MatthewVanitas
Member
Fair warning, this is a rambling "what should I do" thread...
I bought a CMP Danish Garand, taken it shooting twice. Liked it more the first time than the second time, so maybe it's growing on me. However, I'll soon be leaving California for good, in order to go to grad school in Austin, TX. So, I thought maybe I'd celebrate "leaving CA/successfully surviving my contract/ entering grad school" by getting an M4gery.
Then again, I've always had a strong desire to get a "tanker" shortened Garand from a reputable builder, and my Rack Grade CMP seems a good base. I know someone will write in and accuse me of butchery for destroying a relic, but it's better than the folks that stack Garands in piles and torch them. Better a shooter than tinder.
Thought process is as follows:
PRICE: TIE CMP Garand ($390) + .308 Barrel ($175) + Tanker conversion by Roland Beaver ($275) plus shipping/fees ($30) = $860 About the same price as a decent RRA/BM AR-15.
SIGHTS: TIE To my eyes, they're basically the same sights, which IMO are about the best open sights you can get.
AMMO COST: TIE Argentine .308 surplus and Lake City bulk .223 are running around 19c/rd these days.
MAINTENANCE: TIE Possible heresey, but you have to clean out the gas system on an M1, and have to stock both lube and grease. Balances out the AR, whose gas-impingement is a bit grimy, and whose star chamber is a pain. Plus you can clean an AR from the breach with a rod.
RESALE HIT: TIE I think I'd lose about 30% on either one if I sold it after the first shoot.
POWER: M1
RECOIL: AR
DURABILITY: M1 Seems pretty intuitive. Kind of why I picked the Ruger over the Buckmark. Pick it up and think "makes an effective bludgeon."
NIMBLENESS: AR Half the weight, a few inches shorter. Dodge/weave and whanot.
ASSORTED CLOSING STATEMENTS:
Tanker M1: High-quality product rebuilt by an accomplished and respected gunsmith (Roland Beaver). Time-tested design, "built like they used to build them", etc. Downside: heavy, limited capacity. Recoil is a little stout off the bench, and double taps will probably not achieve AR-type quickness. Though ego should not play a role in the decisions, it would be cool to have both my primary rifle and primary pistol be pre-1950.
M4gery: High-quality modern product from respected company (RRA or BM). Design refined since Vietnam, unlimited potential for modification and accessorization. Very similar to the rifle I was first trained on (M16A2), thus comfortingly familiar and ergonomic. Negligible recoil, would be great for teaching attractive coeds to shoot.
Or perhaps I should just sell my M1, pocket the cash, and buy an SKS to fill the void until I figure out what I really want. Just my rambles, would welcome any opinions from the gallery. Take care, -MV
I bought a CMP Danish Garand, taken it shooting twice. Liked it more the first time than the second time, so maybe it's growing on me. However, I'll soon be leaving California for good, in order to go to grad school in Austin, TX. So, I thought maybe I'd celebrate "leaving CA/successfully surviving my contract/ entering grad school" by getting an M4gery.
Then again, I've always had a strong desire to get a "tanker" shortened Garand from a reputable builder, and my Rack Grade CMP seems a good base. I know someone will write in and accuse me of butchery for destroying a relic, but it's better than the folks that stack Garands in piles and torch them. Better a shooter than tinder.
Thought process is as follows:
PRICE: TIE CMP Garand ($390) + .308 Barrel ($175) + Tanker conversion by Roland Beaver ($275) plus shipping/fees ($30) = $860 About the same price as a decent RRA/BM AR-15.
SIGHTS: TIE To my eyes, they're basically the same sights, which IMO are about the best open sights you can get.
AMMO COST: TIE Argentine .308 surplus and Lake City bulk .223 are running around 19c/rd these days.
MAINTENANCE: TIE Possible heresey, but you have to clean out the gas system on an M1, and have to stock both lube and grease. Balances out the AR, whose gas-impingement is a bit grimy, and whose star chamber is a pain. Plus you can clean an AR from the breach with a rod.
RESALE HIT: TIE I think I'd lose about 30% on either one if I sold it after the first shoot.
POWER: M1
RECOIL: AR
DURABILITY: M1 Seems pretty intuitive. Kind of why I picked the Ruger over the Buckmark. Pick it up and think "makes an effective bludgeon."
NIMBLENESS: AR Half the weight, a few inches shorter. Dodge/weave and whanot.
ASSORTED CLOSING STATEMENTS:
Tanker M1: High-quality product rebuilt by an accomplished and respected gunsmith (Roland Beaver). Time-tested design, "built like they used to build them", etc. Downside: heavy, limited capacity. Recoil is a little stout off the bench, and double taps will probably not achieve AR-type quickness. Though ego should not play a role in the decisions, it would be cool to have both my primary rifle and primary pistol be pre-1950.
M4gery: High-quality modern product from respected company (RRA or BM). Design refined since Vietnam, unlimited potential for modification and accessorization. Very similar to the rifle I was first trained on (M16A2), thus comfortingly familiar and ergonomic. Negligible recoil, would be great for teaching attractive coeds to shoot.
Or perhaps I should just sell my M1, pocket the cash, and buy an SKS to fill the void until I figure out what I really want. Just my rambles, would welcome any opinions from the gallery. Take care, -MV
