M1 Garand

[TheLuigiNoidMan 144]

Now introducing a rifle that requires no introduction, the M1 Garand.

This semi-automatic rifle was designed and used extensively by the United States of America, primarily during the Second World War. It's design is exceedingly iconic, being recognized as a legendary staple of firearms across the world while also influencing various gun designs. Although militaries still globally relied on bolt-action rifles, the US Army was able to fully adopt the Garand as a standard-issue weapon in 1936, making it the most advanced infantry force in the entire world by WW2 due to impressive details that are still seen on some firearms to this day.

Its design is incredibly practical and devastatingly accurate, which was significant for an automatic rifle. One of the rifle's most recognizable features is its abnormal ammo system; unlike typical stripper clips, it was fed by .30-06 Enbloc clips holding 8 double-stacked rounds of ammunition, which was completely unlike any rifle in use. This was made especially unusual by the ejection mechanism, which not only flings the clip upward once empty, but is accompanied by the infamous ping the rifle is known for.

As a result of its overwhelming success, the US would try to adapt the M1 Garand to other roles throughout the military. The M14 was designed as an attempt to modernize the M1 into an assault rifle in the 1950s, which was not only magazine-fed, but also accepted stripper clips. The .30-06 caliber had an extreme and uncontrollable amount of recoil in full-auto, which made the rifle fail in the attempt to rival other assault rifles, primarily the AK-47.

In need of a new light machine gun, the US also made a bizarre attempt to replace the M1918A2 BAR with the M15, a heavier version of the M14 with a bipod. This attempt was a complete failure, as the BAR remained more effective and reliable in full-auto despite nearing obsoletion. Ultimately, the US would give up with either attempt to keep the M1 Garand relevant, and settled on the M16, which is based off the AR-15 design that is still in service today.

 

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