Garand: On the way!

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Quoheleth

Quoheleth

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Hot dog! I got the email that I've been waiting for since late August! Service grade Garand was shipped this morning and should be on my front doorstep Monday morning. Woo-hoo! SN is 5840435 - from what I am seeing, that puts it in the early 1955 range, right? Post Korea, this has potential to be in better condition, wouldn't you think? What do you think the chances are that it's one of those Greek AF rifles?

So...where do I start? What do I do first? Or, point me in the direction of where to find first steps directions.

I'm really excited because one of my shut-ins at church is a WWII vet - a Navy man - and he's a gun enthusiast, also. I wanted to surprise him by being able to show up at his house next week with the Garand so he can see & handle it, for old time's sake. (He & his wife LOVE it when I show up with a new toy for him to admire.) He also has a standing invitation with me that when he feels up to it, he & I are going to the range to shoot whatever I have. He's not doing well - his prostrate cancer has returned, and his PSA#s are climbing - so I hope we can get out in the next week or two to enjoy this beautiful weather.

So...lots of questions. Hope y'all don't mind.

BTW: order was received 9/3, hit the e-store 10/8, went "Open" a couple days ago, shipped this morning.

Q
 
awesome
i plan on buying 2 on dec 5th im going down to the southern store
seems the best rifles they have on the shelf there are "service grade specials"
they arent on the website a guy a explained on the phone that it is basically a "correct grade" but with a brand new stock
i asked if there was a chance there would be and "special" garands and he asked why id want it he said the service grade special will shoot just as good and have a better collectable value
one i will gift to my brother and one will be mine
i want to put the scout rail on mine that replaces rear hand guard on mine and a red dot

A question i have is... which slip on recoil pad reduces the perceived recoil the most?
and which size fits the garand?
 
Glad your baby is on the way...it will have a booklet that will tell you all the how to's...how to tear down, maintain, clean, lube, adjusting the sights, load, unload...pay attention to any mention of M1 Thumb....in others words, read before you play too much!
Hope you got ammo already.
 
Congrats! I suggest you fully tear it down, clean, grease/oil, and put back together. Help you get to know it.

Don't be scared. It's so easy even I can do it. :eek:

Field strip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4v6ptrjeHE

Trigger group (this is for the m14 type but close enough for jazz):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTKfwdmMvVQ

Rear sight:
http://www.surplusrifle.com/garand/rsdisassembly/index.asp (they also have how-tos on full dis- reassembly of the rifle)

M1DetailStripped.jpg

M1Reassembled002.jpg


Have fun! Fascinating rifles. Amazingly complicated, yet remarkably simple. Genius.
 
A question i have is... which slip on recoil pad reduces the perceived recoil the most?
Click to expand...
Recoil, schmecoil. The rifle weighs like 10 lbs and is gas-operated. Be a man. :D





(if it were a 1903 I'd commiserate with you about the recoil).
 
It's been mentioned in at least a few dozen (hundred?) other threads, but the Garand doesn't like most commercial ammo, due to the widespread use of slow powders. The op-rod can be damaged.

So, if you don't have a nice supply of surplus ammo (or other approved Garand ammo), you might want to check out -

http://www.mccannindustries.com/scope/parts.html

I read a thread on some machinists forum where the argument was raised that these things can't work, due to the closeness to the muzzle. "No dwell time, no adjustment", in essence.

Well, they do work. They bleed pressure, permitting higher pressure in the barrel and the correct (lower) pressure on the op rod. There isn't a published formula for how to set them up, so the approved method is to start with the orifice wide open and make it successively smaller until you just get reliable cycling.

Procedure has to be repeated if you change ammo type. It is not self-regulating.

Adjustable gas nuts have also been discussed frequently, so you may already be aware of these gizmos.

Have fun with your Garand!
 
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1kperday im an undefeated pro boxer at cruiser/heavy weight got lisence and a w2 to prove it
i still dont like to be hit
 
memphisjim...I think I have seen those recoil pads on ebay. I had never shot a Garand
until I bought my first one back in April...long time ago had a Remington 700 bolt action
30/06 an that thing had a nice kick to it...I like it, but wouldn't want to shoot it all day....I thought it would be the same with the Garand, but it has an easier kick to it, at
6' 1'' an 160 lbs. I can shoot 100 rds. an it never bothers my shoulder. If you still want less recoil, they sell muzzle brakes for around 160.00 that takes away about 35% of the recoil. I just heard N. Store CMP has 60 of those Special Grades in for 750.00 with most MW at between 0 an 1......that is a good rifle for the money...I may have to make another trip.
 
I wont be one of the New shipment of Garands as they havent started selling them yet. Doesnt really matter as a Service Grade is a Service Grade and will fall within the description.
All the SG they have been shipping seem to be very nice.
The Garand really doesnt have a terrible recoil, dont think you need a pad
 
I'm a totally average guy, and M1 Garand recoil is negligible.

The rifle is very heavy, and gas operated. It's even pleasant in the prone position.
 
