For a hunting rifle you should also take a look at the Mini-G that Tim Shuff of Shuff's Parkerizing builds. I have shot several and they are very cool and very handy. You can even get it in .308 if you want.

I will be going to the Anniston and the South Store in March for the Garand Master Instructor course and then down to Ft Benning for the All Army competition and I intend to buy another Winchester to send to Shuff. You can get a rail that replaces the lower handguard and then use a red-dot or a long-eye relief scope on the rifle. Dont know if I will do that, but its a nice option to have.

The thing to remember about the CMP is that you can always sell the rifle you ordered from them for what you have in it and order another if its not to your likeing. Or, order 3 and keep the one you like the best, even swap some parts around to make the rifle you want. Folks will pay you what you have in it because it removes the uncertainty of mail ordering blind.

ArmedAg94...near B-CS.

[This message has been edited by Puryear Playboy (edited 12/14/2011 3:32p).]

[This message has been edited by ArmedAg94 (edited 12/14/2011 4:14p).]

CMP paperwork is really not that hard. I put it off for too long. I think it is "fun" to open the case and see what you got.

Are there any national rifle clubs that fit the CMP requirements? Does the NRA not count? Any online only type clubs for people that just want the membership to purchase through the CMP?

Join the GCA (garand Collectors Assoc). $25. meets the meber requirement and you get a cool magizine 4 times a year. Best payoff out there in CMP club membership.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=264264249


I am considering bidding on this rifle. Will this early receiver be ok to shoot? What are the pros and cons for this M1?

Experts please chime in.

[This message has been edited by ArmedAg94 (edited 12/15/2011 10:49a).]

Date of manufacture: 1942

Without knowing what the ME and TE is, it's hard to tell how used it is, though that's not necessarily an indicator of the accuracy it will produce.

Based on the pictures, I didn't see any outlandish discoloration of the reciever - looked like normal patina/wear for a gun that is 70 years old.

The rifle, assuming it doesn't have mechanical issues, will be more than fine to shoot, and shoot a lot. When I told you they were built like a tank, I really meant it. It would be near impossible to wear out a reciever by shooting it - they are built that good.

The stock looks to be in really good shape, so odds are it's a new/old stock. I didn't see any cartouches, so I can't tell you if it's a newer stock, aftermarket or what. But if you aren't worried about whether or not the stock is authentic, it's not really a big deal.

The price was $799 when I checked it a second ago, so you are not getting a great a deal versus the CMP (SA's are $495 for a Field Grade) (although there is the 30-60 day wait on a CMP order to take into consderation). To be honest, though, that looks more like a service grade than a field grade to me.

Log and PP will probably have more insight - PP can tell you based on the shape of the comb whether or not that stock is accurate to the manufacture year.

September 1942.

The discoloration he's probably referring to is the heel being a bit darker. This was caused by dipping the heel in molten lead in order to anneal the receiver. They changed the heat treatment process at some point, due to heels cracking, and they were able to re-work receivers that were made before the heat treat change by doing the heel dip. Some receivers have a very noticeable discoloration, some don't, but alot of people like it.

Stock looks USGI. the whole rifle has been reworked at some point, due to the fact it has a WRA barrel. You might want to see if they will pull it from the stock and see if there are any electropenciled markings on the receiver legs. They'll look like "ANAD 7-65", "RRAD 8-66", etc. That'll be the arsenal and date it was rebuilt.

Trigger guard is WWII era, but don't know about the rest of it. Bolt is from October 1943, so it is WWII, but not original. Oprod is unknown, since I can't see the rest of it. gas cylinder lock is post-war.

Looks like a nice rifle that is in good shape. The bore/muzzle/throat could be shot though, but if it is a true CMP Field Grade, it will still have plenty life left in it.

Its a put together gun...just hard to tell who put it together. There are some clues though...

The buttplate and maybe the front ferrel are repros. Buttplate for sure. So that tells me its not an honest, unmolested re-arsenal. Notice the sanding on the left side of the stock along the side of the reciever? This was very common on early DCM guns (early 60's). Dont know why, but back then they scrubbed the cartouches off when they were surplused or shipped overseas. I have seen many Greeks and Danes treated that way...but also a few known DCM guns as well. Short answer the stock is USGI. Late war or post war replacement is my guess...the P proof if there is one would tell us a lot. HG's are new replacements. Not USGI.

