M1 Garand is the greatest rifle of all time

[Bear44]

Love my Garands more than any other rifle I own or anything that's out there today but lets be serious, it was the greatest rifle of it's time but it can't compare with the offerings of t he modern era!

True, that's why the M14 exists. The Garand and M14 are true Battle Rifles. The worlds militaries have chosen to go to Assault Rifles and those are a different breed with different goals than a Battle Rifle.

 

[CTS Tactical]

No bias because it's not "Murican". The primary reason I don't like it is because it simply isn't accurate enough. I've owned and tried to like several of them, but when the rifle won't let me to put rounds on target where I want even as close as 200 yards, it's junk. Hell, I have three 9mm carbines and all of them are more accurate than any AK47 I've ever fired. Two if them are stock Rugers. I'm simply not a spray and pray kind of guy. I know there can be exceptions to this poor accuracy, but they are exceptions, not the rule.

As has been already stated in this thread, the only reason they are so wide spread is due to the Soviet Union's attempt at global influence, not because they are a good weapon. In the hands of an untrained Skinny in Mogadishu, they do what they were designed to do, but that's about it.

It also balances worse than any rifle I have carried. The magwell is right at the natural balance point so they are very uncomfortable to use in the field. A sling helps but if you are humping a rifle for miles and days you get tired of being so limited in the manor in which you can comfortably carry it.

 

[Bear44]

This is my thoughts as well. It was revolutionary but the best part of its resume may be Patton’s endorsement and being used in WW2. Don’t get me wrong, that may be enough, but it’s still a 10lb, 8 round, iron sight rifle. Surely no one would rather carry that and a bunch of heavy 30-06 ammo over an 8lb, 30 round, optic equipped AR in 556.

Take into account the current and optimized M14 and it becomes a question of what the mission is. True that it's heavy, but my Nightforce scoped half minute accurate M1a with 20 round detachable magazines shooting the 7.62x51 cartridge has a lot of capability that an M4 does not. That round turns a lot of what is cover to a 5.56 into nothing more than concealment and I can make reasonably consistent hits on an upper torso sized target out to and beyond 800 yards.

The AR and the M14 are different animals with different missions and they are both good at what they do.

 

[Chatsworth]

OK Boomer.

 

[Bear44]

It also balances worse than any rifle I have carried. The magwell is right at the natural balance point so they are very uncomfortable to use in the field. A sling helps but if you are humping a rifle for miles and days you get tired of being so limited in the manor in which you can comfortably carry it.

I'm sure the optic on mine changes the balance, but it's centered right at the front edge of the mag well. Three fingers on the stock, little finger on the front of the mag and thumb over the top of the chamber and it's a natural muzzle angled down carry for me. Easy one handed manipulation. It is heavy, so if I'm doing a one hand carry for any length of time, it does get moved from one hand to the other rather frequently.

 

[CTS Tactical]

I'm sure the optic on mine changes the balance, but it's centered right at the front edge of the mag well. Three fingers on the stock, little finger on the front of the mag and thumb over the top of the chamber and it's a natural muzzle angled down carry for me. Easy one handed manipulation. It is heavy, so if I'm doing a one hand carry for any length of time, it does get moved from one hand to the other rather frequently.

Not sure we are on the same page but I was referring to the AK. Never fielded an M14.

 

[wozeyjales]

That's like comparing a Ford Pinto to a Lamborghini
and saying the Pinto is better because there were more of them.

no, no ,no , Pinto is/was better not for production totals but because
it had to be slammed in the rear before catching fire. Lambos burst
into flames while idling in traffic. Many a Pinto had over 100K miles
and still going. Likely slow and smokey but still going. Lambos much
lower mileage, probably owners trying to avoid the cost of the 30K
service. :O

We should have canned the imbecile who decided on the
M14 over the FN FAL. The FAL is a vastly superior rifle.

Low Bidder Wins

 

[Stampede]

No bias because it's not "Murican". The primary reason I don't like it is because it simply isn't accurate enough. it's junk. I'm simply not a spray and pray kind of guy. I know there can be exceptions to this poor accuracy, but they are exceptions, not the rule. As has been already stated in this thread, the only reason they are so wide spread is due to the Soviet Union's attempt at global influence, not because they are a good weapon. In the hands of an untrained Skinny in Mogadishu, they do what they were designed to do, but that's about it.

You want the M1/M14 to win so you narrow down your criterion so that only accuracy at 800+ yards matter. So that is the only thing that makes a rifle good? If that's the case - then the 1903 Springfield is your pick.

They are used around the world, because of what I mentioned before. When the trigger is pulled they go bang...no matter what. They are not junk - that's just a silly notion. Israel copied he AK to come up with the Galil, because they valued it's simple, small, rugged design and they were using the FAL at the time.

You make me think of the old story I read of the captured T-34/76 tanks that the Germans examined. Story goes that they considered making a reversed engineered version, since the Russian tanks were so effective on the battlefield. However they concluded they couldn't do that, because the Russian tanks would never pass their quality control inspections. Yet the simple, plain & crude T-34 was the tank that shocked the Wehrmacht and they couldn't understand how it could defeat their Panthers & Tigers. Plus later on there were so many of them. The T-34s were junk either - but a great simple design that does the job it's meant for. For me the AK family has the same design philosophy.

 

[Bear44]

Not sure we are on the same page but I was referring to the AK. Never fielded an M14.

Ah, got it.

 

[GAgunLAWbooklet]

The M1A is, at least among semi automatic rifles that most American civilians can easily own, A BETTER CHOICE than the Garand.

Same size and weight and heft which is good for recoil control.

But the 20 round magazines are much better than eight round clips. And you can get aftermarket magazines for the M1A that hold 25 or 30 rounds.

They have the same effective range, the same accuracy, they fire a cartridge that is ballistically identical --at least among factory standard ammunition.

The M1A is easier to put optics on, and it comes with an excellent flash hider.
It's easy to use a bipod with it, unlike the M1 Garand.