People seem to like these posts so maybe I'll make them a regular feature. CMP has limited quantities of two interesting rifles:
Enfield 1917. This was essentially a rechambering of the WWI British Army Enfield rifle in .30-06 for the US Army. Both Winchester and Remington produced these in quantity for the US Expeditionary Force. Prices are high, but not bad for Enfields these days, starting at $1000.
Expert Grade M1 Garand in both .30-06 and 308 NATO. This rifle needs no introduction other than Gen. Patton's statement that it was the finest battle implement ever devised. The prices are better than I expected starting at $1150.
Man, I love my Garand, and am glad I got it before inflation goosed the price points. I also love my Enfield, although it is a No. 4, rather than a 1917.
6 comments:
I'd like an M1 but sure as chit - I'd catch my dink or my thumb in it. I have no idea how they load those damned things. I have an M1A and it'll have to do for me...
:(
Glen, it's actually pretty easy. You use your right hand to both hold the breech back and support the rifle and your left to insert another en-bloc clip into the magazine. You push the clip down to where the breech is released but keep your right hand in place until your left thumb is clear.
The no. 4 was issued to the CCF back in the 80s. A nice rifle, but I found the bolt and magazine difficult.
These days I mostly use a Mosin Nagant and Lebel.
Enfield: the rifle Cpl. Alvin York used to turkey shoot all those bothersome Krauts in WWI.
@Borepatch:
Unless you're left-handed, it sounds like you're doing the Garand wrong.
Your right thumb on the topmost round in the en bloc safely holds the breech block back, until you release it and rapidly un-thumb the area.
Your left hand should be somewhere else, under the rifle, and nowhere near the action.
Lefties simply reverse that, and either way, one thumb is doing all the work.
Slowpokes pay the penalty.
Aesop, I used to do it the way you said but as you said, slow pokes pay the penalty.
If you do it the way I describe your thumb will never curse you.
Borepatch, I use the same method you do to avoid Garand Thumb. It works.
Shot a No.4 Enfield in a highpower match. That was fun.
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