07-25-2012, 07:00 AM
I came across an interesting little item in Hatcher's Notebook.
Free recoil of the .30 M1 Garand (wt 8.83 lbs): 15.18 ft lbs.
Free recoil of the .276 Garand (wt 8.625 lbs): 7.25 ft lbs
15 ft lbs was reckoned to be right on the maximum for a general infantry rifle (in fact, the British thought 12 ft lbs was more reasonable). Even without an auto option, the light recoil of the .276 would clearly have facilitated training, making flinching much less likely, and would have permitted more rapid follow-up shots.
Free recoil of the .30 M1 Garand (wt 8.83 lbs): 15.18 ft lbs.
Free recoil of the .276 Garand (wt 8.625 lbs): 7.25 ft lbs
15 ft lbs was reckoned to be right on the maximum for a general infantry rifle (in fact, the British thought 12 ft lbs was more reasonable). Even without an auto option, the light recoil of the .276 would clearly have facilitated training, making flinching much less likely, and would have permitted more rapid follow-up shots.