Which Garand?

[libertyman777]

Okay, here's what the CMP has to offer. I'm not a collector (although I have an 03), but will be shooting this rifle, both hunting and a Garand match.

They have the following that are in my price range:

Service Grade HRA for $625.

M1 Garand, Service Grade HRA (Harrington & Richardson) Special. $950.
HRA collector grade metal in excellent almost new condition. Walnut stocks and handguards and associated hardware are new manufacture. NOT original HRA manufacture.

M1 Garand, CMP Special (.30-06) $995
M1 Garand Springfield Armory receiver. This is a completely refurbished rifle consisting of an original M1 Garand Springfield receiver, new production Criterion barrel, new production American Walnut stock and handguards, and new web sling. Receiver and most other parts are refinished USGI, but some parts may be new manufacture.

M1D Service Grade $1200

M1D Rack Grade $900

Here's the kicker. I live about 20 minutes from CMP South. Been there on occasion to help buddies pick out rifles. They used to loan out the TE and Muzzle gauges for shoppers in the store, I assume they still do. My head tells me to go pick out two nice HRA's at $625 with the best TE and Muzzle numbers I can find. What say y'all?

 

[LongRifle75]

I guess it depends on what you want. The special grades are pretty much new and refurbished. If youre not looking for a "collector type" rifle and want a good shooter Id go with one of the Specials. Mine is a CMP refurb but its more of a rack or service grade. Im a Springfield guy also. I like mine to look a little beat up, I think it adds character!

 

[eddiemac]

I bought a CMP Special and was impressed with the new barrel and stock and especially the way it shoots. If you want to put a lot of rounds downrange, go with the special.

 

[Sniper Uncle]

M1D Service Grade, just my $.005

 

[USMAGator]

The Service Grade Specials are really nice pieces of work, I picked up two in November at the south store and couldn't be happier. I'd like to get one with the original stock at some point, but when I went they were pretty picked over. If the HRA service grades look good then that'd be a clear winner in my book, otherwise you can't go wrong with the specials!

 

[pmclaine]

The service grade specials that people have received on the CMP forum are basically correct, slightly used rifles that came to the CMP as barreled receivers probably. All the mechanical rifle parts are GI. The wood is new and the metal on the wood is repro.

Guys that shopped at the store would buy service grade specials and a rack grade with nice GI wood that matched their SG Special. Change the stock and they immediatly created a correct rifle and the gain in value pretty much paid for the rack grade.

The Service Grade Specials are a a good deal and I dont think the criterion will do much better than a reasonably fresh GI barrel. The shooter skills will be the determining factor between the two.

Go to the CMP site and check out the thread people post into with pictures of the new deliveries to get an idea of what is available. Your in Alabama - anywhere near the South store?

This thread needs some porn





with the older brothers

 

[Sniper Uncle]

The service grade specials that people have received on the CMP forum are basically correct, slightly used rifles that came to the CMP as barreled receivers probably. All the mechanical rifle parts are GI. The wood is new and the metal on the wood is repro.

Guys that shopped at the store would buy service grade specials and a rack grade with nice GI wood that matched their SG Special. Change the stock and they immediatly created a correct rifle and the gain in value pretty much paid for the rack grade.

The Service Grade Specials are a a good deal and I dont think the criterion will do much better than a reasonably fresh GI barrel. The shooter skills will be the determining factor between the two.

Go to the CMP site and check out the thread people post into with pictures of the new deliveries to get an idea of what is available. Your in Alabama - anywhere near the South store?

This thread needs some porn





with the older brothers

Damn-it, Mclaine, now you have to make me jealous! Beautiful pieces, all of them, and I only have one..... Oh well, guess I'll have to save some more.

 

[downhill]

I've won alot of Garand Matches with the Service Grade. Was kinda surprised at the current prices, my first two(H&R and a Winchester) were $395 each. But that was many moons ago. I've looked at a few of the special grades-really nice looking war horses. I just prefer the "experienced" look of the Service Grade.

 

[pmclaine]

Damn-it, Mclaine, now you have to make me jealous! Beautiful pieces, all of them, and I only have one..... Oh well, guess I'll have to save some more.

