GCA Journal (Garand Collectors Association Journal), vol. 36, issue 3

23 Pages·2022·28.964 MB·English

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The GCA's Mission Statement The purpose of the GCA. To exchange 1nformat1on and expand knowledge of the US Rifle,
Cahber .30, M 1, to preserve and pubhoze the history of the nfle and ,ts inventor John C. Garand,
to asmt and encourage new collectors, to ass,st authors ,n wnt,ng new reference works, to assist members ,n their collecting;
and to encourage compet1t1ve and recreat,onal safe shooting of the nfle
6CAJournal Inside This Issue
It was a difficult decision, but we canceled this year's convention in
Cody, Wyoming. The fiscal burden to our organization was beginning GCColAle cJtooursn Azasslo c(iIaStSioNn , 14575120- R3o7e6 4P)a rkisw apyu, bSluiisteh e2d0 0q, uRaoretelarnlyd Pbayr kt,h eK S G6a6r2a0n5d. President/Managing Director's Column ....... 1
to develop into something that we felt was unfair to the membership as Periodicals postage paid at Kansas City, Missouri, and additional mailing Andrew Hall
Jau wneh oflleo. oHdsig hthear tt hgarne aptrlyed aicftfeedc tterda vYele cllooswtss tionn ea dPdiatriokn a tlos ot hpe ladyeevda smtataijnogr soGtfaaftriecamnesde. nCtPsoO lolSefTc ttMhoerAs w SATrsEitsReor:cs i aSoteiron nadd, vPaed.Ordt.i rsBeesrossx i6cn4 ht0ahn,i sgM episus sbitlooi nc,aG tKGioS4 n 6 J6roe2up0rr1en.s aeAnln tym tchalegaiiamrz oisn woen,r GCA Rifle Giveaway-Sourcing a Garand
opinions and are not necessarily those of the editor, the officers, directors, from Royal Tiger lmports .............................. 3
roles. Please know that these events take hours and hours of planning and or staff of the Garand Collectors Association. The copyright, filed with the Cody Toombs
preparation by numerous people. It is not a small task. Our goal for next Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., applies to all contents of an original
year is to host a convention that will appeal to as many of the various Cnaonlliercet.o Rrse Aprsosdoucicattiioonn oisf panroyh pibairtte wd.i thout the written permission of the Garand Unit Specific Bolt Markings ......................... 8
interests as possible that make up our membership. EDITORIAL STAFF Brian Guenthenspberger
Editor-in-Chief... .. . ....... Garrett Shropshire
Senior Editor..... .. ................ Bob Seijas The .22 LR Subcaliber Kit that Never Was ... 9
Managing Editor ......... Mike Bernazzani Finn Andersen of the Danish Arms and Armour Society
After a year of development, our new website is operational. Our Editor.. .. ........... Dave McClain
management and publishing firm, Attache International, is the designer Editor.... . ..... Bri.m Guenthenspberger A Navy Conditioned Garand SA 538216 ...... 13
Editor.. .. ....................... . .................... Cody Toombs
and now the maintainer of the site. We thank them for their efforts as well Technical Advisor ......................... Gus Fisher Jim Adell
as GCA Director Rob Clark, who combed through every page and tested TTeecchhnniiccaall AAddvviissoorr ..... ....... .................................................................... P..a..u..l. .".B...u.b..b..a S" cGotot eDdudfef My Winding Path to the GCA ....................... 16
every link. The goal is to make operations much more maneuverable for GCA Marketplace... . ............ Greg Mirsky Andy Marchant
Membership/Distribution.. .. ....... Sharon Bosley
everyone. Members now have a method to update changes to their profiles Membership/Distribution... .. ............. Carl Palermo My Favorite Garand ...................................... 19
themselves via the website. Please know that the latest security protocols
GCA Board of Directors Cody Toombs
have been employed. The sophistication of the GCA increases, but we
still will take your phone call if required! Please do not hesitate to send Jim Adell Don Kemps Garand Rifle .................................................. 21
Colorado Wisconsin reprinted article from IH Today (March/April/May 1954)
us suggestions to make our website better. We are eager to hear from you.
