Good deal on M1 Garand?

[nwilliams]

My local shop has a Springfield M1 Garand with LMR barrel for $695.

The stock has been refinished but the markings stock are still there, the wood is gorgeous. The trigger housing is HRA but most of the parts I could find were Springfield.

Is this a good deal? I'm a bit tempted by it but I'm not much of an expert on Garands so I'm not sure what to look for exactly.

 

[D94R]

Can you measure the throat and muzzle erosion's? That would give you an indication of how it would compare to CMP's grading system.

CMP sells the Service Grade rifles for $595, and they are excellent. If this one at the shop falls in that spec based on CMP grading criteria then that's a pretty good deal.

 

[az_imuth]

If the barrel checks out then it would probably make a good shooter since the LMR barrels are reportedly some of the best USGI barrels produced. Maybe I'm overly cautious, but I would thoroughly inspect anything other than a CMP rifle for signs of a welded reciever. If you're not sure how to identify one then go over to jouster.com and do a search in the M1/M1A forum on the word "weld". It's surprising how many welded recievers are out there.

 

[USSR]

Check the bore. If there is no pitting or corrosion, take a .30-06 M2 round and insert it point first into the muzzle. If there is at least 3/16" of bullet showing between the muzzle and the case mouth, then the barrel is good and I would buy that rifle.

Don

 

[Sport45]

If a M2 ball bullet stuck nose first into the muzzle shows 1/8 - 3/16" of bullet above the cannelure I'd consider the muzzle okay; 3/16 - 1/4" would be a very good muzzle. It has to be a M2 bullet for this test. If you use a different bullet check it first in a known good muzzle.

 

[Orlando]

1/8 to 3/16 is actually a fairly worn muzzle. 3/16 is a 4 on my gauge which in my opinion is at the very end of serviceable life

 

[Flatbush Harry]

If you get it from CMP direct, it will be exactly as advertised or better and a good buy...if done privately, maybe, maybe not. I'd bet on "maybe not".

FH, 4x satisfied CMP customer

 

[AK103K]

If the gun looks "dirty", get them to run a couple of patches through it and see what bore looks like.

I've run into a couple of outwardly pristine looking guns that had been shot with corrosive ammo and never cleaned. They just looked ''dirty" until I cleaned them before taking them out, and it quickly became obvious it was more than just a dirty barrel. 12-15" "groups" at 100 yards was the result.

Its amazing how many people dont clean and maintain their guns. Its also amazing how many dont even bother when they are trying to sell them.

Are you a shop regular and friendly with the dealer?

 

[Sport45]

This post on the CMP Forum has pictures of a .30 M2 Ball round in muzzles of various gauge readings.