M1 Garand: The Weapon That Won The Second World War | Weapons That Changed The World | War Stories

In this episode, former Army Ranger and Air Force Pararescue Wil Willis explores the legendary M1 Garand, the rifle that won World War II. From its incredible history to its impact on the battlefield, witness the evolution of rifles and the M1's vital role.
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[@tasjan9190]

The M1 probably had a significant impact in the Pacific theater far more than the European one. The imperial Japanese had very little submachine guns in comparison to their bolt guns. The Germans did issue large amounts of K98Ks but the prevalence of semi auto rifles and automatic subguns was much higher in the Axis forces of Europe, not to mention the MG34/42s really offset the advantage of the M1 Garand as the Germans based their infantry doctrines around them. The Japanese were outgunned by the American smallarm arsenal. The one submachine gun the Japanese had that was actually really good...they barely issued any of them in large enough numbers to make a difference.

[@robertwalker7454]

That's why for me I would probably want to fight in the Pacific theater due to our better abilities with firepower over there.

[@PotatoeJoe69]

M1 grand didn't see nearly as much action in the Pacific as it did in Europe. The Army played a smaller role in the Pacific than the Marines by a considerable amount, and the Marines were issued very few M1 grands. They mostly had m19O3 springfields, M1 carbines, and Reising submachine guns

[@robertwalker7454]

@@PotatoeJoe69 I thought they almost ditched the Reising almost instantly for the Grease Gun?

[@kahunamcd1]

@@PotatoeJoe69It's interesting to note that initially, the Marines refused to adopt the M1 rifle because they considered it to be a new and untested technology. However, after witnessing its effectiveness and turning points, they eventually realized its usefulness. It's worth mentioning that the Army got its hands on the M1 first due to their production capabilities, as the manufacturers were unable to produce them quickly enough. As a result, the Marines had to stick with their existing 1903 rifles and other unique firearms. Dude to slow and newer products.

[@bryandale7125]

Yes, the M1 fires from an 8-round en bloc clip, whereas modern rifles and pistols are fed by magazines, and no, the two words are not used interchangeably for they describe different tools with different functions.

[@user-po3ev7is5w]

I love my M1 Garand grandson, (the M-14 was its son) the Mini-14.

[@Texasmilitarydepartmentvid9654]

There's the M1, M2 , M3 Carbine version of the M1 Grand as well.

[@matthewjay660]

This exposé is so cool. One time ☝🏻, some total strangers at a range invited me to fire 8 rounds of a 1945 Garand. I made it ping!May God bless our combat medics, 68Whisky. 🇺🇸💪🏻🦅

[@podsmpsg1]

My grandpa loved the M1.

[@hunterspiers60]

To quote Clint Smith “ you just fired eight rounds of 30-06. Everyone is deaf. “

[@johnzajac9849]

The myth of the Garand 'ping' belongs in the historical ash heap along with the myth of the 'uncontrollable rise' of the Thompson submachine gun fired on automatic. The effect of gunsmoke on Civil War battlefields is almost always understated or never even mentioned.

[@ilovemalechickens]

I thought so! Just an old wives tale. How would the enemy hear the ping mid battle anyway?

[@johnzajac9849]

@@ilovemalechickens You will laugh at this: a U.S. park ranger actually told us that ACW soldiers would never have used bayonets in battle because that would give them nightmares later.

[@ilovemalechickens]

@@johnzajac9849 seems legit! He gets a pass

[@saltyreesescup3104]

One Of The Greatest Rifles Ever, My Father Owned Three Of Them.

[@helslayerknightclaw1339]

Damn, how badass was he that he needed 3 M1s?

[@saltyreesescup3104]

@@helslayerknightclaw1339 Well There Were Three Of Us In The Family...So I Guess He Was An Ultra Mega Badass... He Was My Best Friend And My Father And Was Such A Badass That He Wouldn't Have Even Needed Any Firearm To Continue Be A Badass...😶 Thanks For Asking 🤠🧂

[@C77-C77]

“In my opinion, the M1 rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised.” - Four Star US Army General George Patton. Edit-They just quoted him.🤘

[@donakahorse]

I have an M1 I got from the CMP program. love it. Also you should have used M993 in that 30-06 it would have blown through all 4 steels

[@emperorconstantine1.361]

Oh, not that “ping heard by the enemy” myth again.🙄🙄🙄🙄

[@AniwayasSong]

Some things become so common (Even if false), it's just taken as gospel, now. (Anyone that's EVER fired an M1 Garand w/o hearing protection, knows you ain't never hearing that 'PING!') ;-)

[@robertwalker7454]

I think it was proven false a little after the series completely

[@catinthehat906]

Well first hand testimony from a WW2 Veteran talking about stealthy combat in close urban environments says the 'ping' was a problem. If you listen to his account, the relevant section starts at twelve minutes and twenty seconds. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoXGnGhoe7-db7M

[@griff5713]

@@robertwalker7454 bloke on the range channel did a test on the ping, with reload and how close would need to be before person reloaded.

