Please help me get my Dream Rifle... The Garand!

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Nugilum

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I've finally saved up enough money to get the rifle I've been craving for almost 20 years. Now how do I get my hands on a good quality Garand without being taken to the cleaners?

Relevant info:
1.) I'm not a member of any club or shooting organization.

2.) Resale value means nothing because I'm keeping it. Period.

3.) Time frame doesn't mean much to me. Pre-WWII, post-WWII/pre-Korea, post-Korea all work.

4.) I don't want it to look like crap, however it's plausible for me to buy a POS and restore it. Remember, this is for me and me only. I'm not going to show off a 100% correct rifle in my home to my friends, I'm going to take it out and shoot it.

5.) I'm in Athens, GA, which is roughly an hour from Atlanta. I'm willing to drive a little distance (around 2 hours)...

There is one I can get that was part of a GA city's police arsenal. It's classified as "Collector's Grade" according to the CMP web page. Stock is excellent, bluing about 95%, and all matching parts. I'm guessing it's post-Korea, and I'm told its hardly been used.
Catch is ~$1,700.00.

That seems kinda steep, but if needs be I'll bite the bullet and get it.

Please send some advice my way!

Thanks!!!!
 
Go over here
http://www.odcmp.com/
and read a bit...then drive yourself to Anniston and buy one! Yes, there's hoops to jump through, but they're not that bad, and you can get a great Garand for far less than you'll find one 'in the wild'.
Even if you want to order a correct or collector grade, you'll have money left over for ammo.
These are all CMP rifles, one service grade, and three are field grades.
119_1956.jpg
 
I agree with wrench.

The part that bothers me on the description on the Police rifle is "all matching numbers". Garands have drawing numbers which show when and who made the part but not which rifle it went to.

It's not hard to get the requirements met for the CMP. I would buy a Correct grade and some ammo to boot with the kind of money you have saved up. Nice thing about a CMP rifle, you will never loose the investment.

Then go find your self a John C. Garand match. They are a hoot!

Also if you don't like the stock you get, DGR is a good place to get a new one. The Wenings are very nice stocks and closer to the right dimensions than the Boyd.
 
You can buy a Service grade from CMP for $595. The easiest way to qualify is to spend $25 to join the Garand Collectors Association as your affiliated organization and use a concealed carry permit or C&R as your proof of firearms activity. There is no need to participant in marksmanship matches.
 
Not a directly related point, but why are the Garand slings always on so tight? Seems to have no slack to wrap around the elbow and wrist to assist the shooting....
 
I think you're seeing them at parade length which is what you shoot them with for the "offhand" portion of the match. You then "unhook" from the front part and voila . .you're set for the seated and prone. (Hey . .I learned something at my CMP qualification!! :) )

+1 for the CMP route. The qualifications SEEM to be much more complicated than they are . . .it's really dead simple. Took me one afternoon and I had a blast shooting and bs'ing with shooting guys.

Just my .02

Regards,
Dave
 
Not a directly related point, but why are the Garand slings always on so tight? Seems to have no slack to wrap around the elbow and wrist to assist the shooting....
Click to expand...

The sling is loosen up with the loop going tightly around your biceps after a 1/2 turn clockwise. Then your weak hand goes to the front sling swivel with the sling going across the back of your hand and to the outside of your forearm. I know it's a quick and dirty explaination but your way is not how the sling is used.
 
Relevant info:
1.) I'm not a member of any club or shooting organization.
Click to expand...


The easiest way to qualify is to spend $25 to join the Garand Collectors Association as your affiliated organization and use a concealed carry permit or C&R as your proof of firearms activity. There is no need to participant in marksmanship matches.
Click to expand...


You seem to think, like I did some years ago, that you have to belong to a club that has matches and do actual shooting in order to meet the club requirement to buy a rifle from the CMP. As MAKster notes, this is not the case.

Of course, you have to also demonstrate firearms proficiency. I could have used my DD214 from my Navy service. I just used a copy of my concealed carry permit instead.
 
Being a member of certain veterans organizations also works to meat the CMP requirements. I know that If you belong to Disabled American Veterans will qualify you to purchase a CMP rifle. I am sure that other vet groups are listed too.
 
The slings are only tight, because they fit better in the safe like that:D
You would loosen them up to use them.
 
We have a plan!

OK. It comes down to joining an organization. I didn't know there was a CMP office in Alabama.

Road Trip!!:evil:

I'll pick up some ammo at the same time.

If only there was an organization I could "RAPIDLY" join, since I'll be in that area Wednesday and Thursday. I don't think I could get a confirmed membership that quickly though.:( Anyone know any tricks I can use?

Thanks for all the info!!:)
 
Every Garand I have ever seen at a show I have passed on because of over pricing and quality not worthy of a price except.......

there is a guy in Kentucky,forget his name who I have delt with at shows before and he is who I bought these Garands from.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=309971

Really nice quality,parts all matching at least by manufacturer and nice repro stocks.He didn't try to give me a story,he said what they were ,straight talk and decent priced IMO.The Springfield and H&R going down the thread I got from him for $1050 each.Though you can get a nice one from the CMP for that much also,like strat81 did.And sometimes if lucky,I have seen guys get minty Garands shipped to them as correct grades.

CMP are about the only other place I would buy from,from there you know ehat they are and fair priced.Sometimes a private or auction sale can land you a deal also.

If I find the reciept from him I'll let you know his company name,he is also who I bought my nice M109a3 from a while ago a Greek return I think,I paid $490 plus tax on that.

BTW,get some Greek HXP ammo,it's good stuff.I've seen others post groups half the size than what I did using the HXP.
 
If only there was an organization I could "RAPIDLY" join
Click to expand...

DingDingDing! We have a winner!

You can join the GCA right at the CMP-fill out the paperwork, put the check in the envelope, CMP folks throw it in the mail for you....Done!:D
 
The Revolutionary War Veterans Association is a CMP affiliate, and it's $20/year. Also, your dollars go to support the Appleseed project.

I dunno how fast they are at processing though.

You'll be thrilled with a CMP Garand. Like everybody else said, take some extra dough for ammo, it's by far the best deal around.
 
At one time, the CMP restored to like new actions with new stocks for
somewhere around $900. They sold out before the ink was dried. They
is a guy advertising the same with even a new barrel installed for $890.
Pretty sure his adds are in Shotgun News. Sorry can't remember the name,
but it may be Garandguy. If I did not own a bunch of them, this is the way
I would go!:)
 
I'll post pictures when I get back!
Click to expand...

Nugilum,

Just be CERTAIN that when you show up at the Anniston Store you have WITH YOU the proof of US citizenship (Birth Certificate or passport), CMP affiliate club membership papers (GCA printout from net), and proof of marksmanship (CCW, Firearms Safety course, etc...).

Best,
Swampy

Garands forever
 
FYI, you can join the GCA at the South Store (and North Store). They have membership forms and you can pay by cash, check, credit card.
Mark
 
the only thing that has stopped me from buying a Garand from the CMP is after following all the rules then they told me I must get it notorized......I provided proof of my ID,I joined the Garand society $75 a year,I filled out all the paper work....but then to do that also,I just haven't bothered.

by the time you join the Garand society,do this do that,pay for a notory,fill the paper work......I could see it if you bought several firearms but to just buy one....it becomes a hassle.At some point it's just easier to by a CMP Garand for more off another seller.
 
This thread has given me alot of info. There's only one thing left to question.

In Indiana, we don't have to take a shooting class or anything to get our Concealed Carry permits. Will a copy of my permit still get me passed the markmenship part?

ETA: I take it these are shipped to your door instead of going through an FFL?
 
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