Thinking about getting a M1 Garand

[wacki]

My dad, brother, and I are seriously thinking about purchasing a Garand. The problem with the CMP website is that they don't have any pictures that would help give me a decent idea of what I'm buying. Field grad, rack grade, service grade, correct etc.... Yes, I know they have descriptions but unless I have pictures I really am limited to speculation as to what the differences really are.

The descriptions on this website don't help that much:
http://www.odcmp.com/Services/Rifles/m1garand.htm

Does anyone have any high res close-up pics of their CMP garand?

 

[nbkky71]

Here's some pics of my USGI H&R Service Grade.

fullsize images
http://home.carolina.rr.com/nbkky71/HRA/IMG_0779.JPG
http://home.carolina.rr.com/nbkky71/HRA/IMG_0780.JPG
http://home.carolina.rr.com/nbkky71/HRA/IMG_0781.JPG
http://home.carolina.rr.com/nbkky71/HRA/IMG_0782.JPG

If you're able to make a trip to the South store at Anniston, AL or the North Store at Camp Perry, OH you'll be able to hand pick the rifles. Buying via mail order is usually luck of the draw.

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

There is nothing like an M1 Garand. They speak with authority. Ooze with nostalgia and shoot like mad. They should be preserved as part of our american heritage. I have two service grades and like an idiot sold off a field grade some guy begged off of me. That field grade shot the dickens around both of my service grades.

 

[mswestfall]

nbkky71's M1 looks nicer than my 1942 field grade and my 1947 rack grade.

They very a lot.

There are good rifles to be had from the CMP but I would suggest that you spend a lot of time there looking for exactly what you want or need.

 

[Trebor]

Get the best grade that is currently available. Service grade beats rack grade anyday.

 

[nbkky71]

Yup... rifles will vary. That's why it's best to make a trip to the stores.

Sometimes you can find a diamond in the rough though. I purchased a rack grade 5.9mil Springfield a couple of years ago. It was pretty beat up and I eventually had it rebarreled, restocked and repark'd. After about a year I cleaned up that rack grade stock for another project and under all that grime I found a beautiful SA GAW (and ordnance wheel) cartouche.

If you don't mind making a project out of a rack grade M1, you can really end up with a beauty of a rifle. Here's some pics of that rack grade after it was done.

http://home.carolina.rr.com/nbkky71/M1/DSC04479.jpg
http://home.carolina.rr.com/nbkky71/M1/DSC04480.jpg
http://home.carolina.rr.com/nbkky71/M1/DSC04481.jpg
http://home.carolina.rr.com/nbkky71/M1/DSC04490.jpg

 

[USMC Tanker]

nbkky, Where'd you get that work done? Dean's?

 

[nbkky71]

Yup, Dean did the work on my rifle. This was his basic M1 package and the rifle was turned around in 3 weeks. I use it as my JCG match rifle.

 

[GRIZ22]

There is a wide variance in what is considered a service grade. I made no special requests and I got a 1955 manufacture that looks like it was rebuilt and outside of shipping dings on the stock (CMP usually gets them in a crate just thrown into a crate) looks about new. The barrel and receiver are the only matching parts (SA) and the rest of the rifle has parts made by H&R and Winchester. I feel I really lucked out as I use the rifle as a shooter.

SGs are sold out now and the highest grade available is field grade. I'd expect the worst and that way you won't be disappointed. As said, best way is to go to the North Store or South Store and the staff will help you pick one out.

 

[wacki]

Yup, Dean did the work on my rifle. This was his basic M1 package and the rifle was turned around in 3 weeks. I use it as my JCG match rifle.

Are those all original parts or did he replace anything? How much did the work cost?

 

[nbkky71]

wacki: the only parts that had to be replaced were the op rod spring, the clip ejector spring and the rear sight cover. Total cost was a shade over $800 for the "COMPLETE M1 GARAND PACKAGE DEAL WITH STANDARD GRADE WALNUT" package.

http://dgrguns.com/New-M1-Garand-Package-Deals-Main.htm

Dean does great work...you won't be disappointed.

 

[Onmilo]

Nowadays all the M1 Garands purchased from the CMP are going to look like they went through three wars and a police action,,,,twice.
The days of mint from the depot rifles is long gone from what I have seen lately.

The main thing in service, rack, and field grades is the condition of the barrel bore.
And for what it matters, Service grade rifles, that is, rifles with very good or better bore condition is about all done too.
All three rifles will have serviceable but mismatched parts and wood that will look like it came out of a barn, a really old and well used barn.

