Managed Marksmanship
January 19, 2022
A new AR-15 rifle is a fun firearm for the range, especially if you understand how many options are available for the platform and have had the opportunity to contemplate different builds and additions or optimizations.
From changing the caliber with an upper receiver kit to adding an optic or trying out the newest add-on, the AR-15 is a great range gun. It’s hard to find a more flexible or capable rifle given the breadth of things you can do with it.
MoreJanuary 2, 2022
Guest Article, Shooting Primary Arms Leave a comment
by Primary Arms
Primary Arms is a Texas-based company that provides firearms enthusiasts, professional shooters, and servicemen and women the highest quality optics at affordable prices.
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When you are focused on accuracy, is adding another accessory able to bring you to the next level? For precision shooters – the age-old question is whether parts and accessories make the impact (that they seem to be able to in your mind) in the real world. In a day and age where an off the shelf AR upper receiver conversion kit can get you pretty close to 1 MOA, which if any accessories can have the biggest impact, and are you fooling yourself trying to tighten up your groups with hardware rather than training and experience?
If it’s a hybrid model involving both hardware and “software” – where are the biggest impacts to be made?
This is an article that explores the relationship between what you think will make you better, what can make you better, and the value of the different variables in the equation of getting better at precision shooting. This article focuses on the AR platform because it’s a perfect platform to get trained on, and the ability to customize the modular system over time from a hardware perspective allows shooters to get better and upgrade their firearm as they go to match their skills.
Are you fooling yourself and just trying to find a way to spend that money burning a hole in your pocket?
The short answer is no. There are plenty of improvements to be had with hardware components in the AR market. But the longer answer is far more complicated. Some of what you believe is marketing psychology at its best, and some of what you realize as improvement is just a factor of you getting better through trial and error, increased information consumption, and real world experience. It’s a combination of variables that go into your ability to improve on long-range efforts when focusing on precision shooting sports.
But, yes, hardware does matter. Skills do matter. The harmony you create between the two of them matters most.
And there are some accessories that have far less of an impact on our shooting than they seem to have prior to purchase. So, you’ll do well to prioritize your dollars for the hardware that makes the most sense from a value perspective and perhaps even on the training that may push you to beyond where you thought was possible.
The obligatory lecture
Practice makes perfect – not cool accessories. But that isn’t the whole story, is it? Let’s explore the idea behind incremental improvement and optimization on the backdrop of overall gains in performance.
A lot of precision shooters realize that the more rounds they send down range the better they get. But that’s true of everything, isn’t it? The more you experience something, the more you can digest what’s happening in real time and are able to make better judgments, and better adjustments, is what allows for incremental improvement over time anyway.
Long-range precision shooting isn’t about immediate impacts so much as it is about long-term honing of skills. No matter how much is spent on a custom rifle, the shooter needs to be able to outperform the hardware. And as you go along – the percentage increases lessen, because you get into the cycle of optimization which is shorter up front and gets longer as you improve little by little.
So, what’s the lecture?
Note: while it may seem like it at times, this is not an article about how to shoot precision long range rifles. There are plenty of robust guides on that topic. This is about how you can avoid missteps in the market and on the procurement side of things, so that you can focus on the truly developmental and essential purchases that will drive you to be a better precision long-range shooter. Particularly, with the AR platform.
Do you have your priorities straight?
Is it your goal to look cool at the range through showcasing awesome guns or awesome results?
There is no right answer here. Car people show off their cars, even if they had nothing to do with building the engine or could not possibly harness the power the way a professional driver could. Some people indulge in watches worth more than most people’s mortgage notes. Some people buy $350 jeans. You like what you like. It’s ok to have great looking guns you are proud of.
But the point here is about results versus loadout. And more specifically is the loadout you want, designed to get results in the form of tighter groups and faster sets and further distances? Or is it designed to get people to look at your awesome guns. Both are fine answers. There may even be a bunch of other reasons for bringing a specific gun to the range too. And that is also fine.
If you are looking for end results that mean tighter groups, faster reaction times, and better on target performance for your chosen gun and you as the shooter, then your priorities need to involve more shooting, more focused and consistent shooting styles and the right purchases that lead to direct impacts on your ability to hit where you are aiming.
If in doubt about an accessory purchase other than optics (and sometimes with optics), buy ammunition instead with the money. That’s a no-lose situation for someone who is an avid shooter with money that’s burning a hole in their pocket.
