CMP Service or Special Grade Rifle

[Kailuaflyer]

Looking to order my first Garand, but I am conflicted on getting a Service or Special Grade rifle. My main concern is potential pitting on the receiver. Does anyone know if the CMP Special receivers are of a better quality, or are the improvements just in the new stock and barell? Long term plan is to make it into a .308 rifle, but I am open to using .30-06 in the beginning if the Service Grade rifles are the route to initially build upon.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Welding Rod]

I wouldn't count on too much from a Special. Some are great but CMP has put some real turd parts into some of the Specials. To their credit CMP seems to rectify any problem promptly.

Personally I would be more concerned with rear sight serrations being worn off the receiver than pitting.

I believe the receiver condition will be crap shoot between the two options you mention.

 

[staplegund]

I got my field grade a couple years ago. I ordered a new stock with it, to avoid the work of removing soaked cosmoline and I'm happy with it. The old stock was loose and will need bedding to be a good shooter.

 

[Kailuaflyer]

Elevation discs may correct that problem, but thanks for the reminder.

I was considering just buying a stripped reciever and building my own to verify the parts going in.

 

[Jackal]

The CMP Special I got a year ago looked brand new, inside and out.

 

[carbine85]

My HRA service grade was 100% correct. Considering what I got I wouldn't pay the extra for the special grade. They come with after marker stocks.

 

[Jackal]

Considering what I got I wouldn't pay the extra for the special grade. They come with after marker stocks.

Yeah. Special grade really isnt meant for the collector value, its more for folks wanting a brand new rifle (new spec). You can get lucky though with service grades. I ordered a dozen of them last year and got this beauty H&R with near spotless USGI wood. It was the best out of 12. Here's a pic.

 

[az_imuth]

I think you would be fine with a service grade rifle and I seriously doubt it would have any pitting worth mentioning. That being said, if I were intending to convert it to .308, I'd just opt for the Special in .308 to begin with and save myself the trouble and expense of doing it later. I don't know that you could buy the barrel and have it installed for the $300 difference.

Whatever you choose to do, best of luck to you!

 

[cfullgraf]

Looking to order my first Garand, but I am conflicted on getting a Service or Special Grade rifle. My main concern is potential pitting on the receiver. Does anyone know if the CMP Special receivers are of a better quality, or are the improvements just in the new stock and barell? Long term plan is to make it into a .308 rifle, but I am open to using .30-06 in the beginning if the Service Grade rifles are the route to initially build upon.

Thank you in advance.

Go to the CMP sales site and read the descriptions of the different grades. They are accurate.

Sometimes you get a bit better, but you will not get worse.

The CMP Specials are refurbished rifles with a new production stock and barrel.

The service grades are luck of the draw but will meet or exceed the grade description. Don't expect every service grade rifle to have correct parts. Virtually all Garands have gone through a rebuild at some point during its life.

The service grades are good rifles for a first Garand. They shoot well.

The CMP Specials are about as close to getting a new Ganand these days without spending your children's inheritance. Besides, you would not want to shoot an original Garand and sacrifice it's "new" status.

Field grades can be good shooters as well, but the ones that I have purchased required some TLC when first received. Unless you can hand pick a Field grade at one of the stores, I would avoid them for a first Garand.

Hope this helps.

 

[Kailuaflyer]

"I think you would be fine with a service grade rifle and I seriously doubt it would have any pitting worth mentioning. That being said, if I were intending to convert it to .308, I'd just opt for the Special in .308 to begin with and save myself the trouble and expense of doing it later. I don't know that you could buy the barrel and have it installed for the $300 difference."


New .308 barell would run about $220, the price of it getting properly spaced and mounted is $50-$100, and the spacer feed about $30. That being said, buying the Special in .308 would be cheaper in the long run. It would also allow me to standardize my cartridges in .308 if I picked up a M1A later (although I would need to study the ammo grain table for each rifle).

I am begging to think I will be buying a .30-06 Service and a .308 Special. Thank god I am still single lol

 

[agtman]

Looking to order my first Garand, but I am conflicted on getting a Service or Special Grade rifle.

Since you said "order my first Garand," you appear to be contemplating buying a CMP M1 outright rather than buying a C-grade receiver from the CMP and having your 'smith build you a rifle from there.

If so, I can highly recommend the CMP HRA "Special Receiver" (SR) deal.

CMP armorers take a post-WW2 HRA receiver, install a new .308/7.62 Criterion tube, add an in-spec USGI op rod, gas cylinder and other parts, and then dress the rifle in new wood.

The last *real* Garand left out of SA in something like 1957, so this is about as close to a "new" M1 as you're going to get.

And for about $1000 OTD it's a steal, IMO. Got mine at the North Store during the Nat'l Matches.

HRA "SR" M1 in .308/7.62.


Arguably the .308/7.62 chambering permits somewhat cheaper shooting with the more plentiful mil-surplus fodder than with '06 ammo in the traditional chambering.

