M1 Garand - What to look for?

CMP Service Grade.

If you're looking for a shooter, it is difficult to find a better deal than a Service Grade from the CMP, as previously mentioned. Check out the Garand section of the CMP forums to view pictures of recently received rifles.

Realistically, you can expect the metal components to be in pretty good shape and the wood to have some minor handling damage (if USGI). It may come in a CMP birch stock, but that's not a huge loss if you're just looking for a shooter.

Civilian Marksmanship Program. In a nutshell, they sell surplus rifles and ship to your door. There are some hoops to jump through, but they are really not as bad as some make them out to be. Well worth it, IMO.

Jump through those hoops, and thank us later.

Civilian Marksmanship Program, it's a government program that sells rifles to qualifying people. Check out the website, it's cool. They're approved to mail a rifle straight to your house, no FFL required.

Edit: Tim beat me to it.

Edit: Tim beat me to it.

Click to expand...

I love spreading the gospel of the CMP is all. That, and I'm dang speedy.

The CMP stores are just east of Birmingham AL in Anniston, and west of Cleveland OH at Camp Perry.

My Service Grade wood might be more dinged and darker than most, but somehow the bore's shine looks like the chrome lining in my Nor. SKS.
A friend who retired from a military marksmanship team picked this rifle, and the bore's condition might be in a higher category.

He might be a really good judge, and won over a dozen Garands as prizes in matches.

http://thecmp.org/sales.htm

http://forums.thecmp.org/

http://thecmp.org/Sales/eligibility.htm
Eligibility requirements

If you buy one you will end up with at least 2 or 3 more. People can get addicted to those rifles.

Check that the front sight does not wiggle. The gas block/sight base is splined to the barrel. While the splines can be peened to tighten a loose sight, it is easier to buy one that is right.

Check that the rear sight is not loose either. Again, this can be fixed with a new rear sight cover/spring if you are set on a particular rifle.

Check the barrel with muzzle/throat gages if you can.

CMP Service Grade Springfield Special (RM1SASSP) my son got for his birthday this past summer ($950.00):





This is one superb rifle in every way.

Dan

Bergmen, that is one sweet looking rifle. Looks brand spanking new. $950 is a steal. The real deal for less than a newly manufactured copy.

tk1971 said:

Bergmen, that is one sweet looking rifle. Looks brand spanking new. $950 is a steal. The real deal for less than a newly manufactured copy.

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Yeah, it was everything I could do to not get one myself. But, that is my son's realm while I have the M1A Walnut Scout Squad. We have fun shooting these rifles and trading off. It's funny, my son is about 6'4", I'm about 5'11" so the rifles match our physiques.

Here he is on point looking for wild pigs:



Dan

I've got 2 CMP Service Grade Garands (1 Greek, and 1 US, both Springfield). I also have one CMP M1 Carbine (Inland). My other M1 carbine was not from CMP, but was made by IBM.

I'm 5'7" (67") tall, but that doesn't stop me from shooting my full length M1A, or my Garands (both about 44" in length).

bergman, is that winchester bullet bag in the top right corner those 308 147gr fmjbt bullets?

if so, those are awesome bullets for the m1 garand. pretty much my favorite for target work and general plinking (sitting on 47g of h4895)

http://tinypic.com/r/30ihld4/6

that is my cmp service grade that came a couple days ago. new birch stock, metal in the 95% condition. springfield receiver. Haven't shot it yet.

FlyinBryan said:

bergman, is that winchester bullet bag in the top right corner those 308 147gr fmjbt bullets?

if so, those are awesome bullets for the m1 garand. pretty much my favorite for target work and general plinking (sitting on 47g of h4895)

Click to expand...

Yes, as a matter of fact they are. I bought 500 of them and have yet to reload for them (just too busy reloading for my other calibers).

That is good to know, I plan to use these for my M1A reloads (whenever I get to them).

Dan

greyling22 said:

http://tinypic.com/r/30ihld4/6

that is my cmp service grade that came a couple days ago. new birch stock, metal in the 95% condition. springfield receiver. Haven't shot it yet.

Click to expand...

Wow, gorgeous rifle there!

Dan

ya, those are some purty rifles.

yes dan, they are awesome for the m1 garand. i bought some hornady 150g fmjbt but found when seated to the cannelure that they are markedly shorter than m2 ball ammo. in fact with the hornadys i had to seat and crimp a good 0.300 short of the cannelure to even get close to the overall length i wanted.

not so with the winny 147g like you have there on your bench. they are very good when brass is trimmed to spec and seated to the cannelure. maybe just 0.020 or so shorter overall length than m2, which i find totally acceptable.... they got hard to find there for a while a year or so back but im happy to see them back on shelves.

they are very accurate when we load them to the cannelure in brass trimmed to spec, loaded with cci l.r. primers and 47g of h4895. actually noticably better than the greek (which has excellent accuracy for mil-surp ammo in my opinion)...... my brother is a little better shot than me and has fired many 8 round groups with them @50yds into a ragged little 3/4" single hole with either of our 2 m1's

great little bullets.

Very doubtful you will find a Garand cheaper than through CMP

join the garand collectors association as an affiliate club for the cmp.order a select grade

dprice3844444, There are no rifles called "select grade" for sale at the CMP. I suggest service grade for a shooter.

If you can go to one of the stores, it is a great time.

I have 5 rifles from the CMP, as they deal in military surplus and not just Garands. 1987 Kimber Model 82 Government target .22 1918 M1917 "American Enfield" 1943 Winchester M1 Garand, 1944 Springfield M1 Garand, 1955 HRA Correct Garand. The 43' and 44' are both service grades and have mirror bores. The HRA is a service special I made a stock swap on to make it correct. It also has a mirror bore. I have picks on a thread I started called "Lets see those Milsurps". Great rifles.

Also, you may want to pick up some ammo and you shouldn't shoot commercial ammo unless you have an adjustable gas plug. Get a bayonet while you are at it. They really are a bargain.