Mike Bernazzani Dave McClain
Pennsylvania New Jersey My Favorite 1903 Springfield
In order to uncover material for the GCA Journal, we funded several fact Robert Clark Jack Prncha National Match ............................................. 25
Cmmecticut Georgia Gary Paul Johnston
finding trips. It takes a lot of volunteer time for these to come to fruition.
We are thankful for the tireless efforts by our team in order to have the AWmiysDcoonbsiins h SteTveem R1uestsleeed ge Collecting the M1 Rifle's Peer
world-class material the membership has come to expect. Some great Brian Guenthenspberger Robert Seijas Competitors -The SVT-40 ............................ 27
stories are being developed for publishing at a later date. We would love Ohio New Jersey Brian Guenthenspberger
ytoo uh ehaarv fer oam sp aencyia lm reifmleb tehra wt yhoou h waso ual dre lsiekaer ctoh sihdaerae t hwaitt hle tahdes mtoe ma bsteorrsyh.i pI,f AnTdenrnewes sHeea ll M1 Rifles Stolen and Recovered .................. 32
we ask that you hold off posting on the various web boards. The GCA has GCA Treasurer: Ores! Michaels The Way Gun Shows Should Be .................. 33
always been a place for newly released as well as cutting-edge research. Founder: Richard Deane • Chairman Emeritus: Robert Seijas Brian Guenthenspberger
Our experts stand ready to assist you. Please contact our editors with To contact the GCA Board of Directors, email
[email protected] or write to the GCA Office.
any leads. Rick Boercky's Barn Wood Art ..................... 37
The Garand Co/kctorsAssociaton
is affiliated witk .. GCA Marketplace ......................................... 38
The John C. Garand Match is now the most popular rifle match in the -Gregory N. Mirsky
United States. Fired at 200 yards, this is the perfect way for Ml Garand Civilian Marksmanship Program M1 Member Memories ................................... .42
owners to fire their rifles in a competitive manner. The CMP has even Cameron Tsolis
included a special category in order to fire the match from a benchrest, National Rifle Association
where possible. If you can get to a range, know that the CMP has made Front cover: Garand sourced from Royal Tiger Imports -
great efforts to include virtually everyone who wishes to compete. From National Shooting Sports Foundation Story on page 3.
new shooters to those that have many years of competition under their
belts, please consider competing in a John C. Garand Match at CMP Back cover: "Judo instruction is one of the high spots in the
Membership life of the latest addition to the Leatherneck Marines here. An
operated matches, at your local CMP affiliated club, or even Camp Perry!
instructor shows a recruit how to make the enemy's bayonet
GCA dues are $25 per year in the US, which includes a one-year subscription to
this magazine, GG4Joumal. All correspondence related to membership, acces useless. Cpl. Arvin Lou Ghazlo, USMC, giving judo instructions
smy purchases, material submitted for this magazine, teclmical questions, etc. to Pvt. Ernest C.Jones, USMCR:'
should be sent to:
Andrew Hall GARAND COLLECTORS ASSOCIATION, Inc. April1943 at Camp Montford Point, North Carolina. During
President P.O. Box 640 World War II, Montford Point was the training location for
Mission, KS 66201 African American Marines. The camp would eventually
Telephone: [phone] be decommissioned on September 9th, 1949. The photo
Email address: [email protected] • Article Submissions: [email protected] was sourced from the National Archives and Records
Visit our website at: www.thegca.org Administration.
Office hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. -Central Time, Monday through Friday
1 GCA Journal • Summer 2022 GCA Journal • Summer 2022 2
--
Buying from the Civilian Marksmanship Program is safe.
