Ordering CMP Garand while deployed overseas?

[MatthewVanitas]

Greetings all,
Some of y'all might have seen my earlier posting about my ongoing project:

"Best gun catalogs for troops in Iraq to drool over?"
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=73485

Pleased to say that several companies have catalogs on the way. Springfield Armory airmailed a dozen catalogs, which were snapped up in a heartbeat. Bushmaster is sending _four_boxes_ of catalogs, which vanish off of any surface I leave them sitting on.

The point of this exercise is to encourage veterans to buy firearms when they leave the service. Plus, it amuses me.

Thinking on this longer, I realized that my goal is pretty much what ODCMP has in mind, but they're much better at it than I am. I had not previously realized how easy it is to order Garands through the CMP. Especially since I just realized they mail directly to your door, thus avoiding the whole C&R/FFL issue. Plus, any battle rifle at all for $350 is a steal, much less a Garand for $350. Couple minor questions before I start putting the Garand-lust into the brains of my compatriots:

1) Provided I can get the JAGs to notarize the CMP forms, are there any other problems servicemen would have ordering CMP Garands while deployed?

2) As much as I feel sleazy asking this: what's a CMP-affiliated club which is cheap to join and can be joined online? Preferrably via PayPal or creditcard. I'm not trying to skirt the "membership" requirement, it's just that there's not a lot of CMP clubs that I can drop into in Al-Anbar province.

3) Do I need to be at my house to sign for the rifle when it arrives? Can any adult sign for it? If my Da has Power of Attorney, can he sign for the rifle when UPS shows up?

4) So, I print the CMP form, fill it out, get it notarized, photocopy of military ID, enclose a check or money order. Then I mail it to CMP, and in a few months they mail it to my Da's house, he signs for it, and I take possession of it when I get back. Does that meet all the organizational and legal requirements?

5) Petty question: should I save $50 by buying the "Less Wood" option, and put that money and a little more to the purchase of a new (or newer) stock? I'd either like to put a new stock on it, or get a stock that is functional but so ugly that I won't feel bad refinishing it.

6) Is ODCMP going to run out of rifles anytime soon? Will I be shortchanging anyone if I convince a couple dozen Marines to blow some combat pay on Garands?

7) Are chamber adaptors to 7.62 NATO / clip blocks an acceptable half-measure while I ponder the question of whether to rebarrel or not? Any reccommended brand of chamber adaptor?

Thanks much for anyone's time. The Marines were definitely drooling over the M1As in the SA catalog, but I imagine a few wouldn't mind saving $1,000 and getting a Garand instead. If anyone else out there is doing a similar "corrupt the young servicemen into gun-buffs" program in their camp, please drop me a line. Take much care,


-MV (Johnny GunCatalog Program)

 

[riverdog]

Stay away from the chamber adaptors, there have been problems. Shoot 30-06 and if you don't like it, have the rifle rebarreled. I have one in .308 and five in 30-06 -- I much prefer 30-06. As far as shipping to deployed Marines, I'd contact ODCMP and ask them about how this would work. I doubt they will ship outside the U.S. Maybe ship to a parent or home of record??

 

[MatthewVanitas]

The main issue is just cost of ammo: I don't reload (yet), and 7.62NATO ammo is far cheaper than 30-06. I'll check around on chamber adaptors and see how negative the feedback is.

In clarification: I'm not trying to have a Garand mailed to Iraq, simply looking into getting the paperwork and delay knocked out while I'm deployed, so that it'll be waiting at my home of record upon my return.

Thanks, -MV

 

[Gator]

Matthew, first off: THANK YOU for your service!

1) I'd suggest posting this question on the CMP which can be found here:
http://www.odcmp.com/. I have heard of other servicemen ordering from the CMP and having their rifle waiting at home for them

2) The Garand Collectors Association is $25 a year and you get a nice newsletter too: http://www.garandcollector.org/index.htm

3) Any adult can sign for the rifle, no power of attorney needed

4) You will also need club membership and evidence of citizenship. Depending on what you order it may only be a few weeks until the rifle arrives

5) The "less wood" option is only available on rack grades. Rack grades have servicable, but fairly worn, bores. If you plan on rebarreling with a .308 and you want a nice stock that may be the way to go

6) According to the CMP they have roughly five to seven years worth of M1s left

7) DO NOT use a chamber insert...Riverdog is right.

HTH

Semper fi!

 

[George S.]

Look thru the CMP site for information on eligibility. Joining the Garand Collectors Assn is the best way to satisfy the "club" requirements. Your DD214 is proof of the "marksmanship" requirements. A copy of your birth certificate and a drivers' license and a notorized copy of the order form is all you need (well, the money too )

Keep checking the CMP Forum pages for details about what's in stock and what is not. Register at the on-line store so you can track your order once you place it. Orest Michaels is the Forum Administrator and he is great for responding to specific questions. Also, depending on where you live, you can also visit the store and bring your paperwork and buy there. Still have to go thru the NICS check but that is just a 2 minute phone call.

There is some talk about Greek M-1's becoming available at some point soon. The "less-wood" options may be a good deal, but in addition to the stock, front and rear handguard, you will also need the metal pieces that go with the wood pieces. They are available from Fulton Armory ( www.fulton-armory.com ) BTW, tell your buddies M14's (M1-A's) are available at Fulton Armory. Go to their website and check 'em out. Expensive but they look like National Match grade rifles.

While 7.62/.308 is cheaper and if you decide on re-barreling, that may work. It's still pretty easy to find milsurp 30-06 M2 ball ammo at a decent price. The CMP store has Lake City Arsenal USGI M2 ammo for a bit over $200 for 916 rounds delivered to your door. If you wind up reloading, that will save money and you can even work up a very accruate load for match use.

