7.62 NATO Garand?

[cluttonfred]

One more post and I'll quiet down...

Heresy to some, I know, but there are a number of Garand rifles out there in 7.62 NATO caliber instead of .30-06. Some were converted with chamber inserts and magazine plugs for the U.S. Navy (problematic), some with new barrels and magazine plugs for the U.S. Navy (much better) and some either new manufactured by folks like Springfield Armory (the private company) or small custom gunsmiths.

My questions are...

• What are the pros and cons of a 7.62 vs. .30-06 Garand?
• How much might it cost to get one of the Navy conversions?
• How much would one of the commercial ones run?

I am not looking for a high-value collector's gun here, but a shooter in easier-on-the-shoulder and cheaper-to-feed 7.62 NATO. Yes, I know it won't qualify for Garand matches.

Thanks!

 

[Ian]

1. None, beyond the differing cost and availability of the two cartridges. There won't be any difference in the recoil, since the both push basically the same weight bullet at the same velocity. Right now, .30-06 is cheaper than .308.

2. I actually just saw a Navy M1 sell a few days ago for $2000, in a matter of hours.

3. For the new production Springfield rifles, IIRC both calibers have the same MSRP.

 

[W.E.G.]

I think the "con" is the fact that .308 ammo is every bit as expensive (in many cases more expensive) than surplus 30-06.

Then you have the cost of the conversion on top of that.

The only "practical" reason for doing it would be ammunition interoperability.

Unless you already have a VERY LARGE supply of .308, I wouldn't monkey with rebarreling a 30-06to .308.

Stock up on 30-06 here
http://www.odcmp.com/ammo.htm

 

[TIMC]

If you are looking for easy on the shoulder then look at putting on a muzzle brake on one of the 30.06 Garands. Here is a link, they run $60 http://www.smithenterprise.com/buy/muzzle_brakes.asp
I have one on my Garand and there is almost no recoil and it is not that loud to the shooter because of the length of the rifle.
Here is mine with the brake installed.

 

[Mk VII]

If you just want a shooting tool, then get one with a new barrel. Forget about conversions.

 

[Trebor]

The CMP is selling .30 - '06 cheaper then you'll find any 7.62 NATO right now.

The time to do this conversion was a few years back when surplus 7.62 was cheap. That's not the case anymore. Stick to .30 - '06 if you want cheap ammo.

 

[Firepower!]

M1 Garand is simply outdated useless rifle. It was not good back then and for isnt any good now. I dont know why there is such a big following for it.

 

[mainmech48]

When I bought my rebuilt Garand several years back, the ammo situation was different. .30-06 surplus was tough to find and about twice the cost per round of good surplus 7.62 NATO. And I already was set up to reload 7.62/.308.

.30-06 surplus may be available and relatively inexpensive now, but remember that it hasn't been a standard issue round for any sizable military in at least 40 years so, once the remaining inventories are gone, there isn't going to be any more in the future. 7.62 NATO is still being produced and stockpiled.

Thinking ahead is a Good Thing, IMO.

I wasn't looking for an 'artifact', just the most all-around practical, affordable example in the best condition that I could find. This was it, and I've no complaints.

Aside from 'historical authenticity' nitpicking and ineligibility for NRA "Garand" matches I can't come up with any practical cons. Mine functions with the same reliability as any good .30-06 M1 and uses the same clips with no alteration. Recoil seems to feel just a bit 'softer' to me, but perceptions vary.

FWIW, I paid less than the current price for a 'rack grade' DCM for a completely rebuilt and refurbished (including a new commercial barrel and re-Parkerizing on all metal) rifle. As I wasn't looking for a historical artifact nor concerned with any potential lack of interest from some future collector it seemed a good bargain to me.

Original USN marked 7.62x51 M1's in either flavor are relatively rare and bring a sizeable premium from serious collectors.

IMO, unless you're highly skilled, experienced and well-equipped enough to DIY the bulk of it, a decent M1 and professional conversion would likely end up costing at least as much or more than a new Springfield Armory model.

IMO, scouting the shows and the internet for a nicely done commercial conversion like the one I bought is probably your least expensive option.

 

[Eljay]

I have both. A 41XXXX Springfeild in 30-06 that I paid $250 for in about '94-95 and a 27XXXXX Springfeild in 308 I bought in 2000 or so and paid $400 for. The 308 gun has a barrel that is marked Arlington Armory ( I think, I have to check, I'm not home). I was going to build up a gun in 308 but when I found this one at a PA gun show I thought why bother? At that time there was a lot of 308 around and I just wanted something different, They shoot the same you really could not tell which one you were shooting, use the same en-blocks, I hand load for both so ammo is not an issue, the 06 takes a little more powder in some loadings but you don't load too hot for Garands. I will try to post some pics soon.

 

[Bazooka Joe71]

The CMP is selling .30 - '06 cheaper then you'll find any 7.62 NATO right now.

That's a big one right there...You can get the Greek HXP for the price of .223 nowadays.

 

[30Cal]

Good HXP 30-06 costs about half what the low-end surplus .308 is running these days.

 

[Murdock]

Match ammunition

Factory loaded 7.62/.308 is available. I don't think .30-06 is, anymore. That's the only advantage I can think of.

 

[USSR]

Murdock,

Federal Gold Medal Match ammo in .30-06 is still available.

Don

 

[mainmech48]

Eljay: I'd bet that your M1 is marked "Arlington Ornance". The one I wrote of is also one of theirs. They seem to get 'dissed' a lot on some forums, but mine has given me no problems whatever.

All I can say is that the conversion and rebuild work was done nicely on mine. I did industrial machine repair and maintenance for over 20 years, did a field strip and examined it carefully before I wrote the check. It's been perfectly reliable and shoots quite well, IMO. It's at least as accurate as I can be with irons and my bifocals anymore, and well enough to make me look pretty decent with ammo it likes on a good day. I can't ask much more for about $450 otd. To be fair, I did replace the wood with a laminated set from Midway when Reinhardt Fajen was closing out and that knocked about an inch off the average groups.