M1 Long Range Accuracy

[Cosine26]

M1 Long Range Accuracy
A question has been raised about the accuracy and of the M1 in general and at long (1000 yard) range . Perhaps the best answer will be found by referring to the results of the National Matches. The 1962 Matches were the last in which the M1 was the designated Service Rifle (though the M1 continued to be authorized for service rifle matches since it was determined the M14 would never be sold to the general public) and probably were the pinnacle of the M1 performance. In the 1962 National Matches there were two categories: National Bolt Rifle Championship and National Service Rifle Championship. While these were not the same courses of fire they were comparable ,the match condition were identical so they are comparable. there are certain conditions that must be considered. These matches were fired on the old 5V targets, cloth shooting coats were the rigor of the day, and there were different time allowances for the bolt vs the service rifle. For the bolt guns the time allowances were: sixty seconds for each string of 200 yard RF, and seventy seconds for each string of 300 yard RF. For the service rifle the allowances were fifty seconds per string of 200 rapid fire and sixty seconds for each string at 300 yard RF. Service rifle matches required that the shooter fire ammo issued at the firing line. Since this was LC M72 National Match ammo, this was not as great a handicap. The Bolt gun matches permitted any safe handload and were probably hot loaded with 180 SMK bullets. This was the first year that the M1 had the hooded aperture for 1/2 minute elevation adjustments. The bolt guns were equipped with mostly Redfield International front (aperture) and rear sights with 1/4 minute adjustments.
National Bolt Rifle Championship was won by:
E.H. Burton with a score of 780-71V
National Service Rifle Championship was won by:
CPL D.A, Luke USMC with a score of 790-69V
The service rifle outscored the bolt rifle by 10 points and was only 2 V's short of the bolt rife scores.

Another comparison may be drawn by comparing the 1000 yard Wimbledon Cup Match scores:
Match winner was:
SFC C. Hamilton USA 100-18V
Shoot off 50-9V
Farr Trophy (service rifle)
Cpl E.E. Schulz, USMC 98-6V
Shoot off 49-4V
Remember that the Match winner was firing a scope sighted rifle in some 30 Magnum caliber using SMK bullets at a velocity of ~3000 fps. The Bolt gun only beat the M1 by three points, thought the "V" count was much higher.
LC 1962 NM M72 ammo characteristics. This is machine loaded ammo, not like the old Western Super Match.
1. 600 yard =MR 2.1"
2. In final acceptance:
27 -ten shot groups were all within the size of the 600 yard V ring - 10 inches.
LC M72 Match Ammo data.:
Remington 84 Primer
.30 M72 bullet 173.3 gr avg.
Dupont IMR 4894 Lot 29000- 48.1 gr.
Vel 2604 @ 78 feet
Max Pressure 43100 psi

FWIW

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Information

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[mac1911]

do you have the dimensions of the V target at 1000 yards

[Cosine26]

C Target:
Five Ring = 36 inches
V Ring = 20 inches
4 Ring= 54 inches
3 ring = 6 x 6 feet (square)
2 Ring = 2 x 4 feet (optional - not used often)

[Herschel]

I fired in the 1962 National Matches with a NM M1 Rifle. It was surprisingly accurate at 1,000 yards. I have heard that the reason the military manuals show the maximum range for the M1 Rifle as 500 yards was that was the limit of a soldier being able to identify an enemy soldier.

[Bob Seijas]

Don't know if it matters, but it's also the farthest you can use the battle sight without adjustment. We were taught to aim at the top of the head for the 500 yard targets, and it worked.

[browningautorifle]

We were taught to aim at the top of the head for the 500 yard targets, and it worked.

The days of being taught to aim "Up and down"...

[mac1911]

Don't know if it matters, but it's also the farthest you can use the battle sight without adjustment. We were taught to aim at the top of the head for the 500 yard targets, and it worked.

My great uncle told me he was trained to use his front sight as a "range finder" If the sight was wider than the torso you aimed at the "belly button" if the torso was thinner you aimed up at the shoulders. He also mentioned this is only good when you can actually see a large portion of your intended target.

[Joe W]

Yes, my 1955 "Guidebook for Marines" states " The effective range of the M1 rifle is considered to be about 500 yards." The reason being " that was the limit of a soldier being able to identify an enemy soldier", I had not heard before.