I really enjoy shooting Garands, too. My wife got this picture while I was shooting on our range here at the house. You can see the last shell casing ejecting to the front and the empty en bloc ejecting to the rear just in front of my head.

Good job on the restore.. Yea I had a Russian 44,but like a lot of them I sold it to get something else.I restored quite a few also until the RA took hold of my hands. The number 4 Mark 2 and the Australian SMLE I have were in good condition and I didn't have to restore. But like everything else I had to take them apart and check em out.Just have way too many to pass on to my son,but he's shot them all,loves all of them and he's going to them.So he says.. :)

I know what you mean - I retired from the Army in 2004 and now looking at retiring for good in about 3 years. The years of abuse on my joints are taking their toll. Time to enjoy the years I've got left knocking things off my bucket list. My son has a substantial collection of MILSURPS of his own. I'll begin to sell mine off and just pass to him what he wants.

You guys have me beat by a long way. Most of my stuff is fairly new compared to that.

Dude I hear you. I retired from the AF in 1996. Since that time I have consulted to the State Dept. The years I spent as a Drill instructor on the Drill pad really wreaked havoc with the legs. Now that I am in my 60's, after 8 surgeries on my knees, a shattered ankle, Fibula and Tibia, 9 screws and two steel plates, and a double bypass, I can relate to pain.