About incremental improvement
Shooting performance improvement takes time. Yes, you can learn so much from binging on YouTube videos and reading blog posts and ultimately diving deeper and deeper until you get to the best figureheads sharing the best information. It’s possible to get yourself to a great place by simply digesting available information.
Unfortunately, it’s hard to tell sometimes which information is best, and whether or not you are moving down the right track. A good litmus test? Real world improvement. If you’re getting better keep moving down that pathway until you hit a wall.
At that point, reassess where you need to go, using the knowledge you gained as you improved in the most recent cycle of improvement. Your newfound wisdom will help you to further discern whether what you are hearing will be able to impact your progression properly.
More about optimization on your performance
Optimization is the more incremental, “incremental” improvement, and really should be geared towards shaving seconds off your reaction time, or tenths of inches off your group size, and only after you have a solid base of all the technical, mental, and physical concepts surrounding precision shooting.
At some point you will outperform your AR. You may have to move on to something made from a monolithic chassis, or something that can get down to the accuracy level you really want to be at. Most people would be incredibly happy with 1 MOA out of a military design. Some configurations can push down to near ½ MOA for a few thousand dollars on the AR, but you’re not going to be doing that easily. And if you aspire to get to ¼ MOA, you will become very disappointed in the platform – it’s just not built for that type of accuracy.
At some point, you will not see gains in a single session of shooting. Because you can only push your hardware to its limits and improve so much each time you learn and experience it on the level you need to at that point in your progression. It’s the way this game works. Getting a 1% optimization improvement will be a goal someday. And as crazy as that sounds, you will be ecstatic when you can prove you obtained that 1% improvement at that point. Some people call that level of achievement in shooting “enlightenment” or “exaltation”.
An action plan for those who love accessories but also need to improve on the underlying skills
Who are we to tell you what to like or spend your money on? That’s not the point. We look at it like this: we think you’re best off if you take a breather and plan out how you want to make gains. Everyone is going to prioritize different facets of their shooting performance.
A note: the biggest improvement is in finding a repeatable, tightly held grouping of assets and procedures that you can use the same way each time. In real world terms: find the most consistent ammunition. Use it in a way that doesn’t alter it, even if it means handloading it into the chamber. Make your setup rocksolid so that variables in the real world cannot change it (e.g., loctite your scope mounts; buy a legitimate bipod, etc.). Take the shot using the same breathing patterns, and knowing exactly what you expect, take notes when things don’t materialize properly – always have a pen and paper. Get intimately familiar with the adjustments on your scope.
Don’t be afraid to think through any changes in your point of aim versus your point of impact – take your time on it. Demand improvement – hold yourself accountable for consistency and push to understand what you are doing on the molecular level before you send a shot downrange.
In case you are getting frustrated, don’t just send more lead down range – stop and remind yourself that some shots cost you $3. Or $2, or whatever premium price point you have bought your chosen cartridge at. The realization that dollar bills are launching down range may have the effect of slowing down your thinking and helping you to reexamine core principles to assess where something is going wrong.
Here is a list in order of importance of accessories that can have a major impact on your accuracy for the AR:
A final word about accessories. If you are sure that you want a specific type of component or accessory, don’t settle for a lesser one, you will undoubtedly regret it. Wait until it comes back in stock and buy the one you want. A perfect example: sure, there are plenty of 18” 6.5 Creedmoor barrels available right now, but you are positive you need a 24” barrel at least to achieve the right velocity consistency and get the most out of the rounds you are loading. Wait for the 24” or 26” barrel to get back in stock, or have a bespoke barrel made.
Conclusions
Buy the things that make you better, but also invest in yourself. Learn the baseline best practices. Buy more ammunition to shoot. Dial in your consistent routines, and loads, and procedures, and practices. Ultimately, the match and balance between the barrel, and the cartridge, and your mindset, will combine for the most important variables you can reasonably be expected to contribute to the precision long-range shooting process.
September 17, 2020
Guest Article Jay Chambers 1 Comment
by Jay Chambers
Technology is evolving at a very fast pace, and in terms of shotguns, you get more and more options as time goes by. It wouldn’t be surprising at all if we saw major improvements in the gun industry in the years to come, considering the rapid growth in options.
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One of the things that make an important part of the shotgun and the entire hunting experience is the laser. Lasers will help you aim much better – thus, you’ll be able to enjoy an enhanced experience. So, which laser options are best for your shotgun?
What Should You Consider when Buying a Laser Sight for Your Shotgun?
