Thinking about an ODCMP Garand

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akodo

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I am thinking about getting an ODCMP Garand.

Two things up front. I am Garand ignorant. I am too far away to go to the CMP store.

To all of you who have bought before, is the extra $100 to get service grade over feild grade worth it?

M1 Garand, SA Service Grade
M1 Garand, HRA Service Grade

What is the difference between these two catagories? (and WRA too? although they are sold out)


I am also toying a little bit with getting an M1 carbine instead. I could get an IBM service grade for about the same price as the Garand service grade, or an Inland service grade for the same price as a field grade Garand.

$495 for an Inland sevice grade is tempting.
 
You can find a nice field grade if you go pick it out. The appearance won't be as good as a SG. You can't duplicate for the same price the extra $100 for a SG. Go for the SG.


The differences between the 2 can be found on the CMP website. In short, the SG has less wear, a better finish, and overall a nicer appearance than the FG.

A M1 carbine and a M1 Garand are really two different animals. Which do you want more? You should have both if you can afford it.
 
M1 Garand, SA Service Grade
M1 Garand, HRA Service Grade

What is the difference between these two catagories? (and WRA too? although they are sold out)

SA is springfield armory HRA is Harrington and richardson armory and WRA is winchester repeating arms
 
I agree that you should go for the service grade Garand. You will get a great rifle that will, at the very least, hold its value. The HRA or the SA should be about the same as far as quality goes. If it were my one and only, I'd opt for the Springfield due the historical aspect alone.

The M1 Garand is a fantastic battle rifle and is a pleasure to shoot. Get one...you will not be disappointed.
 
The SA is a Springfield Armory M1 Garand....WRA I beleive is Winchester, can't remeber off hand what the HRA is, SA an WRA were made during WWII, I got a very nice Field Grade, that I handpicked, 6 digit, made in Oct. of 1942....but would recomend a Service Grade for anyone ordering by mail....the wood on the Field Grade was very poor, I'm glad because it was overlooked, I got what I wanted an put new CMP stock on it...in fact I bought 2, the other was made in nov. of 1942.....If your looking for one made during the war let them now, they may be able to help, an you will be waiting a good 3 months for your rifle an ammo...in case you didn't know....Good Luck, these are a great rifle to have.
 

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as far as ammo, I figure I'd get a pair of those turkish cans as that stuff is already on garand clips. (would a spam can be better for long term storage, as buy one of each, in shoot the regular ammo can one up, store the spam one, or would it keep just as well in a regular 30 cal ammo can?)

as it is magnetic I suspect I'd have trouble shooting it at the local ranges, are there other good sourced for surplus 'target' ammo?

I recall reading that the garand doesn't like to handle bullets over a certain weight, what is that? Also I heard that most hunting 30-06 ammo is loaded a bit hotter than before and the garand doesn't like to cycle it.
 
I recall reading that the garand doesn't like to handle bullets over a certain weight, what is that? Also I heard that most hunting 30-06 ammo is loaded a bit hotter than before and the garand doesn't like to cycle it.

Garands are designed to work over a specific pressure range. Generally nothing heavier than 168 grain and powder no slower tham IMR4064. Many of the commercial 30-06 loads will damage the oprod. You can shoot anything in a Garand with an adjustable gas plug. Federal makes a 168 gr M1 load I think.

Even with the recent price increase the Greek HXP CMP sells is great stuff. Buy a few cans with clips.
 
FlyinByran...what wieght bullet are you using?....Also, the CMP website now shows only Greek ammo loaded with inbloc for sale, also, you can only buy 10 cans per year now.....wonder if they are getting low, saw some Fields grade garands at a recent Gunshow for around 900.00 dollars an that Greek ammo in sealed can for 140.00.....what a mark up.
 
I went through the same question process when looking for mine.

Read the definitions and read the CMP forums, lots of help there.

I ended up with a Correct Grade HR Garand, it is now my favorite rifle. Easy to shoot, (it almost aims and hits the target by itself), accurate does not properly describe how well the Gararnd shoots.

As far as the carbine, well, I have to admit, I have one of those as well...
 
FYI, HRA is Harrington & Richardson Arms, the revolver people. They made a smaller quantity of Garands then did Springfield and Winchester. The Winchester is more collectable and therefore more expensive. If you ever want to restore your Garand to original condition, more parts are available for the SA, than the HRA Garands. :)
 
FlyinByran...what wieght bullet are you using?....Also, the CMP website now shows only Greek ammo loaded with inbloc for sale, also, you can only buy 10 cans per year now.....wonder if they are getting low, saw some Fields grade garands at a recent Gunshow for around 900.00 dollars an that Greek ammo in sealed can for 140.00.....what a mark up.
Click to expand...

ive used a few different ones.

150 nosler ballistic tips, 150g fmjbt, 150g softpoints, but i like winchester 147gr fmjbt the most.

my favorite load thusfar has been:

lc brass trimmed to .005 blow max.
147gr fmjbt
45.6 gr h4895
winchester large rifle primers
o.a.l. - 3.295

it closely matches the greek m2 load, maybe a touch lighter, and considerably more accurate.

i dont have the eyesight to shoot at 100 really so i just play with it at 50yds. most 8 shot groups have 5-6 rounds all touching.

i could probably shoot farther with a big bullseye target, and i really should try it, but i have a pretty good time anyway, lol.

i did see where they have sold out of the 240rd cans, and lucky for me, i ordered 6 cans of it before they stopped. they told me if i had my order in before the notice, the order would be filled.

i also got 1 can of the stuff already in clips when i picked up the rifles, and i also ordered another can of it just a few days ago.

and yes, folks are really marking the cmp stuff up. its a shame really, but hey, people pay it. lol, just not me!!!
 
Also got a service grade springfield. When I got it, the rifle showed obvious signs of field use, but the reciever and many of the internal parts looked unfired. From SN's it looks like the rifle was refitted after the Korean War and then never reissued.

However, the tab on the operating rod that locks it into the side of the receiver was worn down to nothing, and it would pop out every few shots. I called up CMP, talked to a great gentleman at the armory, and they sent me a new (old production of course) op rod at no cost to me. I recieved it in about a week, even though the CMP is running a 1-2month backorder since the election. Outstanding customer service and great people to deal with.

I ended up with a beautiful Garand with outward signs of service and character, but with brand new internals. I couldn't be more pleased.
 
Do you think the ammo supply in surplus will open back up, or is it gone forever already?
 
Surplus ammo comes and goes. Sometimes it goes for longer times but it normally returns. The guys at the North store said the CMP was talking with a few foreign countries about making more ammo. The truth to that and even if true the chance of an agreement happening are a bit unknown. I wouldn't wait if you want ammo. With the last price increase I gave up on CMP ammo. I can reload much cheaper so I just bought a couple cans to get brass. After they are gone its all coming from the home press. People complain that reloading components are gone as well. You just have to call around and know you aren't getting everything from one store anymore, but it is out there.
 
FYI, HRA is Harrington & Richardson Arms, the revolver people. They made a smaller quantity of Garands then did Springfield and Winchester. The Winchester is more collectable and therefore more expensive. If you ever want to restore your Garand to original condition, more parts are available for the SA, than the HRA Garands.
Click to expand...
The HRAs were among the last Garands made. Most were made after the Korean War. They have the latest features, and are among the best Garands ever made -- but they don't have a history of much combat.
 
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