practicality of larger calibers in M1

[roland beaver]

I cant understand why someone would do that to finest rifle ever made,when you can find a Browning BAR in most all calibers and who cares what you do to one of them

Cary

I build all manner of custom M1's to suit customer's desires primarily because they are highly regarded due to design and quality. No commercial semi auto high powered rifle compares favorably to the Garand in terms of ruggedness and reliablilty; and few hunting rifles of any kind are capable of better accuracy that a finely tuned Garand.

Some select the Garand for sentimental reasons, but most of my custom rifles are built for practical use. I have built a number of them specifically for hunters from Hawaii to Alaska, and many points more or less in between. Some are used in tactical shooting competitions, and some are in use by law enforcement agencies in Southern California and in Hawaii.

Those law enforcement agencies could have bought much less expensive weapons than my custom Garands, but selected them for the reasons stated, plus the tactical advantage of not having a magazine protruding from the bottom of the rifle.

I feel that it honors, not demeans, the heritage of the M1 to keep some of them up to date with latest techniques and keep them effectively performing tasks even beyond what the inventor might have imagined.

I do make a serious effort to not "destroy" rifles that should be preserved due to rarity or condition.

Several years ago I flatly refused to rebuild a very minty and correct WWII M1 for a doctor who first insisted, "It is my rifle, and I'll do whatever I want with it." My response was, "yes, you can, but I won't be a party to its destruction, so I'll just return it to you as received." I went on to say that I feel that we are not so much "owners" of historical rifles or other artifacts, but custodians who should enjoy them on their merits and preserve them for posterity. The doctor called me back a few hours later and said he had come to concur with me and that I should preserve his rifle in its original condition and furnish all components to build the custom rifle he desired.

[cary m2a]

And I too shall concur with you. It does make sense to use the best to make a better rifle, as long as like you say, to not destroy the good ones. I'm glad to see that you watch out for the history that has been and is being left to us with every passing vet that shouldered these rifles.

Thank You

Cary