M1C Garand Sniper
Springfield Armory (US Government) · Sniper Rifle · Out Of Production · 1944
Also known as: M1E7, Garand Sniper, M1C Sniper Rifle
Overview
The M1C Garand Sniper is the first official sniper variant of the iconic M1 Garand semi-automatic rifle, adopted by the U.S. Army in June 1944 as a standard sniper rifle to supplement the bolt-action M1903A4. The M1C featured a Griffin & Howe side-mounted scope base that was drilled and tapped into the hardened receiver, accommodating the M73, M81, M82, or M84 telescopic sights. Selected from standard M1 production rifles for superior accuracy, the M1C gave American snipers a significant advantage in semi-automatic firepower compared to the bolt-action rifles used by most other nations' snipers during WWII and Korea.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4760 g (167.9 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 5100 g (179.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1103 mm (43.43") |
| Barrel Length | 610 mm (24.02") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Trigger Pull | 31 N (7.0 lbf) |
| Magazine Capacity | 8 rounds |
| Magazine Type | En Bloc Clip |
| Muzzle Velocity | 853 m/s (2799 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3527 J (2601 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 600 m (656 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 3200 m (3500 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 30 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 254 mm (10.00") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Parkerized |
Calibers
- .30-06 Springfield · primary — also known as 7.62x63mm, .30 Government 06, .30 Cal
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: En Bloc Clip
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: M73 M81 M82 M84 Scope, Griffin Howe Scope Mount, Leather Cheek Pad, Flash Hider, En Bloc Clip Loading, Hand Selected Barrel
Variants
- M1D Garand Sniper — Improved Scope Mount
Base model
Service history
Operators
- United States Army · adopted 1944 · as M1C
- United States Marine Corps · adopted 1951 · as M1C
Conflicts
- World War II (Pacific Theater) (1944-1945)
- World War II (European Theater) (1944-1945)
- Korean War (1950-1953)
Production
Estimated total produced: 7,971 · Production years: 1944-1953
Only 7,971 M1C rifles were produced during WWII. Additional conversions were performed during the Korean War era. The limited production was due to the difficulty of the receiver-mounted scope base installation.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: John C. Garand / Springfield Armory
Discontinued: 1953
Notes
The M1C designation was originally known as the M1E7. The Griffin & Howe mounting system required drilling and tapping the hardened M1 receiver, which was a difficult and time-consuming process that limited production. Only 7,971 M1C rifles were produced during WWII, and few saw combat before the war's end. The M1C saw more extensive use during the Korean War, where its semi-automatic action proved invaluable. The side-mounted scope did not interfere with the standard en-bloc clip loading system, allowing the rifle to be loaded identically to a standard M1 Garand.
Background
The M1C represented a revolutionary concept in military sniping: a semi-automatic sniper rifle in an era dominated by bolt-action precision weapons. While most WWII snipers had to manually cycle their bolts between shots, M1C-equipped American snipers could deliver rapid follow-up shots on target. During the Korean War, the M1C proved especially valuable in the mountainous terrain where Chinese and North Korean forces used human wave tactics that demanded fast, accurate fire from snipers.