As customers, we know what to expect when our rifle
arrives. There is no doubt the CMP grades Ml's favorably
in the buyer's direction to ensure happy patrons. If
something is wrong, they back up their products with
great customer service. But what about other sources of
Garands? Do they have the same standards of grading
the CMP employs? That is what we wanted to find out for
this series of articles. Last year, the American Rifleman
published an article, detailing the acquisition oft housands
of weapons from Ethiopia by Royal Tiger Imports,
a subsidiary of Inter Ordnance, Inc. In the article they
discussed Ml Carbines, Enfields, Mausers, Carcanos,
Receiver and chamber condition as received. After hours of cleaning.
and other weapons, but Garands were not mentioned.
Recently, RTI released Garands for sale by all four U.S. and tested, we will give away this rebuilt Ml to one lucky an extended time. With the barreled receiver exposed,
GCA member. .. our curiosity is your gain! More details I went to work on cleaning the bore, knowing it would
on the drawing will follow in subsequent issues of the be an arduous task. Only after two bore brushes were
GCAJournal. ruined, dozens of patches dirtied, and the majority of
Ordering was simple, and the rifle arrived safely within a bottle of bore cleaner consumed, did some shine and
a week of purchase. Removing its wrapping revealed rifling appear, albeit with pitting. Measurements of the
SA 4229484 (choice of other manufacturers is a $200 barrel increased to a MW of 3.5, and a TE of 4.5.
surcharge) that was dirty, rusty, and with the appearance After the small parts were removed from the ultrasonic
of little care in the past several years. No area of the gun cleaner, the exterior of all metal components received a
was clean, and just handling it soiled my hands. One scrubbing with bore cleaner and a brass brush. For the
manufacturers and Beretta (available as a restored option thing I noticed was that the bolt area was covered in what barreled receiver, this revealed an SA barrel with the
only) from the Ethiopian cache. They are listed in "good seemed to be some sort of penetrating oil; the rest of the date of 12 52, so likely original. All parts cleaned up
to very good" condition with fair to good bores at a
metal parts were dry. Determining the barrel date was well, with little-to-no pitting and a worn finish. Wear on
base price of $1,199.99. We reached out to RTI in hopes
impossible without cleaning due to oxidation and grime. all internals seemed light, and the piston on the op rod
of gathering more information but were unsuccessful. Looking down the bore revealed more filth, and the rifling measured in spec at .529". The only damage found was
However, GCA Directors Don Kemps and Jack Prucha
all but obscured. RTI sells these guns as-is, this Ml had a broken tip on the safety. The stock and handguards
were able to secure a tour of the RTI facility after this
clearly not been cleaned and definitely not test-fired. were in good condition, with minimal dents and needing
article was in draft form. Their thoughts and experiences
However, they do list restored rifles available for purchase. only a cleaning and Tung oil to be serviceable. As with
will be captured in a separate article in a following issue
Further examination showed finish wear and rust on most Garands, this rifle was rebuilt at some point but still
of the GCA Journal. Interested to see how these Ml 's
the outside, a dent on the barrel, and a worn muzzle, all retained many correct parts for its serial number (see data
fared, we ordered one for review. Furthermore, this rifle
contained inside a stock that was in surprisingly good sheet for a parts breakdown). The stock was sanded and
will be the foundation for a project rifle build that we
condition. Initial barrel measurements before cleaning has two proof marks, along with a light half-inch DAS
Barrel Markings before and after cleaning. will cover extensively as we continue this series in future were a MW of 2 and a TE of 3. I fully disassembled the stamp. Glass bedding was added to the trigger housing
issues of the GCA Journal. Once the rifle is refurbished
rifle putting all small parts into an ultrasonic cleaner for area for a tighter lockup.
