Debunking the M1 Garand "Ping" Myth

[jugendkrieger]

What 101st Combat Vet said is very true. combat conditions are extremely different than range-training conditions. Even in reenacted battle you begin to pick up on things you didn't before. We had an event in Newville PA(world war one trench site). Where I didn't sleep for 2 nights and 3 days in a row, Saturday at 0330 posting guard was the most bizzare experience of my life looking out over the battle field, seeing helmets bobbing up and down that did not exist, strange colors streaking through the enemy territory, The slightest sound scaring the ever loving hell out of you. It was quite the thing. I had a hell of lot of trouble operating my weapon and functioning during the push on the enemy, When things got quiet and there was a lull in the fighting we got together in a shell crater and talked and men began falling asleep in mid sentence, only waking up when the fire started again. People say a lot about reenacting being a joke, but you can take away some extremely real deal first person moments.

[DennyB]

I agree with jugendkrieger, a person can get caught up in the mood, especially when sleep deprivation is involved.

[SheikAlStranghi]

I concur with Marc, I have been reenacting very actively for 5 years now and there are times where you can get a bit scared because of the reality of the situation, mainly when exhausted and cold.


Heck; some people even say that I have developed a thousand yard stare...

[PlaceOfBayonets]

I've done a few WWI events as a German and while I think some of the things I've experienced was a lot like the stuff I've read about I am not so sure I comment on the "reality" of the situation having never been there or a modern conflict either.

W.

[bigschuss]

Just found this and about a dozen other videos of the Garand PING! It demonstrates 3 things:
1) the sound is made by then en-bloc clip leaving the receiver...not striking the ground
2) the noise has nothing to do with the clip striking the spent case
3) the noise is loud as it is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AD9myXcz4mw

[leibermuster]

If you take an empty en-bloc and squeeze it like you are snapping your fingers, when you release it it will make the same sound. Some guys at reenactments will do that to try and trick the 'enemy'. I wonder if that was done during the war?