Thinking of Selling my M1 Garand

Status
Not open for further replies.

Comrade Mike

Member
Joined
Apr 16, 2013
Messages
997
This is not a WTS or Ill Take it thread, paws off :evil:

Anyway, I'm thinking of unloading my M1 Garand and getting out of 30-06 Entirely. Here's my reasoning.

It's an interesting rifle, obviously it has the very cool historical aspect about it, but shooting it just doesn't do it for me like with other rifles. I've gotten a little more pragmatic about shooting with age. What was a piece of history to me before now is a powder hungry semi auto that throws brass into oz and uses those ever more expensive .308 projectiles. Plus I do not find it to be anything terribly special in the accuracy department.

I don't particularly enjoy reloading for it and I don't shoot it very much because of this. Do you think it's worth keeping as an investment piece or just unload it and get something more interesting out of it? Talk me out of it.
 
Tell us a bit more about the rifle. SA, I presume? What's the s/n range? CMP rifle? Can you post any pics?

I'd keep it because I love these rifles. You don't apparently share the same Garand fever, so maybe a thought would be to keep it in speculation that prices start appreciating even more if/when CMP runs dry? Might be a few years out, maybe shorter ...
 
Its an HR with a new Beretta barrel on it. Non-CMP rifle. Typical mix of SA and HR parts. If I remember right it dates to the mid 1950ies.
 
Don't feel obligated to keep something because other people think that it is something special. It sounds to me as if you have already detached yourself from the rifle and based on your description of it it probably doesn't have any exceptional collectibility value.

Take some pictures of it and enjoy the idea that you owned it for a while and got your moneys worth from it and then moved on to something that you found more compelling.

just my $.02
 
Mike, if it doesn't trip your trigger, then I'd sell it. It seems that the gun has zero sentimental value to you, so I don't see a reason that you should hold onto it.
 
There are plenty of blokes who will jump at the chance for a reliable M1 without any collectors value.
 
If your M1 doesn't do anything for you anymore then by all means sell it and get something that you really want. No sense in hanging onto something that doesn't hold your interest. Let us know what you decide to do.
 
Mixed parts, including a non-US barrel, so the value won't increase like the typical correct or corrected Garand.
My joints don't always tolerate the Garand, but at times I can manage the recoil for a while. At those times, I love to run a few clips through it. My dad loved his M1 (during WWII) almost as much as Patton did.

But if it holds no fascination for you, by all means convert it to cash and find something that does "do it" for you.
 
Anyway, I'm thinking of unloading my M1 Garand and getting out of 30-06 Entirely. Here's my reasoning.

It's an interesting rifle, obviously it has the very cool historical aspect about it, but shooting it just doesn't do it for me like with other rifles. I've gotten a little more pragmatic about shooting with age. What was a piece of history to me before now is a powder hungry semi auto that throws brass into oz and uses those ever more expensive .308 projectiles. Plus I do not find it to be anything terribly special in the accuracy department.

I don't particularly enjoy reloading for it and I don't shoot it very much because of this. Do you think it's worth keeping as an investment piece or just unload it and get something more interesting out of it? Talk me out of it.

I had an M1 Garand that I divested myself of. It was very nice but I also wasn't that impressed with the accuracy. I'm sure that when it was first made, it was the cat's meow but these days it's easy to get something that will do better. I haven't abandoned the 30/06 cartridge though.
 
This is not a WTS or Ill Take it thread, paws off :evil:

Anyway, I'm thinking of unloading my M1 Garand and getting out of 30-06 Entirely. Here's my reasoning.

It's an interesting rifle, obviously it has the very cool historical aspect about it, but shooting it just doesn't do it for me like with other rifles. I've gotten a little more pragmatic about shooting with age. What was a piece of history to me before now is a powder hungry semi auto that throws brass into oz and uses those ever more expensive .308 projectiles. Plus I do not find it to be anything terribly special in the accuracy department.

I don't particularly enjoy reloading for it and I don't shoot it very much because of this. Do you think it's worth keeping as an investment piece or just unload it and get something more interesting out of it? Talk me out of it.

Twenty years ago I was really into the M1 Garand rifles. Today I still have two of them, one in 30-06 and my odd ball that I chambered in 7mm-08 Remington. While I don't shoot either as much as I once did they get out to the range once in awhile. I have other rifles I better enjoy shooting is the only reason they get shot less. If I want yet another rifle I am fortunate in that I can just go out and buy one so it isn't like I need to sell a rifle to buy another rifle. Based on that, they remain with me.

I can't tell you what to do with your rifle but based on your post I might think about selling it if I were you. If the interest is gone and you really don't enjoy shooting the rifle, then sell the rifle. The Garand can easily be a love it or hate it type rifle.

