  Of all the guns I ordered from CMP, this Winchester Rack Grade was the cheapest. Turnes out that there are two grades of Field grade that are cheaper I overlooked, so unless you are a Winchester fan and want one specifically, it probably isn’t your best choice. She shot good, but she isn’t the prettiest girl at the ball.
 Besides the match grade Federal and Hornady rounds specially marketed for Garands, we shot hundreds of rounds of this suplus ammo on 8 round Garand clips.
 As you can see, the Rack Grade has very little original finish, and the wood not only doesn’t match, it just doesn’t go. All the guns worked reliably though, even though the two Winchesters were full of cosmoline. The Garand clips pinged out like they are supposed to and landed right next to the guns, on all of them.
 The Field Grade Winchester doesn’t match either, but it isn’t nearly as ugly, and the metal actually has mismatched finish on the receiver, though the barrel and gas tube look a lot like the Rack Grade.
 If you click to make the picture bigger you will see that there is gummy cosmoline in the action of the Field Grade as well, but not as much, and the action is good looking. This has the single round feed devide called the SLED that was misplaced for the Springfields.
 If you click to make this one bigger you will see the two-tones of the action and the roughness and open grain of the wood on the stock, but overall not a bad looking gun.
 The CMP Special is a parts gun that has been completely reparkerized clean and green, with a new Criterion barrel.
 They are like getting a brand new gun, even though many of the internal parts are old GI mixmatches. Because they are issued from CMP, they begin a new era of collectability, even though they may not be historically collectible. That’s the point! Take non-collectible stuff and make it great.
 Both of the newer stocked models has a crisp and clean new CMP cartouche.
 My CMP Special was just built in April, when I ordered it. It’s nice to have a shiny new Garand just made for you.
 This is the gun I misunderstood. It is the Service Grade Special. These are supposedly collector grade guns with new stocks and stock hardware. It also has the CMP cartouche, and was the best shooting of the lot. See the targets below.
 You need special guages to measure these numbers, but this is pretty good.
 This rifle is also like brand new, and probably is the best but out of the lot.
 Though slightly different in color than the CMP special, the Service Grade is front to back nearly flawless, and both rifles are a real find if you want a sweet Garand.
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Civilian Marksmanship Program Sales
https://www.thecmp.org/sales.htm
In the first installment of this series, if you missed it, I ordered six M1 Garands from the Civilian Marksmanship Program, or CMP. The premise is that now is the time to buy these historical treasures, before they dry up and get really expensive, like the 1903 Springfield has since it dried up through the CMP. There are a few details I have learned since that first article, partially from a post on the CMP forum. I wish the members had commented on our article, which was read over 45,000 times the first day it was out, so we’ll correct a couple things, and lets go shoot the guns!
I guess the most important thing they mentioned is that I missed some kind of rule that you are not allowed to re-sell them. This is a pretty big point wouldn’t you say? But for the life of me, after scouring the CMP website, I find no evidence of this whatsoever. In fact the site has no “rules” section at all, and the sales page specifically talks about Garands being hot collector’s items, which implies that you would horse trade them like any other collectible. Furthermore, there is no agreement in any way, shape, or form that you sign on the sales application , however there is a liability waiver. Therefore, unless one of the geezers wants to come and comment here, and explain exactly from where that comment is derived, I am going to consider it a dead or non-issue. And no, by the way, none of these guns we ordered will be sold anytime soon. Next.
The biggest mistake in the first article was in my description of the RM1SASSP, Springfield Service Grade Special, $950. As one of the guys noted on the forum, and I saw when the rifle arrived, these are not parts guns. They are next to new, collector rifles that have had the stocks and stock hardware replaced with aftermarket parts. The RM1SASSP was the most accurate rifle out of the four we have tested so far as well, and came in clean as a whistle. The CMP Special, which is actually the RM1SPECIAL item, is actually $50 more, and that is in fact a parts gun, with a new Criterion brand barrel installed. Maybe this will cause a little more snickering on the forum, but that Service Grade Special is the best buy in the lot from what I saw.
My other mistake was about the Winchesters not being as collectible as the Springfields. I looked into it, and in good shape, matching, etc., the Winchesters are extremely collectible, but these Winchesters from CMP are parts guns, catalogued at CMP as parts guns, so even if you hunted down the right stock with the right cartouche and found the right parts to go in the gun, that serial number will always be immortalized and checkable at CMP as a gun that was sold as a base level parts gun. Of the Field Grade Garands available, the Winchesters are not the cheapest. I don’t remember why I decided to order that one specifically, I guess because it was at the top of the list I didn’t notice that it wasn’t the cheapest. Both the Springfield and the H&R are both $525, while the Winchester I ordered was $695 in Field Grade. The Rack Grade Winchester was $595, so I did actually miss the least expensive guns on the sight, and I may just order them now just to see.
I am going to skip the M1C and M1D sniper rifles for now, because they are going to require that we buy some parts to make them whole, and they will need much more extensive testing. If you are curious, we didn’t include pictures here, but the $3,000 M1C is really sweet, and the bracket came installed. That rifle went out to Griffin & Howe already, the company that originally installed the M1C mounts during WWII, to have the sliding piece of the scope mount fitted to the gun, as the originals all were. The $1,500 M1D is also very nice, and we will be ordering the parts we need for that from Gun Parts Corp. this week.
That leaves us the two Winchesters and two refinished Springfields. They are worlds apart, much further than the $300 price difference would imply. By the time my guns went out, the folks at CMP had been blasted by you guys calling when the article hit, so they knew that they should send representative guns for the various conditions. My guns came that next week. Please note that the Winchesters came full of cosmoline, and that you should clean it out before you shoot them, even though I didn’t. A little bit of grease trapped in the wrong part of a firearm can create hydraulic pressure and actually break the gun. Had I realized before I went to the range that they needed going through I would have, but I decided to just shoot them once I arrived and opened them up. Who would have thunk it. Can you imagine buying a new rifle for $650 and having to clean the grease out of it from storage?
Rack Grade and Field Grade in the Winchesters only carry a $100 difference between them, but there was a big difference in the way they look. If you read the sales page description, the major difference should be the wood and, if you measure the throat erosion, that should be worse in the Rack Grade. It does say ” The overall appearance and condition of the rack grade will generally be rougher than any other grade.” and it is true. There was almost no finish on the metal parts of the gun. The wood doesn’t match and is quite ugly, and it is literally full of cosmoline inside. Despite the measurements though, it shot pretty good. Nonetheless, had I noticed the $525 Field Grade options, I would have checked them out instead.
The Field Grade gun was not entirely offensive. It had an old finish on the outside metal that appeared to be some parkerizing (green), and some bluing, or maybe just old parkerizing, I don’t know. It didn’t look bad though. Unfortunately it also did have a good deal of cosmoline in it, though not as much as the Rack Grade. And the wood didn’t match, but it didn’t look totally out of place either. You could show up at a service rifle shoot with the Field Grade and not feel like people were pointing at you. But don’t forget, since these stocks don’t have inspector marks, called cartouches, you can refinish them, and if you frequent gun shows, you may find a matching color stock for your gun cheap, and you’ll have a decent looking firearm without a huge investment.
Of the targets you see here, there were many more, and these were not cherry picked. The guns shot consistent if anything, and to get tired. Ammunition for Garands can be a little tricky. The original round for the Garand was 151 grains, and the later Match M2 was 173 grains. Some people will tell you not to shoot your Garand with heavier than 150 grain bullets, but that isn’t true. We are going to look at a gas regulator in a future article here that allows you to shoot heavier bullets in Garands, but even without this a regular 165 grain will generally shoot fine. As you can see, we tested with both a 150 grain Federal American Eagle specifically marketed for Garands, and the 168 grain Hornady Match Garand. All the rifles overwhelmingly liked the Hornady stuff better, and we will be using that for the rest of our tests down the road, even though there is still a half a case of the Federal left. I think it is going to end up as coyote fodder.
Moving on to the refinished Springfields, they are both gorgeous, with brand new wood, a fresh and new stamped CMP cartouche, and spotless internals. We had some problems with the CMP Special with the Criterion barrel. I don’t know if it just needs to settle in, but using a special 5 round Garand clip, it threw the first round of the clip high. It even seemed to do this with the two round clip we have as well, and of course on that day I misplaced my single round clip, so we just dealt with the flyer. As above, the RM1SASSP Service Grade Special is truly special. If it is all collector matching inside like the forum guys said, even better, but for the money it is a great rifle even without that. I’m sure the flyer issue with the CMP Special will settle out, and it didn’t seem to do it as bad with the Federal ammo, though it didn’t shoot it as well overall without the flyer, but we’ll figure it out. These guns will hopefully be back for more down the road as we look into shooting Garands, reloading for Garands, and even hunting with Garands. The most classic American rifle of all time has got to be the M1 Garand, and you can buy really nice ones for utility prices right now, the cost of an AR or less, and the best part about them is when you make them go bang.
(Scroll down for target pictures)
The Targets from All Four CMP Garands (50 yards iron sights)
 The Rack Grade Winchester was the only one of them to really shoot the Federal 150gr American Eagle Garand Match ammo well at all.
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 It still shot the Horandy 168 Grain Match Garand better though. The Federal was kind of a non-starter for these tests.
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 The Winchester Field Grade with the Federal.
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 It is repeated groups like these with the Field Grade Winchester and Hornady ammo that tell me that both the issues with the Federal ammo and the flyers with the Criterion barrel are not shooter error. I shot these groups on two separate days with this gun and Hornady ammo.
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 The CMP Special with the Criterion barrel didn’t throw the flyers as badly with the Federal, but it didn’t really like it much either.
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 We misplaced the single shot SLED the day we ran the tests on the CMP Special, but with the 5 round and even the 2 round clip it kept throwing this first round flyer. Other than that the gun totally rocks though, with the Hornady!!
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 The Service Grade Special tolerated the Federal a little better.
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 But these mostly ragged holes with the Hornady ammo suggest that it is probably an MOA gun with a talented Garand shooter. She’s a keeper for sure!
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Hey Author/Admin- If you were first in line at Christmas dinner with your extended family, would you pile all of the food on your plate without regard to the others behind you? Likely not, out of conscience. Why do you see fit to gobble up an inordinate amount of these fine pieces of history, leaving the enthusiasts behind you with empty plates.
You’ll surely say, ” This is Murica, I’m free to do what I want. I can buy 100 of these, so I will.” Just because you can do it, doesn’t make it right. You are free to act like a decent part of society, too.
Nobody is preventing anyone from buying anything. Obama has ordered tens of thousands of Garands to be destroyed. If anything, by buying as many of these as you can, you are really keeping them for future generations more than anything else. If the program wasn’t profitable it would cease to exist and the remaining guns would be mothballed or destroyed, probably the latter. The real question for pieces of work like yourself is what useless piece of pleasure are you spending your money on instead of preserving a genuine piece of history for your heirs, or others of future generations. What are you gobbling that you could give up?
where can I buy one? Thanks,
JK
You wanted to know “why the liability waiver”? Well. really simple answer, You really never went through basic training with the M-1, but I did and I can see what can happen to someone who is not warned about HOW TO INSERT THE CLIP! If not done properly, you end up with what soldiers and Marines affectionately called an “M=1 Thumb!” Trust me, there is nothing more painful and in many cases, reason for medical discharges for many a poor sap who didn’t listen or who was in too big a hurry to shove that 8 rd. clip into that small slot with just a skinny thumb like mine in many cases. If not done correctly, the tip of the thumb can get caught between the bolt and the barrel face. That usually caused only a nasty blood blister and hurts for a few days. Although sometimes it did take off the entire tip of the thumb if you let the operating rod go before your thumb is out of the way. Now at inspections at attention in manual-of -arms, it’s another story completely! You must depress the follower with your right thumb while holding the operating rod to the rear lever with the heel of the right hand all while holding the rifle at a 45 degree angle. Sounds easy, right? Try it! You’ll find that the first tries are downright scary and sometimes end up with the M=1 thumb! That’s why the liability waiver. Suggest you get Army Field Manual FM 23-5 available in.pdf format if you Google “Army Field Manual M-1 Garand Rifle”/\. You’ll find it!
Gripzone just came out with a new gun?
This is re: the spoken-about prohibition on selling the CMP Garands.
I don’t know what the CMP prohibition is because I got mine back when it was the DCM selling the Garands, and for $150.00 too after a special match was participated in. I do recall there being some kind of wording in the paperwork that one wouldn’t sell the rifle for a period of time after receipt but not an outright prohibition on doing so.
These M1’s are a fantastic rifle. As a US Marine it was my primary weapon. Hitting your target at well over 600 yds was very reassuring. I always wondered why it could not have been modified to accept magazines with higher capacity. Then along came the M14 Wahoo!!! but it was short lived with the introduction of the Mattel Toy gun, of whivh the early versions were junk, but eventually became a decent platform….,
In Korea, M1 Ball (AP) 173 gr was mandated for combat and M2 Ball 150 gr for practice.