[@hquiller]

Thought the same. It's ridiculous.

[@nerd26373]

M1 Garand seems to have a left a crucial legacy over the decades. It's one of those weapons that have substantiated long term effects on the world.

[@joshuaclay3675]

“He was over a mile and a half away” *shows him 30 yards away in the reenactment* 😭😭😭🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@danielreppen341]

It bothers me that he called an M1919 a submachine gun.... he should know better.

[@jerrynaylor4092]

The m1919 was a smg.it was the Thompson. It missed ww1 by days.

[@steel440]

He way referring to the 1919 browning light machine gun, no way was it a submachine gun.

[@prestonopp]

I came here to say the same thing! He even repeated the mistake and honestly makes me want to shut it off after the first 4 minutes because it castes doubt on the validity of the rest of the information.

[@iceslice7776]

It was probably just a error in the script

[@ruddle-tango]

The first standard-issue semi auto combat rifle... Not the first semi auto military rifle 😏 The script needed revising work before the airing of this mini docu about that great rifle!!

[@andybreglia9431]

Your rifle is out of ammo, ping. Guy on your right just put in a fresh clip. Guy on your left has 5 cartridges in his rifle. Don't forget the BAR man. Any of these guys can arrange for any enemy soldier trying to get you for a posthumous purple heart from his country. When I served in the Army, we had the Murphy drill, named after Murphy's law, anything that can go wrong generally will, usually at the worst possible moment. One cartridge in your rifle. You fire. Ping! You are timed on how fast you can stuff in a fresh clip and hit your next target.

[@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-]

I'm surprised that the British didn't adopt any ideas off the M1 Garand, I know that the Germans and Soviets had their own similar semi automatic rifles like the Gewehr 43 and the Svt 40.

[@hanzgruber8676]

Some times it's better to produce what you have then try to change in the middle of the war the svt was a pre war gun and they still concentrated on the Mosin Germans kept changing everything so they never had enough of anything

[@tedhubertcrusio372]

​@@hanzgruber8676 that and the British are obstinate, more so their aristocracy who preferred to look good in battle than actually winning wars. Bernard Law Montgomery and David Stirling were exceptions though. Montgomery was intelligent, open-minded and an accomplished officer. Stirling grew up rough-and-tumble.

[@hanzgruber8676]

@tedhubertcrusio372 fair America isn't that much different the M1 might have been the first time we were ahead of the game

[@sgtslotter8634]

@hanzgruber8676 i'd say the colt patterson revolver was our first time being ahead of the game.

[@hanzgruber8676]

@sgtslotter8634 America has been ahead of the game for awhile the military has not been the military did not pick up the Patterson was not adopted we were still using breach loaders while Europe was already on to bolt actions failed to pick up the Henry and on and on

[@romanace3432]

The ak47 is essentially a upside down garand that is magazine fed and select fire

[@yaboidre5672]

The irony. Everyone thought it was based on the STG-44. Nah fam, AK is more American style than you think.

[@Texasmilitarydepartmentvid9654]

The AK-47 is actually based off a captured prototype MP-43 it had some design flaws it would later enter service with the German Military as the STG-44 Strumgewher a year later .

[@tvormwald]

I own an M1 Garand here! Love the weapon almost as much as I love my multiple AR15's.

[@Mtlmshr]

Although informative a bit to Hollywood for my taste

[@takingbacktheplanet]

i thought so as well at first, but after giving it a full watch i found it was pretty well balanced. :)

[@RiverRat1953]

The rifle in the American Revolution was NOT the Kentucky rifle, but the Pennsylvania Long Rifle! In this video, he was using a very poor example of the long rifle.

[@StryderK]

Well, I just bought one! My local gun shop had someone sold his Garand and they put it up for $1,700! Still in very good condition. 1943 receiver but refurbished furniture and sights with a new barrel. Bought it without even thinking!

