Questions on buying a M1

[mindwip]

Hello all i have acouple of questions hope you can help, if this has been covered already please tell me where so i can read it.

My Dad wants a M1 Garand to shoot and i have been wanting one too, so i think i will buy one now that i have an extra reason.I have been looking around THR for info about them. And it seems like the best/only place to buy them would be from CMP. Other then gunshows and poeple you know. He is not looking for a M1 in 100% condition, just one that wont fall apart and a good barrel. I saw on CMP website that they have "Service Grade Rifles" which is right at the max my dad wants to spend. But he does not want to spend $500 if you still have to spend another $500 to get it usable. What condition are the Service Grade Rifles in. Yes i know they tell you on the site but well i dont wholly trust them. Does anyone have a pic of a Service Grade Rifle, so i can get an idea of its condition. Also if you know of anyother places to buy used M1s would be great, hopefully for no more then $600


Ps why is it that when i do searchs i get a 100% blank page about 60% of the time. Edited to clearify

 

[MechAg94]

I didn't think they were taking orders for Service grade rifles right now.

I got one last year. It is pot luck by mail order. You can only get field grade or rack grade. The field grade rifles are better on average.

I just got back from a road trip to the CMP South Store. There was lots of variability in barrel condition looking through the rifles on the racks. The field grades were generally in better condition. I ended up getting one with a seemingly unused 1955 barrel. I only have a muzzle gauge and bore light though so I may have missed something.

Either grade will work though. You might have to replace the op rod spring which is inexpensive. I did so in mine. Also, CMP has new barrels for $165 and an assortment of used barrels in varying conditions.


I do agree that CMP is the best option and the cheapest. You can get a rifle that may have been used in combat especially if you ask for ranges of serial numbers. They have a few rifles I saw under 1,000,000. Also, you can order parts, acessories, and cheap ammo from CMP as well.

 

[30Cal]

This is your lucky day! Get your paperwork in order because you can pick one off the rack when the CMP comes to Camp Pendleton next week for the Creedmore Cup and Western Games.

http://www.odcmp.com/Competitions/WesternGames.htm

Here are three CMP Greek Field Grades that I picked up (two from the North Store--the one on the left in the new stock at the Reno Show).


These would cost $800 and up at a gunshow. I got them from the CMP for $425 each.

Get your paperwork in order! They're headed your way!!!
Ty

 

[Bruce333]

I didn't think they were taking orders for Service grade rifles right now.

They may be taking orders again. The web site was updated today and the notice of not taking orders has been removed from the service grade...

http://www.odcmp.com/Services/Rifles/m1garand.htm#Service

 

[MechAg94]

Thanks bru. The South Store also had some collector's grades out there though they are still not accepting orders. I guess they don't have many.

 

[ocabj]

Yes i know they tell you on the site but well i dont wholly trust them.

Assuming you can still get a service grade, you're going to get a rifle as advertised:

Service Grade Rifles show less wear and better appearance than Field or Rack Grades. Condition will vary from good to very good. Rifle wear will be exhibited by worn and mixed colors of the parkerized finish; there may be some minor pitting on the metal parts; wood will be either Walnut or Birch and will be basically sound but may have minor hairline cracks, dings, scratches and gouges; wood may not match in color or type of wood; bores will be generally good with only minor imperfections; the barrel crown may be nicked, but the muzzle will gauge less than 3 and the throat erosion will gauge less than 5.

Just because someone posts a picture of a service grade CMP, there's no guarantee that you're going to get one in similar condition (appearance wise). Don't expect more than what is advertised. Sure, lots of people post about great service grades that they bought with 75%+ finish, a TE of 1 and a MW of 1, and with great trigger guard lockup on a walnut stock set. Then there's other people with service grades that have about 50% finish, TE of 4, MW of 2, with loose lockup on a mixed stock set (birch and walnut), yet it is still a service grade by CMP standards.

You sound like you have specific requirements. If you are unwilling to order a CMP service (or field or rack) grade and refurbish anything you are unhappy with on the rifle (ie: new stock), then you should probably just order a rebuilt one from Dean's Gun Restorations, The Garand Guy, or another reputable Garand gunsmith.

I own several M1 Garands purchased from the CMP. I have been happy with all of them. I'm sure I bought a couple that others would balk at simply because the stock condition was horrible or some parts had finish that was too worn down (ie: gas cylinders in the white). But they are all decent shooting rifles and if I have to, I can replace parts or have them reworked if needed. I bought 4 field grades since they created that grade and all of them functioned fine. Worst case, you need to get a new oprod spring and the CMP will send you one if needed. I don't know of anyone that had to spend $500 to get a complete rifle from CMP working properly.

If you're not going to order a service grade right now, you can go to Camp Pendleton during the Western Games to look over the field and rack grades to see if you find one that suits you. If you don't have military privileges to get on a military base, then register as a non-firing participant (spectator) on the Western Games registration page (linked above by a previous poster). Be sure to go through the main gate.