I read the written order there in 1953.
how can I buy one? I really want one & keep reading about them. is there a way to simply find out how to purchase one?
to Mike in Virginia
Mike you are so right on. If you have never seen the DVD or movie ” ZEITGEIST” and “ZEITGEIST ADDENDUM”, I would recommend it to you and all in America who are so disillusioned about our king O and a lot of our pass kings.
You state in one sentence that “… these are not parts guns.”, and in the next you state, “They are next to new, collector rifles that have had the stocks and stock hardware replaced with aftermarket parts.”
I believe that is a VERY good description of a PARTS GUN.
Please get your facts straight BEFORE you go to post.
i dream of owning a Garand BUT AT AGE 74 AN ON ISSI MOT LIKELY TO EVER HAPPEN
Bought an M1 CMP Special for $995 in 308 last month (my order was rec’d by CMP on 8/7, and I received the rifle by FedEx on 8/28!!!). Beautiful rifle, like brand new; I will use multiple coats of boiled linseed oil and 600 grade sandpaper on the stock (CMP stained it but it needs finishing). Assuming it will check out at the range, I will be extremely happy to own it for the rest of my life, and my son thanked me for buying it knowing that it will be his before many more years. It is one of the best possible heirlooms to pass to future generations.
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The CMP rifles are still a good deal and a lot of fun to shoot. Always get the curious at the range who want to know what they are and how to get one. Find the Federal Gold Match ammo is really good; best is to work up some loads and find what suits the specific rifle. They all like different ammo I’ve found. The best ones from CMP are long gone of course, the unissued collector grade rifles that were returned from Greece years ago. What is really fun is to buy a receiver, barreled or not, from CMP, scrounge for the correct parts, and build your own! I did that with a receiver and barrel made on my birthday (or a couple of days either side) and it’s still an emotional experience to take it down to the range. If you want a true M1D shop for it. Scott Duff has them once in a while. Spendy, but complete as issued by the old DCM (the predecessor to CMP) with all the goodies. Same with the Navy Trophy rifles in .308. Well worth the money and a great investment to pass along to grandchildren when you go to that Great Range In The Sky. One can’t have TOO many M1s!
i,m a korean vet 1950 to 1952 i had to drop a guy at 200 yrds with a m1 carbene took 3 shoots
again i had to drop a guy with my m1 garand about 450 1 shot it was across 2 ridge lines still have my 1911 i also used a 3,5 bazooka
The CMP also had a statement on their application, where the buyer certified that the rifle was not being purchased for commercial resale. It didn’t prohibit any sale of a CMP M1, only the purchase of a rifle by a buyer who intended to resell the rifle for a profit.
Perhaps the new applications don’t have that language, but it used to be there.
I keep reading about the m1 rifle in Korea and can en ex.vet make contact with the Korean govt. and try to purchase a m1 or is it illegal to make contact with them. let me know an answer to my question
I’m a Korea vet. and needed to know being a The American Legion member ,can I buy a real low price m1 and how go i go about it
Regarding resale: The DCM program, forerunner of the CMP program did have resale restrictions. I seem to recall that the M1s acquired via the DCM had to be held 20 years. It appears that there are no resale restrictions on the CMP program.
Can anybody tell me who got Obama to come to the States from Kenya and who paid for very expensive college? It sure wasn’t any of his relatives, they were all poor as poor can be. China maybe?
I did not know nor was I aware of the racist trash that some how know how to read exsited until reading comments about our beloved president. I wonder how could a man call himself an American and say such things. some of you on this very site belong in Getmo along with lickness that are trying to destroy America. Both wars were started on the Bush watch, when Bill ( Bubba ) left the Whitehouse the budget was balanced with extra. Mr.Bush was the one that had to start up the money press before leaving office all we are doing now is trying pay the bills that were left behind. How spupid can you be to blame Sandy Hook on anyone but a poor sick white boy.I just cant understand some of my brothers???????????????????????????????????????
Who’s the racist here exactly Lloyd? You sound more racist than anybody else on here. To criticize the WORST President this nation has ever suffered under is not racism.
I am glad you are the new owner of 6 Garands. I am also glad you cannot resell them because you can buy your Garands off some other highly inflated FFL holder and firearms dealer. These rules are in place so that we, the common folk can buy a Garand like our Fathers carried in WWII and keep as a memento. Not to screw some poor slob out of an inflated price. I swear the FFL dealers are the most greedy and capitalistic people I know. The first thing you do is strike fear in gun owners with bullshit about the Govt, the second is to jack up the price of anything related to a firearm and ammo. Not only do you jack up the cost but you do so by 100% or more. You are a money grubber and one day when people who love firearms realize how the vast majority of FFL dealers are nothing but a part of the problem in this fire arms system of ownership then they will stop buying and wait until you go belly up. Then perhaps you will learn some respect and be decent as business owners. So, enjoy your 6 Garands and do NOT SELL THEM because you will be watched.
I inherited an M-1 Garand and an M-1 Carbine from a magistrate friend who passed away several years ago… also a P-38 and an old 1911 .45.. the two rifles are Springfields and I traced the Garand back to mid 40’s. I may restock the Garand but the Carbine is fine and the bluing on both is very good. BTW… I was issued an M-1 Garand in August 1961… 2Bt. P258, Paris Island, SC… USMC…. even though we got the M-14 fairly soon after… I remember qualifying at the range with the M-1… also the old BAR and the 1911… all gone away but certainly not forgotten. Semper Fi…
Nice article…
I wanted to warn you, if no one else has, that shooting an M1 Garand with commercial ammo can be considered dangerous. WHY? The older Garand was designed for military pressures not those found in modern day commercial 30-06 ammo.
http://www.thecmp.org/Sales/askarmorercommercialammo.htm
Armorer’s Corner – Commercial Ammo in Garands
I want to use commercial ammo in my Garand. What concerns should I be aware of?
There are several types of 30-06 commercial ammunition that are represented by their manufacturer as being safe for use in all rifles including semiautomatics. Most manufacturers have a website where you can read about the different cartridges and their compatibility, advantages and appropriate applications. CMP currently sells and stocks some commercial match grade 30-06. We currently use this same round in CMP events with excellent results. Our ammunition can be purchased on our E-Store, mail order, or over the counter in our stores.
Regarding modifications that you can make to your rifle to make it adaptable to a wider variety of 30-06 loadings: there are several variations of an adjustable lock screw that are available from several online sources. This replacement screw allows the venting of some of the pressure in the gas cylinder. The screw is adjustable and allows the shooter through trial and error to find the exact amount of venting needed to ensure reliable extraction and feeding but prevent unnecessary abuse. These adjustable lock screws are not legal for CMP John C. Garand Matches.
fired expert on range my last when in USMC…put all but first shot in bull at 500 yds, my best position…luv it…got my personal M-1 H & R original, heavy stock for bedding,,like match grade…in perfect condition I would say…a keepsake as it was made the years I served….’53-56…..goes to my son soon….in trust now…I think the gas adapter would be good to have on hand, but, I will not add it…the stock is same as rifle, perfect..could be bedded easily too…make it even more accurate to shoot if one wanted to get into that sort of thing…my next item of purchase when money comes my way is the 1911 45…can not hit the barn door with it, but, like it for a momento….that M-1 won the great war for us….mho like the ML’s of old…did by our forefathers….
Bill December 31, 2013 at 9:47 pm
I dearly remember my M14 and shooting quarters (and hitting with iron sights) at 500 yards. I wish I could my hands on an M14.
I wish I could see a quarter at 500 yards. EVER!
Pat, you are total fucking idiot!
It is people like you that has got this country in the shape that it is in.
Dear Mr. Admin.
The article was informative. A lot of good points about the grand olde Garand.
One point that did raise a concern. You shoot a dirty firearm? Wow. That’s was shall I say “Gutsy?” But, I can imagine time and excitement will cloud the judgment of the best. Keep in the good work. I enjoy reading the articles.
Charlie
Our enlisted troops were sworn to follow POTUS orders. Now, I was NOT sworn to support presidential orders…my oath as an officer was never taken away upon discharge. Note that Obama call all us Vets “enemies of the State and extreme right wing terrorists”! Do you know why? Officers take the same oath as the POTUS!… TO PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! Sorry to those that think they should do otherwise. YES, I’ll keep my oath! Will you ?
Our officer corp is being depleted by the regime. My opinion is that these officers were asked if they would “fire” on Americans. Of course, the answer is NO! The officers that said this right answer were released! My opinion.
The “Springfield Armory” M-1A Fully loaded that I purchased new is better than the first ones we were issued in Korea in 1963. After firing a magazine of 20 rounds, the stainless steel lined barrel bent left, right and up or down. Just a reminder that the M1-A is being reissued to Infantry squads and Marine squads as a sharp shooter weapon. The m-14/16 will not reach out and tap el Quida/Taliban at much over 100m. Now. the 7.62 reaches out and touches them a hell’va lot better and further than 5.5’s
I’ve equipped the weapon with a military leather sling, Harris bipod and a Military Scope calibrated for the 7.62 round. Love It!
Looking for an M-2 Carbine anyone out there have one? How do we get our hand on some of these M-1 grands that eh Government is selling?
difficult when you have ffl dealers buying them up to resell at inflated prices. Camp Perry is where you want to go. They will ship the firearm directly to you. here is their URL:http://www.odcmp.com/sales.htm
Good luck and the prices are good.
threw the first round from the springfield higher???? Do you mean target hits from first round was high, or that ejected empty brass went higher? Unclear on that point. And your note about the depot responding to comments written??? I guess Im trying to read your article literally and don’t know what is meant in places and what interpretation to imply at specific points. Please clarify if you have time. Thanks
About a thousand years ago an emperor in China was so afraid of assassination that he banned knives. There could only be one knife per ten families. The knife was chained to a post by the village well. Women had to take turns cutting up the food for their families. To this day Chinese food comes cut into little pieces. About ten days before Sandy Hook disaster there was a similar mass murder in a day care center in china. Only this one was done by an “assault knife”. It hardly made the news. Is it politically correct to use a knife but not a fire arm?
They are evil assault weapons here in NY. You have to register them with the pistol permit clerk up in Albany.
I always shot expert with the M1. I surely loved that rifle. In my time in the Army National Guards and my time in the Army I always did well on the range. A great rifle and it would always fire in any weather. What i read about Obama makes me really fucking mad.
as far as every president since the end of the Korean conflict had to leave the guns there because we had a lend/lease on the weapons for 50 years which run out while our muslim prez was in office.
I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own blog and was wondering what all is needed to get setup?
I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny?
I’m not very internet savvy so I’m not 100% positive. Any recommendations or advice
would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks
I got a CMP M1 Garand 2years ago, I had the barrel and springs replaced and it shoots better than any other rifle I own. I love it, but I shot an M14 in the Navy and wish I could get one of those for my collection. I’ve read all the comments and agree completely with my Veteran Brothers. We can not afford to let this Communist Regime take away our 2nd Amendment Rights!! They have already pussified America and made us all PC idiots now they want to take away the RIGHTS our forefathers knew that we would someday need. I hope you all stand up and vote for someone who still cares that we have a Constitution and a Bill of Rights in the next Election. That means NO MORE DEMOCRATS fouling our Whitehouse with their pansy a** BS and Gun grabbing tyranny.
Nice article but what did you expect from a piece made 60 plus years ago, stored for 40 years under unknown conditions. Most of the M1’s were reworks from WWII with exceptions of the ones made in the late 40’s & early 50’s by Winchester & H&R. I don’t believe the samples you reviewed warranted such criticism. From the photos you showed of the targets, I would tend to say the old rifles were doing better than they needed to do in combat. If you were expecting a Camp Perry record buster then look for a custom made M1A with custom loaded ammunition.
There are a few M1’s out there that I’m sure would satisfy a picky collector. A friend of mine found one that arrived through the CMP a few years ago. The wood wasn’t the best piece of lumber but the metal was in 99% condition and from the looks was “unfired” as humanly possible, it was about the last H & R made in the mid ’50s. It threw a group better than the targets you show at 100yds with surplus Greek ammo. It functioned like it just came from the factory even digesting the first round without assistance.
Today with all the political destruction of relics one should be happy to get their hands on one of these that are not relegated to a wall hanger. Folks take care of the working M1’s you have now you “ain’t gonna” get any more. They are pieces of American history and as old and rough they might be they will survive the men who carried them in service by the time the M1’s won’t be useable anymore the men who carried them will only be memories to their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I have one that is as old as I am and my kids and grand-kids will enjoy it as much as I have.
