The lovely and perfect Mrs. Borepatch told me to pick out a gun for Christmas. The odd thing is that I am starting to talk myself out of a Garand.
[pauses to let shocked gasps of horror die down]
The problem is that it seems I have a great selection of rifle ranges, but only if I drive an hour. I have a great selection of pistol ranges, and they're all 15 minutes away. I just know that I'll get to the range a lot less often if it's an extre 45 minutes each way.
Also, the most interesting range (the one with a thousand yard range, like I could ever hit something that far away) have a $600 initiation fee. So add in $650 for a Garand, $50 for sling and accessories, and $300 for ammo and we're looking at going on a couple grand.
Or I could get a nice Smith backup carry piece for half that.
Bah. Being a responsible grown up sometimes makes me sad.
24 comments:
Which Smiff?
T-bolt, I really like the 625. Big for a carry piece, I know.
Man, I'm sorry. I just got back about a half hour ago from shooting my new Garand and it's sweet. I hate to see you miss out on it.
Do you have to sign up for the thousand yard range right away? There's no shame in learning your chops at a couple-three hundred yards, then reaching for the half mile.
That 625 would sure be tempting though.
DON'T GROW UP!!!! :)
Aye Are Fifteen.
That's all I have to say.
"Pick out a gun for Christmas."
Keeper.
Dave H, they have 100, 300, and 1000 yard ranges. Pretty nice, other than making shooting a only on the weekend thing.
Mmmm, 625... Nice. Wish they made a pocket gun version of that. And if they had, I wish I could go back in time and tell me to only get .45 ACP revolvers.
Our long range club uses a pipeline right of way and an 18 inch plate for "ringing the gong" at 1K yards. My Garand does it OK as well as "Bob". If I do my part. Plus I get the "ping". Ahhhh....
YeOldFurt
Concur, DO NOT grow up, it's no fun... :-D
Same situation here. The only real rifle ranges are either 45 minutes North, or an hour East.
I'm still going to buy a Garand from the CMP, though.
I'm still banging my head trying to decide between 30-06, and 308.....
I have a 625 and love it.
A couple things though,as far as I am aware, Smith and Wesson only produces the Jerry Miculek model anymore. A nice gun but I don't know that it's worth the extra money they want for it. I'd go on Gunbroker and find a used one.
Second, plan on spending some extra money for a de-mooning tool. Those cases are about impossible to pull out of the moon clips without one.
Remind us what the rest of your arsenal looks like, Borepatch. You already have some fun-to-shoot .22 options?
'Patch;
Get yourself the Garand. You will never regret it. Once you own one, you will clean it, shoot it, caress it and mostly treasure it. OK they are heavy, kick hard, (well not really) use expensive ammo, are not terribly accurate and they make this funny 'Pling' sound.
Trust me and millions of others, you will love and cherish your M1 Garand. It will be THE one rifle that your children will want when leave this world. Buy it through the CMP and help support their mission of expanding the tradition of riflery. Get yourself the Garand, you will NEVER regret it.
But you WILL regret not having gotten it when you had the opportunity.
WTF $600 initiation fee? Initiation into WHAT??? Garand or not, don't start shooting at anything more than 200-yards away. Even 300 is past what is considered home-defense. ;-)
Shooting rifles is pretty much a weekend only thing anyhow, what with all the damn gear and junk you have to bring: spotting scope and bi-pod, lay-down pad, glove and shooting-coat, ammo and re-loads to try out, a chrony if you're really ambitious... But pistols don't care and the level of skill is more perishable anyhow.
But anybody can buy any old pistol, a Garand is something else.
You only pass this way once my friend.
Responsible?
Grown up?
Did you bump your noggin?
I vote for the Garand. You have always wanted one, and you can shoot it when you can, notwithstanding joining an expensive club.
I bought the CMP Special Grade, which has a new barrel and stock, things that get replaced anyway. The serial number indicates it was made in 1943, so it must have seen action. It looks like new, and I think is the best value from the CMP. In the interests of full disclosure, I haven't shot it yet, but I am glad to have it and will pass it on to my nephew.
You can buy a modern pistol any day,they make hundreds a week.
Mrs. Borepatch wants to make you happy, this will make you very happy.
The answer to your question is right there in the picture to the right of the title of this post. Coincidence? I don't think so!
Walrus, LOL
I second libertyman on the CMP Special. I HAVE shot mine. It's a beaut.
A handgun can save your life but a rifle can keep you free and fed. The way things are going more rifles in good hands is a good thing for the country.
Full Disclosure; I have TWO 625's a first year "stock" and a PC Miculek. I really like both (shot both at Thunder Ranch too) but I would NOT trade any of my Garands for either of them.
Best battle implement ever devised? Undoubtedly.
Best rifle currently available in its class? Not close.
I appreciate the history of the Garand, but as a day to day shooter.....not so much.
Shooting hundreds of rounds a day with a 30-06 is not fun to me, and my range days inevitably include shooting hundreds of rounds.
Do I want a Garand, yes....but, not now, and not until I have the rifles that I actually think I would use.
Buy the handgun.
A T-37 flash hider and tritium sights are all the Garand needs to bring it "up to date". Both are readily available.
If'n I was concerned about ammo varieties, I'd get a Garand in 7.62 NATO.
I also have a 625 and love it. But instead of standard steel moon clips, I found (and use) moon clips made from "memory plastic". If you get the 625 and want to try the plastic moon clips, I'll send you a couple to try out.
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