Origin Of The M1 Rifle In Competition At Camp Perry

by
posted on August 2, 2018
garand2.jpg
National Match competition has incorporated each new service arm, from the Krag to the M16, as it has been adopted by the military. Without exception, each new rifle has been greeted with greater or lesser skepticism by enthusiastic users of the previous arm.

In 1939, the Army sent its then-new M1 rifle to Camp Perry, OH, for demonstration. At the time, the M1 was controversial. Early rifles were fraught with mechanical bugs, the most frustrating of which was the "seventh round jam."

The M1 rifle and its two-column ammunition clip had been designed to work regardless of which side of the clip held the top cartridge. In practice, though, if the top round was on the right, the seventh round would jam. To ensure that the rifles sent to Perry worked properly, Springfield Armory fabricated a supply of modified magazine parts that would accept only a clip with the top round on the left and installed them in the rifles sent for demonstration. Every clip of ammunition sent for M1 rifle use was examined to ensure that the top round was inserted on the left. When needed, clips were reloaded. The 1939 demonstration went off without a hitch. By 1940, the problem had been solved.

At the 1940 National Matches, the M1 was formally introduced to the competitive shooting world. There civilians could draw an M1 from the supply depot, learn about it in the Small Arms Firing School, and then fire the gun in competition. Four matches were fired with the M1 that year. One team and three individual competitions were held, using the sitting, prone or standing positions. Civilians took two of the individual matches and the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Team won the 10-person team match. Confidence in the new rifle was firmly established.

Read more stories about the history of the National Matches

Latest

NRA ARIZONA STATE JROTC 1
NRA ARIZONA STATE JROTC 1

Results: 2024 NRA Arizona State JROTC 3-Position Air Rifle Championship

There were 40 high school competitors at the 2024-25 NRA Arizona State JROTC 3-Position Air Rifle Championship.

Year In Review: SSUSA Covers Of 2024

Shooting Sports USA covers tell a story about what’s new and noteworthy in that moment. Here’s what mattered in 2024.

Sam Simonton On Winning ISSF World Cup Final Gold Medal: ‘I Proved A Lot to Myself This Competition’

In October, Sam Simonton won gold at the ISSF World Cup Final in New Delhi, India, the only U.S. shooter to medal at the match.

Arizona Defense Match Attracts Newcomers And Old Hands Alike

ASRPA’s Arizona Defense Match, which is based on NRA High Power competition, conducts 2024 State Championship in December.

Results: 2024 Louisiana State High Power Rifle Championship

Chance Cavin walked away from the 2024 Louisiana State High Power Rifle Championship with this year’s title.

Joe Charnigo’s Shooting Accomplishments Prove He’s No ‘Average Joe’

Champion trapshooter Joe Charnigo was dubbed “Ohio Joe” to differentiate him from all the other Joes while attending competitions across the country.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.