3 GCA Journal• Summer 2022 GCA Journal • Summer 2022 4
One rusty and filthy bolt! Barrel Dent
Once cleaned and re-assembled, I went to the range to then they may want to consider other options. For a better
test the RTI Ml. I was able to quickly zero the rifle at 50 condition barrel, RTI offers a $200 upcharge for a "hand
yards without issue. Examining the first few spent casings select bore." If buying for the unique history of being an
showed rust streaking on the brass. Even after scrubbing Ethiopian return, then go for it, just know what to expect.
the chamber, it still contained corrosion that only shooting Knowing this Ml was abused and mistreated in its time
would remove. I moved to the 100-yard range, firing five abroad, we decided to have the rifle reworked by Fulton
clips of Greek HXP ball ammo with zero malfunctions. Armory into a JCG Competition rifle (As-Issued). Fulton
Accuracy was better than anticipated: groups averaged Armory is well-known and highly respected among the
a little over six inches. Considering the bore condition, I shooting community. They offer a full range of services
was quite surprised with the results. to restore, or tum any Garand into a match-conditioned
Returning home from the range, I disassembled the rifle Box and contents of a Fulton Armory shipping container.
for cleaning once more. Rust in the op rod tube had come
firearm from JCG to full-blown bedded match builds. selection allows customers to hold onto their gun for as
loose, needing bore patches run through. Other parts just
Using their website (which is easy to navigate), you can long as possible until work begins. (Much less stressful
needed a light cleaning. Scrubbing the barrel for the last
review all the options available with pricing to make your for the gun's owner!)
time revealed a final MW measurement of 3.5 and a T.E.
of 5, with medium to deep pitting throughout. rifle fit your needs. Rich Hall, General Manager ofFulton Upon arrival, all guns go through a part-by-part
Armory, highly recommends the purchase of one of their assessment, after which Fulton Armory contacts the
In the end, what did we get for our $1227.89 (including
shipping boxes before sending a rifle for work. He says customer with their findings and reviews the services to
shipping)? We received an Ml that is similar to CMP
they see more damage to firearms from shipment in hard be completed. I ordered J:he box (shipping time was less
Rack Grade criteria. In my estimation, the "good to
plastic cases than cardboard and foam. Fulton has made than a week) and packed the RTI Garand within. The Ml
very good" description did not fit SA 4229484, like what
an interesting change to the process of getting a rifle was then dropped off for shipment. It was exciting to send
we would expect from a CMP Service Grade. But in
reconditioned or match-conditioned. Rather than sending this Garand on its way to receive the care it needs after
all fairness, grading criteria can vary from one vendor
your rifle off to them to wait its tum on their bench - decades of neglect in Ethiopia.
to the next. As is the case with any purchase, use your
they offer the option to purchase the shipping box (with Editor's Note: Excited to see what the rifle will look like
best judgement and experiences vary. This rifle is at best
fair condition, but it does have an interesting history. If a all needed materials and supplies with instructions for after Fulton Armory gets ahold of it? So are we! Stay
safe shipping). Placing a deposit when you order the box tuned to the next issue of The Journal for a thorough
GCA member decides to buy from RTI expecting a clean,
places your gun in a queue, and when it is your rifle's turn examination of Fulton's work on this battered import
range-ready Ml graded on a scale similar to the CMP's,
for service, Fulton will notify you it is time to ship. This from Ethiopia.
