Collecting and Shooting the M1 Garand

[eclancy]

Gentlemen,
This is just a field question for some of the data on the M1 Garand. If you do collecting which of the four markers of the M1 Garand do you collect and for any special reason? If you also shoot the M1 Garand which of them do you find to be your best shooter and for any special reason? This type of question may have been asked many times before but the reason I am asking is because of the many changes made to the M1's during their production run.
Thanks for your input it will help my data on the two subjects.





A Veteran, whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve, is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to “The United States of America” for an amount of “up to and including my life.”

Thanks again for taking the time and effort to read this data. I hope you have learned a little of the history of the M1 Garand.
Clancy
ps could use some hits on my sites
NRA Life Endowment
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FSS 90% / BW X Speed Div by 1000 = PF

 

[Slamfire]

When the John Garand matches started at Camp Perry, a lot of my Competitive Highpower Shooting buds went through their collections and shot their rack grade rifles. A general consensus was that LMR barrels were the “best” US barrels. VAR barrels also have a very good reputation, one that I have verified for myself. Since most LMR barrels are on IHC rifles, it is likely that the IHC are more accurate as a class.

It should be noted that factory new rifles tend to be more accurate than rebuilds. As an example of a small detail, the new rifles that I have handled, the fit of the rear sight slide is tight within the base, I cannot recall if I ever found a rebuild with a tight rear sight. Not to say that with some QC that a rebuild could be as accurate, but out of the box, the factory new rifle will be more accurate on the average.

Variations between the accuracy of rack grade rifles is extreme, the issue Garand was never as accurate as the M1903, and acceptable accuracy for a factory fresh 1950's National Match Garand was 3.5" at 100 yards.

Folks who want to win the John Garand Match are now barreling their rifles with commercial match grade barrels. Very few GI barrels were ever as smooth and even as a match barrel.

As for collectability, the IHC still seems to be the rarest rack grade variation to be found. Winchester has the most name recognition, and are the worst built. This is something I find humorous as Winchester rifles are always priced high.

Personally I like the 1950’s vintage rifles, the H&R’s, IHC’s and the late model SA’s. Like high 5 million serial numbers. I like fine craftsmanship, and these rifles show better surface finishes, better fit and finish. As a rule, the SA rifles always show good workmanship, it got better in the 1950's, and when I built match rifles, I preferred SA parts over all. SA parts are quality parts.

Incidentally you are forgetting the Beretta M1's. Based on the number that were imported, there are less of these than any other M1. Also, for the Italian Garands, the workmanship and quality of the parts is outstanding. I was able to get a boxful of parts at bargain prices. Because these are Italian, folks just did not understand that the Italian parts are fully interchangeable with US and did not want to believe that PB or BMB parts are excellent. But they are, Fools!

Most people want what see in the mass media, so the majority of the market wants WWII. After all, that is what they saw in “Saving Private Ryan”.

 

[foghornl]

My lone US Rifle Cal .30 M1 is an International Harvester with the LMR barrel. Shoots better than I am capable of shooting.

Dad was one of the guys building them in Evansville, IN for IHC in the '50's.

 

[homeka45]

I have three Springfields. Two are showing war time SNs, one a six digit in the low 400ks, the other in the 3.7 million range and one post-war version in the 4.2 million range.

Two H&Rs one in 4.6 million and the other in the 5.7 million range.

The third is a Winchester M1D in 2.4 million range.

I initially bought two M1 Garands from a seller on this board. I subsequently bought another three from a marine veteran who was selling his rifles. I'm not really a hardcore collector but my C&R made the acquisitions fairly painless. I would eventually like to collect one from each manufacturer so I might have to do some trading w/ my excess Springfields or H&Rs.

I haven't shot any of them yet.

 

[eclancy]

Guys,
Just what I am looking for to see if your M1's are inline with files that deal with many changes made during different production runs. Not only on the rifles but spare parts lists that I have copies of, these changes in some cases could not be done until the MAIN PRODUCTION LINES where reset. IN many cases these changes were massive. Just checking to see what you think.
Thanks
Clancy

 

[Chipperman]

I'm not really an M1 collector, more of a general colelctor.

I have two M1s, both SA. One was made in 1943, the other was 1955. I bought them b/c they were in good condition and a good price. I did not care about the maker or part IDs.

I was much more picky when I bought my M1 carbine, b/c I wanted a Rock-Ola.