[@Mason-zp8yb]

You got scammed. I bought one from the CMP in great condition for 665 dollars a couple of years ago.

[@StryderK]

@@Mason-zp8yb problem is…A couple years ago…These days, CMP is already charging an expert grade M-1 for over $1,000 now due to inflation and lack of supplies. Gunbroker expert grade M-1 are all over $2,000 now. So no. I didn’t get scammed. My Garand is also beyond an expert grade here.

[@timojokela5219]

‘M-1 was the first semi automatic rifle in WWII’ Russian SVT-38 was accepted to production in 1938. Saw action in 1939. When did M-1 see action?

[@patmancrowley8509]

Great to see you, Wil! I appreciate the M1 Garand so much that I bought one.

[@acslater017]

I love how giddy Wil is when they get around to the .50 cal. He’s grinning and literally rubbing and clapping his hands 😂

[@user-po3ev7is5w]

the opening scene the guy says they were manning a sub-machine gun and they showed a .30 cal medium MG. Anyway, one doesn't "man" a sub-machine gun. LOL!!!!!!

[@DeaconBlu]

I miss “Triggers” & “Special Ops”. Both series that Will hosted and participated in. Great vid folks! Thanks!

[@brennanleadbetter9708]

If it pinches you, that means it loves you.

[@XtreeM_FaiL]

You have just let loose 8 30-06 rounds. You think that somebody hears that little ping and even if then what? There are dozen other rifles.

[@RW4X4X3006]

I doubt anyone would here it when a fireteam is busy at their trade.

[@TheWay413]

in WW2, the M1 Garand is a one-of-a-kind rifle that takes out multiple enemies accurately at a quickest time. Truly was a legendary battle rifle of its time.

[@Andrew-Locksley691]

My question is, if Craig Harrison's unit came under attack from a mile and a 1/2 away, and the range on the 50 which is the highest c aliber that anyone had that day, was not meant for engagements at that far range. How are they taking incoming from much much smaller caliber weapons at that range?

[@ourichie]

I wish people would stop perpetuating the myth of the Garand Ping. Combat is so loud, the ping was inaudible.

[@bookman7409]

Agreed. Think about it; you wait for the ping (or count the shots), right? How much ground will you need to get to a place where his cover doesn't work, take aim, and fire? Keep in mind that you'll have maybe three seconds to move while he reloads. An NFL wide receiver could cover maybe 27 yards over optimal ground conditions, but that leaves no time to fire, and he's a professional sprinter. Then start thinking about just how close you're going to have been fighting the Garand at, considering its range. The numbers won't work, save in rare circumstances.

[@catinthehat906]

Well first hand testimony from a WW2 Veteran talking about stealthy combat in close urban environments says it was a problem. If you listen to his account, the relevant section starts at twelve minutes and twenty seconds. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoXGnGhoe7-db7M

[@aaronseet2738]

believe it was only applicable during CQB.

[@craigbeatty8565]

Really? I thought it was the Soviet PPSh-41, of which 6m were produced during WWII. It was the famous sub machine gun with the round magazine used in Stalingrad among other locations.

[@bigDvideos1]

31:08 The action of a semi auto doesn’t open until the bullet leaves the barrel. Otherwise you’d have 40,000-55,000 psi coming back towards your face.

[@dwayneelizondomountaindewh6073]

i know the griswolds they are gunsmiths in my town (Ventura Ca), and wow they do amazing work, they have worked on several of my firearms.

[@herrcobblermachen]

This is like the garand documentary that has the least amount of coverage about the garand "This is the only engineer in starfleet that doesnt GO to engineering.."

[@jasonashman9534]

Isn't Harrison like 5th or 6th longest now? I know the JTF got one that shattered it with a TAC-50, and last year a Ukranian beat it, but I don't know with what platform.

[@phillipkrelle5661]

The mad minute that had the germans thinking it was a machine gun but a soldier holding the trigger down and operate the bolt action it has a name but i dont know it.

[@Chubby_T0511]

Lee Enfield SMLE had a mad minute. You may be thinking of that.

[@dankim7488]

Part of the M1 Garands success in WWII was due to the fact that no other army in the world fielded anything like it at the scale the US did. They still used WWI era but slightly modified bolt action rifles.

