WHEW! I had no-o-o-o idea that M1 values had appreciated to anywhere near that level.
Well, CMP is temporarily out of SGs in the $700-800 range (until they get enough out of the recent Philippine acquisition to stock both the Stores up again). If you can drive to either of the brick-and-mortar CMP Stores, they have a few out in the racks, but not enough to warrant listing under mail order.
I've seen some decidedly sketchy Garands at shows with price tags up around $1800-2100, and had all the looks of being Blue Sky or similar imports.
Magazines. Never used stripper clips while in the Army.
It took 13 years to develop the M-14, so, when they started, the idea of a semi-fixed magazine fed with 5 round strippers had not yet been eclipsed. (Army was still issuing Carbine ammo on stripper clips with a magazine adapter; they still had concerns about soldiers "wasting ammo.")
By the time the M14 was officially adopted in 1958, the use of clips to load magazines was not doctrine, but was retained anyway. Ammunition bandoliers were packed in 5 round increments. The M56 LBE used "Universal" ammo pouches as the M-14 wan not adopted at that point. The Pouches were able to carry a full bandolier of either Garand
en bloc clips, a bandolier of the 7.62nato in clips, two BAR mags, or four Carbine mags per each. When the M-14 was adopted, the pouch would only hold two magazines. There was a later improvement o nthe 56 gear which had magazine pouches which could hold three M-14 mags. Those entered circulation about 1965, with the M-14 being withdrawn.
Army issue of the M-14 was on a Regiment by Regiment basis, which took some time. Army did not go fully over to M-14 until about 1962. Marines developed a specific rifle and pouch for the M-14 that was issues in 1961. The P-61 had a belt wit ha series of glove snaps all the way around. The magazine pouches held a single mag each, with two snaps vertically on the back in a full-width loop. The pouches were issued four to a rifleman. They were meant to be installed to preference, so they could open up or down, on the top or bottom snap, whichever better fit one's flak jacket
The M14A1 was the "squad automatic" version.
Which later became the M14E3, with it's pistol grip stock and extra-flimsy front grip and bipod, later to be officially designated as the M15. For a single day, then removed from service, ne'er to be seen again.
Which is why the next rifle adopted was the M-16.