MoreMarch 23, 2020
Guest Article Jay Chambers Leave a comment
by Jay Chambers
The Sako Finnlight is a surprisingly light, high-performance rifle for hunters who make long treks into the wilderness for their game. It’s perfectly trimmed and ideal for young people or those of smaller stature, too.
Sako is well-known and respected for their classic Model 85. The Finnlight is a pared-down version featuring a synthetic stock, fluted barrel, and stainless steel construction. It’s lightweight and extremely durable.
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Integrated rails atop the receiver allow for scope mounting and the polished bolt body means you get smooth operation when lining up a shot. The bolt handle is 2.5 inches with a teardrop-shaped knob that’s easy to grip and features a finish and action to match the barrel.
When the action is cocked, you know it by a red dot indicator on the base of the bolt shroud. It’s an elegant and easy-to-use rifle that doesn’t compromise performance.
The proprietary Controlled Round design gives the cartridge rim direct engagement as it’s taken from the top of the magazine. It’s fed at a precise angle allowing for more control, which improves reliability over other rifle designs.
You can’t underestimate the role that comfort plays in reliability, either. Because of its lightweight but durable design, handling is superb. When it comes to an accurate shot, you can count on its ease of use.
Despite its synthetic construction, this rifle has sporty lines and an accented cheekpiece. It doesn’t look cheap like some synthetic stocks do. The black finish makes it look sleek while keeping it practical.
It’s molded from two plastic pieces, so the butt feels hollow, but the sidewalls are thick, so you won’t experience twisting of the free-floating barrel.
The pistol grip features rubber grip panels with small rings that deviate from the usual checkered pattern, making it look like a modern, premium rifle rather than something we’ve seen time and again. They still enable a good grip even with wet or muddy hands.
The large recoil pad cushions the blow of the .270 cartridge.
The primary attraction of the Finnlight is its practicality. The 22-inch barrel is perfect for a variety of uses. It’s not too big, and it’s not too small. Goldilocks would be in love.
It’s easy to control, for extreme accuracy. It’s threaded, too, so you can fit a moderator without it getting too cumbersome.
This sporty, gently tapering design is .637 inches at the muzzle and fluted for most of its length. It has a distinctive look not shared with its competitors. This helps to save weight for greater versatility and control over your accuracy.
Scope mounts feature the Opti-Lok system finished to match the rest of the rifle.
When recoil occurs, bases work to grip the action tighter to secure the system from hitting hard.
Most Sako rifles feature a standard single-stage trigger with a 3-pound weight. It’s adjustable from 2 to 4 pounds with an allen key at the back of the magazine well.
The trigger blade is slim with grooves to improve grip. The magazine well and the trigger guard are made from two pieces of aluminum and fitted together to match the rest of the rifle.
With a horizontally sliding safety lever, you can easily move it forward to firing or backward to safe. The safety setting locks both the bolt and the trigger.
Enacting a small plunger in front of the safety lever allows for removing the cartridge while keeping the trigger locked.
The magazine release mechanism is called the “Total Control Latch.” It’s designed to prevent an accidental release, which is incredibly useful on a hunting rifle.
The .270 cartridge is capable of a lot of velocity, and is highly accurate at 100 yards or less. It’s perfect for deer and other big game hunting. However, it’s versatile enough for lightweight shooting, too.
This high-performance rifle warms up after as little as 10 rounds, so it’s ready to go at a moment’s notice and you won’t have any problems with shifting due to heat.
Thread your Finnlight for a moderator and accommodated .22-250 cartridges and transition easily from big game to an exceptional fox rifle.
The practicality of its design and performance makes it unmatched in terms of accuracy and reliability. It’s not often you find a manufacturer able to marry an attractive design with durability and a lightweight frame while still achieving these goals.
The Sako Finnlight is a perfect combination of everything you need in a hunting rifle. Men, women, young people, beginners, and experienced shooters will all find something appealing about it.
It has excellent out-of-the-box accuracy with a rugged, no-nonsense style. It’s versatility is also an excellent feature. It handles well with soft recoil. It’s the perfect light rifle with a heavy caliber.
February 24, 2020
Guest Article Jay Chambers 62 Comments
by Jay Chambers
Palmetto State Armory (PSA) makes really affordable guns. And, they’re one of the few American manufacturers that makes AK-47 rifles. But, are Palmetto State Armory rifles any good?
