Can anyone tell me the quality of a new Springfield M1 (Garand)

Hey Frandy-

I have one and love it. It has been reliable and very, very, accurate. Now have about 1000 rounds through it with out so much as a hiccup.

For some reason however this gun causes people to get really riled up whenever it is mentioned on discussion boards. You will hear about how expensive they are, how the reciever is a cast piece of junk, how they are built with mostly worn out USGI stuff,etc.

They are expensive I admit. But it is my money and I can spend it any way I want, why people get so fired up over it is beyond me. Plus I have a couple of "real" Garands to play with should I start feeling nostalgic.

The reciever is cast, but mine seems to function just fine. No problems so far. The gun does have a lifetime warranty should any problems arise.

As far as parts being out of spec and poor performance, I don't know. I can only speak from my personal experience and say that I love mine, it really does function well all the time.

Where in NC are you? If you are close to Charlotte I would be glad to meet you at the local range and let you fire it.

The first time you hear that CLANG!!!! you will be hooked on Garands for life.

The first time you hear that CLANG!!!! you will be hooked on Garands for life.

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Ahh..so they are defective then. A real Garand goes "ping!".

Must be those Korean en bloc clips I am using that make more of a "clang" sound.

I luv the ping (clang).

A Garand is on my list...since I started shooting rifles my list has doubled

I know the Garand and probably should get a CMP, but I'm not a collector or repair-oriented. So, just not sure what to do yet...

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I've had a CMP Garand for years. If there's something wrong with it (other than fair wear and tear) they'll fix it. For later problems, there are plenty of garand parts around.

I'll second the CMP rifle. It is much cheaper and would allow you to play with an M1 without worrying about it getting scratched up. You can use the money you save to stock up on ammo and clips.

I have one of the new Springfield M1s as well. No problems with it either. Been accurate and reliable. I'll probably get around to a GI M1 sometime.

I reccomend CMP for a few reasons:

1) Historical value. These rifles were actually part of American history, not a remake of it.

2) Price. I could pick up two or three CMP guns for the price of the new M1's around here.

3) Availability: CMP seems to be taking the stance of 'get them all out the door before we can no longer sell them'. Meaning, they may not be around for much longer.

If you really want a nice M1, buy a CMP dane rack without wood, and send it off to Dean's Gun Restoration for a makeover. It'll put any new M1 to shame, for probably less the price.

I have never got a chance to shoot one of the new production rifles, but I have seen them in use at the shooting range and talked to the owners. Most of the people that I have spoken with bought them because they wanted a nice looking rifle right away and did not want to go through the CMP/restoration process. As far as function goes, they seemed fine. The people shooting them had no complaints. They are a tad expensive, but like Exposure said, it is your money to do with what you will.

I had one. Looked great. 100% reliable and accurate. No complaints at all.

I reccomend CMP for a few reasons:

1) Historical value. These rifles were actually part of American history, not a remake of it.

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Any M1 you buy today will have been to the arsenal at least 3 or 4 times in its life, hence the reason they are referred to as "mixmasters". There are very few all correct ones floating around. Certain parts of certain rifles may have a history to them but there is no way to tell. As far as "remaking" history. What does that mean? Is every 1911 clone a "remake" of history as well?

2) Price. I could pick up two or three CMP guns for the price of the new M1's around here.

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Yep they are pricey, I can't argue that.

3) Availability: CMP seems to be taking the stance of 'get them all out the door before we can no longer sell them'. Meaning, they may not be around for much longer.

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CMP estimates they have at least 3 years of M1's remaining before the current supply is depleted. Once the CMP sells all they have the rifles will still be in existence just not available from the CMP. You may have to look a little harder but there will always be M1's for sale.

If you really want a nice M1, buy a CMP dane rack without wood, and send it off to Dean's Gun Restoration for a makeover. It'll put any new M1 to shame, for probably less the price

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Buying a woodless Dane and sending it Dean's will get you a new stock, new Wilson barrel (same barrel as the new Springfield), new springs, new parkerizing, and in-spec USGI parts for everything else, just like the Springfield. So the only original part that you bought from the CMP would be the reciever. This is $755.00 plus the $265.00 for the woodless Dane which puts you in the exact same ball park as a new Springfield. Is this not "remaking" history as well?

