M1 Garand? CMP 'new' specials?

[F2CMaDMaXX]

I'm seriously considering an M1 Garand, but i know so very little about them, at least re choosing one and ownership.

I don't want to do anything fancy with it, i won't be shooting it that often and i don't have a particular parlance for one that is strictly and historically correct (at least to the point where it has to be one from the war years)

I would like it to hit where i point it, but i'm not looking for anything sharp-shooter, and to be perfectly usable. I believe that throat wear and muzzle crowns affect this, but have no idea how much matters. I don't mind used wood, but would rather not have anything that has cracks in it, read 'perfectly usable' above.


Anyway, i see that the CMP also give the option for essentially a new M1; having a new stock, new barrel etc, with some refreshed parts in the receiver. But i'm sure i've seen a very sad looking stock, very light and odd grain that ran parallel to the bore, that isn't something i want.


So if anyone can help a complete noob in the area of M1's and just how to go about getting just a reasonable example and how to 'live with one', i'd really appreciate it.

Thanks.

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[Just Jim]

D & D sports has three left, he is out of lebanon oregon. All CMP guns and in pretty good shape for about $900 I think. Prices may have gone up because the wait to buy one from CMP, took six months last time. They are quality rifles with plenty of wear left in them, Springfields. He won't order any more as the wait is too long to tie up the money.

 

[F2CMaDMaXX]

Hi Jim, i don't know what D&D Sports is, online presence?

 

[kibs45]

The service grades are all very reasonable rifles with a large amount of life left. The issue is, it's a grab bag. Some will be better than others. The new stocks don't float my boat, but they are certainly functional. It's really just a judgment call for you. Can you afford to take a gamble? I wasn't disappointed with any of mine, but some were certainly nicer/cooler than others. If you buy outside the CMP expect to pay more. It is at that point a known commodity and not a crapshoot. Someone else already took that risk. Whatever you do, I'm sure you'll like it. They are very special rifles. I think service grades are $730 with free shipping right now. Not sure how long the wait is.

 

[F2CMaDMaXX]

Kibs, yeah that sounds about right, i'm just concerned about the chance of going to +5 wear on the throat wear, which i think is bad for accuracy, how bad? i've no idea.

 

[kibs45]

I've done four and the worst was a 1+/3. But you never know, that's the risk. You can go buy one with known wear, but I would guess it's going to be closer to $1,000.00.

 

[F2CMaDMaXX]

What do you mean by 1+/3 ?

 

[Just Jim]

It's the measurement numbers used to tell the wear in the barrel. Muzzle and throat erosion gives you an idea how much the barrel has been shot.

 

[ron]

Throat erosion measurements of 4 or less will shoot well. Korean era barrels typically
will gauge a 2 for a brand new barrel. New condition WW 2 barrels will be about 1. The
larger reading of the throat means the bullet jumps further before it engages the rifling.
The muzzle wear is the most important for accuracy. A reading of 2 or less would be
preferable. Rifle muzzle wear is affected not from shooting but mostly from
being cleaned with a Steel GI cleaning rod. You should use a coated rod with a cone
shaped guide to protect the muzzle. I have seen M-1s with worn muzzles that could not
put 10 shots into a 3 foot circle at 100 yards! I have purchased and seen many service
grade M-1s in really nice condition. Usually better than anything you see on the
market.

 

[TapRackNGo]

My CMP Service grade Springfield came with a 0+ rating on both bore and throat. Part of the charm for me is the gouges, scratches on them that if they could only tell a story. I'm sure you will be happy with anything from CMP.

 

[kibs45]

My other three gauged 0+/2, 1+/2+, 1+/1+. Like everyone has said, there is so much history. Two serial numbers are WWII production. Two are late production. There are a ton of minof differences that make it more or less correct. It's a bit of rush when you get into it. But if you want a solid shooter I would definitely recommend the service grade. It will have a lot more character (possibly) than the like new Garands.

 

[F2CMaDMaXX]

Thanks for all the replies.

I'm not seeing any pics though!!! Get them up

I'd like to think a service grade will get me an example you guys have given, but it's all luck of the draw now and the specs/margins for a service grade is from great to +5

 

[deshoots]

Loads of pics on the cmp forum. X100 for service grade

 

[kibs45]

http://forums.thecmp.org/showthread.php?t=259

 

[F2CMaDMaXX]

So, can you just run regular 30.06 from bimart through them?

 

[kibs45]

There are some sites with more specific information, but you should install an adjustable gas plug before shooting new commercial ammo not made specifically for the Garand. Also, it may not fit some of the heavier rounds in the mag well.

 

[U8395279]

So, can you just run regular 30.06 from bimart through them?

Standard 150 gr loads should work OK. Avoid loads with heavier bullets, or ammo that is designated heavy loads or high performance.

No one is currently making new M1 receivers, so the available supply is very finite, and will not last forever. There were 87,000 M1 Garands in South Korea that they tried to import back into the USA, to give the CMP more inventory. However, President Obama issued an executive order back in 2013 banning the re-importation of any military type weapons back into the USA. So that killed that effort.

http://bearingarms.com/obama-execut...s-intentionally-targets-collectible-firearms/

.

 

[ron]

My other three gauged 0+/2, 1+/2+, 1+/1+. Like everyone has said, there is so much history. Two serial numbers are WWII production. Two are late production. There are a ton of minof differences that make it more or less correct. It's a bit of rush when you get into it. But if you want a solid shooter I would definitely recommend the service grade. It will have a lot more character (possibly) than the like new Garands.

kibs45 You have some nice rifles. I have looked at the service grade rifles that are at different
matches and I see some really nice Garands. Check out the picture thread at the CMP forum.
Now over 100 pages of 'Man Porn'. http://forums.thecmp.org/showthread.php?t=259
Now these rifles are not just pretty but fun to shoot. Check out this thread.
https://www.northwestfirearms.com/threads/m-1-garand-at-600-yards-iron-sights.197518/

 

[F2CMaDMaXX]

Currently trying to convince the wife that this is a great idea

Hadn't planned on anything else until next year but this seems somewhat timely unfortunately

 

[solv3nt]

So, can you just run regular 30.06 from bimart through them?

Absolutely not!

The M1 used the same ammo as the M1903, from 1903. The 1903 rifle was manufactured in, you guessed it, 1903, in 30-03. It was later re-chambered to 30-06, in 1906 when the new cartridge was released. The old 30-06 has a lower velocity than new 30-06, it actually comes in around the current .308.

The higher velocity and higher chamber pressures will bend an operation rod on an M1 if you do not have an adjustable gas plug, Schuster plugs are only $30. If you use an adjustable plug, you can use new ammo, but if you bend an op-rod, you're looking at $200 for a new one or repair. Only use M1 specific M1 ammo.