Garand Value Enhancement

[Sport45]

I have a HRA M1 that I got from the CMP several years ago. It came with all HRA parts except the stock and trigger group. I traded for a HRA stock shortly after getting it. I never thought a whole lot about the trigger group because I really like the trigger it has for shooting. But now I'm starting to wonder if having a HRA trigger group to make the rifle "complete" would be a worthwhile investment. The rifle will eventually be passed down to one of my sons so I have no intention of ever selling it, but how much value would be added by buying a HRA trigger group so the rifle would be "complete"? When I bought it, it was classified as service grade. Throat and muzzle both gage 3 or less.

 

[RP88]

I'd like to know this as well. I have an SA Garand that has an HRA bolt, but the rest matches, I believe. Or, at least the rest is all-SA parts.

 

[caveman4867]

Just shoot it, And enjoy.Theres a good chance thats how both rifles came out of rebuild.

 

[Tim the student]

For me personally, I wouldn't pay any more for a gun unless it was 100% correct. For me, that would mean that everything would have to be as it would have came out of the factory, not just the same manufacturer. It would need the right gas cylinder lock, HRA op rod, right bolt drawing number, and right barrel.

 

[benzy2]

It may add a little, but not much. Its a simple fix/swap for any user and currently there are plenty of guys with hra triggers looking for sa triggers that the swap is cheap. If hra triggers dried up it may be a different situation but as is, I would shoot the thing and enjoy it.

 

[Sport45]

Oh, I definately shoot and enjoy the thing. Just wondering if it would be worthwhile to buy a HRA trigger group when you can still get them for less than $200. (It probably would have been much less than $100 when I got the rifle.)

 

[Tim the student]

If it is something you want to do, do it. Parts won't be getting any cheaper, so if you're going to do it, now is the time, IMO.

 

[Slamfire]

Ever since its existance the CMP has swapped parts out on the lower grade rifles to prevent an all correct rifle walking out the door at a service grade price.

Your rifle is one of those. Another rifle went out the door with your trigger group and stock.

They swap out operating rods, stocks, bolt, trigger guards. These are easy to remove.

Excellent condition stocks are reserved for future builds. It is rare to find a nice example of a IHC, WWII stock on any rifle on the rack.

The best strategy to buying rifles at the CMP store is to go with friends. After everybody has bought their rifles you can swap parts in the parking lot. If you attempt to swap parts in the store, the CMP will banish you, forever.

If you can get an all correct trigger group, do. Why not? I have swapped parts to make all correct rifles.

 

[ol' scratch]

Just shoot, clean and repeat. If you intend on shooting it anyway, you are wearing parts out.

 

[ol' scratch]

Ever since its existance the CMP has swapped parts out on the lower grade rifles to prevent an all correct rifle walking out the door at a service grade price.

Your rifle is one of those. Another rifle went out the door with your trigger group and stock.

They swap out operating rods, stocks, bolt, trigger guards. These are easy to remove.

Excellent condition stocks are reserved for future builds. It is rare to find a nice example of a IHC, WWII stock on any rifle on the rack.

The best strategy to buying rifles at the CMP store is to go with friends. After everybody has bought their rifles you can swap parts in the parking lot. If you attempt to swap parts in the store, the CMP will banish you, forever.

If you can get an all correct trigger group, do. Why not? I have swapped parts to make all correct rifles.

How do you know this? What is your proof? I don't mean to sound rude, but it seems like you are wearing tin foil on your head. Please clarify. I don't see where the CMP would swap a bolt out and possibly mess up headspacing to make a rifle 'not correct.'

 

[benzy2]

I thought it was a given that the CMP swaps stuff around to make a fair market for all rifles. Think if I sent them my money, you sent the same amount, and my rifle was 100% correct and yours a complete mix mash of parts. A lot of people in your shoes would be upset. Maybe not you but many people. As such, to avoid this, the CMP swaps parts so that at least some of the parts on each rifle are incorrect and everyone is given a fair mix of parts on all rifles not specifically marked Correct. If you go to one of the stores and look at a Service or Field grade rifle, it won't be 100% correct. Its just the way the CMP works. As others have said, a big key is to go as a group, buy different manufacturer receivers, and swap stuff between them to get them all as close to correct as possible. Again as stated, if you do this in the store they aren't happy. Again they don't want anyone to purchase a 100% correct rifle without paying for a correct rifle. Once you own it, and are out of their sight, its fair game on the swapping.

 

[Slamfire]

How do you know this? What is your proof? I don't mean to sound rude, but it seems like you are wearing tin foil on your head. Please clarify. I don't see where the CMP would swap a bolt out and possibly mess up headspacing to make a rifle 'not correct.'

There was a time when the CMP accepted Volunteers. And I volunteered. And then there were the people who worked there, with whom I shot with at Camp Perry.

Don't worry about headspace. All rifles were correctly headspaced before they were shipped, with the original bolt, or a replacement. There were plenty of parts on the bench.

I helped pack 200 Garands in one day. I am certain that has gone way up since they moved off the Arsenal.

 

[Col. Plink]

Just go there yourself and enlist the help of an employee. I got a supersweet SA 5.5x10tothe6th at Field Grade prices because it had a grimy stock. ohhhhyeahhhhh....

 

[FMJMIKE]

If you can get the needed parts at a good price then do it. Otherwise just shoot it as is and have fun !!!

 

[Jeremy2171]

What Slamfire said is somewhat correct...but in some cases like about 4-5 years ago when the large shipment of Greek rifles came in....

There were MANY awesome HRA and SA rifles that were like new BUT they had the wrong stock and/trigger housing on them..(ex, minty SA with a minty HRA trig group) This was likely done by the Greeks prior to shipping as these all were packed in "grease" by the Greeks in Greece ( lol!) CMP did NOT take the time to do a simple switch and make everything "right" again and could have sold these as "correct" grade rifles.

I'm not saying they have NEVER switched parts but in most cases they don't have the TIME to do it. Anything really neat or rare goes on the auction site these days.

 

[Jeremy2171]

oops

 

[Jeremy2171]

Just go there yourself and enlist the help of an employee. I got a supersweet SA 5.5x10tothe6th at Field Grade prices because it had a grimy stock. ohhhhyeahhhhh....

Similar thing here...found a an all correct 6.08 mil SA (non-NM) rifle however it was covered in rust. They wouldn't sell it to me because it had to be broken down for parts due to the rust...I kept bugging them and they finally graded it as a "rack" grade just so I would leave them alone I guess.. anyways got it home and cleaned it up and the trigger housing/guard had a few pits and a few spopts on the rec had some pics but the rifle cleaned up great as a whole with no finish wear as the "rust" was mostly very fine and not scabbing at all. Bore was MINT! I think that was what $275 or so back in the day??