[Ridge]

#1: Does the 30-06 Version function well with comercial loads?
#2:Are the enbloc clips interchangable between the 308. version and the '06 version?
#3:Are the sights too iffy?
#4:How easy is it to clean?

I'm thinking of trying to purchase the 308. version,but if commercial loads in the 30-06 version work well then I'll most likely grab that one.

Thanks in advance.

[Mark in California]

1. Yes, within limits. You must be careful of the load because you can over power the gas system. The gas system does not have a pressure relief hole until the weapon completes its power stroke. (the M-14 type weapon does) If you use too heavy of a bullet or load, when the M-1 gets to its full stroke It just rams the bolt back harder than the spring is designed for causing the bolt to hit the receiver. The .308 version of the M-1 suffers from this same drawback.

(The M-14 type weapon's gas system does have a pressure relief hole before the weapon get to full stroke and will dump the remaining excess pressure allowing the recoil spring to keep the bolt from hitting the back of the receiver. You can shoot pretty much any .308 in the M-14 type weapon.)

2. Yes the clips are interchangable between 30-06 and .308.

3. Depends what you want. People have used them in Competition and war out to 1000 yards. Never shot on a long range, but I can hit the target at 100 yards standing. If I miss, it my fault.

4. As long as you do not use corrosive ammo, no harder than any other semi auto rifle. If you use corrosive ammo, then you will need to clean smarter, take the gas system off and dismount the rifle from it stock for cleaning. Not difficult. The stock can be removed in seconds, the gas system needs or should need a tool or screw driver to get it started. Otherwise you can field strip the weapon with your hands.

A great weapon. had one since the 80's. Will never sell it. And just wait until you fire off the 8th round. It comes with a surprise.

[Trebor]

I HIGHLY reccomend a USGI M-1 from the CMP over any of the Springfield Armory, Inc. commercial rifles. The SA Inc. rifles have some cast parts. The CMP rifles are 100% USGI. They also hold their value better.

go to www.odcmp.com

[Ridge]

Thanks guys.

On the 308. version,would lets say,Mil.spec. Ball ammo work in it without a hitch,or will there be problems down the road if I used Mil. spec. ammo?

(I just want to know what to do and what not to do,because 1k+ is a lot of money for a rifle,and I just want to know in advance)

But no I'm not interrested in a CMP garand,I'm going to be using this rifle a lot as my MBR,as well as hunting,and match shooting.

I'll be using it heavily,and I don't want to risk a messing up a piece of History.,that's why I'm going with a new S.A.

And thanks again for the info.

[critter]

I have both a SA and a DCM (old name for CMP) gun. Both are nice. You will like the SA. Mine has been 100% in every way since I got it. Go for it.

[Onmilo]

I'm not going to badmouth the Springfield Inc. M1 rifles either.
I have had the opportunity to fire several of the guns in both calibers and they are uniformily decent guns.

You can always replace any of the investment cast parts with USGI any time you like.
Everything interchanges.
Personally I don't care for Springfield Inc. cast trigger groups but the rest of the parts tend to be pretty excellent.

Hint about clips for any .308 caliber Garand.
Because the diameter of the .308/7.62X51 is larger than the .30/06 and the cartridges tend to bind in the clips, some .308 caliber rifles tend to feed a bit sluggishly.
By preloading your .308 clips and leaving them loaded, the clip spring tension tends to relax a little bit and the cartridges feed lots smoother into the action.
I learned this little trick by being forgetful and then rediscovering a batch of loaded clips some six months later.
They had been tossed in a bag and forgotton because they were running sluggish in my rifle.
I went ahead and shot the stuff up after I found it again.
The stuff ran smooth, not one bobble, and the rifle functioned like a Garand should.

[Ian]

I've shot a couple thousand rounds of milsurp .308 through my M1, with no problems (except for one batch of crappy Indian ammo that I shouldn't have bought in the first place).

[HankB]

#1: Does the 30-06 Version function well with comercial loads?Well, many commercial loads, regardless of bullet weight, are loaded with a slower-than-optimum powder for the M1; it's not a matter of chamber pressure, but gas port pressure, and slow powders raise this to the point where excessive wear on the gas system results. There's an adjustable gas plug (Schuster?) which bleeds off some of the gas and lets you use most commercial ammo, so if you're not using USGI milsurp that's a viable alternative. I'll be using it heavily,and I don't want to risk a messing up a piece of History.,that's why I'm going with a new S.A. Uh . . . M1 Garands were meant to be used heavily - we fought WWII with them. Unless you spend $$$ to get one of the NIW M1s that surface at CMP, you're not going to mess up a piece of history by shooting the heck out of a Service Grade $500 USGI mixmaster M1 from the CMP.

