I would second that assessment.
Out of the rifles the OP mentioned, the Garand would be my "go-to" gun. Here's the thing about shooting it though: modern factory ammo is particularly unsuited to it. It is generally loaded with slower powders than what the rifle was designed for. Such powder creates a higher pressure pulse far down the barrel where the "gas syphon" is. (Trying to keep it simple for a newbie.) When the gas system is subjected to higher pressure like that, the operating rod can be damaged, causing the gun to stop working. A Garand must be fed ammo loaded with fast-to-medium burning powder. (IMR-4895 is the prime example, and was in fact developed way back early on specifically for M1 Garand use, sort of.) The trick is in finding such ammo today, if one isn't a handloader who can concoct a special diet for his Garand. U.S. military surplus .30 caliber ammo is certainly safe, as well as special runs of factory ammo specifically tailored for M1 use- do your homework via internet research/shopping. Ask questions to be sure.
As for Garand accuracy, they aren't the sharpest knife in the drawer certainly, but are plenty sufficient for hitting stuff out to the other side of the golf fairway. Ask the Germans, Japanese, and North Korean/Chicoms sent to their makers by them 65-80 years ago. Accuracy, as with any rifle, depends on bore condition and bedding. A Garand with a decent bore and "factory" bedding can certainly be depended on to return 2-3MOA easily, often better. If you're anal about it you can "accurize" the gun (if the bore condition warrants it) by epoxy bedding it via protocols established years ago, which can be found all over the internet. Even then, don't expect huge improvements in accuracy just such that'll make you smile a bit when you walk down and look at the target.
M1 Carbine: grab a couple boxes of ammo and blast a few tin cans now and then. IMO it's not what one would call an ideal deer cartridge but it'll do if you have to, in a pinch.
Arisakas: Personally I wouldn't get carried away with them. Ammo isn't particularly rare, but not commonly found either.
Government policy back when the old man served (as it is now) was such that Garands and Carbines didn't go home with guys, period. Weapons that came home with service people invariably were stolen one way or another. But, the gov't sold off a lot of surplus weapons in the couple decades after WWII (and still does to a degree) hence the OP's guns could've (probably) been acquired legitimately way back when. It wouldn't be the first time an old codger mis-remembered/made up/BS'ed his buddies/kinfolk about how he came to be in possession of stuff like that. Doesn't really matter now. Just know that if a GI was caught swiping an M1 70 years ago he would've been given a dishonorable discharge at minimum, and probably some time in the hoosegow to think about it. It just wasn't done except by guys who were stupid/ignorant or lucky daredevils.
