M1 Garand poll

Which Garand or neither

  • Greek Service Grade M1

    Votes: 34 47.2%

  • USGI Field Grade M1

    Votes: 30 41.7%

  • Forget M1, any variation of the Black Rifles

    Votes: 3 4.2%

  • Use that cash and get a crate of SKS's

    Votes: 5 6.9%
  • Total voters
    72
  • Poll closed .
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L

longhorngunman

Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2005
Messages
852
THR members, I need a little advice. I have saved up and am going to order a M1 Garand by tomorrow from the CMP. I've decided between the USGI field grade for $395 or the Greek Springfield Service Grade for $500. Mainly I just want a Garand to have for it's significant historical value and for long distance plinking and maybe hunting. I know the USGI's have a better possibility to have been used during WWII, but I wouldn' t want one if it means sacrificing lots on quality and accuracy. What would THR's get?
 
Field grade. They're cheaper, and less likely to have ugly euro wood on them. Most are fine shooters. If you somehow manage to shoot out the barrel, you can always have it replaced for not much money.
 
If you want a WWII era rifle, then you'll have to go with a rack or field grade since the service/correct/collector grades are all post-WWII. The service grades and up will almost guarantee you a good shooter since the TE and MW will be good.

So it's a tough call. I'd always recommend a service grade or better for your first Garand. But if you want the WWII era rifle, I'd order a field grade and put a note on the form asking for a WWII serial number (ie: something 3 million or under). Usually the CMP will comply with reasonable requests.

It is true that the service grades may have the thicker post-WWII stocks, and often in beech or birch as opposed to walnut. Here's a picture of a service grade HRA I bought earlier this year:

m1_5588064_01t.jpg

Notice the European birch wood stock.

I bought a field grade SA and got a 2.51 million rifle. It shot really well, even though the barrel was graded field (I didn't gauge it myself so I can't tell you what the true TE and MW was; I still have the barrel though). So you can risk getting a field or rack and still get a fine shooting rifle.

As far as barrel replacement, new modern barrels go for as low as $150, and could cost you anywhere from $50-$100 for a gunsmith to install/headspace/ream the barrel for you.
 
I bought a Greek service grade and all the metal looks prestine and with a walnut stock, if they hadn't told me I'd probably never know the difference. The inside of the barrel looks barely used.
 
I would go with the Service grade as that will be the best shooter. If you happen to get hideous wood, boydsgunstocks.com has replacement wood for less than $100. That's cheaper than making one that looks pretty shoot good if it's shot out.

If you're going to be shooting long range or especially if you're doing any hunting, you need the most accurate rifle possible. While the difference in a field or service grade "probably" won't make much difference, it "could" be the difference between a clean kill and some animal bleeding to death in the woods.
 
If you want a WWII era rifle, then you'll have to go with a rack or field grade since the service/correct/collector grades are all post-WWII. The service grades and up will almost guarantee you a good shooter since the TE and MW will be good.
Click to expand...

No. Collectors are all post-WWII, service are mixed. There are just as many field/rack pre/post-WWII guns as service pre/post-WWII.

I've seen some great Field and Rack (mine is a rack, from before when they had the field category) when I went and hand selected from the store. However, I have seen plenty of junk ones too, that would at least prevent me from gambling through mail-order.

If you live around Ohio at all, I would suggest driving to the store in Port Clinton, and hand picking the one you want.
 
jefnvk said:
No. Collectors are all post-WWII, service are mixed. There are just as many field/rack pre/post-WWII guns as service pre/post-WWII.
Click to expand...

Whoops. I stand corrected on the service grades.

I retract my earlier position regarding getting the rack or field grade in order to get a WWII era rifle. Definitely go with a service grade Greek return SA. Just be sure to put a note in the on the order form that you wish to get a WWII serial number. While this won't guarantee you'll get it, it does let the CMP know that you are looking for one, and they will do their best to accomodate you.
 
Thanks for the replies. I'm leaning towards the Greek Service because of the guaranteed wear specs, also I've handled a Greek before and I liked the beefier stock compared to other M1's and other rifles. The thicker stock felt more natural to me and I could bring it up to my shoulder and line up my target very quickly. If I had any way to afford it I'd just get both, and probably will unless they run out first:uhoh: . BTW who here has experiences with the gas bleed off valves that are available to Garands. I know not to use new higher power commercial 30*06 in Garands, but thought the bleed off valve would safely lower the pressure on the op rod.
 
CMP ammo is cheap enough and decent, I'd just use that unless you plan on shooting serious matches or hunting.

As for the stocks, it seemed to me that the Greeks had about a 60/40 split in favor of the US stock, of all them I have seen on the shelves at the store.
 
If you don't want "ugly euro wood", just do what I did and write "Walnut stock preferred" on your order form. ;)
 
For what it's worth...

I recently picked up a Garand from the CMP store at Camp Perry. I told the staff I was looking for the best shooter for the lowest price. They went into the back and found a field grade rifle with a barrel that guaged better than most of the service grades. The only explanation for my rifle not being a service grade was that the wood had been sanded down by an armorer and left unoiled when it was put into storage. It looked UGLY, but a little more sanding and some oil made it more beautiful than any of the others on the rack. The perfect barrel was just icing on the cake.

Any way, my point is that if you can make it up to the CMP store they'll help you pick out the perfect rifle. Go talk to them if you live anywhere nearby.
 
Thanks for the advice. I live in Texas, for what it would cost me in Gas to get up to Ohio I could just order another rifle on top of the one I intended to get.:D
 
I have a Greek HRA Service grade that I got earlier this year. Looks great and shoots good. The wood is shaped a little different, but I am not picky about wood.
 
Thanks for all the help!:) I went with the conventional wisdom and what I was leaning to anyways and ordered a Greek Service grade, also asked for walnut stock if possible. Now I have to read up on everything Garand! I had to get a Garand, had already ordered two ammo boxes of the Korean 30*06 from Aim.:D
 
I voted 'Field' grade. For $395, then you can put a new barrel and new Boyds stock on it and have an excellent rifle cheap. If you buy the Greek field grade, you will spend another hundred and soon want a fresh barrel anyway....

If you feel an uncontrolable need for a 'black' rifle, you can get a black Ramline synthetic stock for your Garand to pop on for days you want to play ninja; and you'll still have great sights.
 
The ammo is the PS it's the 80's vintage in clips and bandoleers. I shoot corrosive 8mm all the time but I'd never shoot corrosive in a semi. Too much more to clean every time.
 
Oh, Ok. I thought you were being VERY insistent on whether I had corrosive or non-corrosive. HA-HA!:)
 
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