5 GCA Journal• Summer 2022 One of several large pits in the bore. GCA Journal • Summer 2022 6
U.S. Rifle, Cal. .30 M1 (Garand) Serial Number_ _4_ 22_9_48_4_ _______
Courtesy Garand Collectors Association: theGCA.org Manufacturer __s_p r_in_g_fi_el_d_A_rm_o__ry _____
RIFLE TYPE Origlnal? Remari<s or photo
M1 65%
RECEIVER, Lower right front area Other mari<s and location, remarks
D stamp on opposite side
A 40 B
Q
D 6528291 43 5
< Shape
BARREL side mari<lngs
BOLT D28287-19SA A-8
2 T D6535448 48 45 A186 SA 12 52 Extractor Parkerized
Firing Pin Half round, parkerized
BARREL top markings (under handguard) Chamber Bright? GAS CYLINDER Wide base
Crossed cannons Yes LOCK or PLUG High hump
T.E.= M.W.=
Remarks Import mark near muzzle, pitting in bore 5 3.5 LOCK SCREW Poppet, P Hexagon
REAR SIGHT FRONT SIGHT FOLLOWER
Aperture Late Gas Port Slide Late, unmarked
Cover Late Earwidth BULLET GUIDE Late stamped with crescent notch
Base Late .836" OP ROD CATCH Late, unmarked
Pinion Late Cap over &:.ret>N? FOLLOWER ARM Late, parkerized
Windage Knob DRC N/A FOLLOWER ROD Long fork
Elev. Knob NHC Screw Knurled head LOWER BAND Stamped flat
------------------•--------tCLIP LATCH Square front
TRIGGER HOUSING 6528290-SA SAFETY
Pad: Small Hole: Cloverleaf SA-11 OPROD 6535382 SA
TRIGGER GUARD Stamped with stamped hook SPRING HOUSING
TRIGGER lLaite E Parkerized Relief cut? Yes
HAMMER SA D5546008 Marked on: Face GUIDE No wings, park OP ROD SPRING Round wire, parkerized
®
►----------------+----------1BUTTPLATE Trapdoor, flat plunger, no border
REAR HAND GUARD Long Screw Parkerized
~OCK Late Short Screw Parkerized
Clip Stamped SLING
N/A
Clearance cut Machine
FRONT HAND GUARD PURCHASE DATE PRICE
Remarks Faint 1/2" DAS, Glass bedding for lockup
Late 12-16-2021 $1199.99
FERRULE Stamped with small hole Ferrule Stamped PURCHASED FROM
SLING SWIVEL Late Spacer Late with holes Royal Tiger Imports, Ethiopian return
SNIPER
M1C Base Rings VALUE DATE
M1C Mount M1D mount VALUE DATE
Scope Cheek pad VALUE DATE
1 GCA Journal • Summer 2022
The .22 LR
Spare inner barrel for the M/60 gallery rifle
Subcaliber Kit the rimfire cartridge. This meant that the locking lugs model room sample, the fate of which I have yet to find
were also removed, but the .22 cartridge is so weak out. Two kits ended up with the "Tojhusmuseum" (todays
that the handle alone could do the locking. War Museum) which still has them in it's inventory. Their
As it was to be used for gallery training only, a records claim that only 4 kits were made, likely a mistake
magazine was deemed unnecessary, and the rifle was because that the kit's designer Mr. Zacho originally
That Ne er Was single-shot only. But it turned out to be extremely handmade 4 prototypes. But it seems that production did
accurate and very popular in military shooting clubs. indeed occur, only to be canceled rather soon.
As such, many are still used even today. This rifle got
Breech of the M/60 .22
the designation M/60, and 2000 samples were made. LR trainer version of the
By Finn Andersen of the Danish Arms and Armour Society Thus, the .22-barrel blanks came to good use in the M/1917, designated the
end. And here the story officially ends. M/53(17) in Denmark
The Danish Army always has had to train its recruits on
Despite the order to cancel, it turns out that some kits
a tight budget, always lacking resources. This includes
were produced for the Garand after all. Less than 50
rifle marksmanship training that should be done using
sub-caliber kits were finished before the project was
expensive ammo as sparingly as possible. Training raw
~anceled, and they were not scrapped, but put aside
recruits in the finer points of marksmanship, such as Salonpatron known as the "Blue Cartridge" for obvious reasons
m storage. They never got a formal designation or
breathing control, proper aim, and trigger squeeze are
When fired the "bullet" was ripped off and sent acceptance year, nor was a written manual ever
easier if the soldier does not fear the recoil or noise. To
downrange at great speed, giving decent accuracy. produced, but indeed they were used by those few
this end, several methods have historically been used.
