Hunting with a Garand

"...FMJ is designed to fragment..." Not milsurp FMJ's. They're made to minimize the damage to tissue. They don't normally fragment. Commercial FMJ's aren't the same thing.
"...you aren't going to need 8 rounds of 30-06..." True, but unless you buy a 5 round clip($4.95US each from Gunparts), the rifle won't work as a self-loader without an 8 round clip. Mind you, there's no reason not to load a clip with 5 and 3 empty cases.
Ontario follows the FA. The FA specifically exempts the M1 from mag capacity restrictions.
You will find an M1 heavy to lug around though. Especially at the end of the day.
 
Good news! I modified my own clip and it cycles perfectly for me in the rifle. It was quite easy to do actually, so now I'm ready to hunt with the M1 LEGALLY any way the CO's or anyone else concerned can slice it! :D
 
Just a thought here, but if it really is the "law" in your area to only be able to have 5 shots in a Garand couldn't you just load the regular clip and cycle 3 shells out of it manually?

I know it is a pain but simple and no mods required. Am I missing something here or what?

Cheers, Bob
 
I had the same question a while ago, and I believe that eltorro is correct. It is five rounds with the exception of the garand. Except you will probably run into a fish and worms guy that does not know that. I would get one of the five round clips and use that. Just to cover your bases and not cause yourself some headaches.
 
Actually, I spoke to someone at Fish and Wildlife Alberta and they had an "expert" call me back about using the 8 shot clip. I asked him the same things, can I just eject 3 rounds or put in 3 duds/snap caps etc, and he answered there was nothing I could do because with hunting it's the CAPACITY not how many you have in the rifle that is the issue. So, I've remedied that problem with my modification to the clip. It cost me nothing but about 30 mins time with a cut off tool and some filing.
Maybe other provinces will let you get away with it, but for sure in Alberta it's a no-no.
 
proonur said:
Actually, I spoke to someone at Fish and Wildlife Alberta and they had an "expert" call me back about using the 8 shot clip. I asked him the same things, can I just eject 3 rounds or put in 3 duds/snap caps etc, and he answered there was nothing I could do because with hunting it's the CAPACITY not how many you have in the rifle that is the issue. So, I've remedied that problem with my modification to the clip. It cost me nothing but about 30 mins time with a cut off tool and some filing.
Maybe other provinces will let you get away with it, but for sure in Alberta it's a no-no.
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Not knowing the regulations in Alberta I can't refute anything the "expert" has related. My feeling is this is just part of the "thin edge of the wedge", if the expert is wrong and does not know the Garand "exemption" they can now provide an example of why their "logic" works. When they speak with other provinces' "experts" we will begin to see a pattern where eventually there will be no 8 shot Garands left in the field.

I would rather fight than switch, or leave it in the vault so that I don't create the widened wedge...

Cheers, Bob
 
I hear ya Bob and agree with you... the whole "feeding the fire" thoughts went through my head in doing this too, but I just don't want any trouble when I take a nice buck in November with my favourite rifle is all.
 
BimmerBob said:
Not knowing the regulations in Alberta I can't refute anything the "expert" has related. My feeling is this is just part of the "thin edge of the wedge", if the expert is wrong and does not know the Garand "exemption" they can now provide an example of why their "logic" works. When they speak with other provinces' "experts" we will begin to see a pattern where eventually there will be no 8 shot Garands left in the field.

I would rather fight than switch, or leave it in the vault so that I don't create the widened wedge...

Cheers, Bob
Click to expand...

Some game laws just restrict magazine capacity. Like BC's laws regarding a plugged shotgun magazine for using on birds.
 
The provincial hunting regs that require a 5 round limit for semi-auto centerfire hunting rifles govern when hunting. suck it up and make or purchase a 5 round en-block or two. :)

44Bore
 
Well guys there's no easy way to put this, but... I failed! lol
Went out three times with the Garand for deer and I was 0 for 3. In spite of the practice time I put in with the peep sights and the careful work I did in cooking up the perfect handload recipe for my ammo... it just wasn't meant to be.
A couple of things I realized as a rookie Garand hunter:

- best time for hunting deer: dusk or dawn
- worst time to use peep sights: dusk or dawn

I just have no idea how the soldiers in WW2 ever fired for effect in poor lighting with these sights!! I actually had a deer in my sights TWICE inside of 60 yards with the Garand, but couldn't hit them because of lack of light. Looking through that rear sight in good light and I make both of those shots easily, but I just couldn't aim properly in the near dark both times.
I'm quite bummed about this as I really wanted the picture and memory of a successful Garand hunt, but I suppose this may be why you don't see it in many pictures, eh?
I've decided to chalk this up to experience and move on, but I encourage others to be successful where I wasn't as I still believe this rifle is a good one to hunt with.
 
Best bet is buy a couple of 5rd magazines for the garand and order some dummy .30-06 rounds from Brownells if you don't reload. If you have have a 3 rd limit in your area you could use 3 live rds and 5 dummy cartridges in your en block clip.
 
I can totally sympathise with you Proonur. I used my Garand one season for hunting and although I eventually did manage to shoot a deer with it( in the middle of the day), I had the same experience with sights. They are despicable in low light and I often wondered like you, how the soldiers managed to use them effectively in low light conditions. In broad daylight they are great! I loved shooting my Garand though, but as I use all my Milsurps for hunting too, I sold it as I wasn't comfortable using it for the sighting reason.
Al
 
goldidig said:
I can totally sympathise with you Proonur. I used my Garand one season for hunting and although I eventually did manage to shoot a deer with it( in the middle of the day), I had the same experience with sights. They are despicable in low light and I often wondered like you, how the soldiers managed to use them effectively in low light conditions. In broad daylight they are great! I loved shooting my Garand though, but as I use all my Milsurps for hunting too, I sold it as I wasn't comfortable using it for the sighting reason.
Al
Click to expand...

Glad to hear I'm not the only one!

Let's see some pics of some successful Garand shots if anyone has some to share.
 
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