People if you have a chance to buy one please do so. I have a WWII Garand and A Korean War era made one both in perfect condition and not all mixed parts. I got mine a long time ago and I love the Garand so do my boys I also got two 1903s a sprongfield and a remington and an M 1 carbine and if you have boys they will love shooting them. I started reloading to afford shooting and my investment of of 3-4 dollars has saved me thousands in a short time. These guns once fixed up a litlle purr and shot as well as any store bought rifle. I also keep a few cans of enblocs loaded with M2 AP rounds…incase something happens. A 30-06 can take down any person with an AR 15 223/5.56 from a longer range and cuase way more damage plus you can hunt with your Garand..I have…just put a two shot enblock in the rifle and leave the 8 shot ones at home not in the truck. Sure its heavy but when empty it will act as a crutch for a hurt person or a blugeon when your run out of ammo. I also bouht baynets for all my U.S. militay rifles and cleaning kits etc. Do not miss a last chance as Obama blocked over 1 milion M 1 Garands and M 1 carbines from coming back from South Korea and hat would have been the 1st shipment only as he ahs blocked other thries by South Korea to ship all the U.S. Made weapons back home knowing vets want them…we have a firearm hating governemnt that is arming its office workers and times are getting bad with office workers armed with black rifles and having up to a billion rounds for their dept along form practice…crazy.
Mike in Virginia: Your analysis of Sandy Hook is correct as far as it goes. There are nothing but questions, none of which are being answered.
Your partisan stab at the Democrats is wrong headed though. Parties cannot control things this big. You need a black ops and a secret government for that and this cuts across party lines which stand as a curtain behind which all of this nefarious stuff goes on. The assassination of Kennedy is only one of many examples. These ugly fake wars are another example; they have the support of both parties (that is key) and the only ones who benefit are career politicians, career military, career black ops people, and the arms and support industries. Both parties are implicated, always! If we don’t get to the point where we can see this we are doomed. Playing musical chairs every 4 years changes nothing and only keeps us asleep. We need to look behind the curtain. JWC
I would love a Garand and an M14. My Uncle Bobby carried the M1 Garand through WW2 when he was a first wave Marine at several Island invasions (Guada Canal, Iwo Jima and Okinawa) Later in his life he had nothing bad to say about the Garand. He lived through the whole south Pacific campaign without a scratch. Came home to work for Ford Motor Company’s paint booth in St Paul and died 20 years later of lung and bone cancer. As for Obama…he is a big disappointment. What I cannot understand however id the top ten of the posse to take away our second amendment and idsarm the American public are Jewish people. WTF? Bloomberg, Fienstein, Blumenthal, Lieberman,Chersoff, Boxer, Franken and Soros even though he claims he isn’t. Are they the new Bolsheviks?
To all of you guys out there who would like to get your hands on an M-14, which I also used in Vietnam. Go to Springfield Armory’s website and look at the M1A rifle. I bought an M1A from Springfield about a year ago and have put approx 2500 rounds through it and it is a great rifle. The M1A is the same thing as the M-14, just an updated version. The M1A a .308 cal just like the M14, has the same kick and shoots exactly like the old M-14.
If you truely want an M-14, you can buy a brand new one. The only difference is, it’s now called an M1A. Asesome rifle.
I am an old guy and can still hit at 800 yards with the “VX-III 6.5-20X50mm” LR Leupold Scope I have on it.
Semper Fi, brothers
I now feel like Obama is to the Black American in our country, what the Black Leaders are to the rest of the South African Blacks. Lots of talk on how to improve but no action on the part of the Leaders! Yes, Obama has been a let down but he doesn’t really care folks. This man won’t have to hit a lick at anything with his BIG FAT PENSION from the taxpayers in America.
However, out Govn’t really sucks big time as far as the Veterans of our country are concerned. Many have had their benefits cut or taken away…Lets give a big Horrah for the Whitehouse Leaders over the last 50 years. Many of my fellow VETS passed on from “angent orange” Yeah, you know that stuff they drop from the sky on fires in national parks etc. Our Leaders have NEVER DONE RIGHT BY THE YOUNG MEN & WOMEN VETERAN’S of this country. Those people up on capitol hill don’t care about anything but making big money deals for big business and the cuts they are going to receive under the table. I will no longer shake a politicians hand period. I served my country during the Viet Nam days, 6 years worth.
Trying to find my comment . Left something
Out.
I have been trying for years to get a Garand M1 rifle
For myself , let alone the 6 you ordered. I only recently
Found out about the C M P rifles. I am disabled and
Was almost knocked over when I saw what they wanted
For one of the cheap ones .( more than what I make
In a month .) and I could not believe the requirements
For getting one .
There are no shooting clubs anywhere near me that I
Could join. No shooting ranges either. Even if I could
Find a shooting club I would not be able to rake up
The money to get one . If the government would release
All of the Garands they have stored it might bring
Down the artificially induced price of these guns
To where someone like me could get one.
Like I said, I’ve wanted one all my life but could just
Never afford one , the best I could do was a beat up
Old Brit 303 that looked rough but shoots great .
I think the C M P should ease up on the rules and
Drop the price a bunch and have a 1 gun per customer
Limit . I would at least like to shoot one before
Die or the government takes them away .
Sorry to spout off like this it’s frustrating to not be
Able to get one . They should really make it easier
For disabled folks to get one . My disability
Is the only income I have and there are plenty out
There like me .
What about divers recovering these Garands dumped overboard by Obama’s minions. In deep water they may be recoverable. How about some expert opinion on this matter. We could all fund the effort if this is feasable. Are they still government property or have they been abandoned. Are they still shootable when cleaned up. I imagine they have been well dunked in cosmoline.
I thought this was an okay article, but reading the comments kind of threw me off.
I just want to start off saying I am hillbilly affective…I grew up in the middle of nowhere and guns have always played an important part in my life…BUT:
Some of these post demonstrate why the radical left manages to get ridiculous gun laws passed. When the hammer drops on guns (and remember I have enough to make my 30 gun safe too small; it is NOT what I want) it will be our own fault for saying stupid things like this. Maybe you all forgot who ravaged the constitution with the “Patriot” act in the first case. Well…mission accomplished. Discussion doesn’t mean “angry rhetoric”. On the flip side, it’s your right to say it, and I’m glad you do, so I can distance myself from you politically. I don’t like Obama, but that means I won’t vote for him, not that I won’t support him and this country with my life if called upon.
I should mention that the .308 ammo I used were handloads: 42.4 gr Varget, 155 gr Barnes Match Burners, Winchester large rifle primers (not match), OAL 2.800″.
I just shot my CMP Special in .308 Win today. I didn’t use a sled but I did shoot on bean bags from a seated position at 100 yards using standard, not national match, iron sights and 51 year old eyes. I shot two 8 shot groups after I sighted in the rifle. One group was 2 3/8″, the second was 1 7/8″. I don’t think I can sight more accurately than this at 100 yards with iron sights.
I didn’t get that first shot flyer that the author of this article got with the CMP Special. I suspect the author’s stock was a little loose and the first shot settled it in.
The feel of the gun is very nice. I like the trigger, though I hear many are not satisfied with it. The recoil is not bad at all. With my Rem 700 in .308, after 20 rounds or so my should complains slightly. I think I can shoot the M1 in .308 all day.
I have a 30-06 Special on order. I am sure that will be nice too, but I have a suspicion it won’t be quite as pleasant as the .308 to shoot.
I recently bought 3 M1’s through the CMP. I haven’t had a chance to take them to the range yet but I should mention that throat and muzzle erosion is much better than the maximum. The colors of the stocks on all three match, unlike those in this article. For not having shot it yet, I am very satisfied.
I can still remember the serial number of my [Uncles] M1 — The guy supposed to be inserting
the clip, hasn’t heard of the M1 Thumb evidently — The rest of you will know! —
Great article, but I heard Obama is ordering these guns destroyed!! What a waste! Both the guns and Obama. Tom
Obama recently signed an executive order barring the re-importation of military arms. So those M1’s and other weapons loaned/sold to other countries, like those tens of thousands of M1’s loaned/sold to South Korea cannot be brought back to the US.
Some speculate that Obama’s executive order will put the CMP out of business because the supply of Garands will dry up sooner than later. However, I suspect it will stay in business, just that a great deal of its activity will be cut back. After all, the CMP existed before there was a Garand.
WHERE HAVE ALL THE BULLITS GONE? HAVE YOU BEEN TO THE GUN SHOPS LATELY???? THERE ARE NO BULLITS TO BE FOUND ANYWHERE.. WHATS UP WITH THIS…………I HEARD THAT THE US GOVERNMENT BOUGHT UP ALL MANUFACTURED BULLITS FROM ALL MANUFACTURES IN MASS QUANITIES AND ARE STORING THEM SOMEWHERE ON THIS PLANET…THIS IS AND OUT RAGE…AND AS THE COMPANIES MAKEM THE US GOVERNMENT IS BUYING THEM UP…….SO ITS NOT GUN CONTROL THEIR AFTER IT BULLIT CONTROL…….
FFL DEALERS are creating the fear, the shortage and hoarding the ammo so they can screw the gun owners. That is where the ammo is my friend. Open your eyes and remember the firearms dealers are merchants that make money from you..a lot of money and they are greedy. I have been buying firearms since age 15 when i hunted with my Uncles and cousins in Mich. I as well had a FFL in 1972 after I served in combat in Vietnam and came home to a shit society. The DEALERS are the problem..they are NOT YOUR FRIENDS! Wise up, be aware and do not buy from these merchants that are screwing you, lying to you and placing fear in your minds about the govt and losing your firearms.
Who really cares what it looks like? As long as she shoots like she is supposed too. and she does! Look at the targets. Yea they came full of cosmoline…That’s the way you got them in 1942 when going to war also. I would love to own one in any grade of manufacture. The M1A1 Garand is a fantastic weapon that won the war and the ones you have may have even been carried by men who did so. Stop complaining and be thankful you can have one as it is.
Nice article, enjoyed it. I am a long time user of the Garand, shooting one in boot camp and now owning eight at last count. Guess you could say I like them. I shot NRA/CMP competition matches for 20 years until my tender body quit on me. I could still get DOWN in position but getting back UP became a obstacle.
I believe you have a small error in your ammo statement. To my knowledge the original M1 Ball was 173 gr FMJ. The M2 Ball came about to reduce the distance of the effective safety range required by the heavier bullet. This allowed more practice for certain reserve and National Guard Units not having access to a full size range. The original .30 caliber bullet was the 220 gr round nose full metal patch then changed to the 173gr Spitzer style to copy our European friends and going to a much higher velocity. Approximately 2800 fps compared to the original 2180 fps or so. Most ammo fired in the European theater during WWII was armor piercing because of the amount of vehicles involved. Had to shoot through them you know. My study shows ball being used in the Pacific. Not much is recorded on the subject that I have found.
The 168 gr HP is the bullet developed as optimum for target accuracy and is offered by all major bullet makers. The military match used the 173gr FMJ. Mexican match was made by pulling the 173gr projectile and replacing it with the more carefully made 168gr HP. No other changes. This info is for both the .30/06 and the .308 or 7.62mm x 51 NATO. Bullets up to 200 gr are used in long range competition and the 155 gr FMJ used by the International PALMA shooters around the world.
It is not the bullet weight that is so critical in the proper operation of these rifles but the powder used. The government used IMR4895 so that is where Hodgden got their start in the surplus market after the war. The pressure curve must be falling as the bullet passes the gas port to prevent undo shock to the operating rod. This will bend them, throwing off timing and ruining the cycling process. So please watch what you feed them. There are of course other powders suitable but I hesitate to list them as I don’t want to enter that area at this time. The NRA lists a good amount of reloading data and the amounts used to duplicate military usage. You should copy and use the issue loads because if you enter a real match, the ammo is issued so your special handloads and data won’t be worth squat.
The club affiliation mentioned is that you must be a member of a CMP affiliated club, not NRA. Membership in your state organization will usually fill that requirement. I was Secretary in our state club for eight years and helped many, many Americans obtain a truly American rifle.
How sad! My Garand is a 1988 purchase from the DCM, for the princely sum of $165.00. An older rifle (made in mid 1938), but it appears to have not been issued after it was converted from gas trap to the more “modern” configuration. Have not shot it in years, but it did its part when I did shoot it. I also bought a 5 digit Springfield 1903 from the DCM, but it has not been shot by me. It was made in 1905 and rebarreled in 1919 and then put away in various Army warehouses.
Mike in VA …u r a retard.
I think the resale rule you mentioned is this: When these sales were controlled by the Department of Civilian Marksmanship resale was forbidden. Under the Civilian Marksmanship Program resale may be permitted. I am not absolutely certain about this. You will have to double check.
How much are they asking for a service grade? I have a Garand that I redid the stock, had it glass bedded, and put National Match Sights on it. Later I added a heavy duty operating rod, and had an armorer tune the trigger to 4 1/2 pull. When I got it, the metal was still in excellent condition. I’m not that great a shot, but this rifle sure makes me look good. I love the M-1, but I sure hated carrying that heavy SOB back when. Was it Patton who said: The Garand is the greatest battle implement ever devised”? I think at the time it was.
