Just sent in CMP order for Garand. I'm excited.

[Rugerlvr]

My wife and I both like to shoot, as she's ex-USAR. So we got a bug to get an M1 from the CMP. Since she has a DD214 handy, she filled out the paperwork, and I mailed it off today. In about 30-45 days, They'll deliver an SA correct grade with a couple of spam cans of the Greek M2 ammo.

We're very excited... But the waiting is gonna be hard. At least it will be nice and warm by the time she gets it, and we can get it right out to the range once we check it over.

Wish us luck on getting a cherry rifle!

 

[mek42]

Good luck!

How did you guys decide on correct vs. service grade? Was it just a matter of "have the cash, may as well"?

 

[41magsnub]

Sweet, my first one shipped today. Will get my baby tomorrow. H&R SG for me. I decided on service grade since I am looking for a shooter rather than a collector piece.

 

[Rugerlvr]

I decided on service grade since I am looking for a shooter rather than a collector piece.

Funny, We're looking for a shooter too. We just read too many negative things about stuff below correct grade. We figure with a correct grade, We're getting a first rate shooter, that won't explode in our faces.

 

[Gator]

I figure with a correct grade, I'm getting a first rate shooter, that won't explode in my face.

Actually a correct grade could have more wear than a service grade, but NONE of the CMP rifles will explode in your face! They are all good shooters.

 

[johnnyonthespot]

i found the wait for my M1 to be a blood pressure raising experience...
my heartrate jumped... I couldnt sleep...

I would
avoid over-indulgence in caffeine and cigarettes if I were you...

and
I recommend drinking mildly sedative herbal teas in the meantime until the M1 and friends arrive ...



but seriously, congrats!

here is a pic of my 5.8 million springfield and a can of greek hxp with buddies

To me alot of other guns seem hollow compared to an M1... all that history and reliability... form and function... very meaningful symbol of freedom, sacrifice, pride, and so much more...

you will soon hold history in your hands!

 

[highorder]

We just read too many negative things about stuff below correct grade.

where did you hear ANY of that?

 

[Rugerlvr]

where did you hear ANY of that?

Oh, various posters on the CMP forums, and a few other places. I guess mainly it was looking at hundreds of pictures of the SGs and CGs, and seeing that regardless of stock condition, the metal parts were always better looking on the CGs. We want something that has a little bit of collector value, and some good accuracy left in the barrel, and lots of life left in the receiver, bolt and trigger group.

And yeah, we "have the cash to spare" I guess. It's all good.

 

[Threeband]

If you can swing it, and you think you'll only get one ( yeah, right... just TELL yourself that!) you might as well go for the Correct. The Service Grade is probably the best all around deal, but I say get the best you can afford, and don't look back.

I couldn't decide between the Service and the Correct Grades, so in the best High Road Tradition... I got both. Now I can't decide which I like better. A lot of the Service Grades are coming with new replacement birch stocks, which some love and some hate. The Correct will have original GI walnut. The Service Grade will have mixed parts, SA, HRA, etc. The Service Grade should be a good shooter, maybe better than the Correct, but might, I say MIGHT need the muzzle re-crowned (simple). You might as well get both...why fight it?

In a few days you'll get the "order received, now don't bug us" e-mail. Then the real wait begins. Start hanging out at the CMP forum. Read up on Garands. Buy the Canfield book. Order a bunch of Greek ammo. Watch for forum postings from people who got their "Don't Bug Us" e-mail just before yours, and whose orders have posted as "open".

Now you start logging in to the e-store two or three times a day to check the status of your account. One day you'll tell yourself, "Why bother; I just checked an hour ago?" But you will check , and can it be? Yes! Your order has posted as "open"! Something is happening!

This is the CMP equivalent of going into labor.

Several more days will drag by. You'll be checking your order status more and more frequently. On the forum, some guy who sent his order in three days after you did will get HIS rifle, and post lots of pictures. You will hate him, especially when you realize he already has 27 other M1s.

