M1 Garand advice

[DirksterG30]

A friend of mine has offered me an M1 Garand for a good price. What should I check on the rifle? I don't care if it has matching serials, etc. I just want to know if it is in good condition and OK to shoot. Please educate me, as I know very little about the Garand.

 

[Blackfork]

Price?

First I'd check to see if its a real Garand and not a civilian copy. It ought to say Springfield, Winchester, H&R, or International Harvester on the heel of the receiver.

Second: what's the price? Rack grade Garands are around 525.00 from the CMP at this time.

The serial number can be looked up on the internet to get the date of manufacturer. Pull the OP-rod back and you can read the barrel date inscribed on the rear right side of the barrel in the op-rod slot.

Get a 30-cal bullet or cartridge and see how far it goes into the muzzle and check barrel wear. The less the better.

All parts intact? Does the rear sight move left to right and up and down?

Take a plastic bic pen and drop it down the barrel and dry-fire the gun. if it comes out, the rifle functions enough to break a primer.

That's what I would do to get started.

 

[strat81]

Check headspace, muzzle wear, throat erosion, bore.
Do a function check, make sure it feeds/extracts reliably.

Bring it to a smith. Surely there's a reputable smith in the greater Pittsburgh area.

Garands rock.

 

[iamkris]

Go here for a great overview and info about Garands. Nomenclature, field and detail strip info.

http://www.civilianmarksmanship.com/

 

[davidjblythe]

Rack Grade Garands are currently $445 from CMP.

 

[P-32]

Bring it to a smith. Surely there's a reputable smith in the greater Pittsburgh area.

One likes to think friends won't mess them over when doing a deal. Sometimes the friend isn't aware something might be wrong with the item.

Already mentioned is the names on the reciever heel. Springfield, Winchester, H&R and IHC. Any other and it's a M-1 to stay away from. Also there are rewelds which have the correct manf on them but I would not knowingly own one. (Rewelds are receivers which have been cut in half and then welded back together. Some might be pretty close but I doubt the orginal 2 halves made it back together.)


If there is CMP paper work which comes along with the rifle then I would have to say it's more than likely alright.

A gun smith should be able to tell you if the rifle is worth having. M-1 Garand are great rifles. Everyone should have at least one.

 

[dmftoy1]

If you field strip it then it should be pretty obvious if it's a reweld. (at least on the one's I've looked at)

If you do pick it up then I'd recommend picking up some Greek M2 Ball ammo from CMP. Great price and you won't have to worry about bending your op rod when shooting your new toy.

Regards,
Dave

 

[Trebor]

How much does he want for the rifle?

If it's a USGI gun and under $500, buy it. Just buy it.

The prices are only going up.