The original Directorate of Civilian Marksmanship (DCM) had a form you filled out to state that you could only buy one rifle and it could never be sold. that all went down the dumper when the DCM was abolished and the CMP took over. The CMP is ‘private’ and only loosely affiliated with the gov’t. Sorta like the Post Office but with less silly regulations. You can buy multiple guns and you can ‘trade’ them on the collector market. I’m sure they would have somethuing to say if you were buying large lots of rifles and reselling them but didn’t Springfield Armory (the new one) get its start like this? I’m not sure but they used to sell Garands they built up from parts sets. I allways assumed they obtained them from the Gov’t surplus program. (DCM or CMP). Regardless, that old rule about only one rifle per buyer per lifetime and no selling is gone. Ask CMP. They will confirm.
Hey Mr. Administrator, I sent a question to you that was very true, the only thing I left out the CMP office forwarded my email to the CMP armorer in AL, she said to him “I know what a barrel is but not a reciever,LOL can you help him out”? Well I’m sure you will just delete this message too, but I did nothing different than what the CMP does, only diff my M 1 is a true rifle that more than likely went to 2 wars, since it was made early 44′ then rebarreled in 51′.
Different things get approved on different days depending on how recently I … well nevermind that at least this one got approved.
Hey Guy’s, My friend gave me his parade M1 from his days in the service, so I put on the same barrel sa 1951 then got a sa 1944 bolt (packed in grease for 70 years) to match the sa 1944 receiver, took it to my gunsmith he fixed it all up shot it and said he would like to have it, but when I called the CMP amorer in AL he said it was unsafe and not to shoot it, please, I asked him why? He said call me.. so I called him and all he said was people do this all the time, but we here at the CMP feel its unsafe. Does anybody know why this is unsafe? $$?
It could just be he was a monkey. If your gun smith headspaces it correctly and test fires it why wouldn’t it be fine?
Ok, yea I felt like his phone was being monitored. By the way do you think since my gunsmith test fired it, should I get the go/no go gages?
The gunsmith should check the headspace. But if he test fired it most likely he already did.
Note: Those who would fire on American citizens will feel the full weight of liberty, standing on the back of their necks. And one day, an American will haul Oba-Mao out of a spider hole.
I just got my Springfield service grade the other day and couldn’t be more pleased with it! I looks brand new and shoots great! The stock however appears to be unfinshed. What can I do to seal or finish the stock while retaining the historical integrity of the firearm?
I love the post by the op and “all” the comments on the thread. Both positive and negative.
Well the two blocks aren’t all wrong … a little bitter but what they say carries allot of weight.
But boy does this suck … I am going bankrupt buying rifles.
Last week 2 Russian 91/30’s and now I stumble across this.
I was in the USMC – from 1989-1992. I never even got to experience an M1, let alone an M14. My experience was an M16A2. My dad was in the Army and he didn’t even carry because he was a Medic and later asst. Chaplain when injured. So I don’t even know what the hell the craze is all about but I want one.
But really, its a piece of American History (His-story) and I might get lucky and get a piece of that mans history that allowed me to be here and the sacrifies he made for me to be free.
Like others have said, I’ll be the first in line to grab one that fell off the truck but that’s not gonna happen. To me it doesn’t matter that it all matches and how authentic it is. Does it perform and is at least one part of the thing authentic?
I live in Kalifornia and the panic is massive cuz we have the wicked witch of the wild wild west.
While I love the history of the Mosin Nagant.
I need something that has soul and carries on the American tradition.
Well, I’ve landed here and now I feel like my life is over. I’ll be broke as hell in no time at all.
I think I need to go to AA, probably about the worst time in history to be into the hobby.
Good Lawd help me.
Reminds me of a Saturday Night Live skit with Will Farrell, Chris Katan, Jimmy Fallon and the infamous Christopher Walken. Chris playing a record producer runs out of the booth saying “Guess what? I got a fever and the only prescription is more cowbell “TING”” The M1 does go “TING” when the clip ejects!
Ran into the same situation with my new Criterion barrel in my M-1. It threw things all over the place. Then I got some surplus Greek .30-’06 ammo (150 grain as I recall) and after cleaning things carefully I ran 15 clips worth of ammo through it, no cleaning, no nothing; just slam the clip in and go bang.
After about 8 clips, I noticed that the holes were grouping better and the flyer frequently missed the bus, so they all went into a 2 1/2 inch group. I used the rear sight to center the now semi-respectable group and then went back to shooting.
By clip 12, I was getting a 2 inch group with no flyers. When I got tired and my shoulder started complaining at clip # 15, I was averaging 1 3/4 to 2 inches at 100 yards. I cleaned the rifle carefully, lubed it as per standards, and then checked the brass (reloading, don’tyakonw) and the early brass was pretty gnarly. Wound up tossing most of it. From clip 7 on the brass looked better and better until the last brass from the shoot looked really really nice; reloadable without a problem.
SO: Criterion barrels can be really good barrels but you gotta break them in. I would recommend some of the older surplus ammo for this because (1) is is Military grade, not Commercial, and (2) if you look around, its still the cheapest ammo there is outside of reloading.
Finally: On a dare, I tried some Wolf brand .30-’06 stuff, thinking it was at least decent for plinking around. Got a series of 1 1/4 inch groups that hit exactly where the sights looked. Checking, some of it (the Gold line) is reloadable. Maybe the Russians are on to something, and Wolf is rather a bit cheaper than Hornaday. The only cheaper stuff I can find are my own reloads.
Anyway, enjoy the greatest battle rifle ever made (including the current stuff)!
I just started reading some very interesting posts. I hate to do this but I’m calling B.S. to one of the very early posts made by Tim 261. He stated that his M1A shoots 5 shots into 1 inch at 300 yards, he also said that his M1 does the same, and that his AR 15 shoots a 5 shot group at 300 yds from a tripod with all shots touching. This translates int 1/3 of a minute of angle at 300 yards——-no way and anyone that has a reaistic grasp of real world accracy will agree with me
When I wet to Paris island in 1962, we were issued M1’s. When we went from PI to Lejune we were issued M14’s. The M14 is the best rifle ever issued, other than sniper rifles and they are pretty good at that too.
After holding for 5 hours on the phone, I finally got to talk to the people at CMP and got an answer from them that I haven’t really seen answered clearly anywhere.
If I’m a Vet, what credentials do I already have that would meet/take the place of the requirements to purchase? I thought that my DD214 would work for everything but found out that’s not the case. If you are a Vet, you can send in (all has to be notarized by an official Notary of the Pubic as being true copies of the originals):
-Copy of DD214, this will cover the Citizenship and Marksmanship requirement (Has to be an Honorable Discharge)
-Proof of membership to VFW, American Legion… This will cover the requirement of membership to an affiliated club and you won’t have to pay $25 to join the one club for and get the magazines or take a certified course (just have the notary make a copy of your membership card back and front, then have the copy notarized)
-Form 2A (has to be notarized)
-Your order form
-Your in!!! Mail it all into CMP to the address given in their brochure and wait for your confirmation and order to show up at your house. It has to be sent in by snail mail because they need the original signature on form 2A; no faxing or emails.
A few quick notes/tips that I was given by the CMP Rep:
-I am not a retired Vet, so I am not sure what would have to be sent in if you are retired; I mention this because the nice lady I spoke with from CMP, asked me if I was “retired or discharged?” And she gave me the requirements needed based on me being honorably discharged. I can’t imagine that there will be much difference in what you would have to send in if you are a retiree, if any difference at all.
-I am a member of the American Legion and also a lifetime member of the VFW; when I mentioned this to the lady, she told me to make sure that I send in my Lifetime VFW membership because they can extend my membership in CMP for a longer period of time and I wont have to renew my membership as often.
I hope that this information has helped someone; I live in Alaska and could not find a qualified program here that would qualify for the marksmanship or club affiliation to join CMP. Thanks
If you had read the first article you would have at least gotten your basic answer but some of this stuff is very helpful.
Very informative and specific.Good job!
Very nice article. I’m a retired police officer from a large agency in Texas, and I was a very serious pistol team competitor. I’ve fired (and LOVED) the M1 Garand, and I’ve licked my chops at the ugliest of them. Never in my life have I been fortunate to find one I wanted when I could afford it. This article has encouraged me to simply get that done NOW! Thank you for the fine article. Steve
First military weapon I fired, in 1965, in Basic Training at Lackland AFB, Tx, was an M1.
We were the last Flight to fire it.
Flight 726, of the 6711th BMTS May-June 1965. May God bless us, one and all!
Now, having bought several Mosin Nagant 1891/30 rifles, complete, for less than $150 each, with ALL accessories, bayonets, slings, cleaning kits, along with the fact that in the ammunition panic of 2013
the 7.62 x 54r in 440 round spam cans is still only $79.95, I really can’t afford to buy and feed an M1!
The fact that the first 1.8 million Mosin Nagant 1891/30 served our military in WW1,
does give me some solace!
I believe that the CMP should have special discounts, or deals, and priority sales, for ALL VETERANS who present their honorable DD214, to help us to ONE rifle of our choice!
But, it is the historical fact that greed trumps integrity and honor, except for veterans
who signed a blank check for our suervice, up to and including our lives, for America.
I have 3 Russian Mosin Nagant 1891/30 Rifles, 2200+ rounds of 7.62 x 54r FMJ ammo, in hermetic cans,
for way less than $750.00! As accurate, and almost as powerful, though only Bolt Action!
Helping quell the wild hog invasion, one tasty, succulent pig, at a time!
When all you people are standing in a soap line you can tell me how much you like Obama
I have had two of these and they are really super!!!
This is a Military Rifle,if you would have used the term Gun you’d still be running around the field with the thing held over your head for the error.
US Rifle,Cal.30 M-1,gas operated,clip fed semi-automatic shoulder weapon is how I learned to call it.
I have an M1 Guarand, I inherited from an Uncle. She’s a keeper. Smooth and could probably shoot bulls at 800 yards with the right scope and dope. Most air wing marines and non-FMF personnel, didn’t start qualifying with M-16s until the late 70’s. From 68-77, all I shot and qualified with, was the M-14, which is my all-time favorite firearm. The .308/7.62×51 Nato was/is a tremendous round. During my son’s three tours in the “sandbox” most of his peers were envious of anyone issued an M-14. And, they were invaluable for providing “high cover” for units clearing a location.
While I scored multiple expert with M-16s, I’ll still take the stopping power of an M1 or M14. Two of our most effective service weapons. With that being said, wish we could do something about Oblama blocking those M1 Carbines from being returned by South Korea. Of course, he probably thinks we’d do something like overthrowing the government or sell them to felons. Have thoroughly enjoyed the carbine and gets some nice groups at 250 yards with very good penetration.
Da Gunny
No, We are not all the same, are you telling us all that terrorists are just like law abiding citizens? YOU are the one who is different and oddball.
My wife and I made the drive from middle TN down to the South Store in Anniston, AL this past November. Everyone had encoraged us to experience the store first hand rather than to order via mail. The experience was top notch and special thanks to Leon for his expert guidance in my making my purchase (Springfield Service Grade Special).
The store was well stocked with all of the various grade rifles that day early last November. I was shocked to see a photo taken last week that revealed many empty shelves. Obviously this is due to the onslaught of many citizens fearful that their opportunity to purchase from the CMP might be eventually blocked by a myopic administration.
I encourage anyone interested to visit the CMP website for all ordering and grading details. They had estimated perhaps two more years of availability but with the huge recent demand that may be overly optimistic.
Thanks for the excellent 3 part series! I excitedly poured over every word in our Anniston hotel room the evening before our delightful visit to the store.
Don’t forget the other items they carry such as WWII era bayonets!
Ah hell, I apologize, I wrote too much and my entry is too long, sorry!
I really enjoyed reading the article, well written and most appreciated. Actually, I read every reply posted after the article as well. Lots of info contained & with the exception of a couple of replys, 99.5% of the replies were outstanding ~ THANK YOU. I was issued an M1 Garand that was made in 1942 and was used in battle during WWII when I entered Marine Corps boot camp at MCRD San Diego in 1961. I fell in love with that wonderful piece of American history & fired expert the first time we had live fire. After boot camp & ITR, I was assigned to a line company [2/4 1st Marine Brigade, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii]. Later, I served as an instructor at Brigade’s Guerrilla Warfare School then a few hitches as a Marine Security Guard at embassies overseas. After all these years, I’ve gotten the urge to purchase an M1, but not just any M1. I want one that served in WWII and is serviceable enough to use on the range with no problems. I would really appreciate buying one that was manufactured in 1940 to early 1944. Considering I only live 100 miles north of Richmond, perhaps I should go directly to the store near there, right? Otherwise, I suspect I would end-up with just another M1 junker? Please advise. BTW, I worked for the Federal Government for 30 years and never heard of DCM or CMP until today! However, it sounds to me like those guys at CMP know what they’re doing and are especially helpful to work with in purchasing a weapon of any type. Figure I best buy an M1 rather soon considering the current regine’s position on firearms these days ~ might be my last opportunity to do so! Most importantly, appears as if CMP is doing an outstanding job training our youth good shooting practices and that is very important. Semper Fi & thanks to all of you.