Do tell how one of Dean's guns will put "any new M1 to shame for probably less the price". I'd be interested to hear that one.

Any M1 you buy today will have been to the arsenal at least 3 or 4 times in its life, hence the reason they are referred to as "mixmasters". There are very few all correct ones floating around. Certain parts of certain rifles may have a history to them but there is no way to tell. As far as "remaking" history. What does that mean? Is every 1911 clone a "remake" of history as well?

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Yes, they are mixmatches of parts. But that is how they were used. It is not as if once a gun was rearsenaled, it was no longer used.

CMP estimates they have at least 3 years of M1's remaining before the current supply is depleted. Once the CMP sells all they have the rifles will still be in existence just not available from the CMP. You may have to look a little harder but there will always be M1's for sale.

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Have you checked the price of aftermarket M1's? I truly believe the only thing keeping them from hitting 4 digit price tags easily is the continued availability from CMP.

Buying a woodless Dane and sending it Dean's will get you a new stock, new Wilson barrel (same barrel as the new Springfield), new springs, new parkerizing, and in-spec USGI parts for everything else, just like the Springfield. So the only original part that you bought from the CMP would be the reciever. This is $755.00 plus the $265.00 for the woodless Dane which puts you in the exact same ball park as a new Springfield. Is this not "remaking" history as well?

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That is why I would not do it. But, given the choice of spending $1000-1100 on a Dean's gun, and the $1300 or so that the Springfield M1's go for around here, I'd go for Dean's hands down. I looked at a few of each side by side at a gunshow (one of the few things they are still good for), and in my opinion, the Deans gun is just nicer overall.

Not saying the new Springfield is not a nice gun, just think there are better options.

My CMP Garand has a dark walnut stock and lower handguard, and a light blonde (birch?) upper handguard. Someone said, "What a shame. But you can buy a matching walnut upper handguard."

And my response was, "Why? This is a typical Garand as-issued. An old warrior SHOULD have scars."

+1 for a Dean built gun.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=154127

Somewhat off track here with my question...

Couldn't stop from using this thread to ask about quality of an M1A (M14) by Springfield.

Indeed, after shooting a Garand (original WWII) for 6 months, I ran into an M1A for the first time. Although I was looking forward to seeing and possibly getting one, I was so disappointed with the feel (quality and finish wise) that I gave up that purchase on the spot.

Compared to the Garand's great steel, wood and overall construction the M1A felt like a cheap chinese copy (OK, slight exaggeration here) of a great american rifle.

Any comments?
Are all M1As like that, including the match grade ones?

A GOOD cast reciever is just as good as a forged reciever. As long as the heat treat is done properly then both work just as well.

New SA M1 owner here. I bought it before I heard about the CMP. (I might still buy one from them.) The only M1s I had looked at were gun show rifles - beat to heck and sellers still wanted 7 to $800.00 for them.

It's not as historic as a GI rifle, but is an excellent rifle. Yes, they are expensive. Mine is accurate and reliable - no complaints here. I'd have to say it is my favorite rifle.

--meathammer

1. You need to have the throat erosion and muzzle wear gauged. Also check the bore for serious pitting. A bad barrel will cost you even more sooner than later.

2. Write down the drawing numbers and/or revision characteristics for all the parts and run them against http://www.battlerifle.com/ or a datasheet from Scott Duff's "The M1 Garand Serial Numbers and Data Sheets" handbook.

3. Take note of metal and finish condition.

Assuming the barrel gauges well and the finish is decent, you would pretty much call it CMP "service grade" equivalent. So for $695 is a service grade quality HRA worth it? It depends. Considering you can't get an HRA SG from the CMP anymore, the price reflects the availability. If most of the parts are correct for the rifle, then yes, the price is decent, especially if the barrel is correct.

I've got a new Springfield Armory M1 Garand and havn't had any problems with it yet. It shoots just as well as my Fulton Armory built Garand.