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There’s been some dissent around the internet about whether or not Palmetto State Armory makes reliable rifles. Who’s right? The fans or the haters?
The truth is somewhere in between. There are pros and cons to buying firearms from Palmetto State Armory. Here’s what you can expect.
If you head over to their site, you’ll notice that they have lots of daily sales and limited time discounts. So, there’s plenty of opportunities to get gear at great prices from PSA.
They’re also very selective about what they put on sale. Most models and products that are on sale are in stock in their warehouse. So sale items ship quickly. That may not be the case with every order (but we’ll get to that shortly).
Also, the Palmetto State Armory components and rifles are really well priced. You can get complete PSA rifles for around $500, which is a legitimate deal.
But, if the prices make you skeptical…
Palmetto State Armory does make some of their own components. However, many of their parts are sourced from other manufacturers.
The third-party components are usually unmarked. But they buy rifle parts from manufacturers like FN Herstal, Midwest Industries, and other companies.
Palmetto State Armory uses bulk pricing to reduce their manufacturing costs and offer better prices to their customers. If you’re concerned that the price looks a bit too low for quality components, worry not. They’re not cutting corners.
In fact, a Palmetto State Armory AR-15 was one of the first AR-15s to pass the AK Operators Union 5000 round torture test. And, it was one of the most basic PSA AR-15s.
That’s not to say that you’ll never have a problem with a Palmetto State Armory rifle. But, any issues are probably anomalies, not the standard.
But, if you do have a problem…
So far, reports from the field say that Palmetto State Armory’s customer service has been top notch. [Addendum: some customers report otherwise. See comments below.]
Whenever there’s a problem, the company has never hesitated to replace parts and send them in a hurry. Most of the time, customers aren’t even asked to send the defective part back.
The company certainly stands behind their products. And, will make things right if you have a problem.
There are some legitimate complaints about the customer service, though.
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Although the customer service is excellent once you get in touch with them, Palmetto State Armory isn’t a huge company. And, it can take some time to get on the phone with a customer service representative.
Some PSA buyers have recommended using the vendor contact page on AR15.com.
The slow customer service is likely a byproduct of the time that they take with each customer. It helps to remember that if you find yourself aggravated by the slow response time.
For most of the daily deals, things go out pretty quickly. And, customers have gotten their gear within a few days.
However, most buyers have noted that, if you order on a Monday, you won’t get your stuff by the weekend. It usually takes five days or more for Palmetto State Armory orders to arrive.
The shipping time isn’t unreasonable. But, if you need your stuff fast, you may have to get it somewhere else, or pay for the quick shipping.
This is only a con for those who want a really sweet rifle right out of the box. But, the complete PSA rifles are fairly simple models. They’re effective, to be sure.
However, they don’t come with a ton of bells and whistles. Most PSA rifles are essentially mil-spec rifles with a few upgrades. Most of the base models are equipped with A2 pistol grips and mil-spec M4 stocks.
So, there are plenty of reasons to upgrade a few bolt on parts, if you get one of the PSA budget rifles.
But, if you want something that’s a little more high end right out of the box, Palmetto State Armory does offer a few models with stainless steel barrels and Magpul MOE furniture. They’re not super custom rifles like you might get from a company like LWRC or Daniel Defense. But, the more expensive PSA rifles are still capable guns.
There’s a range of options. But, the overall trend is that Palmetto State Armory generally makes affordable, reliable rifles, not super custom rifles.
See comments below. Some readers report having customer service issues with Palmetto State Armory’s customer service. Contact their Customer service at 803/724-6950 or https://palmettostatearmory.com/help-center or https://palmettostatearmory.com/
You may have noticed that none of the cons are related to product quality. That’s because PSA guns are well-made. Quality isn’t an issue.
Many Palmetto State Armory rifles are fairly basic models. So, PSA rifles may not be for everyone. But, you could easily use a Palmetto State Armory rifle as a foundation for building a super tactical rifle. And, it would be a cost efficient method.
In the end, the complaints about Palmetto State Armory are probably overblown. And, the PSA superfans may be exaggerating how awesome Palmetto State Armory rifles are. But, if you buy a rifle from Palmetto State Armory, you’ll get a quality firearm. You may not get it quickly. But, you’ll be happy with it once it arrives.
February 18, 2020
Guest Article digitoolreview.com, Gemma Reeves Leave a comment
Vintage and classic guns have a charm of their own. However, without proper preservation and restoration works, it is quite hard enough to appreciate them. Many of these guns have been handed down from one generation to another. For some families, a vintage gun becomes an heirloom that is accompanied with tales of hunting and adventure with them.