Ron
 
Why sell if you don't need the money. Just because you own it does not mean you must shoot it. Also, the gun will only become more rare with time.
 
Granted it's not really a historical piece, but I wouldn't sell it. Crude as my $500 CMP is, I still grin every time I touch off that booming 30-06 at the range. Without fail I get 'THE NOD' from RO's and seasoned shooters every time I hasty the sling and ping a steel at 100 yards.:D
 
If the love is lost, then a divorce for the M1 is eminant sounds like. That is unless you want it for a safe queen.

I never seemed to find an M1 that was exactly what I wanted at the time when I had the money. I have however found some of the same similar love shooting my Mini 14 and Mini 30 rifles. Similar action and lots cheaper to shoot. My newer models have the accuracy that my older ones lacked. The smaller Mini 14 is really easy on the shoulder. The Mini's could be an option for you!
 
First off, it is NOT without "history".

H&R, Korean era and Beretta barrel not withstanding, it is still a war era Garand. And, a GARAND.

If you; don't want it displayed to look at, need the money or don't want it wasting space and banging other stocks with its charging handle - then, by all means sell it.

While above it has been said that you have already distanced yourself from it, I hear a guy without that one single very good reason to get rid of it.

I've got an IHC with a Marlin barrel on the wall of my office. Shot a couple-three clips through it many years ago and then commenced to just enjoy viewing it. Nope, didn't get drug across North Africa, didn't defend the Anzio beachhead, Didn't storm the beaches of Normandy nor did it travel island-hopping across the Pacific. Still, its a sweet shape evoking a period (or two... or three) of America's high point in international responsibilities, manufacturing abilities and commitment to... commitment.

I don't care if I ever shoot it again - it'll go no where until it needs to be somewhere else.
 
Mike, it's YOUR gun and no one should criticize you for whatever you decide to do with it!

As an aside, grab the gas cylinder and see if there is any wobble in it. There usually is, and remember that the front sight is mounted on the gas cylinder. A wobbly front sight is not conductive to good accuracy!

You can tighten the whole thing up by removing the gas cylinder and, with a center punch, stake the grooves( for lack of a better word) that the splines on the cylinder slide into, with the punch. It doesn't take much and it isn't visible once the cylinder is re-installed. It can tighten up your groups considerably.
 
If you're not enjoying it and feel like you'd like something different...sell it. Get what you like, and you can always buy another Garand later if you decide you want one. They made nearly 6 million of the things, so the run-of-the-mill M1 isn't rare by any stretch of the imagination.
 
My wife has rooms full of crap that she never uses but keeps "just because". I'm not gonna do that same thing. I've had dozens of guns that I have owned and then sold. In the end, they're just "stuff".

You never really own these types of things. Anything collectible is simply rented for a short period while we are fortunate enough to have it. Then it's passed on for someone else to enjoy.

If you're not enjoying it, pass it on to somebody that will. Sooner or later it's gonna go to somebody else. At least this way, it's on your terms. After she's gone, my wife's stuff priceless stuff is gonna end up in a yard sale with a $1 sticker on it.
 
Last edited:
Garands make for great trading rifles if that's what you want to do. I had some extra Garands and traded them for AR 15's. Both the dealer and I come out ahead. kwg
 
FWIW, Cabela's is selling M1 Garand mixmasters for US$1,799 in its Gun Libraries. Furthermore, CMP is auctioning "Correct Grade" M1s for >US$1,500 as I write this.

Net, net, if you sell to Cabela's, you should be able to get at least 70% of $1,600 = $1,120 for a Garand M1 in the Gun Library depending on condition. You might also look into auctioning it off on CMP site...I'm not sure how that works but you should do ok subject to condition and grade.

I happen to like my M1s so I'm not a player, but I have 2 Special Grades (one HRA, one SA) bought for for $750 and two Correct Grade SAs bought for $950 so I'm looking forward to CMP running out. YMMV.

FH
 
I traded my 5/45 SA for a rifle I wanted more and have zero regrets. Once I contemplate trading something off, it's dead to me.

Guns are like old girlfriends to me. Had fun with them for a while and then moved on.
 
If cheap mil surp M2 ball ammo was available by the pallet-load, I'd still own mine.

Sell it

M
 
While M1Key missed the $0.28/rd HXP Greek M2 from CMP, a $36 adjustable gas plug gives the ability to shoot any .30-06 from your M1 Garand. I prefer surplus M2 Ball but handloads (47-48gr IMR 4895) work just fine. I also have two Schuster adjustable gas plugs. Research and study help...and I have all four of my Garands (2 correct grade($950 ea.), 1 ea. Spl Grade HRA and SA ($750 ea.) still in my safe. I noted today that M1 Garands sell for $1,800 at Cabela's and Corrects at $1,500 on CMP's auction site...I'm salivatatin'.

LOL,

FH
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top