Field grade rifles generally have less barrel throat and muzzle wear than the rack grade rifles I have inspected for customers.
In both cases the barrels will generally have no more than three to four thousand rounds of useful life left before rebarreling will become necessary if you wish the rifle to shoot with at least combat accuracy, and that is no greater than a 12 inch pattern at 400 meters.
One guys rack grade rifle gauged 3 on throat erosion but 5 on muzzle wear.
I made this rifle shootable by counter boring the muzzle to a depth of 1.5 inches.
Not pretty but the rifle shoots as well as a service grade rifle now and the barrel has thousands of rounds of useful life.
I can assure you that no field or rack grade rifle as is will win a Match at Camp Perry although I have seen some shooters do fairly well at regional service rifle shoots.

 

[DMK]

nbkky71's M1 looks nicer than my 1942 field grade and my 1947 rack grade.

nbkky71's looks a lot better than the Service Grade I got a few years ago. In fact, it didn't shoot all that well either. But it does have an early lockbar sight and trigger guard.

 

[30Cal]

I can assure you that no field or rack grade rifle as is will win a Match at Camp Perry although I have seen some shooters do fairly well at regional service rifle shoots.

With a new stock, this FG does alright. The barrel gages zero at both ends and I've shot a 196-4 on the SR target.

 

[jrfoxx]

Pics of my CMP field grade Greek I got last week.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=248505

 

[cracked butt]

My service grade H&R from CMP, the only H&R part on it is the receiver.

 

[wacki]

This deal for $830.00
http://dgrguns.com/New-M1-Garand-Package-Deals-Main.htm

COMPLETE M1 GARAND PACKAGE DEAL
WITH SEMI FANCY BASTOGNE HYBRID WALNUT STOCK SET

I take it "complete" does not mean it comes with the actual rifle. You buy a old beat up rifle and send it to them right?

 

[aaronrkelly]

Here is a picture of my Field Grade Greek Return M1 Garand form the CMP. I got it about 6 months ago.

Best $447 I ever spent.

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

Best deal is to visit the stores. If you don't find what you want I've been told you should ask what is being kept in the back room--the reserve to fill the racks when they thin out.

I've had to do mail order and luck of the draw. The first Field Grade I received had cartouche and stock with character, but not destroyed. I've not shot under 3 MOA with it.

The second Field Grade came with a battered and bandaged mismatched stock and shot the group in the image. I figure the group is pretty amazing as I can't even see the target at 100 yards. (The measurement in the image was taken outside to outside.)

I just floated both barrels and will leave as is until I am flush and bored enough to do a beauty make over on the second rifle. Bandages or not, shoots well enough. The first rifle will remain as is for historical and sentimental reasons.

 

[fatelk]

I just ordered my first CMP M1 on Friday. All they had was field and rack grade. For the $30 extra, I definitely got the field grade. I hope I get a good one, or at least one that's not too terribly beat up. I would have loved to visit a CMP store, but being on the west coast that is not practical.

 

[Rosstradamus]

I hope I get a good one

Even a bad one is a step in the right direction. You can always slap on a new stock later. Or rebarrel it. The important thing is that you got an M1!

 

[aaronrkelly]

fatelk,

Rest assured if you get a bad one the CMP will treat you right.

When I got my gun the bolt would not release when you inserted a loaded clip. I called them up and asked them for advice. The guy I spoke to said it could be one of about four parts out-of-spec.

He personally measured parts out of there supply and sent me great specimens of each part. He advised if swapping the parts out didnt do any good then send the gun back and he would personally go thru it and fix it at no cost.

Great people.

 

[fatelk]

Cool. I've wanted one for years. I'm really looking forward to recieving it. I recently found a way to afford one. My wife is very understanding when I sell old gun stuff on ebay and spend the money on other gun stuff. Works great!
I remember my grandpa talking about training with an M1 and a BAR in WWII, and my dad talks about hunting with an M1 when he was a farm kid growing up in the midwest. I've had an M1 carbine since high school many years ago and always wanted the big brother.
I'll post some good photos when mine comes.

 

[ScottsGT]

When I got my gun the bolt would not release when you inserted a loaded clip. I called them up and asked them for advice. The guy I spoke to said it could be one of about four parts out-of-spec.

He personally measured parts out of there supply and sent me great specimens of each part. He advised if swapping the parts out didnt do any good then send the gun back and he would personally go thru it and fix it at no cost.

I've noticed that mine does the same thing. I load a clip, then tap the op-rod and it closes no problem. I kind of like it this way. No Garand thumb
I did just replace my op-rod spring, but have not tried loading it since.
What parts did you swap out?

 

[aaronrkelly]

ScottsGT,

I replaced the bullet guide, follower arm and follower rod.

The part that made the difference (I replaced them one at a time) was the bullet guide. There is a "nipple" on there that was worn down and not allow the bolt to release.