Evening star., 1940-03-25
Army Expects Gorond Rifle
To Improve Workmanship
Aimed Fire, Typical of u S. Bottle Tactics,
Won't Be Changed, Officers Soy

Officers Soy
/ tend. has been based upon a mis-
understanding Of the new rifle, its
use and its capabilities and also
upon the fact that critics were
familiar only with earlier models of
the Garand, which, 1t is said by the
War Department., have been i'm
proved in a number Of important re-
spects since the weapon first went
into production.
Fine Sights Could Be Fitted.
Some of the misunderstanding
also is due to the fact. they said
that the Garand, being intended for
use purely as combat weapon up
to the limit Of the so-called battle
ranges" of 500 yards or less, has
not been equipped with the fine
sights of the Springfield. With the
greater rate of fire of the Garand.
coupled with the fact that the user
need not spoil his aim by working
a rifle bolt between shots, extremely
fine sights are not required on the
new rifle, it is contended.
There is no ruth to reports that
the fine sight has been eliminated,
because the Garand is essentially a
less accurate weapon than the
Springfield, Army oflcials insist, and
they back their claims by pointing
to the records Of prolonged and
exhaustive tests. With virtually the
same barrel and the same ammuni-
tion there is no appreciable differ
ence In the accuracy Of the two
rifles. they contend, and there is no
reason why the Garand could not
be fitted with the fine Springfield
sights and used with equal ac-
| curacy.
Even with the coarse sights the
Garand in the hands of unframed
soldiers has proved to be more ac-
curate than the Springfield IN the
hands OF men Of the same caliber,
according to the War Department
! In one of the comparative tests
OF the Springfield and the Garand
an equal number Of men of equal
training fired over the same course
with the two weapons. The 7group
firing the Garand obtained 2.3e
times as many hits per man per
minute as the group firing the
Springfield. the War Department
said ofiicially.
Firer's Position Not Disturbed.
''The effect" it was announced
''is to increase the fire efficiency
OF troops armed with this weapon
more accuracy per shot, more shots
per minute and more minutes OF
effective firing the War Depart
ment said
This is due to the fact that the
firer's position is not disturbed be-
tween shots by the necessity for
operating q bolt to reload the piece
and by the great reduction in recoil
Of the gas-operated Garand, as
compared with the Springfield and
other high-power shoulder rifles
The lessened recoil greatly reduces
the drain upon the physical and
nervous endurance of the firer. 1t
is claimed, and prolonged firing does
not result in the bruised shoulder
cheek and nose so familiar with
other high-power rifles.
The rear sight of the Garand
made possible partially by the les
sened recoil. is entirely new in prin-
ciple and Is regarded by the War
Department as a great improvement
in its field. The aperture is closer
to the eye, and the longer sight
radius thus provided makes possible
more accurate firing, 1t is explained
One of the chief criticisms of the
Garand rifle, voiced by Maj. Gen
M. A. Reckord, executive vice presi.
dent Of the National Rife Associa
ton. adjutant general of the STATE
Of Maryland, member of the Ma.
tional Board for the Promotion Of
Rifle Practice and A. E. F. comba,
ofilcer during the World War, among
others, is that it is not suitable fol
use with the powerful MI ammuni.
ton developed since the World Wal
and that M ammunition. a refine.
ment of the World War M19O6 am.
munition. has been specified for the
new weapon.
Can Fire Either Ammunition.
Actually, according to the Wa,
Department., the question of ammu-
milton does not enter into the picture
at all, insofar as the Garand is con-
cerned. Tests conducted at Fort
Benning, Ga, show that the Garand
will tire either MI or M ammuni-
tion with equal facility, it was an
nounced. It was explained by the
War Department that the MI cart.
ridge, with a boat-tailed, l72-grair
bullet, ~ grains heavier than the
1906 bullet, has range so great
that it has been difficult to obtain
target ranges which permitted fir.
ing this ammunition safely. It i.
conceded that the fire Of individual
riflemen in combat will not be al
ranges of more than 600 yards, the
War Department said.
"Why should the individual soldie,
carry cartridge as powerful Is the
MI when its excess power serves nc
purpose other than to subject him
to terrific wallop each time h,
fires?" Maj. Gen. c. M. Wesson, CHIEF
Of ordnance, asked in q recent ad.
dress before the National Rifle AS.
sociation. 1T also adds nearly an
extra pound of weight to his already
heavy load, and has no more deadly
edect on an enemy at effective
ranges than a less powerful cart
ridge, such as the M2.
This led to quite extensive testl
Of the new M cartridge. The re.
suits were % eoneludvely In favoa