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[[Image:m1garand.jpg|thumb|right]]

[[Image:m1garand.jpg|thumb|right]]

The M-1 Garand rifle was the standard infantry rifle for the US Army and US Marines before and after the [[Second World War]]. The M-1 Garand was issued in 1936 and by the year 1941, it became the standard front line weapon in almost any branch of service. By 1945 huge quantities were available (near the war's end). The rifle fired .30 caliber rounds from an 8-shot clip. Its only setback was that all rounds needed to be discharged before a fresh clip could be loaded.

The M1 Garand rifle was the standard infantry rifle for the US Army and US Marines before and after the [[Second World War]] and also during the [[Korean War]]. The Garand was issued in 1936 and by the year 1941, it became the standard front line weapon in almost every branch of service. After the war, Garands became available to the public through the Civialian Marksmanship Program. The rifle fires .30-06 Springfield rounds from an 8-shot en-block clip.

General [[George S. Patton]], one of the greatest heroes of [[World War II]], praised the M1 Garand thusly: "In my opinion, the M1 Rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised."<ref>Bill Shadish [http://www.fulton-armory.com/tea/article11-98.htm The M1 Garand in Cyberspace ] Nov 1998</ref>

General [[George S. Patton]], one of the greatest heroes of [[World War II]], praised the M1 Garand thusly: "In my opinion, the M1 Rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised."<ref>Bill Shadish [http://www.fulton-armory.com/tea/article11-98.htm The M1 Garand in Cyberspace ] Nov 1998</ref>

Unfortunately, due to political considerations involving America's joining [[NATO]], the US military shelved the M1 Garand, replacing it with the experimental T44 rifle (in the slightly weaker 7.62 NATO chambering) as the [[M14]].  The M1 Garand is no longer esteemed as a suitable battle rifle by Western militaries, but is still used by Law Enforcement and paramilitary organizations in underdeveloped nations such as [[Haiti]] and the [[Philippines]].  Fortunately, the M1 Garand is still held in high esteem by civilian firearms advocates within the United States, and regularly used for competitive shooting, and is well-regarded as a [[Homeland Defense Rifle]] (HDR).

Unfortunately, due to political considerations involving America's joining [[NATO]], the US military shelved the M1 Garand, replacing it with the experimental T44 rifle (in the slightly weaker 7.62 mm NATO chambering) as the [[M14]].  Fortunately, the M1 Garand is still held in high esteem by civilian firearms advocates within the United States, and regularly used for competitive shooting, and is well-regarded as a [[Homeland Defense Rifle]] (HDR).

==References==

==References==

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[[Category:Guns]]

[[Category:Guns]]