armoury
ICS M1 GARAND
magazine but loads instead with eight round clips. These
are inserted into the open action from the top and retained
inside the rifle until the last round is fired, at which point
the clip ejects with the final fired cartridge case and with
the much-commented on “‘ping”; a sound which, if I’m
pushed, I would say would go largely unnoticed in the heat
of battle, although others would beg to differ I’m sure.
While you don’t get the “ping” with the ICS airsoft
replica of the M1 Garand, I’m going to tell you that this
is one of the few things that isn’t there, as this is a truly
stunning replica!
I get to shoot MANY airsoft replicas on the range each
and every year - and that’s before I count the models I get
to try at demo days and shows - and to my mind, the ICS
Garand is a standout model, as it’s truly a visual work of art.
The linseed-finished woodwork is absolutely lovely, feeling
almost “sticky” as new; this rifle looks just like it’s come
direct from the Springfield Armory!
At 1,102mm long and weighing in at 3,600g this is
by no means a small rifle but it still feels well balanced in
airsoft form and actually is an AEG you could happily carry
all day in game. The metalwork is also beautifully finished
and details, there are many. Internally you get a gearbox
with 8mm bushings for reliability and durability, along with
steel gears, an uprated MIM set, a nylon-fibre piston and a
one piece cylinder head, all driven along by a top-end ICS
Turbo 3000 motor. You also get (as standard) a MOSFET
to eliminate high switch temperatures, a real bonus as the
Garand is semi-auto only!
And talking of which, how does this all translate to
the range? Using .20g BBs the Garand gave a mean
chronograph reading of 1.37 Joule/385fps, which was
totally consistent and perfectly site friendly if your site
of choice makes use of a “semi-only DMR” rule. Setting
the trigger safety to fire will send BBs downrange with
an extremely satisfying crack and the long, 537mm inner
barrel really comes into its stride. The Garand is quite
astonishingly accurate, hitting sandbag targets easily at
30m at the extent of the range and with a .30g BB this
lovely retro-rifle definitely has some legs!
Overall, the ICS M1 Garand is a truly stunning replica
and I can really see it acting as your main AEG if you want
something for a living history impression that will double-
date at your local Sunday Skirmish! For the quality of
materials, construction and performance I do not view this
as an expensive replica as you can have one for around
£425 with a pair of unique 42BB mags included, and for
this price you are getting a slice of firearms history and a
great deal for you money!
My thanks as always go to www.fire-support.co.uk for
supplying the rifle. Please do check them out for any and all
of your ICS Airsoft needs and much, much more! AA
“THE GARAND IS QUITE ASTONISHINGLY ACCURATE, HITTING SANDBAG TARGETS
EASILY AT 30M AT THE EXTENT OF THE RANGE AND WITH A .30G BB THIS LOVELY
RETRO-RIFLE DEFINITELY HAS SOME LEGS”
www.airsoftaction.net
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