Does the CMP really take that long?

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Hammer059

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I'm wanting to get my first M1 Garand. I've shot two different ones in the past and the time is finally approaching for me to get one.

I've heard good things about the CMP, but never realized there was such a long wait time. Right now it says "service grade" is a 2-6 month wait. If I knew for sure it was gonna be 2 months or less, I'd be willing to wait… but that's a pretty broad range of time they're estimating.

I don't mean to sound whiny but if it's gonna take that long I'd rather spend a little extra for something I can see and examine in person AND get right away.

If you've used the CMP in the past year or so, was the wait time longer or shorter than predicted? How was the condition of your rifle? At this point I'm reconsidering my choice; being able to buy one right away, especially when I know what I'm getting, seems very appealing. I'm curious to hear about others' recent experiences with the CMP
 
Yes, you will wait. I waited about 4.5 months for mine. Waiting is part of the CMP's charm... If you want it fast, buy one on Gunbroker.
 
On the opposite end of the spectrum, there was a time (mid'04 until early'05) shortly after the Greek Returns flooded the CMP warehouse when it was possible to get one in 3 days. :)

The key to that was having an Open Order (waiting for a specific kind of M1). Someone on the CMP Staff told me that instead of hassling with putting together & mailing in the packet of order documents I should simply request, via email, that a rifle be added to that Open Order which I subsequently did on a number of occasions (my Open Order was for a Winchester).

IIRC, there was at least one occasion when I emailed the CMP requesting an add-on of a Greek Rack Grade ... next day it showed shipped ... and it was delivered on the following day. :what: WHOA!

That and the initial super-low price on those first excellent Greek Rackers ($295 ... Field Grade had not yet been created) made for some happy collectors and bulging gunsafes. ;)

=======

Funny thing was, that the Open Order Add-On practice was shut down in early 2005 by Orest in one of his updates (possibly the one announcing the creation of the Field Grade and increase in prices) in which he also spent a moment to mildly chastise those CMP Customers (as I recall he suggested that it was a fairness issue) who were taking advantage of the practice ... a practice started, supported and disseminated by the CMP Staff. <chuckle>
 
"Waiting is part of the CMP's charm" I guess our definitions of "charm" are different. Haha. But I know what you mean. The anticipation does make it more exciting, in an agonizing, annoying kind of way.

"The DCM -- the predecessor to the CMP -- would take around two years." Is that supposed to make me feel better?

I do think it's an interesting program and I like the history behind it.

Maybe I should get two: Order a service grade from the CMP, and buy one in person while I'm waiting. Two is one and one is none, right?
 
Hammer059 said:
"Waiting is part of the CMP's charm" I guess our definitions of "charm" are different. Haha. But I know what you mean. The anticipation does make it more exciting, in an agonizing, annoying kind of way. ...
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Quite like Back In The Day with Mail Order. You'd fill out the form, enclose a check and mail the envelope ... and then get back to your life, knowing that someday your order would be delivered.

On more than one occasion I had forgotten that I had placed an order ... it was like Christmas. ;)

I suggest that you spend you wait time accumulating ammo, accessories and increasing your M1 knowledge in anticipation of that day that it arrives.
 
One more question: Does the rifle get delivered straight to my house, or do I have to pick it up and pay transfer at an FFL?

I'm thinking of just getting a field grade, and then eventually looking for and buying a nicer one in person. The field grade are in good functional shape, right?
 
I've bought several Garands from the CMP.

Knowing what I know now, if I were only going to buy ONE M1 Garand, and wanted it as a shooter rather than a safe queen, I'd spend a little more money and get one of their "Special Grade" M1s. (They weren't offered when I bought mine.)

For an extra $300 you get a reparked rifle with new barrel and stock and the assurance that it was put together correctly.

And delivery is 30-60 days.

Oh, and as to condition . . . read and understand the grading criteria. One of my Service Grades was at the top of the grade, the other, at the bottom of the grade. My "Field" grade project rifle had a stock that looked as if it had been gnawed on by angry beavers, but the muzzle wear and throat erosion were still - barely - within spec.

Luck of the draw.
 
Hi. Worse than that for me. Not eligible. CMP has some crazy idea about having to be a U.S. citizen. snicker.
The road trip for you might be an idea for some week end.
 
I don't mean to sound whiny but if it's gonna take that long I'd rather
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drive to the nearer CMP store and purchase a rifle with the expert assistance of the very highly qualified staff there. Perhaps pick up a cleaning kit, some CMP accessories, fall in love with one of the .22lr rifles and get that too, ...

OR

You could purchase a Garand at 30% more from a source you don't know you can trust as well as the CMP and have it shipped to your LGS from another source in a week.

