Why Not a M1 Garand?

[Deus Machina]

I can never find one local for anything below ludicrous prices.

I haven't even been able to go through the CMP, because the clubs I would have to join to show 'enthusiasm'--unless a CCL works?--are about as far away as they can get and still be in the same state.

If I could find one with a good stock and receiver, for what the guys here report they pay, I'd gladly rebarrel.

 

[JRI]

I've never had the desire to own one,I've shot a few but was very unimpressed with them. I prefer iron sights over optics and bolt action over semi auto.

I own a few mil surps,21 to be exact,none of which are semi autos,and none are American,seems the American mil surps are copies of European mil surps,just my opinion however.

 

[wombat13]

I'll bet just about every shooter wants a Garand. I suspect there is always some concern about the fact that it isn't really 30-'06 in the modern sense in that one must use ammo in a very narrow range of bullet weight and pressure within the entire 30-'06 spectrum.

Not true. $30 spent on an adjustable gas plug + 1 screwdriver + One trip to the range = Shooting any .30-06 ammo you want in your Garand.

 

[MtnSpur]

Inherited one that had an almost black dip and hang stock, rear and front handguards. The operating rod rubbed on the inside of the stock and woulldn't allow the bolt to fully close. ROTC "way back when" taught us about disassembly/reassembly and all the things in between. Happy to say it's Springfield Armory part equipped though it was an Arlington Arsenal refurb. After some sanding of the offending wood where the OR rubbed and refinish she chugs along like a champ....8 bangs and a "ping" and ready for another charged enbloc. What's not to like?

 

[rori]

I trained with a garand and fought with it for a very short period of time. I love em!!!!The weight may be a bit to carry but its worth it makes for a great club when you run out of ammo and with a bayonet fixed that extra weight gives you better penetration. They are accurate and you can drag them thru water, sand, mud, and any other kind of crap and they keep on shooting. Eight rounds is fine if your a rifleman and pick your shots. If your a sprayer you need a machine gun. FRJ

 

[61chalk]

I could of bought one in the late 70's...picked one up an wow..thats kinda heavy...an thought they were ugly...I saved up an bought a Remington 700 30-06...then sold it an bought a Colt AR......fast forward to 2009 an I see an CMP advertisement for M1 Garands an saw people on this forum talking about them an the CMP. My son also got interested in them an we drove to the N. Store in Ohio an looked at them...we wanted WWII era an got to Field Grades made in Nov. an Dec. of 1942, both are excellent shooters. My Dad was in WWII an so these kinda got special to me. I can honestly say I hold my Garand with more reverance an admiration than any rifle I have ever owned. I love the way this rifle works an performs an the power of the 30-06....I often think of the men that used this rifle to help secure our freedom.

 

[zz4camaro1980]

because I bought the M1A instead

 

[TwoEyedJack]

I got one through the CMP back when Klinton was pres. It was delicious getting a government subsidized battle rifle from slick Willie. Mine is a post-Korean war rebuild, 6/63 barrel replacement, SA. It is a good shooter. I have been looking for a scabbard for it. The US Army issued a leather scabbard with a steel channel for the operating rod handle. No luck yet.

 

[benEzra]

I want one, but can't afford one yet. I've had to sell a few rifles recently to make ends meet, so I'm down to two practical carbines and one milsurp (Finn M39, $179 when I bought it).

I'd like to own one, though, just for the history's sake.

 

[Tim the student]

I haven't even been able to go through the CMP, because the clubs I would have to join to show 'enthusiasm'--unless a CCL works?

Your CPL will aid you for the marksmanship activity, not the "affiliated organization". (As does a DD214, and hunters safety, and shooting in a competition. Probably one or 2 ways that I'm forgetting about.)

You can join many clubs online. GCA is one.

Now that you know that you could have that order in the mail in short order, we expect pics and a range report when it arrives.

 

[Squeaky Wheel]

Why Not a M1 Garand?

Because I am not worthy!

Two of my uncles who were in the Korean War (only 1 of the 2 was actually in combat) repeatedly told of how fine a rifle it was and how they (my uncles) could accurately shoot them at 1000 yards (might have been meters). My father was in the Army (after Korea, but before Vietnam) and started with the M1 and then was later issued the M14. He also has fond memories of the M1 (except for his 'M1 Thumb' incident). My father commented that he found the M1 to be more reliable than the M14 when the rifle was exposed to lots of dirt, sand, muck, etc. The only negative about the M1 (other than my Dad's 'M1 Thumb') that I've heard from my father and uncles was that the M1 was heavy.

I have never owned an M1 (yet), but was lucky enough to fire one at a Garand Hi-Power Fun Shoot several years ago (and fun it was!). The M1 is on my list of rifles to get. I bought an M1A first because I figured it would be the more likely of the two (M1 and M1A) to be banned by future legislation or presidential decree.

