Rate the Garand as a SHTF gun

[CSkyhawk72]

I'd give the Garand a 10 for SHTF. She's held her own before, and I'm pretty sure she can do it again. She's still the back up to my Socom 16 though, but that's just because I've got a whole garage full of .308, compared to .30-06.

[EricCartmanR1]

i already said i would put up the garand against anything. if i had to give it a shtf score i guess it would be a 8.

[LAW483]

This thread is not for comparison with other rifles as SHTF weapons, but for focusing on the Garand alone.

Based on factors like availability, ammo, durability, reliability, and so forth, give it a score out of 10.

Starting....now!!!

7 As issued: Lack of 30.06 on a modern battlefield, too long to egress out of modern civilan vehicles

8 in .308: Too long to egress out of modern civilan vehicles

9 in .308, 18" barrel (Tanker format) Portable but still good as an impact weapon at this point

10 in .308, 18" barrel, Holbrook thumbsaver device, flash hider, with a well made pistol grip collapsable or folding stock that allows you to get a good stock/cheek-weld.

Overall good points: Clips are cheap and store loaded better than magazines, parts are still available to hoard, The CMP/DCM supply of rifles and parts, growing aftermarket accessory and parts market, not a detatchable mag semi-auto under Cali law, easily converted to .308 or 7.62x51 - a readily available ammo, stocks are easily modified to configuations that meet your specific needs, tough - robust - battle proven

Whatever the rifle, forthough, preparation, and practice, knowing the strengths and limitation of the rifle's and rifleman's own abilities and mitigating them make the real difference.

It's an excellent chioce, especially in CA.

[CowtownBallin]

7

1) 30.06 ammo not ideal for SHTF scenario, where you may not be dealing with a disciplined fighting force. -1
2) Clip-loading, worked in WWII 'cause we didn't have any better. -1
3) Long, straight wooden stock. -1

[ketec_owner]

Happy Independance Day all.

Ok. Love the Garand. Great Rifle. But in comparison for what I would consider SHTF weapons.

Keltec SHTF
--------
-1 No heavy barrel/ok accuracy
-1 5.56 mm Ammo penetration and lethality
-1 Iron sights suck
-1 stock mags poor quality
-1 not best finish and hardening
-1 trigger single stage
+1 Folds for easy storage in your trunk
+1 Lightweight
+1 Capacity AR-15/M16 mags
+1 Picatinyy Rail mounted Optics

8 out of 10

12 gauge Mossberg SHTF
-----------
-1 short range only
-1 lack of optics rail
+1 lethality for both slugs and 00-buckshot
+1 compact size/weight
+1 choke sound/warning sound factor

9 out of 10

now if they made a keltec su-16 in 7.62x39 that used AK mags and it folded for the same price? Well that would be an excellant SHTF weapon. IMHO - it's not a SHTF weapon - if you don't have it when the SHTF!?

[m1aowner]

So, basically you want a SOCOM 16 or a BM59 and NOT a Garand. lmao

Nope, none of the above. Just a Garand with the Tanker treatment, chambered for .308 with a flash hider would be fine for me. Maybe one day I'll have one.

[icormba]

This thread is not for comparison with other rifles as SHTF weapons, but for focusing on the Garand alone.

Based on factors like availability, ammo, durability, reliability, and so forth, give it a score out of 10.

STarting....now!!!

.........8.9

and here's why...
I followed directions

1. availability = I have plenty of them
2. ammo = I got a ton of it
3. durability = I have yet to break one
4. reliability = haven't had one fail yet
5. so forth = a little on the heavy side
6. & 89 is my hockey number

[mblat]

Well said.

I would not hesitate to grab my Garand for a SHTF situation. If you play "Call of Duty 2 on the Xbox 360, I would put the Garand up with just about anything. One thing I see rarely mentioned that is a big plus is you can reload a Garand fast. If they kept a list of enemies killed for weapons this weapon would probably be tops.

First would be Mosin.... By far...
I am not sure if AK beat Garand, but considering that AK was the weapon of choise in every conflict since mid 50s it is probably very close....

EDIT: Garand is EXCELLENT weapon for SHTF...

[Evil Gun]

I would rate my Garand as a 9. I have plenty of en bloc loaded, with about thirty or so ready to be loaded. It is also very, very accurate out to almost 800 yards on the iron sights.

[rayra]

I'll give mine a 9.5. Happy to use it for any offensive effort.

And I can't believe the first page had two separate VIDEO GAME experiences related. What nonsense.

[kenc9]

In a SHTF deal the 30.06 round in semi auto is a bad boy. The poster didn't want it compared with other rifles so I won't. The Garand has no mag. so that is a minus but has a great round. It can shoot through an engine block so it has its purpose.

It is a bad ****** round but not the king of SHTF rifles.

[rorschach]

considering that AK was the weapon of choise in every conflict since mid 50s it is probably very close...

Exception: In the Falklands it was FAL vs. FAL.

IIRC, when we went into Panama, they had M16's too.

[grammaton76]

I'll give mine a 9.5. Happy to use it for any offensive effort.

While I know this doesn't exactly pertain, I just had a vision of using a Garand to distract people from noticing a Silent But Deadly (tm). It's the kind of effort my gf would consider quite offensive.

[metalhead357]

Exception: In the Falklands it was FAL vs. FAL.

IIRC, when we went into Panama, they had M16's too.

And Rwanda; Machete vs. nothing but skin

[kilword]

man you know its all about the M1 carbine!!!!