M1 Garand Rifle

[David]

The M1 Garand rifle was the standard rifle for the US Army and US Marines before and after World War 2. It was the first rifle to be fully inducted into frontline use that showcased an automatic loading system for each cartridge. In comparison, other armies at the time still relied on bolt-action rifles that relied on the user ejecting the spent cartridge and introducing the new cartridge into the firing cylinder through the use of a bolt.
The M1 Garand was issued in 1936 (about the start of Second World War). By 1941, it had become a standard frontline weapon in every branch of service, with huge quantities becoming available by 1945 (near the war's end).
The rifle fired .30 caliber rounds from an 8-shot clip. This proved to be a positive element and a negative one. Since the weapon was 'automatic loading', the user simply had to depress the trigger to fire off the next round. The major drawback was that all the rounds in the clip needed to be expelled before the clip could be changed for a fresh magazine. One could not fire the weapon by just loading a single round, the main 8-shot clip had to be introduced into the firing system.
Once all cartridges were expelled from the clip, the empty box would pop out from the weapon system with a distinctive 'ping' sound. Incidentally, the clip was inserted from the top of the weapon, just above and forward of the trigger system. The clip would also pop out from it's casement upon expelling the final round. It was a new type of loading system that provided an edge to American soldiers, but it limited the user to just the 8-shot magazine - in short, one could not design a 10 or 30 round clip for this weapon.
Other factors that worked against the weapon system were the weight of the weapon. It was heavier than most combat rifles of the time, a factor that would only effect the soldier lugging the weapon around for hours on patrol in frigid snowstorms or hot jungle environments. Overall, the weapon system was definitely a step in the direction of automatic weapons for frontline use. The weapon is legendary due to the exploits recorded in the Second World War, but the weapon would also go on to see action in the Korean War and some were even seen in the Vietnam War. Needless to say, the weapon is a favorite among collectors and some are still might still be found in the hands of some poorer South Asian armies and security forces.
It is estimated that about 5.5 million M1 Garand rifles were made during production, with some produced for Italy (under Beretta) and Indonesia.
Specifications for the M1 Garand Rifle:

Designation: M1 Garand
Classification: Automatic Rifle
Operation: Gas-action piston
Caliber: .30 Caliber
Length: 43.5 inches
Weight: 9lbs, 8oz (unloaded)
Magazine Capacity: 8-round internal box
Muzzle Velocity: 2,800 feet per second
Variants: M1, M1E2, M1E3, M1E4, M1E5, M1E6, M1E8 and the M1E9