I remember my trust ole M1. I drug it through the mud, water, dirt, grass and it did just fine. Never had any misfires or accidental discharges on my M1.I had chance after chance to take many of these rifles over to supply and some of the guys even had lost theirs on the way over. It is, even today, one of the best made rifles that I have ever fired in Jungles, plains and forests and was on target when ever I wanted it to be.
Got our M1 “RM1Special” last September from CMP. Absolutely beautiful and clean. (Surprised that someone shooting as long as you has never heard of the devastating effects of cosmoline – or any contaminants.) Shot the 150 grain Greek (country of mfg) ammo sold through CMP and it performed extremly well. I went through Army basic with the M1 and mustered out just before the intro of the M14. One of the best experiences of shooting the M1 – besides the performance and report of the weapon – is the respect and awe it generates at the range.
I went through basic and trained with the M1. What happened with Hilary following Obama’s orders in the UN to block the return of M1’s? I’m at [email protected] Where do I find out if I have to join a club? I have a DD214. With all the political crap floating around will we be able to own an M-1. What happened to the second amendment? I’m a Vietnam vet but never made it beyond Japan. At basic the instructors were surprised that I could knock down their targets with no training. That’s because Dad had a sporterized 03A3 that I got to shoot under strick supervision. The .22 I got at age 12 was much easier. So I’m an Expert marksman. Thor
@Thor Brother, read my message (http://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/garands-from-the-government-ii-the-guns-arrive/#comment-17806)… I had the same question and sat on the phone on hold for many hours over a two day period waiting to talk to the people at CMP to ask the same question. I posted what I found out, thanks.
Also, I apologize for my comment that may/may not have taken a political/racial course; but, I was getting frustrated (as I see you have also) reading some of the crazy comments I was seeing, instead of seeing information on how to get a Grand if I couldn’t find any of the programs needed to qualify. Thanks
ADIMISTRATOR
please send information and forms that I wii need to purchase a new M1 Garand Rifle thank you
I wish i had my m14, as i was an expert an the top shooter in the battalion in boot.They gave me the nick name Daniel Boon
I wish i had my m14, as i was an expert an the top shooter in the battalion in boot.
the only gun’s i would like to see come avalible at a resonable price is the military 45 auto and the M1 CARBINE I faced AK-47’s almost every day but I also used AK’S because i could not trust them to fire when your life was at stake. The M-16’s were left in there mounts on the steering mount of my PBR. The base comander when he would inspect the boat would ask to inpect the 47’s just like our M-16’s.
I am getting long in the tooth, and eyes don’t work as well as they did in the Corps, but I think the CMP are great people, and am hoping that Obama/Holder do not squash them like a bug. The prices from CMP are not bad at all. Years past I bought an M-1 from Century Arms, it was junk, sold it to pay for a Federal Ordinance M-1 that was beautiful. It had been a lend lease piece to England, since they did not use 06 ammo, most were never issued, researched this piece, it was an Springfield, NRA perfect, except for the butt plate which was battered smooth, it had been a parade ground rifle. A divorce made me sell it, an 03A1, and a M-1 Carbine, to pay child support payments, as well as a number of civilian firearms, but I never missed a child support payment, ever.
Later I bought a Blue Sky, got there early when they came in to a distributor, and since a friend was one who was instrumental in getting the deal done, I got to go through a hundred of the M-1’s to find the one I wanted. My bet was that it had been a rifle assigned to the Korean Navy or Marine Corps, when the wood was all off there was pitting in the metal hidden by the stock. It was not a re weld, it had new parts in the clip well, and the rear sight had been redone. I put a Navy sleeve in it to shoot 7.62 mm, NATO ammo, but just didn’t have a lot of luck with that. My gunsmith at “MY” gun store had a Navy 7.62 match barrel, he put that in, and replaced the operating rod, this rifle shoots unbelievably well. I was not aware that CMP had Garands in the NATO caliber, so will be ordering one this week or next, after all, I have two sons, so need two rifles to pass down. I was not unhappy with the .30 cal performance but several years before I had purged calibers from my inventory, and the 30-06 was one that I got rid of. All of my big bore rifles now are 7.62/.308, and yes I know there is a difference. I would like to thank you for the excellent article, and your other readers who responded with comments too.
Semper Fidelis!
Had a chance to buy a gov. issue one back in the ’70’s for a mear $100.00 Sorry I missed it……….. Carried one around for a couple ‘o years in the ’60’s. Fine weapon.
Believe it or don’t……on the range @ Ft. Ord in ’61, put 3 rounds thru the same hole from prone pos. … Sarg. confirmed it in disbeilief.. too big a hole in the target to argue. Sure I’m not the only one somewhere along the line to do it.
Well at fort Dix in 1969 put 2 holes in with 5 shot 2 thru 1 hole an 3 thru the other in prone position in below freezing weather no scope just sited in .
so how much to buy one??
Scroll up and decide which type quality you want to buy and click the link
There are several comments on this site about having to be a member of a “qualifying club” in order to purchase a rifle from the CMP. This is not true for veterans. Veterans bring your DD-214 to prove your service and that is all you need to purchase. I have purchased 4 rifles this way. However, I would recommend joining the NRA.
When in the Navy I was on the USS Mullany DD528 and organized the ships rifle and pistol team. I used this beat up old m 1 that was so loose that someone had put rags in it to tighten up the fit of the stock. When fired there was lint in the air after each shot. The amazing thing was how accurate it was with GI ball ammo of unknown vintage. I was shooting at the range at Camp Elliot and was on the far left end of the firing line. The next man on my right was from Com Cru Des Pac staff and had a glass bedded M 1 with a curly maple stock. The best part of this was that I out shot him with my old beater which was built in 1943 and had been on the ship since then. My score was 20 bullseyes and the two sighter shot all in the center ring. The man next to me with the fancy did not do as well. He was very angry and said that I l cheated, but could not say how. I had grown up with a rifle in my hand and as a teenager had my own springfield 03 A3 that I shot at 100 yards and got tight groups with GI surplus that you could get in any store at the time. this would have been in the summer of 1962
How di I purchase one of these m1 grands?
There is a link at the top of the page.
Come on guys, give mr. Porter, a brake, he’s a USMC…I was 173rd inf. 1969 Hoe N Vietnam, Heis right, M-14 was the best, i’m still here…
I just acquired another M1 Garand and would like to how you can check a serial number with CMP?
Don’t know give them a call.
Does the Springfield M1 Garand require a clip? In one picture above it appears a clip is up and another shows none.
i have wanted an m1 for the longest time.i went thru parris island in 1969 and cut my teeth on an m14.this past october i ordered 2 :both springfields one was a service grade the other was a field grade,i asked for no special dates or anything else.i received both rifles within 11 days from the time i sent my paperwork in. the field grade was in the serial# 52,xxx,it has a white circle with a black # 10 on the heel of the stock .from what i can tell it has all springfield parts with a 1963 barrel,it has more than its share of dings .it shoots like a dream and i wouldn’t take a million dollars for it.the service grade has a new CMP stock,the receiver is in the 5,88x,xxx,the barrel is 3/55 all the other parts are HRA and looks brand new. i have people come over to me at the rifle range just to hear the “ping” as the clip is ejected. i have ordered another m1 ,this time an HRA field grade and am hoping to get it by christmas. the people at the CMP store were more than kind and i applaud the work they do. the dude with the serious attitude problem can take an” F”ing leap at a rolling donut. my grandfather shot a 1903 in the war to end all wars,my dad carried an m1 in ww2, i shot a crappy m16 in vietnam.the m1 is an iconic weapon and and a real part of american history and i am so happy to have several pieces of that history in my possession and will continue to shoot them until they pry them from my cold,dead hands.
Gentlemen;
As I
m brand new to this site, I’m don’t know if I need to check daily for responses or not. I asked two days ago if there were ANY TRICKS IN HANDLOADING FOR THE gARAND, BUT SEE NO RESPONSE HERE. Sorry about caps. Been handloading with a RockChucker more yrs than I care to think about so I’m not a newbie. Can someone either e-mail me concerning this or call me at 702-683-7283 (cell) and give me some info. I’m going to assume right off the bat crimping and therefore case lenght are critical.
P.S. Got mine JUST before DCM went away (way to go Willie). It was a H & R and looked like the rifle I carried on the drill team at the Academy. Talk about pristine! Yeah, I got lucky. Thanks
Rocky
That’s a whole article itself Mike. Generally you want to use a 150gr. bullet and the loads in the manual. Midsouth sometimes has blem bullets in bulk in 150gr. and that is what we use.
Gentlemen:
I can’t tell if the color mismatch on the stocks you photographed is because the handguard is birch and the stock is walnut. However, if the parts are all the same wood type, here’s how to make them match as good as possible. (LIkely, real good) Disassemble the stocks. Remove all metal parts. Put the stock and handguards in the diswasher when your wife is gone. Adjust washer to “pots and pans” if possible. Apply a liberal amount of dishwasing liquid. Turn it on and go to the reloading bench. When the cycle is over, including the dry cycle, do the same thing again. Two washings and dryings will generally be enough to suck out all the old darkened linseed oil and restore the stocks and handguards to “pre-stained and oiled” condition. Let them rest for a few days to make certain they’re dry. Use 600 grit sandpaper to remove any wood whiskers that rose as a result of the water washing. Order some Culvers red alcohol walnut stain. Apply a coat. Follow up the next day with 2-3 coats of tung oil. I’ll guaranteed you’ll be pleased with the results. I wish I had as quick and easy way to parkerized the metal but alas, I don’t.
I believe if you purchase a gun under the club program which also has a deeper discount, the
club is required to hang onto it for at least two years. To my knowledge this does not effect individual
purchases though.
You guys are so lucky—In Cadada we can’t get even an old Lee Enfield!
Just bought two service grade M-1s for $625 per at the Anniston CMP sales store; along with two slings, a box of clips, and 250 rounds of ammo. (I write this on 29 Oct. ’12, the purchase was made on Friday, 26 Oct. ’12)
A much nicer experience than I expected since I knew less than zero about the M-1 other than carrying one in ROTC sixty years ago. I just knew I wanted one… a piece of history!
It turned out to be a very pleasant experience. I had received ordering info from the CMP thru an ad in the NRA magazine. My paperwork was, therefore, in fine shape and complete. The staff was friendly and most accomodating. The entire selection and paperwork process took, perhaps, an hour. As I checked out, the amiable sales guy helped me with other items I’d need: slings, ammo clips, and ammo. (Do get the ammo: 250 rounds for about $100 in a handy ammo can! Designed specifically for the M-1 Garand. Wish I’d gotten two.)
One of the rifles was for an old friend and avid gun collector… and military gun enthusiast.
He was thrilled with the Garand… and the bill: we split a $1550 total tab, which could’ve been $75 cheaper if we’d had the guns shipped, thereby avoiding sales tax; but my/our eagerness precluded that option.
We have spent a few days cleaning both rifles, getting to know them a bit in the process. We’ll probably be on the range tomorrow or the day after. By the way, both rifles needed a good cleaning, particularly removing all the cosmoline, and generally oiling and greasing the lovely old weapons. The two I selected both were stamped with a “G.I’ stamp”… meaning the guns had actually been issued during the war. These rifles were, in all probability, combatants in WWII. At least we hope so. (We were not seeking perfect collectors items.)
Fortunately, I ran into a couple of knowledgable M-1 folks in the CMP showroom who were of invaluable help in evaluating literally thousands of rifles in their neat, orderly rows of racks. I finally decided on the $625 service grade option as I couldn’t see much, if any, difference between them and rifles costing $995 up to about $1500.
To be sure, the $3000 version is a beautiful, a like-new rifle; but as we plan to shoot the rifles regularly just for the fun of it at our gun club, the Springfields I ultimately selected are nice looking, fully serviceable weapons at a bargain price. I strongly urge anyone who’s interested to give the program a try. I found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable experience… and I will cherish this beautiful piece of history, as will, hopefully, my sons and grandchildren.
I would like to complement the men and women employees of the CMP North Store for their courtesy, politeness and help. Normally when going into a government facility one would expect to be treated like a number in a long line but I found the employees quite pleasant and helpful. On the 12th of July 2012 I drove over 250 miles to go to Camp Perry to see the matches and visit the CMP Store to purchase an M1 Garand. I was quite impressed with the assistance and information given to me. Upon that visit I purchased a special grade M1 Garand which had a muzzle reading of 0+ and a throat reading of 0+. What a productive and great trip thanks to the employees.