Due to age and previous use, these old guns are worn by tears and scratches. Some may not even function anymore, but that does not stop families from displaying such prized heirlooms on the wall.
Some are not intended to be used anymore, but classic rifles and vintage guns do make great additions to any gun collection and display. For some, such prized guns and rifles are only used during hunting season. Either way, you need to preserve and restore these old guns to keep them in good shape. Below are the top 3 restored guns that look absolutely brand new due to quality restoration work.
Winchester Model 88
The Winchester Model is a popular rifle in the 1950s. If your family is big on guns, one of your grandfathers probably owns one. The Winchester Model 88 is a good rifle for hunting bears and moose. If restored properly, the vintage look of this rifle is enough to make it as a prized addition to any gun collector. For some families, it is still being passed on from father to son – and ultimately used during hunting season.
The Sharpshooter Fly Gun
Now this is definitely not in the same level as The Winchester Model 88 rifle, but it is a special fly-swatter gun that deserves a spot on this list. The gun was manufactured back in the 1930s, and it boasts of a highly accurate and precise sharpshooting ability.
The manufacturers claim that you can kill flies from 6 to 8 feet away with it. However, that would still depend on your shooting skills. Still, it is worth a try – if you don’t mind filling your home with lead shot later on.
The Sharpshooter Fly Gun is generally harmless compared to other guns, and its novelty makes it a great addition to any vintage gun collection! Sure, you may not kill big bears and deer with it, but at least it helps in pest control.
Smith & Wesson Straight Line Target Pistol
This Smith & Wesson Straight Line Target Pistol is noted for its innovative design and feature during the time it was released. Instead of creating a top-break design based on revolvers, Smith & Wesson decided to create this pistol with an in-line hand cocked striker. The objective is to eliminate the downward push on the barrel which usually comes from a pivoting hammer (a common feature in most pistols).
However, it’s not really the innovative design that makes this pistol really special. This pistol is worth restoring and preserving due to its rarity. This pistol was doing well (sales-wise), but when The Great Depression came in 1929, Smith & Wesson stopped manufacturing them – leaving the market with just 1,870 of these.
Again, any gun would look great with the proper restoration work. These vintage guns however take it to the next level because of their historical value and novelty. Some like Winchester Model 88 can even be used up to this day! You can look up the full list of restored classic vintage guns and rifles here.
Author Bio: Gemma Reeves is a seasoned writer who enjoys creating helpful articles and interesting stories. She has worked with several clients across different industries such as advertising, online marketing, technology, healthcare, family matters, and more. She is also an aspiring entrepreneur who is engaged in assisting other aspiring entrepreneurs in finding the best office space for their business.
Check out her company here: https://digitoolreview.com/
April 10, 2019
Guest Article SGM(R) Chuck Pressburg 2 Comments
SGM(R) Chuck Pressburg of Presscheck Consulting discusses training.
The subject of bullseye-style shooting vs. combat shooting (not the sport, the actual disciplines) are on another instructor’s FB page and since I took the time to address the shooter’s question on a response to a sub-thread that wouldn’t be seen by many, I thought I should repost my thoughts here.
If you can’t execute near-perfect under perfect conditions, everything starts to deteriorate rapidly from there…
Combat shooting is a complex math game where you are stacking tolerances of maximum spreads of human, weapon, and ammo in real time against the acceptable impact zone, what’s in front and beyond it and usually while both you and the impact zone as well as potential itermediate barriers are all in movement.
An acceptable “firing solution” occurs when you believe that you can place the bullet close enough to where you want it to land and make the decision to ignite the primer.
Fundamentals don’t change, How much emphasis we put on any single fundamental changes rapidly as we attempt to get a proper firing solution.
For shooting students exhibiting significant inability to exercise any fundamentals, an isolation of flaws and focus on improving them individually should take place. In the DOD we used the “crawl, walk, run” method of teaching and training.
Basic trigger press drills and sight diagnostics are FOUNDATIONAL in nature, but are crawl-level events. The only time they should be brought up with a “grown” professional is when their shooting foundation was built out of sand and they shoot like dog crap.
So shooting is hitting what you want and “bullseye-style” shooting (shooting bulls at distance) is the perfect execution of these fundamentals.
Combat shooting is like being a Doolittle Raider on the deck of the USS Hornet and someone is ordering you to strip critical items off your plane to be light enough to take off.