 

[mindwip]

Thanks everyone for the imformation And the Pics. Do you know if they will have a service grade at the show, I know what i am doing next weekend. Wow those look great for field grade, i was expecting worse.

I will look at that site for the details. Now i just have to find out how to become a member.

 

[HorseSoldier]

I would say not to rule out the field grades. I picked one up at the CMP South store that was in much better condition than I expected after reading the specs on the CMP website. I'm not sure on mail ordering one, since there were some kind of rough ones on the racks as well, but if you can pick one you'll likely find something that'll meet your needs if you're looking for a shooter with some history rather than a pristine wall-hanger.

 

[mindwip]

Yeah i was just looking on there site and it says there out of service grades, but not 3 hours ago they had them. I will give them a call when they are open and see if they have any instock, and ask some other questions. I am now planning on going to the Show in CA next week to buy one if theres a good one left. That leaves me with 1 week to learn everything about M1s (how to read its wear) and get all the paper work done. Should be easy


ps I think i am already a member of CMP as i am a member of The California Rifle And Pistol Association. Yea for me

 

[Eightball]

1 week to learn everything about M1s (how to read its wear) and get all the paper work done. Should be easy

Use the search function, look for Blackfork's name, in relation to some posts I made about the M1 maybe 2 months ago. He detailed fully the process you'd need to go through at the North Store in person, including what to look for on a Garand. VERY VERY helpful, told me all I needed to know. Print out his information, take it with you. HTH.

 

[ocabj]

ps I think i am already a member of CMP as i am a member of The California Rifle And Pistol Association.

The CMP isn't a club, so there is no membership. One of the requirements to purchase a rifle under the CMP program is that you have to be a member of a club that is affliated with the CMP. The CRPA is one such club. So that satisfies the club requirement. All you need to do is satisfy your firearms activity requirement.

Just an FYI: You don't fill out any paperwork or turn in any paperwork when you select a rifle for purchase at the CMP Western Games event. What you do is pick a rifle and tag it with your name, address, phone, and CMP customer number (if you have one). You should copy down the serial number of the rifle. Then they stash it a box to load back on the truck to go back to Alabama. Then you mail them your paperwork and order form. Best to put the serial number of the rifle on your order form and indicate it was a Western Games rifle selection. When they process the order they verify your paperwork and then find your rifle and ship it to your door.

 

[Gator]

For $500 about the only place you will get a serviceable M1 is the CMP. I have bought about two dozen CMP M1s and all were as good as advertised and most were better. You can't go wrong with the CMP.

 

[alamo]

And even if there turns out to be a problem with your CMP rifle, they are good about making it right for you. They have excellent customer service.

 

[mindwip]

Just an FYI: You don't fill out any paperwork or turn in any paperwork when you select a rifle for purchase at the CMP Western Games event. What you do is pick a rifle and tag it with your name, address, phone, and CMP customer number (if you have one). You should copy down the serial number of the rifle. Then they stash it a box to load back on the truck to go back to Alabama. Then you mail them your paperwork and order form. Best to put the serial number of the rifle on your order form and indicate it was a Western Games rifle selection. When they process the order they verify your paperwork and then find your rifle and ship it to your door.

Thanks thats good to know. I dont know if i pass the Marksmanship area because i dont really have my training in writing. The best i can do is a NRA basic pistol course where we shot 50rds and got a card showing I passed. I will call them and ask. Hopefully this will work.

 

[ocabj]

If you have a C&R then that will work. If not, you could always shoot in the Garand, Springfield, or Vintage military match on Sunday (November 5). Any vintage military as-issued rifle will work if you don't have a Garand or Springfield already. K31s are popular since they are cheap, accurate, and the military surplus GP11 ammo is great. I think a guy with a K31 took 1st place in vintage last year. I believe I shot 3rd highest with my M96 Swede. I would have done a lot better if I had fixed my front sight post prior to shooting the match. I plan on taking high score in Vintage this time arond.

 

[mindwip]

Whats a C&R?

 

[Dr. Dickie]

It is a Curio and Relic license from the BATFE. It is not an dealers FFL, but allows you as a collector to recieve firearms that are considered curio or relics by the BATFE without having to go through a FFL.
You also get discounts from many gun money black holes like Brownells and Midway

 

[DBabsJr]

The best i can do is a NRA basic pistol course where we shot 50rds and got a card showing I passed. I will call them and ask. Hopefully this will work

The NRA basic pistol course certificate worked for me. I got my first M1 from the CMP last month using a copy of the certificate to satisfy the training requirement.

 

[mindwip]

The NRA basic pistol course certificate worked for me. I got my first M1 from the CMP last month using a copy of the certificate to satisfy the training requirement.

LOL i just sent them an email asking if that was ok, then i came here and you already answered my question. Well thats good to know thanks.