As a CMP contact person for my local fish and game club of which is a member of the CMP, on Oct. 9th, 2012 I received a CMP news letter, informing about the new shipment of Kimber 82 Government 22’s that would be going on sale. The email news letter came the same evening as our monthly club meeting so I never had time to get more details before having to make my report at my club meeting. I was concerned that the news letter described the Kimbers as new but may have a few scratches or cuts from when the bags were open for acquiring serial numbers in the mid 90s. This information did not match up with the information on the CMP sales web site which said they were rusty, so I had to make phone calls to the North Store for clarification. Again I was impressed with the professionalism and time I was given pertaining to my questions. In regards as to when they would be at the North Store, I was told when they expected them, but it was not a problem to keep calling for the date they would be on sale. Along with other information, and after several phone calls, I was given un-solicited information to get there early because there would most likely be a crowd. They were very helpful and courteous employees. Even while waiting in line on the date of the sale, before the doors opened, some employees stopped at the line, gave information and answered questions for the crowd of customers. Because of their help, along with some of my club members, I am the proud owner of a brand new Kimber 82 Government of which I have wanted every since I used one to qualify with for my NRA rifle instructor certification some time ago. In today’s society it is a pleasure to be treated with respect, dignity by knowledgeable and professional people. Thank You CMP personnel.
who sells them and how much do thay cost i only have two arms and two legs. thank u john
I received my RM1SASSP Service Grade Special and it is “truly special”. It came in clean, rust free and no sign of any past corrosion. The stock was raw but a mix of Tung Oil with mineral spirits sealed it well and brought out the fine grain of wood. As for shooting it out of the box, after a full inspection of parts and the barrel, I shot about 250 rounds of Greek .06 through it as well as about 50 rounds of the Horandy 168 Grain Match. I sighted in at the 100 yrd line and within 10 rounds or so I was hitting with a 10 inch pattern. OK, some of you may think that 10 inches is a bit open, but at my age along with my eyes I was completely happy with the performance of both me and this weapon. Moving to the 200 yrd range the following weekend was a bit more of a challenge, again my eyes and open sights. Not having a sighting scope, I used by high end binoculars (so I thought). I couldn’t hit anything with the first 10 rounds or so. I’d bust off a round or two, look to see where I was on my silhouette target. NOTHING. I switched to the Horandy rounds. After another 24 rounds and still nothing a shooter next to be stated to bring it back in to 100 yds then shoot 2 inchs low at 200 yrds. WOW….8 rounds, still nothing. Just about to give up, the line went cold and I went down to retrieve my target. I’m thinking OK, I got a pretty rifle but out past a 100 yrds, this just ain’t gonna do it. Upon getting to the target my eyes opened up. Had at least 30 rounds on paper in the black. I was impressed. Me, my age, open sights at 200 yards. Excellent rifle, the shooter has some issues. (Training, training, training)
As for the purchase, it took about thirty days from time order was placed to receipt. I HIGHLY advise reviewing CMP instructions and ENSURE your package is complete prior to submitting. CMP notified me via email when my package was received and notified me when shipped.
The sale agreement does say: “and that I am purchasing this rifle for my (or my junior shooter’s) personal use.”
I do not know if that means you cannot sell it. What do you think?
It only means that you can’t be purchasing it FOR resale, not that you can never resell it. If you purchase any gun FOR resale you are acting as a dealer and are acting illegally if you don’t have an FFL (Strawman). By signing the sales agreement with that clause, and you are caught buying them for resale the CMP is not liable.
Nice review. A couple of things. The green finish is a petina. Garand collectors have long speculated why some rifles have this petina and others do not. You mention that these are “parts” guns. Let me clarify that the rack field and service rifles do often have a mixture of parts, but all of them are USGI (well the occational Beretta). When I think parts gun, I typically think slapped together AK’s and the like built on demilled parts. Make no bones about it. These rifles do have a mixture of parts but are of a much higher quality. As far as those of you who worship at the alter of milspec, it doesn’t get much closer than an M1. Back to what you said about ammo. It isn’t as much a concern with bullet weight as it is a concern with the types of powder used. The Garand must have medium burning powder in the H 4895 or IMR 4895 RANGE. If you have fast or slow powder, you build too much port pressure and you could bend your op rod. There are adjustable gas plugs. Another concern with the Garand is with slam firing when using soft primers. I personally have never seen this happen. I know people who have said only military primers should be used. I have used commercial primers after testing them in my Garand and have never had a slam fire. I tend to think it is only a problem if your bolt is worn out.
These are great rifles. I have told everyone I know for years to get one of these. The latest batch are SUPERB. I even found a Dane return this spring at the north store. If you can, go to one of the stores.
I am interested in ordering some of these m-1’s. I never saw one before last year when I joined my VFW’s post of the “Honor Guard” We use the M-1 Garands for Military funerals. I am very proud to carry and fire (blanks) these fine wepons sometimes 3 or more times a week.
In regards to belonging to a club that CMP will allow you to purchase one of these M-1 Garands, do I need to join on of these other orgiznations listed, because I didn’t see the VFW of Florida on the list. I have a CCW belong to the VFW and the DAV as well as the NRA. Any help would be useful before I spend $24 dollars to join another club.
Thanks Carl Turner Cape Coral Fl
M-1 WAS MY FIRST ISSUE RIFLE ON JOINING THE IOWA NATIONAL GUARD IN 1959. BEFORE ANY TRAINING AT ALL WE WERE FEDERALIZED AND I WAS HANDED AN M-1 AND TOLD TO SHOOT LOOTERS. THANKFULLY NONE SHOWED UP AS I HAD NO TRAINING ON THE WEAPON. STILL MY FAVORITE AFTER TOTING THE M-14, BAR, THOMPSON, GREASE GUN AND M-16 A1. I CURRENTLY OWN 8 AND SHOOT THEM ALL. 1 IS A C AND 1 IS A D. SNOOP AROUND AS HAVE FOUND MANY OF MINE IN PAWN SHOPS AND MOST IN MUCH BETTER CONDITION THAN CMP. I USUALLY PAID 400 TO 650 AND HAVE ONE THAT IS AS MANUFACTURED FOR 650. HAD ONE REBARRELED TO .308 AS CHEAPER SURPLUS AMMO AVAILABLE. IT WAS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE EXCEPT FOR CORRODED BARREL. 350 FOR THE GUN AND 150 FOR NM BARREL. GREAT WEAPONS AND ALWAYS MUCH INTEREST FROM FOLKS AT GUN RANGES. NAVY SEAL SHOT MY D AND I GOT TO SHOOT HIS M 700. HE LOVED IT BUT WITHOUT FANCY TRIGGERS, COMPUTERS AND SUCH HE NEEDED A BIT OF PRACTICE TO GET THE HANG OF THE OLD SCHOOL SNIPER RIFLE. HAD ONE COMBAT USE OF BAYONET IN NAM WITH M-16 AND WOULD HAVE MUCH PREFERRED MY OLD M-1 WITH BAYONET. PRK
I think the strongest testimony to the greatness of the Garand…is the effort expended by Obama, Holder, and the rest of the gun-grabbers to keep them from coming back into the country. During the upcoming scrimmage, it’s still going to be an effective combat rifle.
WiseCaveOwl. These rifles are not the Korean returns. Those are going to importers. These do not have import marks and come from different places. The CMP will not see the Korean rifles. These are the Greek rifles and have been avalible for years.
Hey all;)great info!Been wanting to get M14 like I had in Nam,could you help me out some here,how where and all,would it be about the same as for Garand? Thanks for any help you can provide! You guys are awsume!! Take care&keep it up;) Michael
It is nearly the same internals with a few exceptions.
I wish to enlighten anyone who believes that all M1 Garands have been rebuilt, restored or otherwise re-assembled with spare parts that may not be “drawing number correct”. There are M1 rifles that remain in “as originally assembled” condition.
U. S. Rifle Caliber .30 M1, serial no. 6096XXX was purchased on September 3, 1958 through the DCM program.
Approximately three (20) round boxes of 30-06 ammunition was fired through this rifle in 1958. It has not been fired since that time. The voucher form number 480419 shows a grand total purchase price of $102.50, ($98.00 for the rifle and $4.50 for shipping). This form was provided in triplicate in the rifle’s shipping box.
The highest serial number recorded for an M1 receiver at the Springfield Armory in Massachusetts was 6,099,905. The barrel marking on rifle no. 6096XXX indicates it was made on June, 1956. Obviously this rifle was made only a few months before the end of production in 1956 when the armory was gearing up for production of the M14 rifle.
I am the original owner of this National Match M1 rifle and it has the same appearance as the RM1Special M1 rifle I purchased on May of this year.
These two rifles are part of a firearm collection that I have been assembling over the last 55 years. As a collector of individual firearms that represent the best of their class I seldom actually fire them. I consider myself to be a caretaker of the weapons that future generations may appreciate and in turn, care for. Eventually some or all of these fine weapons may find a home in a museum where everyone will be able to appreciate them. This is the whole point of collecting firearms.
I am looking at 2 receipts for DCM issued NM M-1’s. My dads was shipped Aug. 1971 and it cost him $155.30 including shipping. Mine was shipped December 1973 and cost me $161.18 including shipping – Parcel Post. Dads SN was 3,010,XXX and mine was 5,834,XXX. The paperwork for both was from the US Weapons Command, Rock Island Arsenal using military form DD139. Dads had CG in front of the address. Would that be ‘Commanding General’? Either way it shows a different seller (US Gov’t)than todays CMP and a different time/cost. Mine has never been fired. We both used dads to shoot matches including a ‘Polar Bear’ match when is was -13 degrees f and it never hickuped. I’m curious about the 2 & 5 shot clips. Can I just bend a clip so it hold a reduced number of cartridges or are they sold commercially?
Very interesting article. Thanks!
To address the original question on here….. I believe that what those older fellows were referring to was a law (or rule) prior to the CMP that was in effect when it was the DCM, or Director of Civilian Marksmanship, that stated that a person could purchase only one M1 per lifetime and that it could never be sold. My dad showed me that DCM paperwork almost 30 years ago. As I recall, there were no choices of anything offered, you simply received the M1 that was selected and shipped to you, and it was shipped through the US Mail. The cost was $168.00 including the shipping.
The head of the DCM was a US Army Colonel and it was a US Government corporation, which would explain why things are so different now as the CMP has to pay its own way with no subsidy from Uncle Sam. The original idea of the DCM was to encourage people to participate in marksmanship activities and thus learn the principles of marksmanship by offering firearms and ammo as cheaply as possible (effectively subsidizing it) to civilians so as to promote an effective defense for the United States.
I think it made sense.
Regards,
Jeff J
I have several M1’s and one is a “Bluesky”.. I was told this was a “lend lease” rifle that was returned to the US and resold to the public?
I would like to find someone to appraise these firearms so I can get them listed for sale
garand’s of that caliber are generally all around the same price. Check the website and compare the condition.
Get that one checked out. It is not a lend lease. Chances are if it is a Bluesky, it is a rewelded piece of crap that COULD go hand granade and hurt someone. They are notoriously bad. Bluesky rifles are often the worst of the worst. They even reworked 1903 Springfield barrels in some cases and spun them on to their crappy rewelded receivers. PLEASE BE CAREFUL WITH THAT ONE!
The korean M1s that are rumored to be imported have NO connection to the CMP. The CMP cannot sell weapons imported from outside the country. They only receive weapons turned over to them are from the Army, who sometimes gets them returned from countries we provided military aid, or Veteran Organizations that are returning them. They have a website, nothing is secret. If you can pass a simple background check, meet the basic requirements, you can buy rifles from them. They have great customer service, and their mission is very worthwhile. They also have a Furum that anyone can join, and very helpful members. They try to price their products to prevent scalping by gun show dealers. Yes you can buy a decent hunting rifle for less. You won’t buy the history they have for any price.
How easy are clips to come by? and can one still get the leather slings?
Turner still makes the leather sling. Actually, the web sling is also correct for the rifle. I have several from WWII in my collection.
I’ve bought several M1s from the CMP along with a couple Carbines and at least 4 Kimber Govt 82s. I don’t live far from Anniston so I go there to select the rifles myself. As stated in the article, the selection has changed over the years. They have added a few more catagories, ie the special and correct grades. Some of mine are really nice in the service grade and one of the specials. These are good rifles and shoot well as long as you can pick your own. The special and one I got with a new Dutch barrel are tack drivers at 100 yards. I’m glad they are tagging them with the measurements now; it took a while to go through the racks checking the ones you wanted. My best M1, I refinished and gave to my son when he returned from Iraq. (I built him an AR when he returned from Afgahnistan). Thanks for a good article.
I rec my M1 Springfield, dtd 1943 under a million from CMP last year and very pleased with the weapon…I carried one for for close to 35 years,1951 thru The Citadel, Regular Army and the USAR..Never had any problems, did what it had to do….This is a great prize and will leave it to my children…Enjoy the weapon, it has one hell of a history…
Great story, thanks. However: “Can you imagine buying a new rifle for $650 and having to clean the grease out of it from storage?” Duh, yes!!! Anyone who purchases a firearm and takes it to the range without a thorough cleaning and lubrication is about 5 cans and 11 ounces short of a six-pack. The job of the merchant is to keep the gun from rusting until delivered. The owner is responsible to ready the gun to fire, as all manufacturer’s literature will state.