Since safety distances were short, only 275 meters, it marksmanship training officers who knew about their
In the age of muzzleloaders, the soldier first aimed at
was useful for both the first instruction shootings and existence. At least 20 kits were available for loan with
~it candles with only priming powder in his musket, or
for offhand shooting at distances of up to 100 meters. some more kept as spares. '
m later years a cap. If the soldier "hit", the candle was
However, due to low working pressure, the rifle would
blown out, a convincing exercise.
not cycle this ammo and was essentially a repeater. A bolt for the
When cartridge guns appeared, various sub-caliber This resulted in marksmanship training officers asking M/60 and an When the Garands were sold off in 1998, the buyer,
training aids were invented. This continues to this for a true semiautomatic .22 sub-caliber rifle. fuorn athltee r1e9d1 7b otolt Topmark Trading, also got those surviving .22 kits as part
day, so let us have a look at the venerable Garand But such a thing never appeared - or did it? the left of the deal. The owner, Mr. Torben Espensen kept one
that came into Danish use in 1950. Soon small arms for himself, which after his passing was taken over by
marksmanship sergeants called for training aids, and Recently I had the opportunity to handle such a another trader, and this is the kit I had the opportunity to
the first attempts were special cartridges. The first was kit. As usual, when I first began searching for more examine. What happened to the others, nobody knows,
introduced in 1955, called Salonpatron, and consisted information, several more of these kits appeared. I even but at least some may have found their way to the US
of a (often reloaded) case with a light charge and a found a former gunsmith of the "Vaabenarsenalet", the as has happened with most of the Danish Garands. In
"bullet" that was an empty bullet jacket. Danish Army's gun factory, who could tell me more case one of our readers possesses one or knows about the
about this interesting subject.
fate of these kits, please contact me via the editors of the
The call was heard, and a working sub-caliber kit in GCAJournal.
.22 LR was developed in the second half of the fifties
!he k~t consists of a slightly reconfigured trigger group,
that performed the required marksmanship training
m which a special magazine piece may be mounted that
reqmrement. It was decided to build 2000 such kits
both holds the detachable magazine and supports the
Salonpatron (Gallery Cartridge) M/55 and several .22-barrel blanks were purchased for thi~
loose chamber part, which also secures the rear part
purpose. However, somebody of higher rank decided
of the barrel. The barrel is supported at the front end
that this would be both too expensive and the kit too
by a guide that is repladng the gas cylinder lock and a
delicate for common soldiers to handle, and the project
special gas piston made of aluminum with a little steel
was thus canceled.
insert for the bolt, attached by screws and a weakened
On a short range, it was relatively accurate. But the Instead, the barrel blanks were used to fulfill another ~hen the ~ervice life of the old Garand was running spring, plus some minor parts. I believe the pictures
lightweight projectile could easily be damaged, thus great wish, a .22 trainer for the Home Guard's M/1917 its course m the late 1970's, it was decided to cancel speak for themselves. There is a small spring-loaded trap
affecting accuracy. The solution was rather expensive, rifles. This was done by taking rifles that had been the use of these kits. Several had been damaged, the thin door for the magazine, and on this, the serial number is
therefore a cheaper option of a plastic cartridge was deemed unserviceable due to eroded bores, drilling barrels were especially vulnerable, and such kits were stamped. The kit I handled had no. 5, but as often is the
adopted, where the bullet was molded with the case out the bore and inserting a .22 liner. simply scrapped. The rest, rumors say the number was case, suddenly I learned of other kits. I have had kit no.
and an aluminum base with the primer was the~ The front end of the bolt was cut off, and a new non 17, were put aside once again. There was also one unused 4 in my hand too, and one gentleman showed me the
inserted from the rear. rotating front end put on with a separate firing pin for (unfortunately very incomplete) kit number 2.
9 GCA Journal• Summer 2022 GCA Journal• Summer 2022 1 O
The .22 subcaliber kit for the Garand
Follower
The breech end - first arm has
round ready to load. The been
screws securing the steel modified
insert for the bolt in the so that it
aluminum gas piston are pushes the
clearly seen button on
the inserted
magazine
rather than
the follower.
