Gonna pop my Garand cherry.

[patdaly]

Decided I needed to shoot this "friends" Garand, figured out how to keep from losing my thumb, also pretty sure I can field strip and re-assemble it after cleaning, any other sage advice for a rookie? I have plenty of experience with big bore stuff, not exactly sure why I am worried about a Garand.

Won't ever become my MBR, but could be a good backup, assuming my WW2 Ammo is still good.

[patdaly]

Update:

Went well, surprised the heck out of me the penetration from WW2 ball, went thru a 1/2" SS plate like it wasn't there......

I also believe the Garand has a special load now, the 8 hand loads I ran thru worked, but it sure didn't like it, so factory ball for me from now on.

Field strip, cleaning, and reassembly was an adventure, I have no idea how the old timers did it blindfolded........heck, I am an Engineer, and I was lost.

[Fronty Owner]

.30-06 ball is loaded a bit hot...
A buddy shot some thru his chrono and it was real close 3000 fps.

[patdaly]

Originally Posted by Fronty Owner

.30-06 ball is loaded a bit hot...
A buddy shot some thru his chrono and it was real close 3000 fps.

I could definitely tell it was hot, had more recoil than I expected for such a heavy rifle. Nothing to break you up, but you knew you were shooting it.

I kinda figured that after almost 65 years the Ammo would have lost a bit of it's zip.

Anyway, should the need ever arise, I know know I could trust it should I need to. Don't want to shoot it any more than necessary, it is an all original Feb. 1942 Springfield, never been Arsenaled.

Just the way Dad carried it.