Answer
The M1 Rifle, also known as the Garand, was Gavin's preferred firearm instead of the standard officer's weapon. Adopted by the U.S. military in 1936, the M1 Rifle was a semi-automatic rifle that offered significant advantages over the bolt-action rifles commonly used at the time. Its ability to fire eight rounds of.30-06 ammunition without reloading gave Gavin a substantial edge in combat situations.