[@russyeatman5631]

Marines in WWI were also armed with Model 94 Winchester 12 gauge shotguns. The Germans hated the shotguns, considered them cruel. Marines were still using their "03 Springfields at Guadalcanal landings . Reinforcement and resupply included M1 Garands

[@SuperD00D]

If they were both magazine fed, I would definitely😢😢😢 oh rather use a lever action than a bolt action. It just seems faster and more intuitive to me. And your hand hass to move less. You can probably even keep your finger on the trigger if your trigger hand is big enough / fingers long enough

[@tinman8518]

Great video! Made me love my 1944 M1 Garand even more!

[@loganpollock1689]

In McKinney's case that was a 1919A6 Light MG not a submachine gun. Sometimes I don't notice the clip ejecting when I'm shooting.

[@briancooper2112]

McKinney had a book written. Its pretty good.

[@jeffreymcfadden9403]

Garand designed M1 as a 10 round .276 design. Would have been a better design than the .30 as manufactured. We have Dug-out Doug MacArthur to thank for the .30 being adopted.

[@donaldromesburg1902]

I heard he , McArthur had him change caliber because of the millions of 30.06 rds left over from world War 1 .

[@ahmadsuleman9045]

True, but i'd imagine that given what the m1 Garand often faced, 30.06 was probably for the best

[@mcinteer19]

The 1903 Springfield, an excellent target rifle built for the rigors of Camp Perry. The Germans went to war with a hunting rifle, the Americans a target rifle, and the British brought a fighting rifle! Their clay target tests are highly suspect.

[@jonlundgrenn9676]

We used the M1 Garand in Brigade N i the North of Norway in 1964.

[@pramusetyakanca1552]

I swear, Guntubers really have to take Wil Willis on to their channels or at least guest-feature him. One that immediately comes to mind is fellow military man, Garand Thumb. Convenient, that I thought about Garand Thumb, and this exact video is on the M1 Garand

[@russyeatman5631]

"1873" Winchester was not offered to US Army. Rifle offered to US Army was the Henry. The Springfield trapdoor was designed and built before 1873. There were a few cavalry units of the Federals used Henry repeaters purchased by their commanders.

[@davidshoup1392]

Hey, Wil. Good stuff. One mistake though. You called the maching gun a "sub-machine gun". A sub-machine gun is an automatic weapon that fires a pistol cartridge. A machine gun fires a rifle cartridge. The Thompson, which uses the 45ACP, is a sub-machine gun. The M1919 is a machine gun, since it fires the 30-06 cartridge. Pararescue!

[@SteveCogno]

Im glad will ferrell is an M1 expert 5:00

[@thesanfordmethod1905]

Wil Willis is cool, need to bring him out on another gun tv show.

[@Surgicalshred]

I love this video on the history of firearms! Subbed :)

[@Dave-ck8cf]

Great video ❤❤❤

[@jondeere5638]

The Brits were also decent riflemen. They learned their lesson from the Boar war and trained them better.

[@brianmackenzie3675]

Dallas Alexander would set the record in 2017

[@BonJovi1987Fan]

I love the tv series trigger

[@onebeartoe]

Hey, it is the 'Forged in Fire' guy. Nice!

[@spicydoughnut8397]

47:53 Why is someone up there holding a Sniper as well?

[@timothyeldridge6822]

Excellent!

[@ianashby3626]

Garand thumb is not as common as alot of people think

[@davidshoup1392]

I used a Garand in two military schools several years. I smacked my thumb only once,, when I was not paying attention.

[@JessPeters-qg1bn]

Common enough. Joined the M1 thumb club in 1963. Most people I knew at the time joined the club. 😮

[@lj.7311]

Awesome rifle.

[@seanberthiaume8240]

Have 6 all Spingfields. But watch what ammo u use. Not modern/+P as it can damage the op-rod. some ammo companys make/winchester that is the same powder as the 40s-50s..

[@JohnKoenig-db8lk]

"This is my rifle, this is my gun. This is for shooting, _this_ is for fun."

[@CGa2887]

There were so many errors in this one. Some that super stood out to me were the 1919 “sub machine gun” and the picture of the 1886 Label just being the right rifle entirely.

[@jmjones7897]

If any one particular weapon model won the war it was the M2 Browning. Hands down.

[@patrickbuechel2599]

That would be 16 million American combatants holding those M1s in combat, less we forget😮😢

[@ZigZagKid_AZ]

Cool

[@jimg6698]

I stopped a the 6:21 minute mark. The idea of the enemy hearing the clip ejecting during the heat of battle is ridiculous! Thumbs Down!!