My wife and I both own DCM Winchester Garands. My Winchester has a six digit serial number and has about 95% Winchester parts. Because of the older parts (round firing pin, uncut op rod, small hole/large pad trigger housing, older safety lever, checkered windage knob, single line rear sight cover, etc.,) I’ve never fired it due to the risk of breaking a part that would be impossible to replace. However, I fire my wifes Winchester at Camp Perry each year in the Garand match. Her gun shoots as accurately as my NM Springfield M1 Garand in .308. I’ve shot the John Garand Match every year since its inception and have been in the gold medal bracket each year except once. Its unusual if I don’t shoot 100 during the rapid fire sequence. Magnificent rifles. Ken
Hello,
I guess I am missing something. You say that the guns have arrived. When did CMP not have the Garands in the same catagory that you are talking about? ( rack grade, service grade, etc.) It was my understanding that the rifles that were being returned from Korea were going to firearms distributors, not thr CMP. I have purchased several rifles from CMP. The last two (rack grade) were OK as far as the metal goes, except for the rust and sand in the resr sight. However the stocks were junk. I find it hard to believe that a supposed non profit agency casn sell these rifles at a 500+% profit to the American public and call thenselves a Govt. agency to promote rifle shooting for our citizens. The rifles that CMP advertises are not the ones you get.
Yea they are are you sight impaired? They are gorgeous.
You bought a rack grade. You got what you paid for. It is EXACTLY how they discribe it. Next time spend a little more to get a better rifle. I personally wouldn’t purchase a Rack unless I picked it out myself at the store and gauged it right there.
If you have any doubt, pony up the cash and buy a service. I bought two this spring with original lockbar sights on them.
Your article finally convinced me to purchase a CMP M-1. Since I planned on using it more than for collectible value I went for the Special. From what I read it would be almost like new. Got it, and the first thing I tried to do was put on the safety. Wouldn’t budge no matter what position the bolt or rifle was in. Sent it back. We’ll see what happens.
Returned the trigger assembly to CMP. They repaired/repaced a spring. Works fine.
Great article, and it’ll be a life-long dream to have one. I have worked / am working overtime just to get 1 or 2 of these. Says up to 12 per year….lol (grabbing schedule). I want 1 of the CMP specials @ $995, then maybe a rack grade to ‘experiment’ with. Im waiting on my credentials from Texas State Rifle Association so I can place my order.
Thank you for the article. I recently purchased an HRA M1 from CMP it was a Service Grade cost $625.00 plus 24.95 shipping and I received it in about 45 days it looks great and has 1+ on Muzzle and 2 on the throat. I needed to clean and oil it but it shot magnificently. According to the information I could find the receiver and barrell, manufactured in May 1955, are the only HRA parts all other parts are Springfield.
Regarding the price, I think the only thing that matters; is how does the CMP price compare to the real world price out in the market?
(I honestly don’t know)
Read the first article it explains things.
I was just at the antique gun show in Timonium, MD–a huge annual show with over 1000 tables. There were lots of Garands available, but none below $1000, in any condition. Most we closer to $2,000, and one with matching numbers higher still.
The CMP has Hornady Match 168 gr ammo for sale. Is this the same Hornady ammo that you used in the rifle testing so far?
Yes and is a good price.
I think the confusion over the legality of a buyer selling his/her rifle comes from the DCM. The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) came into being when the Department of Civilian Marksmanship (DCM) was closed down during the Clinton administration. The DCM allowed only one rifle per customer, per lifetime, and it was illegal to sell it. The CMP has no such regulation.
Why did you do all the firing at 50 yards rather than 100 yards?
Because of a general idea was all we were hoping to accomplish and it was a really hot day to be walking back and forth to targets.
Update on cleaning: I didn’t do a detailed stripping, but I went through the Field Grade Winchester last night, and it really wasn’t bad. It was DIRTY, and especially the gas cylinder was pretty dirty and had some cosmoline in it. I found a few small globs here and there, but the CMP armorers must have already removed the worst of it. The barrel was quite clean except for a light powder residue–I’ve bought NEW guns with dirtier barrels, so they must have done at least a quick swipe of the barrel after they test fired it. I guess now I need to get some Plastilube for the sliding parts, but I left a light coat of CLP on everything.
Where can I get the 168 grain Hornady Match Garand ammunition?
Midway
FYI Get a proof reader
Would love to have one. Have a few family members that used them in combat in the guns time. They all say it was an awsome weapon. Would like to know how to get hold of one. Let me know about pricing. And Im a shooter as well as collector so keep in mind Ill be putting rounds down rang.
Ok, I want one. How do we get this accomplished??? Thanks, Todd
Please read the first article.
Thanks for now two great articles on these pieces of American history. I had been contemplating a CMP purchase for some time before the first article, and had started to complete some of the paperwork. After that article I got my act together and ordered a Field Grade Winchester (RM1WRAF, $695), and a Service Grade Special Springfield (RM1SASSP, $950). I really would like to get two of the Springfield specials with new barrels, one in 30-06 and one in .308, but funds are limiting… I wanted to get at least these two before they are gone. I also bought a one piece .30 cal cleaning rod ($10), and 400 rds of the Greek surplus ammo. My only real disappointment so far is that I apparently misunderstood that they would each come with a web sling, which they did not.
About two weeks after I mailed my order, I received an email on 31 May that they had received and were processing my order. My credit card was charged around the 2nd of June, and on Wednesday 20 June, I received another email that my rifles were shipped Fedex overnight. They arrived Thursday 21 June.
The Winchester definitely looks the worse for wear, and has many dents in the top side of the hanguard portion of the stock. I’m torn about the idea of either refinishing it or replacing it with new. I would appreciate any comments about that (pros/cons). I sort of like the rustic look of it, but for all I know those dents are just from being thrown around in some foreign country’s armory before being RESCUED to be made available for us to buy at a great price.
The Special though, looks like a new gun (or rifle, for the purists and the Marines among us… ; -) FWIW, I have the utmost respect for these weapons, but more so for our heroes who fought with these, and who bled and died for our freedoms, for our interests, and for the freedom of others.) The wood on this Springfield is all brand new, and all metal parts have been refinished. I’ll have to check for matching numbers per another comment above. Neither seems to have a lot of cosmoline–just a light coat of oil, but I intend to fully clean and lube both before I fire them. Every single NEW gun I have ever bought comes to me with a dirty barrel for whatever reason, so it’s nothing new to me.
I also have a Mosin-Nagant 91/30, and after a few hours spent cleaning the cosmoline and rust and powder and copper fouling, it shoots amazingly well, let alone for a sub $100 rifle. My point isn’t some kind of comparison–I’m on travel this week and haven’t been able to shoot my Garands yet, but I implore the two malcontents I read above to please do some more research on CMP and reconsider your view of this organization (apologies, but you sound like garden variety Democrats who watch CNN and MSNBC, listen to NPR, and read The Economist). Even without the things CMP does for teaching young people marksmanship, it is to me one of the very few GOOD things that Congress has ever done. I consider my purchase of these two rifles bargains. I’ve seen some really beat up Garands–worse than my Winchester–around for $600, and some really nice ones priced $2500-$3000.
I have a neighbor who is a former Marine and gunshow vendor. He told me the Winchester I bought is a $1,000 gun, and the Springfield is a $2,000 or more gun (yes, he said GUN! ; -). If it weren’t for CMP, these guns would ALL be scrapped, and the remaining few would be selling for sky high prices to a let fewer of US (by the way, this is just what Obama would have happen: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/sep/3/obamas-backdoor-gun-ban/, and during the Clinton Administration many were melted down).
Last thing–I remember reading and signing some blurbage somewhere that said I must acknowledge that these guns were not for resale, but I took it more as “Please don’t abuse this opportunity only to enrich yourself”, rather than some binding legal thing.
Regarding the comment about “not allowed to re-sell them”, that only applies to certain specific firearms that are designated for club sales only such as some of the target .22 and air rifles. The ones indicate are offered at reduced pricing to make them affordable for clubs and the purchasers cannot make any available to individuals even if said individual is a member of the club.
i called both store locations for CMP and they both told me in order to purchase guns, you have to be a memeber of one of the clubs..nra does not count.
How did you order guns without being a memeber??
i liked the article , photos , comments and replies . all the information and opinions are not one sided and will inspire me to do my own research to decide on m-14 or m-1 , 30-06 or 308 , which grade or manufacturer or any other thing i can think of that makes a difference . i have enjoyed the whole shootin match .
thanks ,
pete
Great article. Nice to see someone give the CMP credit where credit is due. I have a Service Grade HRA and a field grade Springfield. Both shoot fantastic and I haven’t had one problem with them in the last 3 years since I bought them. I’ve been real tempted to get one of the specials too, but the way mine look and shoot….. don’t really see the need yet. I will leave these to my son so they are never going to leave my hands anyway. Look forward to reading the rest of the article.
Hi, I needed to say that you need to make an extra effort to attain an M1 Garrand. You’ll never get a chance if Obama has his way and its really a collectors and shooters rifle. Holding this relic will bring the memory of succesfull campiagns our Military has had in this great Country’s History. Affordable maybe not at least not for me , but I’m saved and sold a few things I was’nt using collecting dust in my house and made it a point to reach my goal of attaining one of these beauty’s for my own. Finally when I purchased mine from CWMP I was the happiest Man around and having bought it I realized that you cant go wrong with this purchase. I have never regretted buying one and now reaching for my next purchase of a M1A1 magazine fed piece of art. Do it and I can tell you you’ll never regret having bought one. I have’nt and every time I pull it out of my safe I revel in its solid beauty , workmanship and history, so don’t say no say maybe with the Idea of owning one in the immediate future before you loose this chance of a life time.
How much do does the M1 grand cost?
I’m guessing you have access to a computer. You can either read the article, or go to the CMP website, or google it. Or you could scroll up, because the answer is right on THIS F’ING PAGE.
Anyway, it’s spelled G a r a n d. It’s also printed on this very page, about a hundred fifty times.
By the way, when you get one: the small end goes toward the target.
What the hell is wrong with people?
Sshhhh don’t tell him which end goes toward the target!
What is the cost of these M1 Gran.
It is twice what I paid for my Mauser K98, but hey It is a Garand M1. My Dad was issued 1 in 1941.
He landed with Gen. Clark’s 5th Army near Oran, Algeria in 1942 with 1 round. LOL.
Since he was with Signal Corps, their ammo was on a different transport. Anyway He landed and dove behind a small wall his Garand discharged. Out of Ammo.
He said he found a German MP-40 with 4 full clips and 1 in it. He carried it the rest of the war. Never fired another shot either.
Hey bear don’t mind paying a reasonable price for an m1 but not a thousand for a rifle that was already payed for by the people of this country like I said buy an m14 and get what you have paid for a good rifle.a mosan nagat is a great rifle for the money if I could get an m1 at. a reasonable price I’d have 1 but this “cmp” thing is a joke…250 bucks for a bayonet right!……all of the rifles are ours already why do I have to buy it for an outrageous price but we can give thousands to all the 3rd world countries get them back in junk condition and pay a thousand bucks “Really” somethings wrong with that!
No argument there buddy.
count me in I would like to buy one.
Victor
So you expect these Garands to be sold for $15 or $20 each? Keep the price low. yeah, like the .303’s and Mausers were in the early 1960’s? Sorry, I cant afford it either. Wake up, Rip Van Winkle. Go ahead and find yourself a Mosin Nagant and crawl back into your hole. Let the rest of us enjoy this site.
Regarding the comment in the second para on reselling a CMP Garrand. The orderform, right above the signature line states “that I am purchasing this rifle for my (or my junior shooter’s) personal use” which implies “not to be resold in the immediate future”. Let us stay within the intent of the program.
Oh please nobody said to buy them to flip, not that people don’t. The point is that you can’t loose on them because they are being sold at close to current utility value.
Your report on the Garand government 2 was very well written with information I can use when I buy one in the near future.
I ordered a service grade Springfield and it arrived in almost new condition. Made in May 1943 and rebarreled with an SA 1945 barrel at some point Only part not SA is the operating rod which is an HRA unit. New stock and hardware. As has been mentioned, the stock was quite dry. I picked up some Tungs oil (memories of Parris Island) and put on 3 coats and wiped it off after about an hour after each application. The new walnut stock soaked up the oil and I will have to put more on. Have cleaned up everything after a complete strip down (more memories of Parris island) and will put some rounds down range after I finish the stock. Great deal and nice to have an M1 to shoot again.
I enjoyed your article but was surprised at your comments “Had I realized before I went to the range that they needed going through I would have, but I decided to just shoot them once I arrived and opened them up. Who would have thunk it. Can you imagine buying a new rifle for $650 and having to clean the grease out of it from storage?”
Wow. Until this point I thought I was reading an intelligent and wisely written piece. Of course you must clean ANY rifle, pistol, revolver, etc. prior to shooting it. Unless you want the nickname “deadeye” or lefty. What part of “surplus WWII from the government” could mean anything else?
