Big 5 M1 Garand for 600 or or keep saving for AR?

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KodeFore

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Is 600 good for $an M1 Garand?

I have had an urge to get an AR of some stripe for quite a while but now Big 5 is going to put M1 Garands up for 600$ that is looking mighty tempting.

Patton called the M1 garand "the greatest battle implement ever made" or something like that, no magazine to get lost, 8 rounds of 30 06 as fast as you can pull the trigger, and a real piece of history for 600.

Thats sounding pretty good right now.

I would use the gun mostly for fun shooting, mayby hunting one of these days & would want it to be suitable for an emergency kartina or other disaster type rifle.

Which would be a better investment, the M1 or CA legal AR?

Are M1 easy to maintain?

I know rifle conditions tend to very and I have no clue category the Big ones will fall under.

If I get the M1 what should I be looking out for when I look it over?

Thanks
 
You ask about "saving" for an AR. AR prices are tumbling faster that a waterfall. If you've got $600 today for an M1, you're only about $100 away from a quality AR.

So, prices being what they are, you need to decide which one suits your needs (and desires) better.

The AR is lighter, higher capacity (even in CA), cheaper to shoot, easier to maintain, lighter, customizable beyond belief and very accurate.

The Garand is a wonderful piece of history. Accurate and very fun to shoot. More adaptable to hunting a variety of game. But, it's relatively heavy, harder to maintain, etc.

From what I've seen, the Big 5 Garands (saw them once, so take that for what it's worth) were not exactly top quality. Would probably rate "Rack Grade" at best from the CMP.

I couldn't decide either, so I have both!
 
If the M1 is in good condition, it would be the easy choice. They haven't made any (good ones) for 55 years. AR pattern rifles are everywhere, and prices are tumbling...

Buy the M1 now, and pick up a $500 AR next year.
 
Do you reload? Have you shot at 200+ yards? Both are easier/cheaper with an AR...longer brass life, less recoil, more customizable (if you're into that sort of thing) - - I'd pass on a Garand from that particular source just based on the quality I've seen.

Everyone should have a Garand - eventually...probably opt for the AR for now.
/Bryan
 
I think I would get more enjoyment at the range from the Garand, but I would likely get the ar15. I think the ar15 carbine is the more useful platform for disaster type situations.
 
Be nice if you were here in IN. I'd let you shoot my AR am Garand an then you could
decide. If you buy a Garand, I would go with ordering from CMP. They are both different rifles. For history, investment, big game hunting I would go for the Garand now an get your AR later....ammo was out at CMP for the Garand, but may have more in early next year. If you want to shoot commercial ammo you need a adjustable gas plug for the Garand. An if you are in CA. The CMP ball ammo may not be allowed at your range, something else to think about......
 
I'd save up for the AR. Budsgunshops is selling Rock River Arms AR's for about $650. The M1 ia wonderful rfile but expensive to shoot. 30-06 ammo is much more expensive than .223.
 
IMHO, guns as investments are not great choices. Yes, there may come a day when you can get more for the Garand than you payed for it, but adjusted for inflation, will you actually MAKE anything? Doubt it.

If you want a Garand for a historical gun thats fun to shoot and impress friends and neighbors -- then, yes, go for it. Be advised it is heavy (10 pounds) and parts will be a problem, probably, in the future. It's ammo sensitive, requiring older M2 ball ammo. If you want to use the new, commercial ammo you will need an adjustable gas plug (about $50 or so).

You can get a CMP Garand for the same sticker, $595, but you have to add in the extra costs: member of a recognizned club, show proficiency as a shooter (a range might charge a fee for this, or a concealed handgun license will count), and then the S&H charges. Is it a lot? Not really, but in apples-to-apples fairness, you must count it.

An AR is more practical, IMHO. If you get one chambered for 5.56, you can literally shoot any .223 or 5.56 that's available. As ammo becomes more and more available, it's getting easier to find, too - both cheap blasting ammo (i.e., Wolf, Silver Bear), medium grade stuff (UAE brass cased imported stuff) or premium target/hunting stuff from Federal, et. al. Your gun might like one bullet better than another because of twist rate, but you don't have to worry about "Is this AR-safe?" The AR is lighter, more adaptable, and parts/components are literally available anywhere. ARs are available in the mid-$600s (Doublestars are $650 these days) and while they may not be tack-drivers like Baer custom-builds, they'll get the job done.

