Beating the CMP Garand issue to death…

Status
Not open for further replies.
A

arthurcw

Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2006
Messages
939
Location
Houston, TX (a.k.a. Free City of Aztlan)
Ok… I need some advice. I want a Garand. I don’t think I’ll end up shooting it a heck of a lot. I doubt I’d go through a case of ammo over a year (maybe 2 years). I don’t care if I can cave in a gnat’s private parts at 200 yards. I just want a Garand that can hit paper at 50 - 100 yards so I can say, “I own a Garand!” It’s not for collector’s value. I don’t want to sell it. I just want a Garand.

I see there are a rumored 50K rifles that they may be sorting through and that they may be taking orders for service grade Garands sometime in the future. So here’s my dilemma:

Does it make sense, based on what I want the rifle for, to wait for some possible new service grades to come out, out should I just buy one of the field grades they have and be done with it?

I missed the boat on this last batch of service grades and that’s my bad. I think I’d rather have a service grade one, but if the chances are small that they will come up with more service grades and based on what I want, I’m questioning if waiting is really a good idea. If they will have field grades for a while then I certainly don’t mind waiting a few months and rolling the dice.

I’m looking for advice from those who know much more about the CMP than I. I’m also looking for those who “settled” and are now wishing they hadn’t or those that did settle for a lesser grade and are happy with it.
 
A Field Grade may be the best bet. For the most part the barel should be decent enough to give you reasonable groups. The stock can always be refinished or even buy one of the CMP stock sets to give it a new look.

Another way to go is to get a Rack Grade. These rifles usually show a lot of wear but you can replace the stock, clean and maybe re-park the metal, and add a new barrel at some point. You can get a new barrel in either .30-06 or 7.62 and it will be a great shooter but unless you tell somebody that the stock a barrel are not USGI, it will still look like and shoot like a Garand.

When I bought my SA Garand a couple years ago, I got one of the Danish Return Service Grades with wood that was fair at best but it actually cleaned up to where it looks a lot better. The receiver serial number dates back to April 1941.

The barrel was one of the VAR barrels that appears to have not been shot a lot. The company that made these barrels was supposed to have made them to near match-grade standards and my M1 does provide great groups providing I do my part.
 
Get one that shoots and be done with it. I have some rack grades on order because I am a shooter and not a collector. I can upgrade everything down to the springs if necessary, the receiver is the only thing I really have to have.

Collectors like pedigree and and weapons that haven't been mixmastered.

As a shooter, I only want one that is headspaced and passes the go guage.

When you are freed from collectability you get to enjoy the rifle for what it was---

A weapon, not an investment vehicle. Someday all of the old Garands will be worth more than anyone ever paid for them from the CMP--even my likely Frankengarands
 
It's up to you. I have a correct grade that shoots well. I have a service grade on order. If they come up with correct or collector grades in this 50k batch, I will try to snag one or two.

Some guys buy the field grade and trick them out to perfection. That's also a very good idea. I'm too busy to work on them, so I look for correct or collector grades.

All I can say is that whenever I go to the range, people just stop and admire my Garand. They ask me questions about it. And they compliment me on those tight targets, made with only iron sights.
 
If you can get to one of the CMP stores, I think you'll be pretty happy with a field grade. The one I purchased at the South Store was, all in all, in much, much better condition than you'd expect from the verbage on CMP's website. Needs a little TLC on cosmetic issues (wood's seen much better days), but the mechanicals were in extremely good condition.

Mail order may be more of a crap shoot, but you can still expect a shooter that you can take to the range and have some fun with if you go with a field grade.
 
It looks like it's 4 to 2 for going for the field grade. I can't do anything until next week so we'll see.

Sadly, going to the South store is not an option right now.

I may tack a note to the order:

To whom it may concern:

This is probably the only Garand I will ever be able to afford. Please pick for me the one you would pick for yourself and know it will find a good home here and be loved.

ACW.
 
You can, if you can swing it, get a Service grade barreled receiver.
Use to be you could get a parts kit for $200 (with everything but receiver and barrel), or get a barreled receiver and a rack grade. Get's you a service grade at the start and a receiver as a project.
Or call and verify the 50K and then wait. Lots of options.
 
I'm for the CMP Service grade...if you can wait. I prefer the higher quality of barrel (lower TE & MW) and parts condition. That generally means better performance at the range. I've been fortunate and that's what I've been able acquire. Although you can purchase a Field or Rack Grade, if you decide to upgrade, it becomes an expensive option relative to the initial cost.
 
Last edited:
i got a rack grade, wood is beat to piss, barrel had 2 ME and 6ish TE. THe internals in great condition, does 1.5 MOA if I do my part. Took a deer yesterday with 165 matchkings, layed the sucker right out. I'm happy with my choice.
 
To whom it may concern:

This is probably the only Garand I will ever be able to afford. Please pick for me the one you would pick for yourself and know it will find a good home here and be loved.
Click to expand...

:cool: I used something similar to get a very nice 03A3. I wrote I was going to use for displaying to groups. I got one that appeared to be completely reconditioned, wrapped up and then put away. The re-park had absolutely no marks anywhere on the receiver. Looked like the bolt was inserted and closed and then the whole thing was buried in cosmoline.
 