“What you do mean I have to dump my tail guns” (perfect sight picture)?! I NEED THOSE”!
“Look son, you’re gonna dump that weight (accept flash sight pictures at closer distances) if you want to make it off this flight deck”! (Shoot fast)
So combat shooting isn’t a different technique as much as it is the process of sacrifing perfection in real time in order to achieve an acceptable outcome sooner. Here’s the secret that nobody will tell you: 99.9% of people choose poorly and sacrifice too many of those fundamentals when fear of death is upon them.
Gripping the ever-living crap out of your blaster and hammering your trigger as fast as you humanly can, WILL work (I do it all the time), HOWEVER it will only work for certain firing solutions, and if you don’t read the cues that you need to ratchet things back and apply more of your fundamentals, then you are spraying. That cue will NORMALLY come from your dot or front sight post. It is nearly impossible for your dot to stay on target and your bullet to miss…that angry bee moved within (or completely out of) the glass before the gun went bang. Did you see it? Did you try to fix it, or did you run with it?
In my handgun classes I call my shots even if they land INSIDE the black from 25 yards in front of my students and its not magic, its EASY. I just ask myself a simple question, where was my sight/dot when the gun went bang?
March 18, 2019
Guest Article Giftninjas, Sarah Jacobs Leave a comment
by Sarah Jacobs
Whether it is for competition or for self-defense, women can also own a licensed gun like any other man could. Women can also be expected to target and shoot like any man could. However, there are many considerations before anyone should settle with a gun of choice. This goes for both men and women gun enthusiasts.
January 25, 2019
Guest Article, SensibleShooter David Dunning, Dr. Bill Lewinski, Dunning–Kruger effect, Force Science Institute, Ron Avery, Tamara Keel, The Naive Shooter from a Law Enforcement Perspective: Hit Probability 2 Comments
From Tamara Keel
Can You Shoot Better Than A Cop?
He cites a published study that “…broke down the shooters into three classifications: expert, intermediate, and novice. Experts had either finished the academy shooting course or had been trained in the military while intermediates had no formal academy training but had shot before in either recreational settings or had military rifle training. Finally, the novices were just that. Many of them had never even held a gun in their lives.”
You can see the problem already, right? Military handgun training, outside of a handful of job descriptions, is laughable. The handgun training from a typical LE academy is better than that, but still unlikely to turn out any pistol wizards, either.
Then comes the part that doesn’t automatically follow, which is that us non-po-po shoot better than that. Well, we probably do… assuming we’re an active competitive shooter and/or have had some formal training ourselves.
But as far as the general run of the mill shooting public? I go to the public shooting range. A lot. I see how the general shooting public shoots. It’s not very well. The average shooter at a public range finds the 7 ring of a B-27 at seven yards to be a less than clout shot.
I am not a very good shooter. I’m the special ed student at gun school. When I walk the prize table at a match, I find myself wondering if the tablecloth is not the most valuable thing left on the table, since I already have a Bore Snake and a three ounce bottle of CLP. But when I go to the public range of a weekend? I’m almost always a veritable ninja compared to the shooters on my right and left.
The average shooter is never presented with an opportunity to find out how bad they are, because things like scores and timers are foreign to their experience. It is possible to go to the range monthly for years and years and never see any meaningful improvement because it’s hard to improve that which you do not measure. There’s a lot of Dunning-Kruger in the shooting world.
It’s worth noting that Dr. Dunning’s solution to the cognitive bias experienced by novices that bears his name is to do exactly what Tamara Keel recommends here.
January 11, 2019
Guest Article GunBacker, M1 Garand, rifle reliability 4 Comments
The M1 is a legendary American rifle. John Garand, a Canadian born weapon designer, created the M1 Garand. Soon, it became a staple of the American military. It was one of the most widely used rifles, outside of a properly equipped AR-15.
The M1 Garand became a favorite of the troops that wielded it. At the time, it was the premier battle rifle in World War II, and far better than the rifles the Axis powers carried. The M1 allowed the United States to adopt a maneuver-based warfare system utilizing fire and maneuvers to conquer the German and Japanese forces.
The M1 Garand is still used by many firearms enthusiasts today, and you can still find working versions being used by hunters and recreational shooters across the United States.
GunBacker has a nicely-written history on this historic rifle:
The M1 Garand: A Legendary American Military Rifle Used in WWII
Firearm User Network 