed from 20-round BAR magazines.
name was also used after the war as a marketing gimmick for commerically modified Garands. Another variant that never saw duty was the T20E2. This variant is a Garand modified to accept BAR magazines, and has a selective fire capability, with semi- and fully automatic modes.
Descendants[]
The M1 Garand was the direct predecessor of the M14 Rifle, which replaced it. The Japanese began development of a modified copy of the Garand, the Type 5 Rifle, near the end of WWII, though it never reached production status. During the 1950s, Beretta developed the BM-59 series of rifles. Ruger produced the Mini-14 rifle, which utilizes a reduced-size operating system and a different gas system. The Mini-14 looks like the M14, but is chambered for the smaller .223 cartridge.
Despite similarities in naming, there is no relationship between the M1 rifle and the M1 Carbine, other than a similar rotating bolt design. Additional confusion can arise fron the development of several other weapon systems, "M" being an abbreviation for Model.
