Are CMP Garands a good value?

[liljohn]

My dad has everything ready to place an order with CMP for a couple surplus rifles. They have "field" grades for $495 and "service" grades for $595. Either requires $22 shipping.

Based on the info below, do you think they are a good value?

FIELD GRADE: (Fair to Good) -- $495 + $22 shipping
Field Grade Rifles. Most of these rifles have been refinished or rebuilt at least once while in military service and will likely have some parts from other manufacturers. Fair to good condition. Rifle wear will be exhibited by worn and mixed colors of the finish; there may be some minor pitting on the metal parts; wood will be basically sound but may be well used with minor hairline cracks, and many dings, scratches and gouges; wood may not match in color, type of wood or condition. These rifles may have some foreign parts and wood may be Walnut, Birch, Beech or other variety. Rifles do not have import marks. Bores will be generally good with only minor imperfections; the barrel crown may be nicked, and the muzzle may gauge more than “3” on muzzle gauge. The Throat Erosion will gauge less than 5 – well within US Army standards. Do not expect rifles in mint condition in this grade.

SERVICE GRADE: (Good to Very Good) -- $595 + $22 shipping
Service Grade Rifles show less wear and better appearance than Field or Rack Grades. Good to very good condition. Rifle wear will be exhibited by worn and mixed colors of the parkerized finish. There may be some minor pitting on the metal parts. Wood will be either Walnut, Birch, Beech or other variety and will be basically sound but may have minor hairline cracks, dings, scratches and gouges. Wood may not match in color or type of wood. Wood may be of new production on Service Grade Garands. Bores will be generally good with only minor imperfections. The barrel crown may be nicked, but the muzzle will gauge less than 3 and the throat erosion will gauge less than 5.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

Keep in mind they can't shoot all .30-06, they have to shoot specially made ammo.

 

[alde]

They are the best value out there. I got a Service Grade Springfield a few months ago and it's almost like a new rifle. It shoots great and looks great. A rifle like it at a gun show would run close to $1000, maybe more.

I understand that the Feld Grades can be quite worn out and have issues. I would spend the extra $100 and get a much better rifle.

 

[loadedround]

Compared to what is offered for sale at gunshows and resultant pricing, what you can buy through the CMP is a bargin and usually quality is better than the condition listed. If you get one with a decent barrel and metal, the stock may be a candidate for refinishing or replacement. The two I have puchased have been excellent as far as barrel, metal, and wood is concerned. Go for it!

 

[lipadj46]

Based on the info below, do you think they are a good value?

Yes the last remaining bargain available in the world of firearms

Keep in mind they can't shoot all .30-06, they have to shoot specially made ammo.

Well if you shoot commercial 30.06 just make sure it within the parameters of the USGI ammo i.e. stick to a reasonably light bullet.

 

[chrissmallwood]

The desriptions on the CMP website seem to be more of a worst case scenario than compared to what most people usually get. Many people that order a rifle from the CMP usually receive one in better condition than what is listed. IF your close enough to drive to either the North or the South stores that would be in your best interest. I bought a field grade HRA from the north store about a month ago and it was in better shape than many of the service grades they had. All in all I think its a luck of the draw. Even if you get one thats not in the best it's still a bargain compared to buying on the open market.

 

[benzy2]

I just bought one and it is already my favorite rifle. I went to the store planning on getting a Service Grade. The SG they had on the racks weren't anything special (though still really nice rifles) so I spent some time looking through the field grade. I found a field grade with great metal but ugly greek wood. Swapped the wood out and I couldn't be happier. The thing shoots the greek HXP the CMP sells very well. I bought an adjustable gas plug to allow use of commercial ammo but I don't see shooting much of it.

If I were to buy sight unseen I would go with the Service Grade. I think either will be fun but I would feel better spending the extra knowing it will be great.

 

[1KPerDay]

Go for the service grade, IMO. You won't be disappointed. All of my CMP guns have been in better condition than described.

 

[Eightball]

YES, absolutely yes. End of story.

I got one, bought one for a present to a graduating friend, and both of ours are one of our most treasured firearms (respectively).

All of my CMP guns have been in better condition than described.

This is also true, but then again, I was able to drive to the North Store to pick mine out (based on barrel wear). YMMV, but the descriptions always make them sound worse than they are.

 

[rondog]

I've never heard of any unhappy CMP buyers, except for the waiting part. I've heard that buying in-person is the way to go. I wish I lived close enough to drive there, Denver's just too far away.