I don't like the new birch stocks they are putting on the Service Grade rifles. I think they look cheap. I'll be replacing mine with an old GI stock when I get the chance. Also, mine came with a badly messed-up crown. Other than that it looks great. :)
 
Badly messed up crown?If its damaged on the outside its not a issue. If the damage continues into the bore and the bullets path CMP would gladly do a exchange and pay for shipping
 
Sorry, I should have worded that better. I don't mean to disparage the CMP. They do a great job and overall I am happy with my rifle. I haven't shot it yet and it might shoot just fine. If not, I'm inclined to just pay a gunsmith to recrown it rather than bother the CMP folks. I understand that they're pretty busy.:)

As to the stock; that's just me. It's a nice stock and with some finish will look great. I just prefer an old stock with some character.

Quoheleth, your serial is real close to mine. They say the machining on the later rifles is better, and I believe it. Mine looks great (other than the crown issue, and I'm sure mine is just a fluke). Hope you enjoy it when it comes!
 
Is that your rifle with the pic on the CMP site? If so it looks like it was never finished being cut. I would definatley contact CMP .
 
Yes, that's me. I just sent customer service an email with a link to the thread. I hear they are really good with support. Either way it's not a big deal; at the worst I can just get it properly crowned and it should be great.

(sorry for the thread hijack, Quoheleth)
 
Instead of a new thread

I'll resurrect this.

Santa arrived almost two months early, wearing flat grey and purple and driving a FexEx truck. CMP did a fine job with this rifle. I can't wait to break it down, clean & lube it, and hit the range.

I opened it, took the pics, and immediately boxed it right up and went to my friend's house, a WWII vet who is also a gun enthusiast. (He's the Veteran ; I'm 35). He held it in silence for about ten seconds, beaming. His eyes were moist when he said, "Boy, does this bring back some memories." I told him I have almost 600 rounds and it's his job to help me "break in" the rifle. I hope he has a "good day" soon where he can do that with me.

Here's some pics.

View attachment 450697

View attachment 450698

View attachment 450699

View attachment 450700

View attachment 450701

View attachment 450702

The SN is in the 5.8 millions. I suspect it's been rebarreled. Will have to give more details later, as I need to get out the door for daughter's oboe lesson.

thanks for looking and for those who encouraged me to get this-thanks!

Q
 
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Yes, service grade. The stock looks in very good shape. I would have suspected a new repro, but it's obviously hardwood and not beech, and it has an unreadable cartouche and some idjit teenybopper soldier (I say that because this is the kind of thing I did when I was an idjit teenybopper) carved an askerisk-shaped star on the left side of the stock. The upper/barrel shroud has some miles on it.

The numbers on the barrel and bolt don't match the receiver. I guess that's to be expected - that means a rebuild somewhere on the way, right?

Now, a question: I noticed the rear sight is adjusted all the way left. the front sight is also drifted to the left of center. Would you suggest I leave them where they are to take my first shots, or center them and shoot for zero from there?

I'm really pleased with CMP. I didn't ask for anything fancy - just a good, SG that will has the potential to be a good shooter.

Q

By the way...my wife wasn't exactly doing handsprings, but she was happy for me that I got the rifle. I firmly expected a "what the heck is that?!?" when she got home. Instead, I got a pleasant smile and a "good for you."
 
The numbers on the barrel and bolt don't match the receiver. I guess that's to be expected - that means a rebuild somewhere on the way, right?
Click to expand...
if im not mistaken those numbers would not match even if it were all original because the number on the receiver heel is a serial number. the numbers on the barrel and bolt are drawing numbers. you will notice on the front of the receiver on one of the vertical struts is a drawing number that doesnt match the serial number.

Now, a question: I noticed the rear sight is adjusted all the way left. the front sight is also drifted to the left of center. Would you suggest I leave them where they are to take my first shots, or center them and shoot for zero from there?
Click to expand...
whichever you prefer. if you move the front sight be prepared for the sight clamp bolt to be incredibly tight. i would center the front then zero with the rear. as for elevation you will have to raise the rear 10-12 clicks to be 100yd zeroed and that is perfectly normal. i lower all mine when im not shooting to protect the aperture, then raise it to shoot. (notice that the sight is protected by the bunny ears when its retracted all the way down)

I'm really pleased with CMP. I didn't ask for anything fancy - just a good, SG that will has the potential to be a good shooter.
Click to expand...
it will shoot lights out. ive seen many shoot close to m.o.a right out of the box (service grades)

beautiful rifle with serious character. you have chosen well. congratz
 
Excellent! It looks great!

I like the stock, actually am a little jealous. Mine came with a new stained-birch stock which I kind of hate. I guess I mentioned that already, though. It's not growing on me.

Don't worry at all about the numbers not matching. US rifles didn't have matching numbers on all the parts like is common in other parts of the world.
 
To me that looks like it could be a HRA stock. I'm going on the shape of the cartouche, and the way the pistol grip is carved on the bottom.
 
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