davidjblythe
Member
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2007
- Messages
- 126
Here are the pics
http://picasaweb.google.com/PilotFriend/20071228M1Garand
Feb, 1955 Springfield Armory
From the looks of it, the barrel and receiver are original and have not been tampered with. The rear sight parts are not SA, but all other parts are.
The metal is awesome on this rifle, and only the gas tube needs to be reblued. The thing that brought this rifle down into the Field Grade category is the condition of the wood. I've already stripped the wood down and it looks like it will be restorable. I found some cartouches and the stock (not handguards) went from nearly black to a medium brown color. More stripping and steaming should bring most of the color out of it. Its finish will be golden oak with a flat or semi gloss look. My other rifles have full gloss, but I want this one to be more flat for hunting.
Thank you CMP! 30 days from dropping the order in the mail to getting a knock at the door by FedEx.
Range report tomorrow.
----- Range Report -----
I took it to a 100 yard indoor range today and fired maybe 40 rounds through it. I would have to say that I'm impressed at the firepower this thing can unleash! I achieved 3 to 4 MOA groups without really applying the fundamentals, and was more concerned with losing my brass. I reload for this caliber and it was throwing brass forward of the line, which can never be crossed. Ever. Well, I could wait until they close tonight to go get my 10 cases, but its not worth it.
Also, I wear only the inner ear orange ear plugs, which provide good protection from most of my rifles. Well, I was getting some good ringing from the M1 and decided to stop while I could still hear. More than likely I will not shoot this rifle indoors again, unless someone really wants to see it fired. Because I want to be able to retrieve forward thrown brass, shoot past 100 yards, and keep my hearing, it will be an outdoors rifle from now on.
I would imagine that this rifle is capable of shooting at least 2 MOA groups if I really sit down and take my time. I was shooting Greek surplus from the CMP. I did try some of my new reloads (150 FMJBT, 45.0 gr IMR4895) and they grouped the best. I also noticed different cycling characteristics with the reloads. It didn't seem to kick as bad and the cycling was much smoother and less 'forced' as with the Greek.
The rifle did one thing that I didn't expect to happen as fast as it did: heat up! After 16 shots, the barrel was very hot and I had to wait a second or two before I could pick up the spent brass. None of my other rifles get this hot this fast!
This was a great introduction to the M1 and I really did have a blast. Now I'm going to strip the rifle down and refinish it.
http://picasaweb.google.com/PilotFriend/20071228M1Garand
Feb, 1955 Springfield Armory
From the looks of it, the barrel and receiver are original and have not been tampered with. The rear sight parts are not SA, but all other parts are.
The metal is awesome on this rifle, and only the gas tube needs to be reblued. The thing that brought this rifle down into the Field Grade category is the condition of the wood. I've already stripped the wood down and it looks like it will be restorable. I found some cartouches and the stock (not handguards) went from nearly black to a medium brown color. More stripping and steaming should bring most of the color out of it. Its finish will be golden oak with a flat or semi gloss look. My other rifles have full gloss, but I want this one to be more flat for hunting.
Thank you CMP! 30 days from dropping the order in the mail to getting a knock at the door by FedEx.
Range report tomorrow.
----- Range Report -----
I took it to a 100 yard indoor range today and fired maybe 40 rounds through it. I would have to say that I'm impressed at the firepower this thing can unleash! I achieved 3 to 4 MOA groups without really applying the fundamentals, and was more concerned with losing my brass. I reload for this caliber and it was throwing brass forward of the line, which can never be crossed. Ever. Well, I could wait until they close tonight to go get my 10 cases, but its not worth it.
Also, I wear only the inner ear orange ear plugs, which provide good protection from most of my rifles. Well, I was getting some good ringing from the M1 and decided to stop while I could still hear. More than likely I will not shoot this rifle indoors again, unless someone really wants to see it fired. Because I want to be able to retrieve forward thrown brass, shoot past 100 yards, and keep my hearing, it will be an outdoors rifle from now on.
I would imagine that this rifle is capable of shooting at least 2 MOA groups if I really sit down and take my time. I was shooting Greek surplus from the CMP. I did try some of my new reloads (150 FMJBT, 45.0 gr IMR4895) and they grouped the best. I also noticed different cycling characteristics with the reloads. It didn't seem to kick as bad and the cycling was much smoother and less 'forced' as with the Greek.
The rifle did one thing that I didn't expect to happen as fast as it did: heat up! After 16 shots, the barrel was very hot and I had to wait a second or two before I could pick up the spent brass. None of my other rifles get this hot this fast!
This was a great introduction to the M1 and I really did have a blast. Now I'm going to strip the rifle down and refinish it.
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