m1 garand vs safn-49

which would you choose?

  • m1 garand [30-06 cal]

    Votes: 43 58.9%
  • safn-49 [30-06 cal]

    Votes: 30 41.1%

  • Total voters
    73

soldier506

Regular
Rating - 100%
11   0   0
If you had to choose one rifle between these two, which rifle would it be? Both are excelent, reliable rifles. Both are chambered in 30-06 calibre so that rules out any differences in ammo performance. Both rifles helped with the design of other rifles. The m1 garand was the back bone for the m14 and bm-59 rifles. The safn-49 was the backbone of the fn-fal rifle.

The m1 garand has a 8 shot mag with a wooden stock. The safn-49 has a 10 shot capasity with a wooden stock. Both have adjustable sights for windage ,distance,elevation. The weight of both rifles are almost the same. The safn-49 weighs 4.31 kg while the m1 garand weighs 4.30 . The barrel on the m1 garand is longer [ 610mm vs 590mm] but both have same rifling. The overal lenght of the m1 garand is 1106mm while the safn-49 is 1116mm .Both have a place to store a cleaning kit in the stock. Both rifles saw combat.

Personally, I would choose the safn-49 over the m1 garand. Here is why. The m1 garand requires the 8 rd e block clip while the safn did not. The safn could be loaded with either stripper clips or single rounds. This makes reloading somewhat easier on the safn-49 . The safn also had 10 rds against 8 for the garand. That is 20% increase in ammo capasity. I also liked the feel and balance better on a safn-49 compared to a m1 garand. To me, it just feels nicer to handle.The quality and the finnish on the safn-49 to me seems alot better. It is more persision made than the m1 garand. A few of the safn-49 rifles also had the option of select fire in either semi auto or full auto.

There are some cons against the safn-49. The early manufactured rifles had troubles with the one peice firing pins. This was updated and fixed by having a two peice fireing pin. The persision manufacture of the safn-49 made the rifle more expensive and difficult to produce than the m1 garand. The down fall to the safn-49 rifle was the lack of a large market. The rifle was competing agaist the free US supplied m1 garand rifles so why buy an expencive rifle when you can have a free one.The m garand was also produced in large numbers quicker.It is too bad that the safn-49 was originally designed with a quick detachable mag. Yes,the mag is detachable but difficult to do so.

I own both of these rifles and either one is a good choice to pick. They were designed and manufactured at a time ahead of many other rifle designs.
 
Ok I'm confused ... I thought the SAFN-49 was 8mm ... which isn't 30-06 ... or is it? :confused: :confused: :confused: I own 2 garands and have always wanted a SAFN-49 ... they look sweet and I love the old mil-surp look ... :cool:

Otokiak ... :confused:
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA
 
Otokiak said:
Ok I'm confused ... I thought the SAFN-49 was 8mm ... which isn't 30-06 ... or is it? :confused: :confused: :confused: I own 2 garands and have always wanted a SAFN-49 ... they look sweet and I love the old mil-surp look ... :cool:

Otokiak ... :confused:
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA

FN49's can be found in a variety of calibers--- 30'06, 8x57, 7x57, 7.65x53, and 7.62NATO.
They were made for export in whatever caliber the country buying wanted.
 
Ripstop said:
I don't own a garand so I must ask if it has an adjustable gas system like the FN49. This is a good feature to have and saves on the brass.

Mine is an Egyptian 8mm and I really like it alot.
The M1 does not have an adjustable gas system, it is not hard on brass though.
 
If you really need an adjustable gas system in your Garand, you can get an aftermarket gas piston plug that replaces your stock one but it has a valve in it.
 
HPL said:
SAFN-49 would only be 5 rounds versus the Garands' 8.

Only in this country at this time. The scope of these two rifles goes far beyond one country.

I voted FN, but it was close. I still love garands.
 
You can still get many parts for the 8mm FN49 from Numrich. Most of these are new. The other calibers are more of a pain to get parts for. I bought several parts for mine from Numrich (firing pin, firing pin spring, gas adjust sleeve, gas piston spring). I think you can even get brand new 8mm barrels.
 
The safn-49 rifle was not massed produced like the M1 garand rifle was. I am sure that if an equal number of both rifles were produced than many opionions about the safn-49 would be changed. Also the rifle would have a larger supply of parts if needed. I know the last time I looked for parts was at sarco.
 
Back
Top Bottom