Editing M1 Garand (section)

===Features===
[[File:garandparts.jpg|thumb|upright=2.25|The M1 Garand with important parts labeled]]

The M1 rifle is a [[.30-06 Springfield|.30 caliber]], [[gas-operated]], eight-shot clip-fed, [[semi-automatic rifle]].<ref name="Popenker">{{cite web |last=Popenker |first=Max |url=http://world.guns.ru/rifle/rfl05-e.htm |title=Modern Firearms: Rifle M1 Garand |website=WorldGuns.ru |access-date=3 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002055115/http://world.guns.ru/rifle/rfl05-e.htm |archive-date=2 October 2008}}</ref> It is {{convert|43.6|in|mm|0|sp=us}} long and it weighs about {{convert|9.5|lb|kg|2}}.<ref name="easy39th.com">{{cite book |url=http://www.easy39th.com/korea/files/FM_23-5_U.S._Rifle_Caliber_.30,_M1_1951.pdf |title=U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1 |author=Departments of the Army and the Air Force |date=October 1951 |publisher=United States Government Printing Office |location=Washington, DC |via=Easy39th.com}}</ref>

The M1's [[Safety (firearms)|safety catch]] is located at the front of the [[trigger guard]], easily operated by the trigger finger. It is engaged when it is pressed rearward into the trigger guard, and disengaged when it is pushed forward and is protruding outside of the trigger guard.<ref name="Mangrum">{{cite web |last=Mangrum |first=Jamie |year=2004 |title=M1 Garand Operations: Loading and Unloading |url=http://www.surplusrifle.com/garand/operations.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130812202036/http://surplusrifle.com/garand/operations.asp |archive-date=12 August 2013 |access-date=15 November 2005 |website=SurplusRifle.com}}</ref>

The M1 Garand was designed for simple assembly and disassembly to facilitate field maintenance. It can be field stripped (broken down) without tools in just a few seconds.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.civilianmarksmanship.com/fieldstrip.html |title=Field Stripping the M1 Garand |website=Civilian Marksmanship Program |access-date=3 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915225950/http://www.civilianmarksmanship.com/fieldstrip.html |archive-date=15 September 2008}}</ref>

The rifle has an [[iron sight]] line consisting of rear receiver aperture sight protected by sturdy "ears" calibrated for {{convert|100|-|1200|yd|m|0|abbr=on}} in {{convert|100|yd|m|0|abbr=on}} increments. The bullet drop compensation is set by turning the range knob to the appropriate range setting. The bullet drop compensation/range knob can be fine adjusted by setting the rear sight elevation pinion. The elevation pinion can be fine adjusted in approximately one [[Minute and second of arc#Firearms|MOA]] increments. The aperture sight is also able to correct for wind drift operated by turning a windage knob that moves the sight in approximately one MOA increments. The windage lines on the receiver to indicate the windage setting are four MOA apart. The front sighting element consists of a wing-guard-protected front post.

During [[World War II]] the M1 rifle's semiautomatic operation gave United States infantrymen a significant advantage in firepower and shot-to-shot recovery time over enemy infantrymen armed primarily with bolt-action rifles. The semi-automatic operation and reduced recoil allowed soldiers to fire eight rounds as quickly as they could pull the trigger, without having to move their hands on the rifle and therefore disrupt their firing position and point of aim.<ref>{{cite book |last=Rottman |first=Gordon L. |title=U.S. Marine Rifleman 1939–45: Pacific Theater |publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]] |year=2006 |pages=27–28 |isbn=978-1-84176-972-1}}</ref> The Garand's fire rate, in the hands of a trained soldier, averaged 40–50 accurate shots per minute at a range of 300 yards (270 m). "At ranges over 500 yards (460 m), a battlefield target is hard for the average rifleman to hit. Therefore, 500 yards (460 m) is considered the maximum effective range, even though the rifle is accurate at much greater ranges."<ref name="easy39th.com"/>