I just got a Springfield Arsenal Service Grade Danish Issue with a Dane VAR Barrel. It was made in April 1941. It looks like it has seen a fair amount of time at someplace where it was intended to be used and once I get it cleaned up, I expect it to be a really nice shooter.

 

[seeker_two]

Wow. Are things so desperate over there that they're making you buy your own rifles now?....








Good luck & be safe...

 

[1A271]

Try out the USPSA... US Practical Shooting Assn It's more like real life (ok not as much as IDPA but a good start) and it's easy to find a match nowadays. Kinda off topic. If you swing by Turkey on your way home check out the shotguns

 

[Trebor]

I'll only list the questions I can answer.

2) As much as I feel sleazy asking this: what's a CMP-affiliated club which is cheap to join and can be joined online? Preferrably via PayPal or creditcard. I'm not trying to skirt the "membership" requirement, it's just that there's not a lot of CMP clubs that I can drop into in Al-Anbar province.

Join the Garand Collector's Association. It's $25 a year. Go to http://www.garandcollector.org/

5) Petty question: should I save $50 by buying the "Less Wood" option, and put that money and a little more to the purchase of a new (or newer) stock? I'd either like to put a new stock on it, or get a stock that is functional but so ugly that I won't feel bad refinishing it.

Just get the rifle with the wood. Decent Garand wood is getting scarce and the aftermarket stuff usually has to be fitted.

6) Is ODCMP going to run out of rifles anytime soon? Will I be shortchanging anyone if I convince a couple dozen Marines to blow some combat pay on Garands?

I can't think of a better person to have a CMP Garand than a combat Marine.

7) Are chamber adaptors to 7.62 NATO / clip blocks an acceptable half-measure while I ponder the question of whether to rebarrel or not? Any reccommended brand of chamber adaptor?

Don't use a chamber adaptor. They don't work well and there is a reason the Navy gave up on them. If you want to rebarrel to 7.62 NATO/.308, buy a "Rack Grade" rifle and have it rebarreled. If you want a good shooter in the original .30-'06, buy a U.S. "Service Grade" or a Danish "Service Grade"

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Was looking through my past posts, and realized that I never got back to folks about this. I always hate it when people don't report back, and also some folks who are currently deployed might find this option interesting.

Long/short, in Summer 2004, I had no trouble ordering a CMP M1 Garand from Camp Ramadi, Al-Anbar province. The unit JAG put his magic-stamp on the paperwork, got a photocopy of my ID on the S-1 xerox, and mailed it all off, including the $20 club fee to the Collector's Association. A couple weeks later, I get an email from my buddy's wife (buddy's house is my US Residence during the deployment), saying "this really heavy, long package arrived in the mail for you, I put it in the closet with all your stuff."

Got my Rack Grade for $350 plus $40 of shipping/clubfee, and had a great time shooting it after I got back. Have toyed with getting it rebarreled to .308 for the cheaper ammo, and to have a new, accurate, unabused barrel. But the 30-06 barrel shoots just fine for plinking. I kinda wish I'd just bought a stripped receiver so I could have a _good_ gunsmith build a "tanker" on it. I love the easy handling of the Tanker I fondled in a shop. I wouldn't cut down an M1 to make one, but I would build-up a receiver to make one.

In any case, if anyone else is deployed and looking for a way to spend that sweet, sweet combat pay, it's a pretty easy deal to have one waiting for you when you get home. Take care of yourselves and make sure you get home. If you come through Austin, Shiner Bock is on me. Take care,

-MV

 

[ScottsGT]

Many thanks from me too!!
As far a woodless, don't go that route unless you have a lot of hardware laying around. All the metal parts that go on the wood don't come with the rifle, and these would be far in excess of $50 if bought elsewhere. If you don't like the stock, get a Wenigs. Deans Gun Restorations sells the Wenigs either fitted and raw, or fitted and finished.
Most GI's have photos of pretty women in their lockker to keep them looking forward to home. Here's you a photo to keep you thinking of home.....

This is mine that I restored using a Wenigs stock

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Ah, the danger of resurrecting threads.

@ScottsGT: this thread was from last year, I did indeed make it back safe Oct 2004, and am in grad school at UT. Got the Danish Rack Grade, and been having fun with it and a case of the Korean surplus ammo (yes, am cleaning carefully with ammonia afterwards).

I know we have plenty of THRfolks still over there, and I resurrected the thread to let them know that they too can order their M1, provided the base they're on has Internet/xerox/adjutant.

Take care, -MV

By the bye, this is the ScottsGT with the reconditioned 1911 you gave to your Da, right? That is one sweet pistol! I far prefer the old-school 1911, though I was in kindergarten when the military switched to the M9. I like it simple, thus my Sistema Colt, so I thought your Da's new pistol was outstanding.

 

[alamo]

I did indeed make it back safe Oct 2004, and am in grad school at UT.

Good gun shop to check out if you haven't been there yet is Cost + 10%. Small shop / selection but great prices and Jim can order for you what he doesn't have. I've bought a number of pistols there. It's on Burnet LANE (not Burnet ROAD) just north of 2222 and a block east of Burnet Road.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Right, been to Cost+10%, and it's okay. But I'd prefer to do my FFL-transfers through THR members waterhouse and SpreadfireArms ($5 and $10, respectively).

My favorite thus far is Southside Pawn, where they actually seem to know their stuff more or less. Although living in a state where Academy Sports has stores is also a great deal. I wrote up a lot on Austin shops in my "Austin pawnshop tour" thread.

In any case, didn't want to hijack the thread. Actually, it's my thread originally, but still don't want to hijack. So I'll close by saying.

If you're deployed in Iraq/Afghanistan, do yourself a favor and spend $350 of your combat pay to have an M1 Garand waiting for you when you come home.

-MV