Finally you'll check in, and see that your order has gone to "processing." This is the next-to-last step, and is intended to torture you just a little. Make no mistake: you are getting a real deal on this rifle. You have to "pay" somehow.

At last, your order will post as "shipped", and the serial number will be shown. It'll be a 5.4 to 5.6 million, from the mid-to-late 50's. This is the "Elvis Presley" era. Who knows, perhaps you'll get Elvis's rifle!

Your M1 will ship Fed Ex priority air, so you should get it the next day, unless you have to wait over the weekend. (That would be additional agony.)

Now you start checking the tracking on the Fed Ex site: Alabama...Georgia...Memphis...arrived...loaded on truck. Keep watching out the window. Listen! Is that the truck?

For me:

Don't Bug Us e-mail: Feb. 19
Order "open" March 27 (Thursday)
Order "processing" March 31 (Monday)
Order shipped April 2
Rifles arrive April 3.

Here's a current High Road thread about Garands, with pictures. Mine are in there somewhere: just scroll down.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=350546&page=2

 

[Rugerlvr]

Threeband, your post makes my evening.

 

[dmftoy1]

The waiting is tough! I got a "Special" last year and that damn thing can shoot . . . . if the guy behind the rifle was any good well it'd be a special thing!

I hate to tell you though . .two spam cans won't last long. I shoot about a bandolier and 1/2 every Garand match . . . If there's two of you then you'll probably do a can a match. Reminds me that I need to order some more.

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[sarge83]

I have two Field Grades SA garands and an H&R Service Grade, all shoot great! The service grade has more park left on it and the stock is in much better shape than the field grades. And as another poster said, if it's from CMP, it's not gonna kaboom on you if you use proper ammo and cleaning. Enjoy they are loads of fun to shoot!!!

 

[sas]

Good luck with the wait. Just sent off my order for a SA service grade yesterday and already want to order a H&R or pop for a correct grade have to wait and see.

 

[tpelle]

I just got an HRA Service Grade on Friday. About 2 - 1/2 years ago I drove to the North Store (about a 4-hour drive for me) and personally selected a WWII Springfield Armory Field Grade M1.

Comparing the two rifles, I have to say that my older Field Grade rifle is in better shape in general than my brand-new (to me) Service Grade.

My Springfield Armory rifle, with two exceptions, has all SA parts, as far as I can tell, and all of those parts are correct for the date that the rifle was built. The two exceptions are the barrel, which was replaced in May of 1946 during the big post-WWII rebuild, and the rear sight, which is the later T105E1 sight.

My "new" HRA has what appears to be the original barrel and gas cylinder, but the bolt, op rod, and entire trigger group are Springfield Armory pieces. Furthermore, although it is in a "not too bad" DOD-Cartouched walnut stock, the receiver is very loose in the stock, and when you take the gas cylinder lock off, the gas cylinder fits on the barrel splines so loosely that I bet you can tip the barrel down and it would fall off.

I fixed the gas cylinder problem last evening by peening the splines. I'm seriously thinking about buying a new CMP stock.

I will say that the bore looks really good, the crown looks OK, and the overall finish on the rifle is excellent. HRA, by the way, is generally recognized as having produced the "prettiest" M1's in terms of quality of finish.

The point is that the overall quality of the rifles available from the CMP seems to be deteriorating, so the rifle you get this year won't be as nice as one you might have gotten last year. I'm sure there are some "safe queens" out there, just as I'm sure there are some real dogs.

So, are CMP rifles still a good deal? You bet! Read their grading criteria, and unless something just slips by them, the rifle you get will be consistent with that criteria, and if it's not, they will do their best to make it good. They are all checked for headspace and are test fired, so you will get a rifle that functions, and pretty much everything else will be fixable. And you sure won't get anything like this for the same price at a gun show or local shop.