As for the rifles themselves, the S.A. Inc Garands look "prettier" than most CMP rifles, but they have a spotty reputation - not for the investment cast receiver, but for using worn out GI parts which have been reparkerized to look new . . . but aren't. Customer service, from reading the M1 forums, has been an issue for some people as well. The S.A. Inc. Garands also seem to have "oversize" stocks which many people find less comfortable than WWII-pattern USGI.

I'm not saying S. A. Inc. rifles are actually bad rifles (though some apparently are) . . . some are just fine, and satisfy their owners. But IMHO you'd do well to consider a genuine USGI Service Grade rifle from the CMP for about half the price.

[Sactown]

I have an M1 Garand and M1A from SA. No problems with either. The Garand was a little tight, but things have smoothed out. Both are solidly accurate and dependable.

[Ridge]

After looking over the CMP site...I'm sold on that route.

How do you purchase from CMP?

Is it possible to purchase 2 rifles at the same time?

[BruceB]

Gents;

There have been MANY, many faults found by shooters with the current-production (commercial) Springfield Armory M1 rifles.

Go to the Fulton Armory website (www.fultonarmory.com), www.warrifles.com, and www.M-14forums.com and search on these boards for the Springfield-built M1 rifles. It is not happy reading, I can assure you.

A feller can buy a genuine FORGED-receiver M1 from CMP, and have it re-barrelled and tuned a bit, for less than the cost of a new one from SA. THis is by far the preferable route.

[George S.]

How do you purchase from CMP?

Is it possible to purchase 2 rifles at the same time?

There are specific instructions, forms and requirements for purchasing from the CMP on their website. Go to "Rifle Sales" and "Eligibility Requirements" to get all the information you need.

You can purchase up to 8 rifles a year from the CMP and you can buy all 8 at once if that's what you want to do.

One thing you can do is to buy one of the Rack Grade rifles and have it rebarreled in .308 or .30-06. While the USGI Garands work with "some" commercial loads, it's safer to buy the .30-06 Greek or Lake City ammo from the CMP. The CMP also sells Federal match-grade ammo that is specially loaded just for the Garand gas system.

You can also reload .30-06 using specific powders that closely match the military ammo. You do have to be somewhat careful with the Garand and commercial ammo. Many commercial loads have powders that burn too slow and that generates higher pressures. The gas system is designed for a specific powder burn rate and the pressure that goes with that. Too high a pressure and you risk damaging the gas system or bending or even breaking the op-rod.

While you can hunt with an M1, check your state laws regarding the use of semi-auto rifles and the maximum number of rounds that can be loaded in it while hunting. IMHO, you might be better off with a decent bolt action rifle for hunting and save the M1 for competition, plinking or whatever else comes up.

[Ridge]

I'm thinking of picking up a 1903 instead or the garand (Blasphmy I know)

So,any one know if the CMP 1903 MK-I's have the original sights?

[HankB]

How do you purchase from CMP? The requirements are at the CMP website - basically, it takes proof of age, proof of U.S. citizenship, proof of membership in an affiliated organization (in my case, the Texas State Rifle Association) and proof of marksmanship activity, such as a match bulletin, affidavit from a range, or a concealed handgun license. Fill out a form and get it notarized, send them copies of the qualifications and payment info, they'll run a NICS check, and anywhere from two weeks to several months later FedEx delivers a package to your door. Is it possible to purchase 2 rifles at the same time? I hope so - I have an order for two more pending right now. ;)

You can buy up to eight (8) M1 rifles per year - but they'll soon be upping the limit to 12 annually.

[George S.]

The 1903 rifles from the CMP all have the original design sights.

I have a 1943 Remington 1903A3 that I bought last year. It had been re-arsenaled (rebuilt with good or new parts) and has what appears to be a new Dec 1944 barrel. After the rebuild process, it was packed in cosmoline, wrapped up and stored until the CMP got it and I bought it.

The 03A3's are gone now, but I have heard that there are some '03's being shipped that are in the same sort of condition. It would certainly be a great value for a rifle with lots of history behind it.

