M1 Garand

[jrfoxx]

nice wood.Mine was a field grade Greek return, so the wood was a much lighter color, and the upper handguard didnt match (I gather the Greeks replaced our original stocks with new ones made there at some point on most of the guns we loaned them), as it was even lighter. I like the coloring of the ones with the original USGI stocks WAY better, as thats just how I picture Garands looking, so I stripped and stained mine to try to get it as close as I could.Didnt really come out like I hoped, as it doesnt really look like the USGI color still, but it does look a lot nicer than it did, so no biggie.Someday I'll probly just get a replacement original stock for it, as the parkerizing on mine is really VERY good still everywhere except the last 2" or so at the muzzle, so it should look great with a new stock.

 

[dscottw88]

How does it work? you send them all the info and then they do a back round check in 60 days and send it overnight? no ffl involved?

 

[kamagong]

Fill out the paperwork and requirements. Drop it in the mail with a check. CMP does the background check themselves, so no FFL. 60-90 days later you'll have your Garand delivered to your front door. I'ts pretty simple really.

 

[Green Lantern]

60-90 days....or LESS, even, mayyyybe...

It was about the 14th that I got the e-mail saying that had got my stuff and checked everything out.

Today I got an e-mail with tracking #s for my ammo. None of the links are in FedEx's system yet, I guess 'cause it's Saturday? And my card has been charged for the ammo AND for the rifle as well...so I'm assuming that's on the way soon?

*kicks self for not picking up .30Cal Boresnake on Thursday - I really thought it'd be longer coming!*

 

[MustangHowie]

You should have everything by next Friday. I got my Email on a Friday and the Rifle landed Monday and the ammo landed Friday after that.

I still need to get out and shoot mine. Maybe I will today.

 

[GRIZ22]

Even if the barrel is a little (or more than a little) worn, you can definitely put every round in a 10" circle at 100 yards with one once you get the feel for your gun.


That would be pretty poor performance for a Garand. I am not the best rifle shot in the world and do much netter than that with my CMP Garands (3 SG, 1 FG). Using Greek CMP ammo all the high serial number Garands I have shoot 2" at 100 if I do my part. I have a 1942 receiver with a Danish VAR barrel (Field Grade) that does 1 1/2".

All of my Garands have some mixing of parts which does nothing to accuracy if they are assembled correctly which they are at CMP.

 

[brooks]

M1 & CMP Ammo

I was out to the range and was really disappointed with my groups using CMP ammo. When I used my hand loads, my confidence returned.

Don't re-barrel until you find it shooting poorly with good ammo.

 

[GarandOwner]

I hear everytime someone gets a garand, an angel gets its wings


USA, your missing a bam

 

[latisimusd]

My first Garand and my 2nd order is supposed to be here next week (H&R service grade).
Springfield "44" receiver, no rust or pitting to speak of on any of the parts, and has a new Danish barrel, and it is just starting to break in, I'm quite amazed by the iron sight accuracy for a military semi-auto that such an old design.
Some pics of my baby (not pretty, but man it can throw a 150gr bullet really well).

 

[Threeband]

Nice looking Service Grade! You're lucky to have gotten both a WWII receiver AND a USGI stock. A lot of the service grades are coming with replacement stocks made of birch. They're made by Boyds, but worked over by DuPage, or so the rumor says.

Seems like the guys who really want a new stock get an old one, and if you REALLY want an old stock, you'll get a new one. Anyway, you really can't go wrong with the CMP. If you don't like the one they send you, you can turn around the next day and sell it for a 50% mark up and order another.

I couldn't decide if I wanted a Correct Grade or a Service Grade, so I got both. I wanted a nasty old GI stock to restore, so of course I got the replacement. But I'm really starting to like it. I really can't chose between them.

Here they are. They just came last Thursday, April 3. Correct above, Service below:

 

[highorder]

wow, thats nice wood on the SG! With some TLC and BLO, you can get it to look like this:

 

[41magsnub]

I'm going insane waiting for mine, watching folks who ordered after I did get theirs before me. The rifle has been processing for over a week, ammo showed up a long time ago.

 

[ougunnut]

Here is mine. I just shot it today the 1st time. It has a Kreiger Criterion chrome lined .308 barrel. I shot several 2" 5-shot groups today with my handloads using Hornady 150gr FMJBT bullets.
It is not CMP I got it from garand guy. All the parts and reciever are USGI though.

 

[MustangHowie]

I finaly got out to shoot mine. I only put one clip through it, but wow. I would have shot more but I was in my back yard and the neihbors have not complained yet, but I don't want to push it too far. I do shoot a lot of .22 back there.
I think I need to order another case of ammo.
I can't wait for some nice weather and some time to spend with it.

 

[futureranger]

hey really rice rifles, so how do all you guys with the great looking stocks refinish them to look so good? my Garand has some dings in the stock so when i sanded, refinished and polished the stock the ding really showed, i don’t want to sand all of them out cause that would take off a LOT of wood. Is there any way to get them out and save the two stamps on it?