What worries me is what will keep their doors open after the last of the M1's are gone? Every service rifle since is a machine gun, which means that most of us will never be able to own one. Can they carry on selling air rifles and .22's? Don't know. Maybe they'll work out a deal with Bushmaster or Rock River, or someone to sell AR15's - hope so.

 

[Rugerlvr]

Well, the CMP won't be out of business for some time. The Greek return alone was something like 115,000 rifles. It will take them a long time to sell that off. And who knows what other caches of rifles will turn up? Hopefully some. Does anybody have any info on what other sources of M1s might become available in the future?

 

[tpelle]

Springfield Armory, Inc. in Ill (not to be confused with the now-defunct Springfield "Government" Armory in Mass.) makes 'em brand-new. They're about $1500.00.

 

[Ed4032]

I have always wanted to buy a M1 from CMP. How do you do it? I looked at the web site, but I am a little confused about it.

 

[Rugerlvr]

I have always wanted to buy a M1 from CMP. How do you do it? I looked at the web site, but I am a little confused about it.

Ok, here's what you have to provide them.

1. A fully filled out, signed and notarized order form.

2. Proof of age & citizenship, copy of birth certificate is best.

3. Proof of "safe marksmanship" Which can be a number of things including but not limited to:
*Concealed Carry Permit
*Certificate of completion of hunters safety course
*Honorable discharge papers (DD214)
*Law Enforcement credentials
*Filled out range report form, available on their website (the easiest method for someone who doesn't have the others)

4. Proof of membership in an affiliated club. (This includes the Garand Collector's Assn, which anyone can join for $25/yr.)

They will accept your order that includes the above, and do a criminal background check before fulfilling the order.

That's all there is to it. It's actually rather simple and easy. The hardest thing for us to do, was to find a convenient Notary.

 

[sas]

Most major bank branches have a notary i got mine at the local Wells Fargo . Free if you have an account with them.

 

[Rugerlvr]

My sister-in-law is an attorney, and Notary. We just had her notarize it at my niece's b-day party on Saturday.

 

[dmftoy1]

As far as what other "caches" of M1's there might be that's a big unknown . . .I have seen it hinted in the "Ask Orest" forum that there are some that may come available as more "lend lease" rifles are returned. I think they can ship 200-300 rifles per day at max capacity. (all types, etc.)

115,000 / 300 = 383 days and they only ship Monday - Friday so you're talking at least a 2 year supply of JUST Garands with the current batch. Add in the current batches of M1 Carbines and you've stretched it out a bit further . . .

 

[GRIZ22]

We just read too many negative things about stuff below correct grade.

There is no negatives I've seen with SG. The ones I have measure a 2 or less on both ends of the barrel. They all have excellent plus finishes with the exception of some wear on the gas cylinder and barrel from guys standing around holding them by the muzzle end of the barrel. Trigger guards are usually the worst finish (military rifles are cleaned more than they are shot). I even picked out a RG at the North Store which is a real mix of parts Sprinfield, WRA, Beretta, and a VAR barrel which shoots better than the rest of them. I just got a H&R SG which came with a new Boyd's stock.

 

[MythBuster]

"Springfield Armory, Inc. in Ill (not to be confused with the now-defunct Springfield "Government" Armory in Mass.) makes 'em brand-new. They're about $1500.00"

If you call a rifle with mostly 60 year old used and refinished parts brand new.

The reciever is a new cast unit. The barrel and wood is new.

The rest of the parts are used.

 

[41magsnub]

I just got my SG HRA a few minutes ago. The birch stock (damn) looks good, Needs some more love though, very try and rough feeling. Gonna sand it and oil it more.

The metal looks really good, no wear marks obvious. Will field strip and see how much cleaning it needs tomorrow.

 

[dscottw88]

Just Sent Mine In!!!

I just sent mine in today!!! Ordered one Service Grade SA rifle. Can't wait until it gets here, CMP please hurry!!!