Rifles bought by mail thru the CMP are shipped from their Anniston, AL facility directly to your door. When you meet the eligibility requirements to purchase, you can go to the Camp Perry, Ohio facility and pick one up yourself right off the racks. They have people there who can help you with selecting a rifle. Sometimes a road trip can be worth it!!

[Gewehr98]

I'd pass on them. Get a USGI forged from the CMP.

http://www.fulton-armory.com/Lithgow-TI.htm

[Guy B. Meredith]

I have a problem with finicky guns which is the reason I primarily stick to revolvers. However, just had to have an M1 so I've purchased one from the CMP and a Schuster gas plug to extend the range of ammo that can be used.

[Mark in California]

M-1's were made to feed on military ammo. The weapon's testing before its adoption included using all types of 30-06. The army still had millions of rounds of 30-06 left over from WWI and wanted to make sure they could use it. If we had not had all that ammo in inventory McArthur would have allowed the recomedation to adopt a .276 round instead. All US, and Nato 30-06 will works very well in M1.

Caution: ALL US surplus 30-06 ammo before around 1958 is corrosive, and some Nato ammo into the early 80's.

[USSR]

Caution: ALL US surplus 30-06 ammo before around 1958 is corrosive, and some Nato ammo into the early 80's.

Actually, 1953 was the first year that MOST USGI .30-06 ammo used noncorrosive primers.

Don

[Onmilo]

You know,,,before you guys read into any Fulton Armory reports and accept any and all that is said there as absolute gospel, let me point out the Fulton and Springfield Inc. are direct competitors in a very lucrative market.

Read and believe everything on the Fulton website and you will become convinced Clint McKee is God and everything else on the market is shyt.

I'm not intending to bad mouth McKee either, he is a sharp guy and a great shooter but Fulton ain't the do all and end all of well made products either.

[Gewehr98]

Far from it, I've been a thorn in his side for a long time, both him and Walt Kuleck. I'd like to say I'm keeping him honest.

However, it's rather hard to refute the printed and photographed examples of shoddy workmanship in the link I gave above.

Likewise, I've witnessed first-hand some abominations of M1A receivers that should never have left Springfield, Inc's quality control department. I was so disgusted I went to Armscorp of Baltimore, MD to build my own M14NM. Now I see Fulton Armory's own house brand M14 receivers are built by Armscorp. Must be a reason...

By all means, I understand every company will kick out a lemon or two every now and then. The question for the buyer is just how many lemons make it into the market with respect to these current commercial reproductions. Chances are a former DCM or CMP M1 Garand will have survived any teething troubles it had since WWII or Korea, and be quite serviceable when assembled with proper USGI components.

[MechAg94]

I would not be concerned about shooting and using a CMP Garand. They are not spit polished rifles when you get them anyway. They were made to shoot and use. If you want a piece of history to keep, buy two.

[Trebor]

Far from it, I've been a thorn in his side for a long time, both him and Walt Kuleck. I'd like to say I'm keeping him honest.

Can you elaborate on what kind of things your talking about?

[Gewehr98]

I caught Walt in an untruth regarding re-heat treatment of Norinco and Polytech M14 receivers, for one example. Ron Smith at Smith Enterprises would have been surprised to find out his process was an urban legend.

I've also gone around a few rounds with Clint and Walt about their adament proclamation that handloads/reloads should not be fired in AR-15 style gas guns. They're erring on the side of safety, of course, but are negating the millions of rounds fired each year by competent handloaders, and I'd like to consider myself one of them. I liken it to throwing the baby out with the bathwater when they illustrate a blown-up AR-15, and proclaim that handloads should not be used. Sorry, I don't buy it. Improperly assembled handloads should not be used. For those of us who shoot NRA High Power and 3 Gun, among other competitions using the AR-15 rifle, we're well aware of the risks. And we continue to use our match-grade handloads. Were I to have an "oops" with one of my handloads that destroyed my rifle or took an eye out, I've got nobody to blame but myself, and I'm very much aware of that each time I pull the trigger. That chance of having an "oops" also keeps me vigilant each time I produce a fresh round from one of my reloading presses. ;)

[Accord]

Buy a real M1 Garand from CMP for practically 1/3 the cost of a lower quality commercial reproduction from SA.

The only downside to buying from CMP is waiting for your rifle to come, I placed my order for a Service Grade M1 Garand back in DECEMBER and i'm still waiting. I also own a 1903 from CMP and that only took about 3-4 weeks.

[Greek]

CMP is the way to go!