 

[jcwit]

Are they worth it? In a word "YUP".

With that said If you could take a day and go their in person do it, and hand pick your purchase. Not knowing how far you would have to travel your savings on shipping might pay foryour gas.

 

[61chalk]

Buy!!!!!!!! I went over an bought 2. If ordering by mail I would go service grade.....mine were Field Grade, all they had that day, the wood is very well used to say the least, most of the Field Grades fronts sights were very loose, but later found out how to fix, the 2 I bought front sites were tight, an muzzle gage were 1.5 an a 2.0, I put new CMP wood on one an it looks almost new...you can see it if you put a search on a thread I started..."WWII VET an my CMP M1 Garand."

 

[GRIZ22]

I have a couple of SGs and a FG. I picked out the FG at the North Store. You get better overall condition with a SG for $100 more. I even got a Sg with a brand new stock. If you can go and pick them out you can find a dandy FG but if ordering by mail get the SG.

You won't be disappointed.

 

[JShirley]

Wish they had some decent 1917s in stock...and I had the money to buy one!

 

[FlyinBryan]

yes, they are a good deal.

actually they are a great deal.

i see garands at the shops and shows that look like total beaters compared to what you get at cmp, for over 1000 bux.

heres a few pics of two service grades i got just a month ago.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=434818

 

[TexasRifleman]

Keep in mind they can't shoot all .30-06, they have to shoot specially made ammo.

Which CMP will also be happy to sell you at a low price. $86 for 240 rounds at the moment, which is up quite a bit recently, but still not horrible.

And not really "specially made" just loadings equal to the original military M2. Higher pressure ammo can bend things. There is plenty of commercial '06 that meets the requirements.

Don't let ammo issues stop you from buying a Garand.

 

[Lovesbeer99]

I asked a similar question the other day about the CMP 03A3, but I didn't get as many responses. Can I assume the Garand it more popular?

 

[1KPerDay]

There are just more of them in better condition than the 1903s, which were all returns from veterans' organizations. IMO

 

[Tinpig]

Yes, they are a terrific value, as is the CMP Greek HXP ammo.

I have two, a Service Grade and Field Grade. Both Springfields, one is a '42 with original barrel, the other a '52 with original barrel. Both were mail order, luck of the draw, and great shooters.



Tinpig

 

[TAB]

I think so... thats why I have 3.

 

[Ignition Override]

A friend and co-worker,who is my main personal "gun guru", still shoots with a military reserve rifle team, although he is retired from it. He has an 'M-14', FN FAL and a Garand from CMP (as far as I know).

He seems to really know guns and said that if you were to visit the CMP bldg. in Anniston, AL, the sight of row after row of nice gleaming Garands (and also Carbines?) is a sight to behold.

If you want this friend's phone number, send me an e-mail. He would certainly recommend their guns and prices/values.
Too bad that such ammo was not made by Wolf at a low cost.

 

[krs]

And why I've had 12 of them and still have 9 of them.

You are guaranteed NOT to buy a rewelded receiver and that fact alone makes CMP garands worth more than what you'll find in a Garand anywhere else.

There are LOTS of rewelds out there - people have been doing it since the first time the services cut them in half, as I've understood it in the 1960's. It takes a VERY good eye and a lot of experience with them to detect some of the welded up receivers, but they are out there. Thousands of them are out there.

 

[krs]

I thought they'd run out of 1903a1's and 1903a3's about three years ago and were only selling worst case barreled receivers, ceremonial non shooters, and very few operational rifles, if any. That's why I didn't respond to you, lovesbeer.

I know I've got two a1's that were from the last regular sales, both C stocked and one is a Mark I. Both came heavily loaded with cosmoline and although in good condition they both have dark heavily oiled wood that makes them look like they were stored in the hold of some ship in mothballs or something.

 

[Slim Pickens]

I would like to add that if you want a service grade, you should go ahead and put in a mail order. I went to the South store last weekend and all they had were Field grades (lots of them, and some good ones, too). They tend to make mail order their priority, and they will pull rifles out of the stores to fill mail orders. Plus anything you see in the store has been picked over, and that's not an issue with mail order. Mail order is the way to go unless you can't wait that long.

 

[HisDivineShadow]

I have heard that you can fix the CMP garands so they can use modern ammo, or would that be sacrelige?

Personally I'd like to get my hands on a CMP garand and take it home to Finland but I'm not allowed to get one (CMP rules)