Two Questions about the M1 in “Gran Torino”

Were M1 used in the Koran War 30 .6 or were they switched over to 7.62 mm NATO?

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Garands were '06 except for some conversions for the Navy.

Does it really matter? He's an grouchy old man. Maybe the arthritis won't let him tuck that elbow in. Picture might be at the begining of his "bringing to bear" motion. I'm 100% sure the bangers didn't notice or care.

This was not a gun handling training film. I was made purely for entertainment. I'm surprised you didn't find a picture of the other side of the scene to see if the safety was on or off so you could question that decision.

Finger near the trigger, but not on it. Less reaction time if need be.


Just make sure you remember all the RULES when you face off!

Ignoring the finger in the trigger guard,

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The M1 Garands safety is inside the trigger guard.

I can't tell from the picture whether it is off or on.
But if it's On, his trigger finger is exactly where it should be to take it Off in a hurry.

As for the support elbow?
During WWII, when the character played by Eastwood was supposedly trained, there was not a lot of emphasis on taking a target stance with the left elbow under the rifle during combat I betcha.

As recently as the early 1960's, when I went through Army basic training, you were taught to stick the right elbow straight out sideways to form a shoulder pocket for the stock.

The support elbow could be under, out, or anywhere else you wanted it, depending on the position you were firing from, and as long as you were hitting what you were shooting at.

Nowadays, we see all kinds of "correct" positions being used with the M16, including palm holding up the magazine & elbow against the body, right elbow down, butt over the shoulder, etc.

None of that would fly when my drill instructor told me how to hold a rifle way back then!

In the end, I think Clint is playing a deadly old WWII vet, and I imagine how he holds his rifle worked for them, or they wouldn't have still been alive after WWII.

rc

Clint Eastwood is a big dude when he can make an M-1 Garand look like a Mini-14 when he's holding it.

I say Mr. Eastwood can hold his M-1 any way he wants!

(bore appears to be plugged anyway)

yeah, but urban combat tactics are different than say woodland combat tactics or desert fighting.

Did you know that when a war starts, the new recruits' training will have more focus on how to survive THAT war than a previous one?

If you can hit your target consistently, and can manage the recoil and everything, then you're doing it right.
You only to worry about being wrong, when you can't it your targets or the weapon is proving too much for you

Minute of bad guy across your yard is a chip shot anyway, classic form as taught back in the WW2-Korea era is less important than speed. The stance shown is a decent one for shooting fast, without being the (anachronistic for the film) modern tight, elbows in, boxing stance.

That is one frame of a movie. He very well could be transitioning to various targets, multiple threats to cover them all.
In a precise one target one shot drill at 50 m + I would tuck the elbow. At ranges inside my front yard I would do as seen in the photo. This elbow out gives you an ability to travese and cover multiple targets quickly with snap shots at close range. It also gives you an ability to buttstroke with power. If you tuck in close range you would have to move your feet to travese.
Finger in the trigger guard, trigger out of the trigger guard; well that's on you. I am the safety all the rest is just machined metal parts.

hey!!! look at the stacking swivel!!!

Is Clint holding a fake M1 in that picture? The barrel end looks like wax or plastic.

PS . Far as Clint is concerned he has earned the right to do what ever he wants.

The M1 was still the main battle rifle of the USA during the Korean conflict. After which came the M14, and then we slipped into depravity with varmint guns and such. We have been without a legitimate battle rifle for almost 50 years, amazing we've survived.......

LaEscopeta said:

Anyway, a photo from another movie made just purely for entertainment, showing (IMHO) just about the worst way to hold a rifle.

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Looks like the stock is resting on his collar bone. still not quite as bad as sticking the stock completely past your shoulder and resting the scope in your eye socket. ive seen the results, think 'cookie cutter' injury.

Now I want a garand. Thanks alot.

but whats up with the stacking swivel?

You don't need to know about any stacking swivel malfunctions associated with this movie. The fact is, you're eyeballing Clint Eastwood (deactivated Garand in hand) standing in front of a Gran Torino. What more do you want?

On the light end, the motor in that car is a 351 Cleveland (CJ). If he really saved up his money, it's a 429 CJ (and gets <10mpg). It's Clint Eastwood dammit! You shut yer hole and watch the movie!

Now I want a garand. Thanks alot.

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And that's just the begining.........once you have one you will get more.

@ CZguy:

She's gorgeous! Do everyone a favor and keep her away from youngsters. Young people can't appreciate curves like that.......

If you're interested in reading about gun handling in movies, check out The Internet Movie Firearms Database.

As for this thread, since it's about gun handling in fictional stories rather than real life, I'm going to go ahead and close it.