WTB M1 Garand

[cow goes mooo]

Hey there IPs,

Interested in more information on buying an M1 Garand. Doesn't have to be an original M1 and a reproduction would work. What is the availability and what are prices. A PM would be most appreciated.

 

[Threeband]

You want to get an original Garand from the Civilian Marksmanship Program. That is the congressionally chartered program set up to transfer army surplus Garands and ammunition directly to qualified civilians.

www.odcmp.com

http://www.odcmp.com/sales.htm

 

[dist1646]

+1 for CMP.

 

[BlackBart]

Word of caution do NOT get a reproduction. One company makes them that I know of, it was a cast receiver (forgot the name, Century maybe?) STAY AWAY FROM THEM. Spend a few bucks and do NOT buy a imitation Garand.

 

[j8064]

The CMP would be my plan A. You'll wait for it, get what you pay for and have no regrets. Plan B would be a PP, shop or auction.

 

[Threeband]

To my knowledge, no one makes a reproduction Garand today. Ten or twenty years ago, the commercial firm Springfield Armory of Gennesco, Illinois made some using cast receivers, as Black Bart noted. They cost over $1200 20 years ago.

You can get a USGI rifle with a forged receiver delivered by Fed Ex right to your door, with no FFL. The Service Grade is $625, plus $24.95 shipping. That's half the cost of those cast-receiver repops sold for back in the 90s. And that's why no one makes repros these days.

 

[lseries]

As others have suggested, definitely get your Garand from the CMP, and keep the paperwork that comes with it. A CMP "provenance" (as they like to say on Antiques Roadshow ) will make it more valuable.

See http://www.odcmp.com/Sales/m1garand.htm

There are several requirements for buying from the CMP, all described somewhere on their web site.

There are people who live near the South Store and who will go there and choose rifles to your specification for what is, IMHO, a reasonable fee. I have done this and have been very pleased with the result. In my case, the guy went to the South Store on a Thursday, the day after he got my paperwork, etc., the rifles were shipped on Monday, and I had them by 9:30 Tuesday morning, which is faster service than you'll get from the CMP estore. Look around on http://forums.thecmp.org/ and you'll find some.

Note well a couple of things.

1. You'll need to use .30-06 loads intended for the Garand. Not doing so risks damaging the operating rod. google around a bit and you'll find plenty on this topic.

2. CMP Garands fall into the "some assembly required" category. They have had their headspace checked and they have been test fired; but they will be coated with cosmoline (one of mine seemed to be more cosmoline than rifle), which will have to be cleaned off. Figure on a few evenings worth of sweat equity per rifle before it's in condition to take to the range.

If you can get one with USGI wood, do so. Those original stocks are old-growth walnut. Clean off the cosmoline, give them several coats of boiled linseed oil (BLO), and you won't believe how gorgeous they will be! They'll practically glow in the dark.

Garands are great guns. I've read that the guys who carried them in battle loved them (even though they are very heavy!), and, having fired them, I can understand why. You won't regret getting one!

HTH.

 

[rico903]

If you can qualify CMP is your best bet. If not, I have seen some in Christian Soldier and The Gun Bunker in Shrewsbury PA recently.

 

[Darkemp]

Buy your Garand and your supply of .30-06 both from CMP. Unmatched value.

 

[cow goes mooo]

Thanks for all the information. Appreciate all the valuable insight

 

[Drmsparks]

Lou had two nice ones up at shooters discount in Mt Airy a week or two ago when I was up there.

Not too far above CMP pricing, especially when you consider you can look at them yourself and decide if that rifle is the one you want.. And of course no 30-120 day waiting period.

 

[rico903]

Pardon the hijack please, but what are the Garand people's opinion of one in .308? Also, doesn't Fulton Arms make a repro, or do they just refurbish originals?

 

[Threeband]

There was a thread on the subject perhaps two months ago.

.308 Garands are very good. It's mostly a matter of ammo supply. As time goes by, .308 will be more readily available at reasonable prices than Garand-suitable M2 Ball will be. Hell, it already is.

So for a shooter, .308 is a smart choice.


However, the .308 Garands are not eligible for John C Garand matches, so bear that in mind.

------------------------------------------------------------

The Fulton rifles are all built on USGI receivers, so no, they're not reproductions. There are plenty of forged GI receivers available at reasonable prices. There's no reason to make more, and forgings would be very expensive.

There'a a company called LRB which is making forged M14 receivers. Looks like their cheapest is $819- and I'm surpised it's so cheap.

 

[surplusfan]

sorry to hijack

why arent .308 garands allowed inthe john c garand matches? I wish they were. 20 years from now nobody will be able to score appropriate 30 06.

 

[Indiana Jones]

why arent .308 garands allowed inthe john c garand matches? I wish they were. 20 years from now nobody will be able to score appropriate 30 06.

They are sissy abominations that's why. Just kidding they are cool in their own right.

 

[Redcobra]

There was a thread on the subject perhaps two months ago.

.308 Garands are very good. It's mostly a matter of ammo supply. As time goes by, .308 will be more readily available at reasonable prices than Garand-suitable M2 Ball will be. Hell, it already is.

So for a shooter, .308 is a smart choice.


However, the .308 Garands are not eligible for John C Garand matches, so bear that in mind.

------------------------------------------------------------

The Fulton rifles are all built on USGI receivers, so no, they're not reproductions. There are plenty of forged GI receivers available at reasonable prices. There's no reason to make more, and forgings would be very expensive.

There'a a company called LRB which is making forged M14 receivers. Looks like their cheapest is $819- and I'm surpised it's so cheap.

Isn't an M1A eligible for the matches? That's .308.

 

[Jimbob2.0]

Word of caution do NOT get a reproduction. One company makes them that I know of, it was a cast receiver (forgot the name, Century maybe?) STAY AWAY FROM THEM. Spend a few bucks and do NOT buy a imitation Garand.

I think it was either national ordinance or federal ordinance both used cast recievers. Ok on an M1 carbine due to the low pressure of the round, not good on a garand.

 

[Threeband]

why arent .308 garands allowed inthe john c garand matches? I wish they were. 20 years from now nobody will be able to score appropriate 30 06.

Rifles must be "as issued".

Read and enjoy:

http://www.odcmp.com/Competitions/Rulebook.pdf

Better yet, check this out:

http://m14forum.com/m1-garand-accuracy/71868-john-c-garand-match-legal-modifications.html


As for a future rule change, I think I would favor allowing 7.62 NATO. Otherwise, only people who could afford expensive match ammo would be able to participate, and that would defeat the whole purpose, in my view.

There are plenty of other high dollar equipment races for people who want to play those games.

 

[BlackBart]

I think it was either national ordinance or federal ordinance both used cast recievers. Ok on an M1 carbine due to the low pressure of the round, not good on a garand.

Old thread from the dead.......... http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=12483

Century Arms International