[@harrisonrawlinson5650]

It’s an early 2000s documentary that was on tv, you can’t expect too much

[@dennis1802]

How much grain was that Barret 50 cal round again?

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

Nice video about M1 Grand Rifle used during WW2 by American infantryman

[@iplz]

Pinging into victory

[@jimbob465]

Two mangled thumbs up!

[@Jayjay-qe6um]

Due to widespread United States military assistance as well as their durability, M1 Garands have also been found in use in recent conflicts such as with the insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[@cliffordjancelvalmoria4575]

Without John Cantius Garand...maybe thise hise gun didn't appear to us...

[@kpal2946]

m1919 at the beginning , calling it a submachine gun nest?

[@GB_AUTHENTIC681]

First of all Willis that's not an SMG... It's a M1919

[@ryanbarnett1731]

I was onboard untill that shameful pickle jar attack 😭

[@davidjackson563]

Drivell, artillery accounts for approx two thirds of all casualties in war, not small arms.

[@Neaptide184]

Any “expert” who talks about the “ping” as a thing is no expert. Period

[@blackhawk2302]

Enemies hearing the ping is a myth. And no, soldiers didn't carry an empty clip in their pocket and throw it.

[@Thisisoscar_]

Its called a clipazine

[@blackhawk2302]

@@Thisisoscar_ No. It's not.

[@Thisisoscar_]

@@blackhawk2302 Is so.

[@blackhawk2302]

@@Thisisoscar_ 👈🤡

[@halftilted513]

Don't bust your thumb when loading !

[@tylerfortin3239]

Dudes an "expert" yet says enemies could hear a ping from 100 yards with hundreds of rounds firing....

[@user-zr1su6re3v]

Bought my M1 Garand...........1990...........$400.00.................Purchased from an Army WWII Vet............Mr. Emm One..we called Him

[@AcidGambit419]

0:44 was that seriously the Halo sniper rifle sample?

[@user-hr4re7rm6p]

can you do lee Enfield

[@Scarface1983]

This video about everything but m1 garand

[@haramsaddam238]

A sad historical fact - John Garand wanted to be compensated for the design and sold the patent with promise of future payment - but neither he or his family would receive it. The whole “he donated the design out of patriotism” was a total myth since the rifle was adopted a few years before WW2 began

[@pb68slab18]

The Garand was not the first semi-auto battle rifle in WWII. The SVT-38 and -40 were.

[@AniwayasSong]

'American' issued military rifle. Yeah, they could've specified that.

[@robertwalker7454]

They should have said that the first semi-auto rifle standard issued in a large scale

[@wombatstriker]

Well the Garand was officially adopted in '36 vs '38 or '40, so your whole argument is wrong

[@GunUDwnAt2nd]

The fact that the narrator doesn't know the difference between a submachine gun and a light machine gun does not inspire confidence.

[@bigskunk801]

There’s a new sniper distance record in Ukraine. It was recorded on video and was actually 2 shots, 2 kills.

[@hiddentruth1982]

they were manning a sub machinegun? so they were manning a small automatic weapon that fires pistol caliber rounds?

[@rickshawphilippines]

30.06 tumbled? I think not

[@angelageisler9637]

Yep, I turned it off when he said a m1919 was a sub machine gun.

[@kimoleto5178]

America is not a country, is a continent, they were US troops

[@csjrogerson2377]

No it didnt. It helped, just like so many other weapons. They all played their part.

[@siliconwolverine]

You just fired 8 rounds of 30-06. No one is going to hear the “ping”

[@bookman7409]

'No weapon has changed more history than the gun'? I'm not critiquing the show itself, but that's a silly line to lead with. The spear dominated the battlefield for millennia, the gun mere centuries. The more impactful weapon is obvious, sheesh.

[@pathfinder303]

Along with the British Lee Enfield 303, it was the soldiers that won the war.

[@hiddentruth1982]

I would disagree. nothing shaped history more than the boat.

[@jasonrusso151]

long you say, & heavy....? hmmmm..... then adapt. They did it, so you can too. Don't doubt yourself & the cheap mattel m4 thingy ur accustomed to.

[@thomaslinton5765]

The Soviets sure used lots of M-1s.

[@dominichouse3917]

Harrison 🇬🇧