Ive been fortunate. I dont do well with alot of my decisions I'm faced with but when it comes to firearms I somehow make the right choice when deciding on the buy.

 

[Sniper Uncle]

Ive been fortunate. I dont do well with alot of my decisions I'm faced with but when it comes to firearms I somehow make the right choice when deciding on the buy.

Well, keep it up. Those are definitely some nice pieces.

 

[kraigWY]

Just a hint. I've bought a few rifles from the CMP over the years, and have found they are better then what the grading indicates. That's just my experience.

Also I am a CMP GSM Master Instructor and put on CMP Clinics and Matches. If you shoot these matches consider that if the gun shoots 3.5 MOA (7 inches at 200 yards) it is more the capable of cleaning the Garand Targets.

If I was going to buy another Garand to use in Garand Matches I'd get the Service grade and spend the additional money on ammo to practice shooting off hand, that's where Garand Matches are won and lost.

 

[Orlando]

Just a hint. I've bought a few rifles from the CMP over the years, and have found they are better then what the grading indicates. That's just my experience.

Also I am a CMP GSM Master Instructor and put on CMP Clinics and Matches. If you shoot these matches consider that if the gun shoots 3.5 MOA (7 inches at 200 yards) it is more the capable of cleaning the Garand Targets.

If I was going to buy another Garand to use in Garand Matches I'd get the Service grade and spend the additional money on ammo to practice shooting off hand, that's where Garand Matches are won and lost.

Well said, Service Grade is more than adequate

 

[LongRifle75]

with the older brothers

Awesome, a 1903 is on my future list. I was torn on either the 1903 or a Garand for my birthday, the wife wouldnt let me get both!

 

[libertyman777]

Thanks for the replies gentlemen. I was able to stop by during my lunch break today. They currently have in stock two variations.

The HRA Special for $950 and the RM1Special for $995. I went ahead and picked out a HRA Special. Just gotta get my paperwork done online and head back up there with my C&R.

They have a backlog of 17000 orders is my understanding. Also, there are thousands of Garands that are waiting to be imported but are current administration is holding this up.

I'll post a pic when I get it.

Paul

 

[Sniper Uncle]

Also, there are thousands of Garands that are waiting to be imported but are current administration is holding this up.

I'll post a pic when I get it.

Paul

Doesn't that kinda piss you off?! I mean, we build it, sell it overseas, and then have to "import" it to get it back, and someone who wants to be peevish and childish can block it's return. Seriously.....

Good Luck Paul, and I would wish you good shooting, but you WILL enjoy it, so wishing you would won't help...LOL

 

[pmclaine]

Depends on where the rifles are coming from. It may not be an import issue. If they are being held up it could be political.

Military Assistance Program rifles even in the armory of another country are US Property managed by the US Army. If a country like Turkey wants to get rid of their Garands they go to the US Army. The Army designates some of those for use as they need and the rest are suppsed to go to the CMP to be sold to fund marksmanship training. Im pretty sure that is a LAW. If those are being held up its just another sign some dont like following US law.

Korea bought a bunch of Garands/carbines outside of MAP and those are being held up from import by the State Dept as a trade /agenda issue.

 

[Orlando]

. Also, there are thousands of Garands that are waiting to be imported but are current administration is holding this up.



Paul

CMP does not Import or pay other countries for rfiles
CMP gets their rifle directly from the US Army. If and when anything gets returned to the Army from others countries the will be eventually turned over to CMP
You may be confused with the Korean Garands/Carbines. If and when they will be allowed back into the country they will be sold to the highest bidder. CMP will have nothing to do with them.
Congrats on your new rifle

 

[billmathews]

I picked up a garand 10 years ago from a friend, he bought in Okinawa in 1960 never touched it I got and cleaned 90% of the cosmoline shot one clip excellent group. Today I dusted it off. serl#213704 I guess I need to make room in the gun safe. its very clean and original condition anyone have any interest let me know.

 

[Orlando]

I picked up a garand 10 years ago from a friend, he bought in Okinawa in 1960 never touched it I got and cleaned 90% of the cosmoline shot one clip excellent group. Today I dusted it off. serl#213704 I guess I need to make room in the gun safe. its very clean and original condition anyone have any interest let me know.