If you have the opportunity to get a rifle from the CMP you should.
 
Unfortunately with my job I can't really make an overnight trip out of going to the nearest CMP store (which as mentioned previously is 6.5 hours from me). On top of that, I have an old truck that I wouldn't be comfortable taking on that long of a trip.

I think I'll order a field grade, and as mentioned buy a nicer one in the future, in person. Just because this will be my first garand doesn't mean I'm unfamiliar with the firearm; in fact when my buddy got his I showed him how to take it apart. While I trust the CMP, I am fully confident in my abilities to inspect the rifle before buying it in person.
 
I just surfed over to the CMP M1 Sales page ... haven't been there in a LONG time.

The Rack Grades have been discontinued! :eek: ... which means that the Field Grades are, essentially, the Rack Grades of the current era.

With that in mind, I would strongly suggest that you spend the extra $100 and get a Service Grade ($730), at the very least, rather than a Field Grade ($630). I have no doubt that you will be happy that you did especially since it will be your first (?) and, possibly, your only M1.
 
As mentioned, I will probably get a second M1, as I buy things in pairs. However, the extra $100 isn't what turns me off from getting the service grade; it's the ridiculously long wait.

Also, how are the field grades the same as the former rack grades? They're classified into each category based on overall condition. Maybe I'm missing something, but for my first M1, I just want something that shoots well and functions. I'll worry about getting a looker further down the road.
 
which means that the Field Grades are, essentially, the Rack Grades of the current era.
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No it doesn't. It just means they're out of that category right now (and perhaps for a long time).
 
No, I disagree. Look at the page.

If there were still an M1 Rack Grade level at the CMP, whether or not they are currently Sold Out, it would be included in the CMP GARAND GRADING CRITERIA ... and Field Grade would not be snapshot-described as FAIR TO GOOD (in addition to a notation that MW may be greater than 3).

You don't sell out of the rifles in the lowest grade for a long enough period of time to remove the Grade from the List. Some of the best Grades, maybe, but not the Bottom Of The Barrel Grade. That makes no sense.
 
Hammer059 said:
... Also, how are the field grades the same as the former rack grades? ...
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Back in the day, there was Rack Grade and Service Grade.

Then the Greek Returns arrived and in that first year Orest & Co. found that many of them were not quite Service Grade but were better than Rack Grade (often the issues were wood and/or finish), so he created the Field Grade to handle the in-betweens (and increased the Greek Rackers from $300 to $350, Field Grade $400 and Greek Service Grade remained at $450, IIRC).

Rack Grade, apparently, is no more ... so ... Field Grade now occupies the spot long ago held by the Rack Grade.

Same Grade, different name.

EDIT:

Hammer059, do yourself a favor. Before making a purchase decision, head over to the CMP Forums and ask about the condition of Field Grades that people are currently receiving. ;)
 
I don't think the wait times posted on the site are necessarily accurate. It all depends on what you want, what current order volume is, and what they have ready to go. I ordered a Special grade .308 about a year ago, expected to wait months, and it was delivered exactly one week after I dropped my order in the mail.
 
On the CMP forum there is a thread were people post when they ordered and how long it takes to ship.

http://forums.thecmp.org/showthread.php?t=28081&page=1000

Currently it looks like orders are being processed in around a week.

For most folks the rule of thumb for mail order is to go for the service grade, the field grades can be a bit on the rough side.
Many prefer to got to the stores and look those over in person.

That being said you often will find more original parts on the field grades.
I took the chance on a field grade last year and got a decent GAW stock on a WWII SA with original barrel, it's ME and TE were a little on the high side for my tastes but it shoots pretty well.
 
I got two field grades not long ago. Both were Springfields. One shows a Korea era serial number and an excellent stock. The other dates from 1942 and it's in pretty decent condition. Both shoot with acceptable combat accuracy.

I waited several months for mine to arrive and it was worth the wait.
 
Wow! That's exciting that the wait times are so short! I wish they would advertise accurate time estimates on their actual site, though… it was certainly misleading. I wonder why they do that…

Well I'll be ordering one in the next few weeks. I'll be sure to post a review about my experience and the rifle itself once I get it. Thanks for the input everyone
 
I would put in another plug for the CMP Special Grade Garand. They look great and are likely more accurate that you are. I got a 1.5" group with mine (5 shots at 100 yards) with the surplus ammo.
 
Hammer, reading your posts I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed. You need to place an order, assume it's gonna be longer then expected and be surprised when you get it. I ordered and received a excellent HRA back when the wait times were 6+ months. The rifle came all original with a barrel that gauges in the new range. Good thing come to those who wait.
 
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