I mailed my order for my 1903A3 in with $20 worth of Christmas candy. Bribes do work at the CMP :evil: I got a beautiful all correct, original barrel (according to date stamp vs. serial number) Remington. the next Garand I get is going to be for my son to shoot with me at JCGarand matches :D This usually geta a good one too. I guess I'll have to send birth certificates for my two sons to get two more really nice ones.
BTW, apparently the rumors are, and don't spread them any further than here, that there is 5, yes FIVE, more countries about to return Garands to the US Army. That is in addition to the 50K they are sorting thru now. Hold out for the service grade.
 
I'll add another vote for Field Grade. It seems a good balance between cost and function you are asking for.

I have two FG; one shoots 3.5 to 4 MOA, the other has done a group of less than 1.75 in. The stock on the first was good with faint cartouche the second a mismatched beater with several split fixes. The stock damage is mainly visual so I won't bother putting a nice one on until it strikes my fancy to do so.

The Service Grade come with a better barrel condition, though some FGs will be close, but the stocks on the SG are likely to be the same as FG.

Mine came at the luck of the draw via mail order, you can no doubt do as well or better than I if you can get to the store.
 
I just ordered a Service Grade about three weeks, maybe a month ago. It was THE DAY they were added back to the ordering page. I wasn't going to miss out, like I did with the '03A3. The page said 90-120 days wait, and I got it a week ago. Do the math. :D

I read somewhere on the CMP forum that they are estimating there are around 10 thousand service grades available, they just haven't been sorted out yet, hence the wait time.

Here she is, Feb 1943 manufacture, rearsenaled in Sep 65 with brand new barrel and stockset, all SA except the trigger group, which is WRA. She's a shooter, too!



S/F

Farnham
 
Thanks for all the info guys. I can't do anything yet because I haven't got confirmation that I'm "in the club" so to speak. Hopefully next week GCA will activate my membership. Until them, I need to just calm down and wait.

Farnham,

Nice looking boom stick. Congrats.

That brings to mind an old joke my Dad used to say. I wish I had that and you had a feather up... um... in a very delicate place. That way we'd both be tickled to death.

That is a sweet looking rifle.

Cheers!
 
Well, looks like everyones got an opinion, so I'll share mine. I went to the north store last Feburary, intending to get a service grade. After looking at every rifle in the store, I came away with a 1955 correct grade, ME and TE both 1, and made in the same month/year that I was born! Original barrel, and shoots better than I do.

I'd hold out for the best grade you can afford. Seems like you'll spend more for the new parts than what the upgrade will cost, especially if you need it rebarrelled.

Can't go wrong either way though. If you do go for one now, and it's a real beater, you could sell it and order a higher grade.

Enjoy!

ScottsGT: Any idea what five countries are involved in the rumored rifle return?

RBH
 
I would go ahead and get a couple of field grades at 425 each, select the one that shoots better and keep the other one for parts or sell it off. You can then take the money and upgrade the other into one excellent shooter that you would be proud to own.
 
ScottsGT: Any idea what five countries are involved in the rumored rifle return?
Click to expand...

I don't know that much, but I have heard that Italy is about to send back even more. Maybe more of those good VAR barreled guns will be available again? You read a lot of interesting things off Culvers Shooting Page and the CMP forums. It must be true, I read it on the internet :D
 
arthurcw said:
Thanks for all the info guys. I can't do anything yet because I haven't got confirmation that I'm "in the club" so to speak. Hopefully next week GCA will activate my membership. Until them, I need to just calm down and wait.
Click to expand...

IIRC, the CMP gets membership data from the GCA on a regular basis. When people go to the stores, they join the GCA right there and there is no waiting assuming all of the other paperwork is in order.

If you register on the CMP Forum, you can ask Orest Michaels if you have to wait for your GCA membership conformation before sending your order in.
 
Last edited:
BTW, you said you want to hit paper at 50 to 100 yards. My M1 holds a 3 inch group at 100 yards. Last time out, I put 24 out of 24 rounds into that 3 inch group.

Get that Garand!
 
M1s

I'd buy the highest grade I could....unless I could go to one of the stores and look them over.
Peen the barrel splines and reseat the gas system, stone the trigger and clean the rifle up. Put on a sling. You'll be happy.
Whatever you buy will be worth more than you paid for it as soon as you open the box.
 
"Whatever you buy will be worth more than you paid for it as soon as you open the box."

Ain't that the truth. The 'market price' on Garands is ridiculous. We are very fortunate to have the CMP.

I'm heartened that more rifles will be coming into availability in the future. They certainly won't last forever, and the CMP probably won't survive that dry-up. :(
 
If you canot take a chance go to a gun show or gun shop and buy the one you like.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

M
  • Locked
CMP Garands?!?!
Replies
11
Views
832
MAUSER88
M
P
  • Locked
CMP Garand
Replies
23
Views
1K
Col. Plink
Col. Plink
mk25roberts
  • Locked
CMP Garand
2
Replies
40
Views
3K
hps1
hps1
B
  • Locked
CMP Garand Question
Replies
10
Views
695
GRIZ22
G
S
  • Locked
CMP Garand
2
Replies
31
Views
2K
pmeisel
P
Back
Top