This thread reminds me of my dad buying a remington 03a3 through NRA more than 50 years ago. It cost him like $32 and was brand new packed in its original cosmoline & wrapped in a kind of heavy brown waxed paper. One of my brothers still has it.

The Cadillac of M1 Garands were made by BREDA, and a few by Beretta, after the war on the Winchester production machines which the US sold to the Italians. I've got one in near mint condition, it's a good companion for my wartime Winchester M1.

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“Never attempt to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and annoys the pig.” ― Robert A. Heinlein

I know this sounds ignorant, but I have not previously considered making a hunting rifle out of a Garand. Thanks for tipping my boat a bit. I last fired a Garand in 1970 or so and found it a sweet shooting machine. Take a few pounds off it and give it modern optics and I'll bet it's a handy shooter with a hell of a punch.

Yep an M1A would be a good deer rifle, you can get it with a 16in barrel and plastic stock as well which might be more handy if you do a lot of bush whacking.

I can't imagine needing more than 7.62 to bring down any deer, plus its cheaper than 30-06.

I think they also sell 5 round shorty mags which would be nice for bench/stand shooting. The 20's hang down a bit.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

This is a pic of part of My 1969 Book How to Convert Military Rifles.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

The M1 is one heck of a good moose gun, especially if hand-loaded with 180gr or even 220gr bullets. It has good long range knock-down power. I have one of mine fitted with a variable orifice gas plug for shooting heavier slugs.

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“Never attempt to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and annoys the pig.” ― Robert A. Heinlein

So many things I need to buy. I need the garand gear gas plug, real milk paint company tung oil, and better ear protection.

the godhead I follow for all things rifled is Jack O'Conner, long deceased. O'Conner claimed that the .30/06 had claimed more game worldwide than any other cartridge due to its wide range of bullet and powder weights and great accuracy. He killed the major game of Africa except for rhino and elephant with it. Of course, he was a freaking demigod of accurate fire.

I would argue that the .303 British fired from a Lee Enfield has that honor. I'm pretty sure the last rifle of empire has been used at one point or another to kill everything from a German to an elephant.

Another interesting fact the Lee Enfield will shoot with the M1 Garand doing shooting qualifications. When I did the Appleseed which is based around the Garand all the other bolt guys couldn't keep up, but Enfield's could.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I served in two military forces. One issued a Lee Enfield, the other an M1 Garand. A properly set-up LE was slightly more accurate, and the design of the LE action permits more rapid cycling than any other bolt action like the Mauser or Springfield. Using 5rnd stripper clips, a LE can be reloaded very quickly. However I prefer the M1 for the combination of fire-power and accuracy. In any combat situation the M1 would be my choice of the two.

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“Never attempt to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and annoys the pig.” ― Robert A. Heinlein

Exactly! Shot placement, shot placement, shot placement.... everything else is secondary.

If one handloads, then one can make ammo for the 30-06 to effectively kill any animal in North America.

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“Never attempt to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and annoys the pig.” ― Robert A. Heinlein

To support My comment on the en-block Clip also being called a Loader:
Comments on Springfiels .308 version of the M1 Garand
"The .308 Winchester cartridge (L) is almost one-half inch shorter than the .30-06 round, which the M1 Garand was originally designed for. However, the .308 still functions perfectly from regular M1 Garand en-bloc loaders."
Springfield M1 Garand .308

"The 8-round en-bloc loader, commonly called a clip, also took some criticism during..."
World War ll M1 Garands | The Daily Caller

However, I drug out My Desert Publications supposed copy of the M1 Grand Manual and it has Loading Device----------en-bloc Clip listed in Section 1, description.
And, simply uses the word Clip in other parts of the Manual.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Call it whatever you want. We all know what it does.

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“Never attempt to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and annoys the pig.” ― Robert A. Heinlein

Better to call it by one of the Names it is commonly called.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Does the M1 eject the spent cartridge to the right? My calcified memory had it flinging them overhead.