··•"111MF.JlUl .....~ NN/N//INll/ffll'////II~
Thus at least 4½ of these small beauties still exist, even sure, they had some extremely talented metal workers at
though they never were meant to be at all. Just handling Vaabenarsenalet. Front barrel support, replacing the gas screw cylinder, and below the loose chamber, that also acts as rear
barrel support. The .22 barrel protrudes an inch, as can be seen here to the right.
them is a thrill. The workmanship is excellent, and without Editor's Note: As this issue was in final editorial review, the
tool marks, except a little on the bolt. author was able to fire the subcaliber kit example shown in
The barrel is delicate beyond belief, as the bore is .22 over this article. He reports that, "It is very accurate with ammo
the lands, and more like .25 in the grooves, while the outer it likes, but a little picky on makers. It likes CCI, accepts
diameter is only .30. The guy making these barrels must Winchester, but hates Eley and Lapua." As mentioned in
have been as careful as a nudist crossing a barbed wire the article, if anyone knows of any other examples of this
fence. The same thinning was also done for all barrels kit, please contact the GCA Journal staff
inserted in the 2000 M/60 gallery rifles. So one thing is for
The trigger group and the magazine with its holder
11 GCA Journal• Summer 2022 GCA Journal• Summer 2022 12
A NAVY
CONDITIONED_ ___ ~_
GARAND
start of the 1975 season to me which I
fired. My Ml was "getting a little long
in the tooth" and wasn't as accurate as
I remembered it. Also, when the Navy
match conditioned it, they followed their
normal procedure, except that in my
years, a d the University of Illinois Varsity Rifle Team case they did not fire it for accuracy. By
for two years, traveling to matches for the Big Ten the end of the 1975 National Matches,
Conference shooting Wincliester 52B .22LR rifles. the supervisor of the Small Arms Match
While on active duty, I shot the Garand little until Conditioning Unit (SAMCU) asked me
September 1971 when I joined the Naval Station Long "if I would like to take these two rifles
Beach, CA rifle team. The Navy ran monthly rifle home with me". Why yes, so I signed
matches at the 75-point 600 yarcl range at the former for their issue on DD Form 1348-1 and
Camp Elliott at NAS Miramar, CA. Shooti g M2 inventoried them annually. When they
Ball at 200 and 300 yards, and Armor1Piercing at 600 Don McCoy anJ Ray Krebs. The rifle has the typical were shot out, I
yards, I made Expert Classification. By April 972, I
Navy features for that time. I asked them for my barrel
56 convinced the marksmanship instructors at the Small
back and was told they had thrown it away because it
Arms Training Unit (SATU), who r;iot only ran these
This article is about an Ml rifle my father purchased was so om that "the bullets were bouncing from
monthly matches but were responsible for the US Navy
for me in April 1956. I earned the money to purchase one side of the barrel to the other" when the
Shooting Teams that I was a serious shooter/Actua ly,
the rifle by delivering about 100 newspapers every rifle was fired. I assembled all the other parts
I tnink they took pity on me shooting an old hot out
afternoon, for which I was paid a half-cent per onto aljl.other receiver that was made within a
Garand, which they offered to match condi io1vfor
newspaper. week of my birth.
me. As shown by the pictured NAVDOCKS 2351
At the time I was fifteen years old and had completed document, the Navy had a formal, bydgeted process The new rifle was great, and I shot it for three
two years of high school Army JROTC, including for match conditioning personally owned Ml rifles years pu,ttjng around 5,000 rounds through it.
