I never really wanted a Garand until I fired a friend's this past Spring. Missouri has public ranges everywhere (really stunning for someone who spent his entire adult life in Illinois) and there is one near my house which has a 100 meter range. I was firing there with a friend  and he brought out an old beater Garand and started nailing a dessert plate sized paper plate at 100 yards and challenged me to try and do the same. I got into my best M14 hold learned at Fort Knox in basic way back in 1965 and let go with eight rounds and kept all eight rounds in the plate. I was sort of "meh" until the last round went off and the enbloc went "PING!" as it self ejected and i went weak kneed when I heard it.

I have been reading military operations reports and after action reports for all my life and everyone of them came to life when I heard that "PING!"

If you're not ever interested in owning a Garand, don't ever make the mistake of firing one.

40 rounds of .30-06 awesomeness:

Every one that shoots one of my Garands has a smile on their face at the end.  It is just an exciting rifle to fire.  The weight keeps the recoil down, plus I handload cast bullets at about 1900 fps, which makes it a pussycat to shoot.

And the ping gets me too, every time.

Re: 8 round "en bloc" clip

One aspect seldom mentioned is discussions of "The Garand" is all of the ammo can be kept in the 8 round clips indefinitely - ready to load directly into the rifle.  Exactly as the Army envisioned back in 1936. 

I do like that. A lot.

What does our military currently do with magazines? Leave them loaded or leave them empty? 

 Leave them behind- Orders from the top. Carrying ammo takes away from the number of diversity training manuals a soldier can carry. We have to prioritize the mission requirements.

Re: 8 round "en bloc" clip

One aspect seldom mentioned is discussions of "The Garand" is all of the ammo can be kept in the 8 round clips indefinitely - ready to load directly into the rifle.  Exactly as the Army envisioned back in 1936. 

My father used to store his hunting ammo for his bolt gun in Garand clips.  Handy, and they stack nicely.  I'm pretty sure he never even owned a Garand.

He gave the clips to me a few years ago.     I think I have over 40 in a couple of old cigar boxes.  I should probably load up some .30-06 to fill them, but then I'll just end up shooting them.  And then I'll need to fill them.  And then I'll empty them.  Dang it!  Look at all the work you just lined up for me!   

Sept 19.   sept. 19!

 And no range report yet. Wazzup wit dat? We got's ta' know!

Some people don't shoot that often.  Heck, I have a rifle that has been at a FFL almost that long, and I haven't even gone down to pick it up yet.

I have an SKS in my safe that I've never fired.  I think I bought it in 2004. 

Two years?  That's ridiculous.  My taking two weeks to get down to the FFL is a bit less extreme.
Investment guns are different.

It wasn't an investment.  I think I paid $150 for it at the time. 

Just got another one at the gun show.  Nice looking Mosin Nagant 91/30 with bayonet, sling, and 100 or so rounds of miscellaneous ammo.   He had $240 on it, but took my offer of $220.   I should have led with $200 I guess.   Can't complain too much though,  they go for $240 from AIM without the extra ammo plus it would be another $20 and a drive over to my FFL dealer for the transfer. 

While they're bring those home, let's get those Korean M-1 Carbines coming back as well.

There are still Garands available ay CMP although only one grade:

http://thecmp.org/cmp_sales/rifle_sales/m1-garand/

I wouldn't hold your breath for th Garands from Phillippines and the ones from Korea will proably be sold by import ciompanies like AIM as the Koreans appartenly bought and paid for the Garands and Carbines. The  CMP can only sell rifles that are US own ed.

If the rifles from the Phillippines do go to CMP then it is going to be quite a while before they are available, read quite a while as several years after they arrive. CMP conpletely reconditions all surplus rifles they sell and they only have a limited staff.

You can now buy only eight rifles per year from CMP. It used to be 12. The completely reconditioned rifles now for sale at CMP are "service grade" and sell for $830. That includes shipping and there is no tax unless you live in Alabama or Ohio. They can also be legally shipped directly to your home without going through an FFL.

It's quite a thrill to see the FedEx truck coming up the drive on a CMP delivery day.

I just ordered another one (and 400 rounds of surplus Greek ammo and 40 more clips) because I think they are an excellent investment and much better than leaving the money in a savings account.

As far as a range report, I haven't taken any pics of me firing but I will try to get my wife to take some while I am firing so I can post them. She thinks it is much to loud so she down't like to be on the line when I am firing it.

Firing a Garand is magical and hearing the "PING!!!" every four or five seconds makes you weak in the knees.