PM sent...

 

[2ndPanzer]

The HRA will have the latest and greatest to the time improvements, and have generally seen less use/abuse.

Contrary to CMP internet mythology, throat erosion, muzzle wear really arent the first and most important things to look for. Really its not, as it doesent affect the accuracy of the Garand as much as people claim, it just shows the relative life of that barrel... most were changed and the barrel life does NOT always accurately portray the serviceability of the the rest of the rifle.... Rebarrel is relatively cheap and easy.... the things you really need to check are the rear sight elevation detents. if these are worn on the reciever, its an expensive not easy fix, ( make sure the actual serrations in the reciever ears are not grooved, and its not just loose or worn rear sight.) op rod should be straight ( well technically have 2 bends in it) and have minimal tab wear. and the gas block should not be cut, and the trigger guard should be firm to hard to close. if its too loose the wood is compressed and will need replaced. after that checks out, the TE/ME are probably good to go anyway as the barrel is most likely the original one to that other group of parts that arent beat to shit and worn out. Make sense?

It takes alot to get a rack grade Garand to shoot well, and it adds up here and there with the above mentioned parts. if it had a brand new krieger match barrel on it it still wouldnt shoot if the wood was too compressed, the rear sight climbed, the op rod flopped around and the gas block was cut and bent to stay on... just a thought. The standard for rebuilt M1's was 6moa at 100 yds before they got major rework... So a lot of them would go on in service as training rifles for years in horrid condition....

If you do get one and need a new barrel or wood or refinish or whatever, get in touch.

 

[LongRifle75]

Also, there are thousands of Garands that are waiting to be imported but are current administration is holding this up.

It is actually a political issue. South Korea found about 30,000 Garands in a warehouse over there that they forgot we had given to them after the Korean War. South Korea was going to give them back to us because they thought our civilian poplulation would want them. They didnt want to sell them back to us or even want a line of credit for them but our glorious State Department said no they were considered "assault rifles"....................... Now if they have broken that stalemate I dont know, I havent heard anything else about it.

 

[Sniper Uncle]

It is actually a political issue. South Korea found about 30,000 Garands in a warehouse over there that they forgot we had given to them after the Korean War. South Korea was going to give them back to us because they thought our civilian poplulation would want them. They didnt want to sell them back to us or even want a line of credit for them but our glorious State Department said no they were considered "assault rifles"....................... Now if they have broken that stalemate I dont know, I havent heard anything else about it.

This is a perfect example of Cranial-Rectalitis at it's best. These so called "assault" rifles have been discontinued by the Army as obsolete, so they are obviously not fit for military use under current terminology, and yet they supposedly fall under the so called "assault" rifle definition of those that say there is no use for the AR series rifle, as they are "clearly designed and intended for military use." Serious circular reasoning that doesn't add up.

 

[Orlando]

It is actually a political issue. South Korea found about 30,000 Garands in a warehouse over there that they forgot we had given to them after the Korean War. South Korea was going to give them back to us because they thought our civilian poplulation would want them. They didnt want to sell them back to us or even want a line of credit for them but our glorious State Department said no they were considered "assault rifles"....................... Now if they have broken that stalemate I dont know, I havent heard anything else about it.

These Korean Garands and Carbines have been talked about for the last 10 years, it is nothing new. If those rifles were loaned to Korea they would be returned to the US Army long ago.
They are property of the Korean Govt so they will have to be sold to the highest bidder if allowed by current administration.

 

[LongRifle75]

These Korean Garands and Carbines have been talked about for the last 10 years, it is nothing new. If those rifles were loaned to Korea they would be returned to the US Army long ago.
They are property of the Korean Govt so they will have to be sold to the highest bidder if allowed by current administration.

I wonder if our "current" administration will allow that to happen............. Probably not since theyre trying to take guns off the streets instead of letting more get on...........

 

[Smokerroller]

Thanks for the great info on Garands guys. I would love to pick on up. I need to get on the wagon before they become cost prohibitive.