instruction with the Garand. Pictured is me, Cadet (and M1911 pistols) for "serious Navy Shooters." I took The best match was a cJean (100-llV on the
Corporal Jim Adell Army JROTC (Infantry), just after all the parts off my rifle and gave t em the barreled old 5V target) at 1,000 yards during the 1972
I received the rifle. I find it completely interesting today receiver. I received back a "new" accurate rifle built b Iuterservice ~ifle Match. The Navy issued two match
that back then no one thought anything about a fifteen conditioned Grade A 7.62mm MK 2 Mod 1 rifles at the
year-old owning the current sent them
US Army service rifle, and back and was issued
all the ammunition that he new Grade A rifles. It
could afford, (which was was an easy decision. As
not much). My dad drove I mentioned in my article
me to a commercial rifle in the Fall 2005 GCA
range located in a gravel Journal on these Grade A
pit about one hour from rifles, the Navy only made
home for me to shoot once 84 of them since they
a month during my time in went under serial number
high school. I did not shoot control in the early 1970s.
it often while in college. For comparison, my article
Instead, I shot on the Navy on Grade B rifles in the
NROTC rifle team for four Spring 2006 Journal,
13 GCA Journal• Summer 2022 GCA Journal • Summer 2022 14
mentioned that the Navy had made roughly 1,785 I haven't seriously shot SA 538316 since then, and
of these rifles. Both articles are reproduced in "The current barrel measurements stand at M.W. of 1.5,
Best of the GCA Journal Book 7". The Navy also and T.E. of 3.
issued two of the "GREAT" Grade A rifles to me.
►
~~ '11/aJteluutt
'~!;• ·.rmnes Mell. llawl Station Iona S....ch Ca
It's funny, looking back on things, how
Cl the road to most destinations seems a lot
clearer and makes more sense after your
arrival than when you were actually in
; 1. Match ~ndition 11:o !olla,dng cnllber 30.06 !,U rifio B<!l'inl. m:mbtn-538316 to cnl. the midst oft he journey. That's certainly
.:,,.·7SD .6 u2s l.l !nlalrv.l. ,,2 erp,o,ordu., o1r etdo mr aHckrs mfta.wdoshlli,. p TChOi:J! lp1<.ol t1RUiov e pterrasoinnianl.g p. rop'nelli"st7 i raer:.idp o•dn l1l4 =bet enlele dco . ln,:dr iHtiiomD S the case for how I came to be a member
.<.ey SAMGU l(itb t.l'9 unlerntanding that .it in not to be eold. and "1ll be used tor the
p1l1'pO!le ir.rlicntod al:oTit. · of the GCA and owner of Ml rifle SA
({f~t :i..iifM~-':,,:-:, ,~,,- 7, :0'2 /3/lt.RE"L :rt; SSPRL I Iq 0r,1,50 '-{[35U 7:J .S 622986 won just a year and a half ago in
.1 ggrae to WWI and tmdarstan:I, the GCA rifle giveaway.
As background, my brother Denbeigh
has been a GCA member for over seven
years. We grew up in what used to be a
rural part of Virginia, and our backyard
(Fil!.d out by Mm·-PA-RT. II -CCcO.rtrSoTi DEmSTsaIlMlf'IA TifE e mnate ~ted) essentially was on the Spotsylvania
Civil War Battlefield that saw a pitched
grew up with strong interest in the Civil War and early
battle in 1864. We were also less than a IO-minute
American history, and we were members of a Civil
drive to the Chancellorsville, Wilderness, and
War re-enactment unit during high school and college.
Fredericksburg Battlefields. Naturally, the two of us
After college, our interests
d.Equipnm1t in US history grew to 20th
~tal/Uaage century military history.
□--ts,,,R_,,.Si,k)
,. Even before our interests
blossomed for 20th century
weaponry, I can distinctly
remember my uncle Avalon
owning and often showing us
his Ml rifle. My cousin Allen
Taylor (also a member of the
GCA), served in the 1960's
with the 3rd US Infantry
Regiment (Old Guard), and
of course had an in-depth
knowledge of military
history and the Ml service
• rifle. Hanging out with those
family members constitutes
my first experiences with
the Ml rifle. Now, 20-some
years later, I can recall
how even at a young age
the Ml struck me as a both
a beautiful and imposing
artifact of the not-so-distant
past. It loomed large in the
15 GCA Journal• Summer 2022
GCA Journal• Summer 2022 16