 

[johnnyonthespot]

hey future, I dont have the link but there is a good page about the ole dishwasher stock refinishing technique... the guy says he has done dozens of rifles in the dishwasher and he puts duct tape over the cartouches to keep them intact...

I wanted to refinish my garand judging from pictures... but once i bought it and held it... there is no way i would alter those "beautymarks" on my gun...

but from time to time one needs some work... if thats the case i wouldnt be afraid of the dishwasher technique...

... but if you are... the diehards swear by the wet rag and hot iron steaming technique... but dont hold it on for too long!

i think the dishwasher sounds safer...

may even tighten the lockup.

 

[Dr. Peter Venkman]

This is 100 yards off of a couple of sandbags and surplus Korean 30-06:



I have a seven-shot group on my door that was much more tight; don't ask me where the eighth shot went. I screwed it up!

It's a 1943 SA receiver; not sure what the rest of the stuff means. If I disassembled it into the three main parts and I read the stuff off the barrel, could you tell me what it all means? I also have other high-res photos of it but I'm not sure where they are.

 

[Threeband]

Dr. Venkman,

You have some beautiful and interesting rifles there! That SMLE No.1Mk III* third-from-left looks like a nicer-than-average example. Your Garand looks nice too. Even in this photo I can see some post-war improvements, such as the rear sight and the "high-hump" gas tube lock.

Most M1s were refurbished and rebuilt at least once, some several times. In the process, barrels were replaced and parts from different rifles were mixed up. You could have a Springfield (SA) receiver from 1943 and a Harrington & Richardson (HRA) bolt from 1955, along with a 1954 International Harvester (IH) trigger group and a 1944 Winchester (WRA) operating rod. The barrel might be dated 1965. Probably most old US rifles are Mixmasters. Makes 'em interesting.

Here's a good little article that can get you started:

How to Evaluate an M1
http://www.jouster.com/Bulletin/Evaluate.html


Good M1 info here:

http://www.civilianmarksmanship.com/


And here's wonderful and accessable site devoted to the M1

http://www.memorableplaces.com/m1garand/index.html

 

[futureranger]

Johnny, thanks for the info, i found the other thread, my Garand is from the CMP and just this weekend i went shooting and was able to get a nice 4 round group of 1.5" with cheap cmp surplus ammo, it normaly keeps around 2" or so but i must have goten lucky, what other types of ammo could preform better? my garand HATES anything over 150 grains im talking about 4-6" groups

 

[Green Lantern]

Dangit...I'm starting to get "antsy" now. Dunno how many times I've checked the Estore website today. My ammo is due tomorrow, but the rifle is still "TBD."

 

[Green Lantern]

*bump*

Got my ammo!

It's not like I didn't NEED the exercise, and it was most interesting to see the amount of abuse an el-cheapo $20 "survival" knife can take...

But after finally winning the fight, I figure there's gotta be a BETTER way to get that Spam Can open!

So at first I jiggled with the little 'key' thing and it snapped off. "Well, great, I broke it" I think. This is where the knife and an improvised hammer came in.

I asked a family member this evening (wearing a bandolier as a 'trophy' at the time )...so, apparently the key is SUPPOSED to be broken off - then jabbed in and twisted in order to open the can up?

 

[johnnyonthespot]

dont ever buy a big ham in a can or any spam grn lantern...


its a good feeling having unopened cans of ammo...

what do you suppose would happen to a can of 240 rds of 30-06
if it burned in a house fire?

i bet my neighbors would be PISSED...

assuming they would still be alive...

 

[sublimaze41]

I an awaiting arrival of mine from CMP.

Thanks for making my wait more tolerable


Nice gun. I love the dings on the stock, gives it character. Ever wonder what the history is behind each nick and scratch??

 

[TexasRifleman]

what do you suppose would happen to a can of 240 rds of 30-06
if it burned in a house fire?

i bet my neighbors would be PISSED...

assuming they would still be alive...

Actually not a lot happens. There's some noise and of course if you were right next to it you might get wounded but with no chamber to hold the pressures and aim them in one direction the bullet just kinda pops out and that's it.

Pretty anticlimactic really as demonstrated once by an IPSC shooter friend of mine who is also the fire chief of a small west Texas town. He put on a demo to show an ammo fire. Kinda boring in the end Which is probably a good thing.

 

[Green Lantern]

dont ever buy a big ham in a can or any spam grn lantern...

Heh... Hm, LITERAL Spam cans tend to be much more cooperative with me...

I did get some cans to save for a 'rainy day,' I just opened the one to get some ammo and clips for when my Garand arrives.

As for cook-offs in a house fire - I had heard that the only real danger would be in guns with chambered rounds...that loose ammo wouldn't be able to send bullets flying too far without the aid of a rifled barrel...?