I'm also a big history buff and have a deep respect for the M1 for the role in played in WW2. Like the 1903 Springfield, the M1 just has an awesome feel in your hands.

 

[MythBuster]

"I haven't even been able to go through the CMP, because the clubs I would have to join to show 'enthusiasm'--unless a CCL works?--are about as far away as they can get and still be in the same state."

You are not trying hard enough. There are plenty of clubs such as the Garand Collectors Association and many others you can join by mail from about $25 to $50 a year.

 

[MythBuster]

It is no problem to get a good Garand through the CMP. If you want one go for it.

 

[1KPerDay]

They're way over priced for nothing more than a shooter grade rifle. Same with the Carbine. I have 3 of those that I bought back in the late 70s. I paid 160.00 each for them and all three are collector grade guns, not "parts guns" as most are that are found today. Last I checked the shooter grade carbines are bringing over 700.00... and there's about a million more of them in circulation now than back when I bought mine. So even with "inflation" those guns shouldn't be selling for more than about $450-$500 for a shooter grade gun.

$160 in 1978 is $552.00 now... I paid less than that for my 2 carbines from the CMP. Dunno why you're getting your dander up...

 

[1KPerDay]

I haven't even been able to go through the CMP, because the clubs I would have to join to show 'enthusiasm'--unless a CCL works?--are about as far away as they can get and still be in the same state.

http://www.thegca.org/

Your CCL should work for one of the requirements if live fire training was required. Or a hunter's safety card also works.

 

[Kevin5098]

I had a Garand for a couple years and really liked it. Unfortunately had to sell it to support my habit - Eating! When things got better I thought about replacing it, but decided to get something that's cheaper to feed. Even the Greek ammo prices have soared in the last couple years. I just can't see having a firearm that I won't be shooting on a regular basis.

 

[mortablunt]

If you are a gun enthusiast and don't own a M1 Garand, why not?

Oh, loads of reasons...

Don't like iron sights?

Almost all guns have iron sights on them.

Don't like .30-06?

Running any real amount of 30-06 regularly is a good deal out of my budget and what I'd like to pay. 30-06 ammunition is $1 a round. I make $8 an hour. I can work a maximum of 20 hours a week. I normally work 15 hours a week. That comes out to $120 a week. I have expenses of my own, my own hobbies, financial goals, and bank balances to accumulate. If I were to shoot any meaningful number of 30-06 rounds, it would consume easily a quarter of my income.

Don't want an old beat up gun?

If I didn't want an old beat up gun, then I would have never gotten the M1941, nor would I wish for an SVT-40.

Hard to find one?

They are not too hard to find.

Too expensive? ???

Getting one from a private person can easily run $1000 or more. I don't qualify for a C&R license, or CMP, being under 21 and not in any sort of organized shooting profession or sport.

Just curious.

 

[Cop Bob]

Got two, would not trade them for ANYTHING... Great performance, shoot ALL DAY recoil, really nice accuracy, just an all around barrel of fun!!! Give me my 43 Winchester and 800 yards, and I own all within it..

 

[dmazur]

I have a Springfield Armory Inc. Garand (replica).

It filled my need for nostalgia, but I am well aware that it isn't a real one, and I'd like to remedy that before they are all gone.

 

[FlyinBryan]

Your CCL should work for one of the requirements if live fire training was required.

it did for me. texas concealed handgun license.

 

[Ultravox]

I don't have one...yet.

It's on my list though.

 

[Robert101]

Too expensive for what you get (In my opinion). I like the AR-10 or 308LR rifles better. The only appeal to me regarding this rifle is its history which is big (no doubt). Right now I'm stuck on the AR rifle.

 

[rskent]

Indeed, why not?
The M1 is a great rifle. Soft shooting, very accurate with irons. What’s not to like?
My only problem is that I don’t get to take it to the range very often
Steve

 

[Deus Machina]

Well, then. Already spent my tax return, but budget willing I'll start putting money aside.

Until then, I'll scrounge gunbroker for receivers. Something about making my own stuff...

 

[P-32]

Brian Smith said:

Try doing that in the dark, with wet hands, in between volleys of chicom hand grenades.

A comment was made you could not top off a M-1 clip. I say you can too....

Same thing can be said about topping off a mag. Now, I don't know about you but if I were under fire and wanted to have a topped off rifle, I would do a Tactical reload. In other words install a fresh clip and retain the partial clip and rounds. Just like what I would do with a magazine fed rifle. And besides, if in between volleys of hand grenades, I needed to top off I might just leave the partial clip on the ground. But to say a M-1 clip can not be topped off is still incorrect.

Next question is Mr. Smith, how many M-1's have you fired? I have competed with one since about 2002. I owned one before that.