Good luck with your decision, but I wouldn't wait too long.
CMP M1s of whatever make or grade aren't getting any cheaper and the known supply of serviceable M1s is said to be dwindling.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

Has anyone mail ordered a service grade from CMP recently? I am dying to get one before they are all gone, and won't ever be in the vicinity of one of the CMP stores to hand-pick one. Curious what they've been looking like recently and what the mail wait times have been.

 

[Kailuaflyer]

Stripped recievers was the original plan, but they are no longer available from the CMP.

 

[cfullgraf]

Stripped recievers was the original plan, but they are no longer available from the CMP.

A stripped receiver is not a good way to save money on a Garand. It will cost you two to three times to build the rifle as what a CMP complete rifle sells for. And that is the parts costs!

Not that assembling a Garand from parts is not a good project, I have two sets or parts sitting in the wings waiting for me to get some time, but they are an expensive proposition.

 

[cmb3366]

A CMP Special is a heck of a rifle if you are want the rifle more for shooting than collecting, and the 308 is a nice option when you consider ammunition and component cost going into the future when the greek 30-06 dries up. I hand-picked my HRA special on a trip to Anniston, it is my favorite rifle.

 

[Col. Plink]

Ditto on grade descriptions and actual condition; a friend recently received a SA Svc. Gr. that mechanically looks unused (a 5+ million ser no). I was able to get one very close in production in similar condition as a Fld Grd in person in Anniston. The stock was not as nice but cleaned up great.

 

[Kailuaflyer]

A stripped receiver is not a good way to save money on a Garand. It will cost you two to three times to build the rifle as what a CMP complete rifle sells for. And that is the parts costs!

Not that assembling a Garand from parts is not a good project, I have two sets or parts sitting in the wings waiting for me to get some time, but they are an expensive proposition.

Very true, the cost would have been more in the long run, but I would at least have been able to check that rifle off of my list.

 

[Kailuaflyer]

A CMP Special is a heck of a rifle if you are want the rifle more for shooting than collecting, and the 308 is a nice option when you consider ammunition and component cost going into the future when the greek 30-06 dries up. I hand-picked my HRA special on a trip to Anniston, it is my favorite rifle.

A very beautiful rifle. Hand choosing mine would be great, but right now I am not up for the flight across the Pacific.

 

[mgkdrgn]

I've purchased several "service grade" M1's from CMP and have been very happy with all of them.

 

[HankB]

I've bought two Service and one Field grade rifles from the CMP, and not one of them had pitting on the receiver or elsewhere. One service grade seemed "better" than the SG description, the second one "met" the SG description. The FG "met" the description.

If I only planned to get ONE rifle, it would be a "Special" grade - for $300 more than SG you get a refinished rifle with new barrel, new wood, and a sling. (Specials came out right after I bought my third rifle.)

 

[Bobson]

...this beauty H&R with near spotless USGI wood. It was the best out of 12. Here's a pic.

Do you have a pic of the worst of the twelve?

Seems like everyone wants to show off their pick of the litter. Understandably so, as I would too; but sometimes it's more helpful to see what the worst-case scenario looks like.

 

[Reloadron]

Looking to order my first Garand, but I am conflicted on getting a Service or Special Grade rifle. My main concern is potential pitting on the receiver. Does anyone know if the CMP Special receivers are of a better quality, or are the improvements just in the new stock and barell? Long term plan is to make it into a .308 rifle, but I am open to using .30-06 in the beginning if the Service Grade rifles are the route to initially build upon.

Thank you in advance.

I would have to strongly agree with those who suggest that since .308 Winchester is your final goal just buy the Special Grade in 308 now. A SERVICE GRADE: (Good to Very Good) will be a great rifle in 30-06 for $695 so for $300 more at $995 you get an excellent rifle chambered and correctly headspaced in 308 with a new barrel and wood ready to shoot.

If you take the round about way you are looking at about $200 for a barrel plus the installation cost. You are looking at about $150 plus from Fulton Armory to screw a barrel on so you are now $50 plus over what you would have spent. That plus the hassel of sending your rifle out and waiting. Go for the Special Grade, great a great rifle with great support and enjoy it rather than worry about it.

Bobson:

Seems like everyone wants to show off their pick of the litter. Understandably so, as I would too; but sometimes it's more helpful to see what the worst-case scenario looks like.

The only less than really good rifles I saw come out of CMP or the old DCM program were some of the field grade rifles with rough wood and in a few cases minor pitting under the receivers where the metal met the wood. Sorry but I don't have a picture. Those rifles were good shooters too, just needing some cosmetic attention.

Ron

 

[TenDriver]

A very beautiful rifle. Hand choosing mine would be great, but right now I am not up for the flight across the Pacific.

You need to sign into the CMP Forum and see if someone who is going to one of the stores will select a Garand for you.

 

[Oldman1151]

I hand picked two field grades and one special from the North Store in last two years. All real nice guns. My last visit to the store was during the matches in July. Selection is getting pretty limited. I would be afraid to order one without looking it over myself.

 

[Kailuaflyer]

Too bad I will not be able to hand select my rifle. I am not sure how having someone select "my" rifle would work since it will be shipped. Not looking to get into any legal grey areas.