Lead dipped, average looking receiver. The interesting part is the WRA barrel. Not likely a WW2 barrel, I dont think WRA even had a spares contract (but you never know...the other indicators of a rebuild make the chances very slim). But they did make a run of barrels in the 60's for the Vietnam era refurb project. That means this was likely an arsenal refurb and that the bore should be new or very good if it hasnt been abused.

It would be nice to see the inside of the rifle and what other parts are there and their finishes.

Conclusions: The stock is not likely original to the rifle or the rebuild. Mix of new and repro parts. Nice looking. The late WRA barrels arent particulary valueable beyond how well they shoot, but this should be a good shooter since these rifles didnt see much use after rebuild. Not worth more than $700 shipped. But a good barrel would make it worth a bit more as a good shooter to a person that wasnt concerned about historical accuracy.

So what grade and price if CMP was selling?

$495 Field Grade, most likely. And definitely if it was in an ugly stock set. You find some mechanical jems in Field Grade that are there becuase they are butt ugly.

Maybe a $595 Service Grade if the barrel is really fresh. But I really doubt it.

It will sell for $700 or so because thats the going rate on the outside and for buying what you can see (as opposed to mail order CMP). I would not give more than $550 and thats only for the parts and only if the barrel is very clean...but thats just me.

Take a vacation and go to the South Store. Its a lot of fun and you get to pick your own rifle. In the end it wont cost more than buying a really clean one online, but you get the added experiences and the road trip for free.

If you really want to buy one online...stop looking at GB. Go to the CMP forums and buy there. The rifles and the prices are vetted by people who know what they are looking at and you wont get gouged by GB style prices and snake-oil salesman.

So in person at the South store do you still have to be a member of an approved club to buy? Can anyone just walk in with cash and buy?

You have to meet all the same requirements to buy in person at the store. I think you can join the club on the spot there though.

And you need a proof of citizenship (passport/birth certificate; DL won't work) and proof of shooting/marksmanship activity (a CHL will work).

[This message has been edited by Log (edited 12/15/2011 1:41p).]

"proof of shooting/marksmanship activity"

Dont have a CHL. Do you go to the range and prove it? Texas hunting license?

quote:

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3. Marksmanship or other Firearms Related Activity: You must provide proof of participation in a marksmanship related activity or otherwise show familiarity with the safe handling of firearms and range procedures. Your marksmanship related activity does not have to be with highpower rifles; it can be with smallbore rifles, pistols, air guns or shotguns. Proof of marksmanship participation can be provided by documenting any of the following:
• Current or past military or law enforcement service.
• Participation in a rifle, pistol, airgun or shotgun competition (provide copy of results bulletin).
• Completion of a marksmanship clinic that included live fire training (provide a copy of the certificate of completion or a statement from the instructor).
• Distinguished, Instructor, or Coach status.
• Concealed Carry License.
• Firearms Owner Identification Card that includes live fire training.
• FFL or C&R license.
• Completion of a Hunter Safety Course that included live fire training.
• Certification from range or club official or law enforcement officer witnessing shooting activity. A form for use in completing and certifying your range firing can be downloaded from the CMP web site at http://www.odcmp.com/forms/marksmanship.pdf.
• No proof of marksmanship required if over age 60. Proof of club membership and citizenship required for all ages.

NOTE: Proof of marksmanship activity is only required for purchase of rifles.

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[This message has been edited by Log (edited 12/15/2011 2:09p).]

Born in Texas should be enough. Hell, I bet I could outshoot every employee in the building by golly.

quote:

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Take a vacation and go to the South Store. Its a lot of fun and you get to pick your own rifle.

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+ 1!

My dad and I took a trip in November of '09, and it's something I'll never forget. I was living in Dallas at the time, and he drove from Midland on a Thursday and spent the night with me. We left Dallas around 9:00 on Friday morning and got to Anniston a couple hours after the sun went down. We weren't the first ones in line at the store on Saturday morning, but we got there some time around 8:30. The advise from the staff and other shoppers was worth the drive. Everyone was extremely helpful.

My dad bought a Bavarian Carbine and I bought a Springfield Service Grade Special Garand. Life was good until Colorado beat A&M later that day.

quote:

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Mine's a 336XXX

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I was off by a couple of years on mine 1.3 million series is my serial number. 1943 manufacture, not 41. Dont' know where I got '41 from.

I need to load up some ammo and take it to the next high power match at the range, just for the hell of it.