In this web content, Michael Taylor discusses the long-term impact of the M1 Garand, the US army’s successful battle rifle during World War II and the Korean War. Taylor argues that the M1 Garand overshadowed subsequent US rifle development and prevented the adoption of a modern assault rifle. The M1 Garand was the only semi-automatic rifle used during the war, providing advantages such as increased rate of fire and better accuracy. However, Taylor suggests that the focus on the M1 Garand as the standard issue rifle delayed the development of an assault rifle until two decades after it was first invented by the Germans. The content highlights the missed opportunity of the M1 Garand to pave the way for future rifle development.
https://acoup.blog/2023/09/08/michael-taylor-on-the-development-of-the-m1-garand-and-its-implications/