CMP Service Grade or Correct Grade M1?

[1KPerDay]

This will by my first CMP order. I was thinking of getting an H&R Correct but I could get 2 Service Grades for a couple hundred more bucks*... These will be shooters/heirlooms for my sons. I'd like a flawless, as-new M1 but I don't think it's going to happen. Are the Service Grades good to go? Or should I get a Correct?

I have a 1942 Springfield and a 1944 springfield "tanker" already, rebuilt by blue sky and fed ord... both work fine but aren't particularly accurate. Eventually I'll have them rebarrelled and tuned by someone knowledgeable.


Or should I get a service grade M1 and a Carbine? I've never really fancied a carbine but I hear they are cool... I suppose I'd like to have a bunch of garands to give my sons and daughters.

*or 3 rack grades.....

 

[dscottw88]

I wish I was one of your kids, I know I'd love a garand! I asked the same question a while back, and although I have not ordered one, I presume I will order the service grade rather than the rack grade.

The $100 dollar difference is worth it in my book, as it means the bore will show less wear and the overall quality of the rifle will be more eppealing than that of a rack grade. I dont think you can rebarrel an M1 for less than $100. Dont quote me though.

 

[1KPerDay]

Thanks for the reply, but I am considering between the Service and Correct grades, not the service and rack grades. I believe my current Garands would be considered rack grades. LOL (oops... I just noticed I did mention rack grades... I don't really want to go that route, though).


Yeah, there's no way you can rebarrel a garand for close to $100... maybe if you already have the barrel and vise and know-how yourself... but I don't.

 

[30Cal]

Tough call. I'd get one of each if possible. Keep in mind that the CG probably will have a more limited availability. I'd probably buy one now, and get a SG for shooting later.

It's not that bad to replace an M1 barrel. The barrels are pretty darned cheap as far as barrels go. I know people with tools (through my local CMP affiliated club), so my cost would be just the barrel ($165) plus a bottle of booze. You should be able to find a used, servicible barrel for $120'ish if you look around.

Ty

 

[Mojo-jo-jo]

The major difference between the service grades and correct grades is that the service grades may have mismatched parts (i.e. a Winchester hammer in a Springfield rifle). This means absolutely nothing functionally, but does have an impact on collector value IF the receiver is WWII dated.

Only Springfield and Winchester made Garands during WWII. If you must have a WWII dated receiver, Springfield service grade is currently your only option--and you still have no guarantee of getting a WWII receiver unless you go to the store and pick it out.

According to the CMP web site, all of the Springfield correct grade currently available is postwar. These are probably rather nice--probably have not seen heavy use, but not as highly valued by collectors as WWII dated receivers.

What your intentions are will dictate what you need to get.

- If you want maximum collector value, go to the CMP store and select a nice, WWII dated Springfield service grade.
- If you want a good shooter for a good price, order either the Springfield or H&R service grade. If you go with the Springfield, you get the chance of a WWII receiver, but it's luck of the draw.
- If you want a good shooter and are willing to pay more for matching parts, get the correct grade, but it probably won't improve collector value much since all currently available are postwar.
- If you want most 'bang for the buck' get the field grades. These will be less accurate, and maybe a little bunged up, but will still be good shooters. You can always re-barrel them down the road if necessary.

I just got a Springfield service grade. It' actually very nice, '56-'57 production, and is all matching except for possibly the stock (I think-but have not yet confirmed-that the stock is Winchester). The wood color is uniform, however. I don't have bore erosion gauges, but the bore looks quite nice as well.

How about a hastily taken, poorly lit photo?


FWIW, I personally wouldn't spend the extra bucks on the correct grade UNLESS they were WWII dated, which is currently not the case.

 

[1KPerDay]

Thanks for the advice 30cal and mojo. That service grade looks pretty dang good... Like I said I already have 2 WWII dated Springfields, so that's not a major concern... my primary concerns are excellent shooting and good looks. I don't really care if it matches... but it seems (according to the 'grade' descriptions posted on the CMP website) that the correct grades are in better condition overall than the service grades. I suppose it's really the luck of the draw. It would really be great to get one of the rumored "un-issued" H&R corrects, though. Hmmmmm....

 

[Gator]

I'm sure any un-issued correct grades will be auctioned. As far as condition goes, its really a toss up. And I don't think the correct grade rifles will have much more collector value in the future. Correct just meant parts from the same manufacturer, it does not mean those parts were original when the rifle came from the factory.

 

[ocabj]

The major difference between the service grades and correct grades is that the service grades may have mismatched parts (i.e. a Winchester hammer in a Springfield rifle). This means absolutely nothing functionally, but does have an impact on collector value IF the receiver is WWII dated.