I bought the AR last fall.
I jut got my Garand last week.

Glad to have both, but I'll guarantee the AR will get more work than the Garand. If I had to pick one - i.e., some law came down that you can only have one semi-auto centerfire gun - it would be a tough call, but chances are the AR would stay.

Q
 
Budsgunshop have Olympic Arms ar-15 for as low as 628.00...Rock Rivers are around 800.00 an sold out....good luck.
 
Get the Garand. There are only so many and then there won't be anymore. There will be ARs around for some time.
 
If the question was between going through the CMP for a Garand or buying an AR it would be so simple. The Garand. But I honestly don't know the history of the M1's Big 5 is selling. I can't see what wood they have, original or replacement, if they have been refinished, if some may be rewelds, how much wear the muzzle and throat gauge, etc.

To me ARs will come and go. They are tools and for that I have no attachment to them. The Garand is something more. When you find a good one it is a rifle that does everything right. It may not be the most ideal battle rifle but last I checked as a civilian I'm not going to battle, especially not with my personal firearms. Every shot makes me grin more and more. They are a little picky on ammo but I bought an adjustable gas plug for about $30 which allows me to shoot any ammo I like. I reload and while not as cheap as .223 to load I can still be out for about $0.25 a shot which is cheap enough for me. I found bulk bullets and bulk powder at a gun show cutting reloading costs to very little.

Its a tough call personally. I like both platforms for vastly different reasons. As a range toy though the M1 gets my nod every time. From a practical point of view I have many more applications for an AR style rifle. It all comes to what you want. Investment or not, the supply of M1 Garands is drying up. The supply of ARs is growing. That in and of itself pushes me towards the M1 first. I don' see AR prices rising proportionally as much as M1's in the next year or two. In fact I see ARs still coming down a little more. While the long term investment may not be something to focus on the short term prices will play a role in your decision as to what to buy first.
 
I like my Garand so much I sold my SIG 556 and both of the AR lowers I had, as I had no interest in building them out. My next purchase will be the son of the Garand, an M1A. I guess you can see where my advice will lean? ;)

I bet the M1s Big Five is getting are going to be the ones just released to commercial importers by Korea.
 
$600 is a good buy at Big 5, in my area I think they're at least $100 more at Big 5. However, while I'm no Garand expert, I agree with some of the other posters that the quality of Big 5's M1's are lacking. I'm hoping to pick up a Garand soon, but I'll definitely order thru CMP before picking thru the leftovers at Big 5
 
From what I've read, the Garands at Big 5 are pretty much the bottom of the barrel junk. I haven't read ANY good reports about them, general concensus is that they're overpriced poop. And FWIW, I own a Garand, and love it! But mine came from a private seller and is in great shape.

If you want one, get one, but just don't get it from Big 5. You're much better off getting one from the CMP, for many reasons. If you're within reasonable driving distance of either of their stores, go for it! You can bring one home with you right then. Otherwise it'll be a several month wait.
 
Big 5 Garands are Import marked and worn out junkers, pass on them.
Plenty of other places to get good Garands
CMP
Dupage Trading
Aim Surplus
 
Big 5 Big Dissapointment

I finally got over to big five to scout them out before they drop them down to 600 for the black friday. What I found out made me think the add is basically a gimmick.

Each store in my area are only being sent ONE rifle each, but when I checked the rifles out I think they are clearly overstocked...... Lots of cracks in the stocks, loose parts here and there, and I am no expert but if the outsides are that beat up no way I would trust the internals.

I think the people that thought this one up must have known they were sending out junk guns, they just figure folks will get excited about the add and come in to see that the Last gun in stock is an old beat up one. Now they wont get that but they are in the store with at least 600$ to spend. Pathetic.....

OK that is just my opinion but one manager did tell me they were sending out one m1 to each store and at least that manager was honest enough to say they did didn't know why these things were priced so high.

If I ever get around to getting an M1, I think CMP is definately the way to go.

I have no doubt that the 89$ MN 91/30s are much better guns considering the condition they are in ( I would grabbed one, but I have 5 already, I'm afraid if keep buying them one day I'll wake up and start singing the cossack Christmass carol..... )


So anyone know any place that has complete ar uppers for around 400 to 500$?????

PS I looked at 2 stores in my area
 
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