theneckie
Active Member
Starting to save for a new rifle, thinking about a cmp m1 garand in .308, any opinions.
.308 garand
- Thread starter theneckie
- Start date
The #1 community for Gun Owners of the Northeast
Member Benefits:
No ad networks! Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership Discuss anti-gun legislation Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses Discover free outdoor shooting areas View up to date on firearm-related events Share photos & video with other members ...and so much more!
Member Benefits:
photoracer
Competition Shooter
What are you going to use it for?
steves1911
Ultimate Member
Hxp m2 ball ammo performs almost exactly the same as modern 308 ammo....150gr fmj fired at roughly 2800fps. Your shoulder will never tell the diffrence. It would be nice to have one to shoot off the shelf ammo with though. Would make a hell of a deer rifle .
Orlando
Active Member
In theory there has to be less recoil but not that I can actually notice.
Vile Shadow
...
- Feb 28, 2013
- 28,953
Just curious. Why do you want a .308 Garand?
I bought one so that and my M1A can shoot the same ammo. What's your reason?
Threeband
The M1 Does My Talking
I would recommend a Service Grade, .30-06.
Put a note on your order asking for a good shooter with USGI wood.
Order by January 5 to beat the price increase.
Put a note on your order asking for a good shooter with USGI wood.
Order by January 5 to beat the price increase.
theneckie
Active Member
I have always wanted a garand, and I feel .308 ammo is more readily available. it will mostly be a target gun, also With having 3 kids that are getting older They are costing more, So my gun purchasing is slowing down greatly, so why not knock down two birds with one stone.
Vile Shadow
...
- Feb 28, 2013
- 28,953
Juche90
Active Member
- May 10, 2014
- 414
I love mine. Thinking of picking up a field grade to keep it company.
Vile Shadow
...
- Feb 28, 2013
- 28,953
If that's the case then you're better off getting one in .30-06, especially if that's the only such gun you'll have.
When .308 ammo was cheap several years ago, I bought a rack-grade Garand with the long-term goal of rebarreling, re-parkerizing and putting it into a nice CMP stock. After the ammo situation changed, it's still sitting in the safe awaiting restoration. We'll see what happens in the next few years. Right now, I have plenty of 30-06 to feed it and and my other restored Garand. I'll probably order another couple of ammo cans before the price goes up on the 5th.
JoeR
Threeband
The M1 Does My Talking
There's plenty of .30-06 Garand safe ammo available.
The CMP has NATO surplus HXP: buy it cheap and stack it deep. The price goes up on January 5.
30-06 M2 Ball Greek HXP 200 RDS LOOSE IN .30 CAL CAN
http://estore.thecmp.org/store/cata...max=¬e1=¬e2=¬e3=¬e4=¬e5=&max=#
30.06 HXP 240 rds per can
M2 Ball, .30-06, Greek Ammuntion.
http://estore.thecmp.org/store/cata...max=¬e1=¬e2=¬e3=¬e4=¬e5=&max=#
Prvi is loading good M2 Ball (Garand Ammo) at a decent price.
https://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=8822&dir=18|830|850
The CMP has NATO surplus HXP: buy it cheap and stack it deep. The price goes up on January 5.
30-06 M2 Ball Greek HXP 200 RDS LOOSE IN .30 CAL CAN
http://estore.thecmp.org/store/cata...max=¬e1=¬e2=¬e3=¬e4=¬e5=&max=#
30.06 HXP 240 rds per can
M2 Ball, .30-06, Greek Ammuntion.
http://estore.thecmp.org/store/cata...max=¬e1=¬e2=¬e3=¬e4=¬e5=&max=#
Prvi is loading good M2 Ball (Garand Ammo) at a decent price.
https://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=8822&dir=18|830|850
Blacksmith101
Grumpy Old Man
- Jun 22, 2012
- 22,293
I have a CMP Special in .308 as well as a Special in .30-06 and several other Garands. Very nice guns. Shoot well and the perceived kick seems less.
The Navy originally started experimenting with .308 modifications to the retired but still in Govt. Stock garands. The tried both chamber inserts and rebarreling, I assume it was a ammo compatibility as well as cost driven program. The CMP was selling some Navy .308 rifles as well as some barreled actions. however I believe the CMP Specials are all rebuilt by the CMP shop. They come with a new stock new barrel and refinished metal and a plastic insert to prevent accidental loading of a .30-06 clip.
Someday the cheap surplus .30-06 will run out maybe surplus .308 will become widely available. Other than that is is another interesting variant.
The Navy originally started experimenting with .308 modifications to the retired but still in Govt. Stock garands. The tried both chamber inserts and rebarreling, I assume it was a ammo compatibility as well as cost driven program. The CMP was selling some Navy .308 rifles as well as some barreled actions. however I believe the CMP Specials are all rebuilt by the CMP shop. They come with a new stock new barrel and refinished metal and a plastic insert to prevent accidental loading of a .30-06 clip.
Someday the cheap surplus .30-06 will run out maybe surplus .308 will become widely available. Other than that is is another interesting variant.
ken792
Ultimate Member
You can get new 7.62 NATO ammo cheaper than surplus .30/06, so there is a slight cost advantage there. The ZQI stuff by MKE of Turkey is at Walmart for $9.97 per box. After sales tax, that's still cheaper than the CMP's .30/06.
I'd still go with .30/06 though, in a Service Grade. The cost savings is not that great in .308/7.62 and the .308 is not match legal. Even if you're not thinking about doing match now, you should keep it open as an option. There are plenty of casual, fun match opportunities. Also, you can get a lightly used rifle with character in an original condition instead of a boring, new looking commercial refurb.
I'd still go with .30/06 though, in a Service Grade. The cost savings is not that great in .308/7.62 and the .308 is not match legal. Even if you're not thinking about doing match now, you should keep it open as an option. There are plenty of casual, fun match opportunities. Also, you can get a lightly used rifle with character in an original condition instead of a boring, new looking commercial refurb.