Actually, the major difference is the fact that the correct grade will have the correct stock. Even authentic and correct post-WWII stocks are hard to come by. With counterfeiting on the rise, getting a correct Garand with all correct parts including the authentic stock from a trusted source is worth the extra money (assuming you are looking for a correct rifle).

A person could buy a service grade, and buy/trade for the necessary parts to make a rifle correct, but that will probably cost more than the correct grade price with the CMP. And again, since the cartouche stamps are out there, there is a good possibility of buying a counterfeit stock.

 

[strat81]

IMO, $350 buys you a barrel that gauges slightly better, and that's about it. There's no guarantee it'll shoot better. Parts maybe be correct for the rifle, but aren't original parts, so they aren't helping value as much as you'd think.

The Service Grades are nice. Very nice, IMO. I'd buy two of those. Here's my Service Grade that I got back in August:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=300131

 

[1KPerDay]

I'm sure any un-issued correct grades will be auctioned.

Yeah... but I've seen pics of at least 2 recently purchased 'correct grade' H&Rs that were smothered in cosmoline and when cleaned up appear to have little or no wear... whether they were unissued or not is a mystery. They may have been used very little and then packed. That's what I meant.

Correct just meant parts from the same manufacturer, it does not mean those parts were original when the rifle came from the factory.

Almost right... the parts are from the correct mfg AND the numbers match up to the date of mfg. They aren't necessarily from the original assembly, but they're correct for the date (the drawing numbers match the serial number).
From the CMP:

Correct Grade rifles will have all correct parts for the date of manufacture...The stock and handguards will be of walnut and correct for the rifle ... Stocks will have the appropriate original inspector's cartouche.

 

[1KPerDay]

Strat, that's a gorgeous rifle. You inspire me.

 

[1KPerDay]

Hmmmm... now I'm leaning toward a service grade M1 and a winnie carbine... are they good? Someone I asked said the inlands would probably be the best shooters but they're sold out...

I think the carbine would probably be a better choice for young shooters, wouldn't it? My oldest is 10.

 

[strat81]

Yup, I got very lucky! But, check the CMP Forums; lots of happy service grade owners out there. The CMP is very good about grading.

Yeah, I'd go with the Carbine for little ones. The Garand is a big, heavy rifle. LOP would be a bit much for a youngster, as would the weight. Plus the 30/06 recoil seems excessive for kids.

 

[1KPerDay]

What I mean is... can youngsters handle the M1 Carbine? Obviously the M1 Garand is a bit much for them... even some man-sized people have trouble with it.

 

[1KPerDay]

oops... simul-post. Thanks again strat.

 

[wrench]

Of your choices, I'd get a service grade M1, and a carbine. Your kids will love the carbine! If you don't reload now, you'll have to start once your kids get their hands on that thing.
Here's a pic of four garands I have, one was a service grade I picked out at the north store. The other three are field grades picked out at Anniston.

 

[30Cal]

The carbine is a real pussycat to shoot. It's definitely kid appropriate.

Here's an SA SG I picked out in August. The trigger group is incorrect, but the rest is new. It came packed in a lot of bearing grease.

 

[1KPerDay]

I wish I could pick out my own... but that ain't gonna happen. I'll just have to trust to luck, I guess. Those rifles look incredible, fellas! You're getting my hopes up... I'm afraid I'll be disappointed. LOL

 

[wrench]

Don't worry 1kperday, some are nicer, some are not, all are veterans and you'll love them.
Order a service grade Garand, and a carbine of any flavor you choose-it's all good.
You can always replace wood if it's not nice enough looking for you, service grade weapons will perform properly, or the CMP will make it right.

 

[P5 Guy]

I got a CG SA and the rifle is like new. The only dents in the stock are from the place it sat in the shipping crate. No MW and the TE was just over 1. The finish is 98% under the cosmoline. And it shoots that HXP just fine.

 

[refrey]

Most of the service grades I have seen (forum photographs only) look as good as my Correct Grade. If I had to do it over again, I would own a Service Grade and put the extra money towards a Carbine.

 

[Sheldon]

Some of those correct Greek H&R rifles were like new and probably not a good indicator of what is typical of a collector grade nowadays. There just happened to be a lot of lightly used H&R rifles in that batch of returns....not to mention a small quantity of new in the wrap still ones. Collector grade in itself doesn't guarantee you'll get a prestine rifle, just one with matching or correct parts. Is is possible to get a service graded one that may look nicer overall than a collector one.......that would suck wouldn't it? I've got 2 USGI service graded Springfield Armory Garands. Wood sucks, but otherwise very nice. I may break down and get some new CMP stocks for them. The pics of guys rifles with new wood really makes the rifle look so much nicer!!