CMP Garand question

[jedi]

Okay, I appreciate all the advice to my previous questions and have decided that I am going to go with the Garand from CMP. I am a married guy and my wifes a stay at home mommy so money is an object but quality is to. I want to get the best shooter for the money that I can and this will be my first rifle. I may have it rebuilt down the road some day but probably no time soon. Would you guys go with the service grade Springfield $500 Garand or the Dane service grade for $400? Do you think there will be a quality difference? I am willing to spend the extra $100 if it will get me a better rifle. Oppinions and advice requested.

 

[THA]

Don't think they have any Danes left. Go for a SG. Worth the extra for a little better bbl

 

[Sven]

SA at $500 is a great deal!

 

[Swampy]

Service Grade.....

Swampy

 

[FPrice]

FWIW, you may want to consider the Service Grade HRA. Most of them I have seen have been in great shape! Only $25 more than the SA.

But in any case get one now while the getting is good. Some day they will run out.

 

[Sven]

Someone at Jouster stated that at the current sell rate, they have 7 years of Garands left. Also heard a conflicting story that there is a very large supply of carbine ammo left - also heard that on Jouster.com

 

[ReadyontheRight]

If you can get to Ohio, you can go to the CMP facility at Camp Perry and pick out your own rifle. It's located mid-way between Toledo and Cleveland right on Lake Erie.

They have rack-grade Danes for $300 and they just set out a very tight Winchester which just had a new barrel installed for $575 while I was browsing (alas -- no $575 available to me at the time). All sorts of other Garands in-between just sitting there waiting to go home w/ someone.

If you can't travel, go with either Service Grade. It's definitely worth the extra for a Service Grade. You'll be very happy. If you do get a lemon, I've heard they will work with you to make it right.

Enjoy!

 

[Swampy]

RR wrote:

They have rack-grade Danes for $300

CORRECTION: Rack Grade Danes are $375. Rack Grade Danes LESS WOOD are $300 (note: this is less all wood and wood metal).

Be aware that the CMP store's selection goes up and down. At times their stock of rifles on hand can get VERY LOW, and even completely out on some grades. This may last for weeks at a time before replenishment... depending on how far behind the Anniston facility is and whether or not they can send up some new stock.

If you are planning a trip to the CMP store in Ohio, be SURE to either call them and ask about current stock or check out web reports of RECENT buyers at the Ohio location.

Best regards,
Swampy

 

[RustyHammer]

Service grade HRA.

 

[NEtracker]

Right,
What others have said..
Get a Service Grade Springfield or Harrington & Richardson.
It may be a mixmaster of USGI parts, but should be a good shooter.

 

[jedi]

Why HRA?

What makes the HRA's a better way to go then the SA's? I'm new to all this so I am still learning

 

[Atlas Shrug]

I'm fairly new to the Garand Game as well, but here we go:

-H&R and late SA guns are considered the best mechanically, as they have all of the wartime revisions and were likely not fired/dropped/bled on in battle.
-all H&R guns were made in the 53-57 time frame
-SA guns were made from pre-war until 45, then again in the 53-57 time frame

Thus a late SA or any H&R should be a good mechanical specimen. You will thus be guaranteed to have the latest revisions with an H&R. IF you get a late SA, the same applies, but you have zero guarantee that the SA is late. It could be an early gun (1940 or so is even possible).

Also, the H&R guns out this summer often were in excellent shape. I jumped on one when I heard this. It's apparently not as nice as some others got, but it is well machined, has a good parkerizing job, and appears to have the original H&R bbl that is in decent shape. It was rearsenaled in the sixties, IIRC.

Collector aspects are a whole other ball of wax that I have no expertise on. I like the Garand as a shooter.

Have fun. See if you can avoid Garanditis (it causes you to buy them in multiples of three).

The CMP experience is generally a very, very pleasant one. Plus it supports youth marksmanship efforts. A real win-win-win.

 

[Steve in PA]

CMP SA/SG

You won't be sorry. Best $520.00 I ever spent.

 

[glockenstein]

Service grade Springfield (mine was postwar). Last weekend at the range I shot a 3 shot group at 200 yards that was a tad under 2 inches. I'd say that was pretty good for a 47 year old rifle with 22 year old surplus ammo...

 

[Gary G23]

I'm glad I got mine when they were $265!

 

[Fuzzy]

I got a Danish SA with the VAR barrel last year. The only difference between the Danish and the regular ones is the the Danish ones may have some non-US parts in them. If that's not a problem for you and you don't mind waiting a few months, get a Danish while you still can. Otherwise, shell ot a little extra for aregular one.

If you just want to have one and plink with it, a rack grade may not be out of the question but I would avoid them if you plan on competing with it. With the Danish one you only save $25 with the rack grade so I wouldn't think that it would be worth it unless you want to replace the barrel anyway.