Dan
Like the don’t at least shoot the guns these days before sending them out come on. Remember that just because you sign a release it doesn’t prevent you from suing them if you blow. yourself up because the rifle isn’t put together right. They know the sharks are in the water circling.
another KING KONG of knowledge he is……you are right CMP test fires them nowadays and of course checks the headspace.
If the CMP armorers had to remove the cosmolene from every rifle, we’d still be waiting for them to get through the ones Denmark sent them in 1999, no less the Greek ones they are going through now. The CMP sales page warns that the “veterans” are packed in cosmolene and require a thorough cleaning before use. My SA M1A was not packed in cosmolene, but I stripped it down, cleaned it, and lubed it before going to the range; that is pretty much standard practice that comes under the heading of taking responsibility for the rifle’s condition before you shoot it, regardless of what the vendor/manufacturer may or may not have done. Yes, the CMP armorers check headspace and test-fire each rifle before shipment, so they would have removed both cosmolene and oil from the barrel (even oil can result in an hydraulic overpressure and a k-boom), but that’s it. A semi-auto rifle full of cosmolene can be hampered by the weight/thickness of it, so it can impede proper function.
I have my CMP M-1 purchased in 1981, it is a 1954 arsenal rebuild with two tone wood and 1943 Springfield reciever and 1954 LMR barrel. I have had it glassed and worked over and it is a real tack driver. I recently inheritied my dad’s H&R build in 1954 as well, with no work done on it shoot very well with ball ammo. My loads are 46.5gr IMR-4895 using a Honaday or Sierra 168gr and that load may not be a max load but it shoots very very well in both M-1s as well as a few bolt guns. After your article, I may have to buy another M-1 (My Dad’s will go to his grandson in about 4 years.)
Oh yes These rifles are all very,very nice but in a nut shell I can’t afford one I’m retired and my social security can only go so far, and since these were paid for by US citizens to be manufactured and sent overseas to Korea to do that dirty little business and now some 50 years later we are asked to plead with our politicians to bring our M1 Rifles
back home to where they belong (this country) and in the hands of the people only to be sold back to the American public at today’s inflated prices well personally find that vary distasteful. Now I realize that we live in a country where capitalism is the rule of the day and everything else be damned but come on you can bet someone is going to make a A$$ load of money on these rifles and it sure as hell isn’t us.
Nice article, well written.
Didn’t we as American alredy pay for thees rifle these prices are ridiculous and for junk! “Cmp” forget it I”ll go buy a Springfield armory m14 before I waste the money on this crap beside there alreay ours! Bullshit!
Yes, we did (or at least my parents did). But so what? They are surplus rifles whose sales proceeds go into the CMP Endowment Fund in order to fund its future efforts to run the Camp Perry Matches, teach youth how to be safe and accurate with firearms, and continue, in general, the legacy of America’s military history in firearms, especially that of a Canadian-American who spent, almost single-handedly, the 1920s and 1930s inventing the rifle, and the tooling to produce it, that gave our soldiers in several wars the “edge” on the enemy still using bolt actions. Congress’s policy is that CMP must be self-funding. My Dad said the Germans who never got the word about our Garand would get into a cock/fire/duck/cock/fire routine, only to be killed by our guys who were waiting for them to appear the second time from behind his cover. “You win wars, not by dieing for your country, but by making the other dumb bastard die for his”, as Gen. Patton said. I have a Garand, because my Dad used one, and an M1A and an AR-15 because those are the rifles I used in the Army. I feel bad you feel the way you do, and sincerely hope you change your mind some day.
My dad carried an an m1 in Europe while he was also in ww2 my uncle had his knee shot out during the ohama beach landing on d day and my brother carried an m16 while in Vietnam in the first cav. At the prices the “cmp” are asking every young person in America should have a brand new rifle and thought how to shoot I don’t really see that happening. I’m not gonna change my mind still think its bullshit and you seem to be sucked right into it so what you saw the movie patton.my dad taught me how to shoot and hunt out in the country did your kids attend cmp shoots.you sound like a cmp sales manager?
If the CMP doesnt sell them to raise money for the CMP mission, they will be cut up and scraped by the USG just like all the M16’s, and all the other government surplus, and the metal will be sold to China to make Obama statues. Forget the price, the CMP mission is what is noble and should be continued.
we the people, if you dont like it, just dont participate, instead of pissing in other peoples boots. I bet your dad and uncle probably dont see the CMP the same as you do.
Tom,
Well said…I mean we love this country for ones right to voice an opinion, but to have such a narrow minded view to the CMP’s mission is really sad. To me its truly a nostalgic thing to see a self funded organization that Teddy started still going strong. These guns are not “junk”…mine sure isn’t. Those volunteers over there do a great job with all they do. Who would want a piece of history…I mean my service grade was $595 and its a beauty. Would I love one that fell off the truck in Germany…hell yeah…but I’m content with what I got. Not trying to turn a profit on a collectible…..just want one to shoot for the rest of my days…and if I shoot the barrel out of it…. I’ll fit it with another. That simple.
I’ve shot a ton of guns in my law enforcement career….but I still get a smile on my face when I unleash my M1. Out of all the rifles I bring to the range…its by far the most popular one I have, that people ask to shoot. That…speaks for itself.
We the people,
Normally, I would ask, “Why are you so bitter?” This time I will not as it is obvious that you are an internet troll with a chip on it’s shoulder and a marvelous inability to spell or utilize proper grammer. I suggest you attempt to play Russian Roulette with the first a 1911 that you can get your hands on. Have a nice day!
I really don’t understand your vituperative comments unless you have never carried an M1 garand.
I was issued my first one in 1955 and i still remember the serial number,
It is heavy 9.5 lbs, additional lb for the bayonet) but DAMN, it sure shot well.I fired off a lot of ammo at Dam Neck and learned to love that sucker.
I still have my fathers M1,I don’t know How he manage to keep it but I am Sure glad He did, And that’s the best American rifle ever made I learn how to shoot with that rifle and I still Hunt with it.
I have a pretty good size rifle collection, I keep going back to the M1, And I love it! ! !
Learn to shoot a Garand and satisfy CMP’s purchase requirements in one fun weekend by attending a Project Appleseed Rifle Marksmanship and American Heritage Clinic. Visit http://www.appleseedinfo.org/ for details and to find an event near you.
I purchased a HRA service grade about 10 months ago. Upon limited inspection, it only had two parts that weren’t HRA. I immediately picked up the gun and literally ran to the counter. The serial numbers on the gun were in the same date range that was on the barrel. 3-55. They’re was no op rod wear on the barrel and no wear on the inside off the receiver. I purchased it, and a few weeks late had CMP install one of their new walnut stocks on my new found treasure. The measurements on the bore and throat showed the same measurements as a new barrel. Shooting the gun gave me 3″ groups with no problem. This gun was worth the drive to Anniston from SC. this beautiful rifle will never leave my collection, except to be handed down to my kids. Its that nice. If you are planning on purchasing yourself an M1. I would highly recommend taking a road trip to one of the CMP stores.
Yes the HRA service grades are very nice….I love mine….Im in the same boat as you and also got a new stock from CMP. The rifle looks awesome….. that’s the reason I haven’t had to throw down more for one of the specials…mine is close!
I bought one of these years ago – late 1990’s. It arrived at my home delivered by an 18-wheeler. My brother received it. I got home and looked it over. It was full of cosmoline. I ordered the NRA’s M-1 Garand book which gives fantastic descriptions and pics on cleaning the America’s best battle implement. I even followed the NRA’s direction on getting dents out of my wood! The whole process took about a week to thoroughly clean the barrel, wood, and gas chamber. After all of that, and even using the included book from the CMP, I could not put my M1 back together. So, I took it to NAVY ARMS, which, prior to closing, used to be near my old residence in Cliffside Park, NJ. while there I had the guys check it out for me and was advised that I had acquired a very nice M1 for the measley price of $400!
Which brings to mind a question. Did you clean the gas chamber and ports? They too may have cosmoline inside.
FedEx just came and boy, am I impressed. This weapon looks superb!! No cosmoline or grease. Just a bit dirty. The tag on the rifle states: Muzzle Reading 0 and Throat Reading 0. It came with 1 en bloc clip, sling, a detailed CMP instruction manual covering just about every aspect of the weapon I can think of, a very nice hard shell case embossed with CMP, as well as a Certificate of Authenticity. The stock, being new, was very dry so I waxed it. I believe it might need a 1 to 2 more.
I am extremely satisfied and would encourage anyone thinking of buying one to take the plunge.
Wow! If you got a 0/0, you have a brand spanking “new” barrel. Have fun!
That is what the CMP Special is Joseph. It is a new Criterion barrel.
That he got a CMP Special did not register. Some articles in the GCA Journal have been about people who bought from CMP, and lo and behold, got a “last-to-be-made” HRA or IH that sat in a warehouse and was lightly used or never “lent” to a country like Greece, so expecting a battle-worn rifle, but getting an essentially brand new one, was long considered the dream of many people buying a Garand from CMP. Wish I could afford one; disabled, the first of the Baby Boomers, unemployed and on disability, all make it difficult to find the money for such an investment. But one can dream.
I got my Garand back in the late 60s, had to have an FBI background check, etc. Took months, but got a nice one with a beautiful stock. Throat reading, etc., was a bit high, and the barrel eventually went, but a friend shot his first “clean” in the Garand match, at Perry, using it. Once the barrel went, it was replaced with one made on contract during the 50s.
Charlie Maloney, the guru of the Garand, who made the match rifles for the AMU in the 80s, said that there are no real “collectible” Garands unless you get one that fell off the truck, as would require them to have not been used, or at least in totally correct condition, and all Garands have been rebuilt more than once. He was saying that after a battle, crews would go out on the battlefield, all the rifles laying around would be picked up and brought into the trailers (gun cleaning set up), stripped, and all the assorted pieces would be thrown into tubs, or whatever (all the trigger groups in one tub all the op rods in another, etc) cleaned, and then parts just picked up with no regard to mfg, etc., and reassembled. So, essentially all Garands are parts guns, though my definition of that means a junker only sold to be used as parts, so was confused at first by your calling them that.
As for ammo, it’s the pressure curve created by the powder that makes the rifle work correctly, and 4895 powder was developed for the Garand. There are some in the same ball park, that will work, but slow powders, like 4831 can damage the rifle, due to the pressure curve. The bullet weight shouldn’t make a difference, thought probably not many folks shooting 200gr bullets out of theirs. I saw a guy using one for hunting, way back in the late 50s, and see nothing wrong with it. Actually, a Garand didn’t weigh much more than a regular model 70 did then.
There used to be someone who was making up 338Win Mags on the Garand action. Maloney says it is one of the strongest actions in the world, ONCE LOCKED up, but that is the problem with reloading for it, is if the bullets seated a bit long, or the case ot sized to minimum length, and causes a momentary lock up hesitation, or non-lock up to occur, it can fire, as it has a “floating” firing pin. This means, there isn’t a spring that pushes the firing pin, the firing pin is hit by a hammer when the trigger pulled. But, the bolt slamming forward, if not in a locked position, can allow the firing pin to fly forward and hit the primer, firing the round with the bolt not locked up. This can and a lot of times will, crack the receiver. Full Lenth resizing and trimming the cases to the correct length is a must. You might get away with sloppy a few times, but eventually will catch up with you.
The Ruger Mini-14 looks like an M-14,uses the Garand style action & .223/5.56 ammo.But accurate to only about 100 meters.But a fun varmint rifle.
I have to disagree with you about the accuracy of the Mini-14. I learned to shoot with a sporterized M1903A3 with Peep Sights given to me by my uncle when I turned 14. My Uncle Bill was in the Army with my Dad in the Pacific Theater; he taught me about steady hold and breathing & trigger control and all the other things. After learning to shoot good with that .30-06 with 165 & 180 grain bullets I had no problems when I went into the Army in ’75 and had to shoot the tiny 5.56mm in the M16A1s we used. Heck, the M16 even has a recoil buffer not just a steel butt plate biting into your shoulder.
My Mini-14 SS shoots 2″ groups at 300 yds with my 62gn BTHP handloads and my Leopold Gold Ring Scope from a bench at the range. But I did fire-lap the barrel with reduced velocity hand loaded rounds of laping compound/gas checked lead bullets(you have to cycle the action manually). That cut my groups by over 30%. I also noticed the same thing mentioned earlier about the M1s for my Mini-14, after fighting to reduce 1st round fliers the first 2 years I owned it. By easing the bolt forward on the 1st round I would get a 1.5″-3″ flier; but if I let it slam shut by hitting the bolt release, the 1st round shoots where it is supposed to.
Thanks so much for describing the differences. My boss is a former frog man and turned me on to CMP and the Garand in .308. But after reading the website was very confused as to what exactly I would be getting. This article laid it our perfectly and I believe I have made my decision, the M1 is truly my dream rifle. Thanks so much!
Oh and BTW, I read that even though the M14 is still being issued today, the DOD performed a study finding that the Garand outperformed and the M14 in almost all aspects and called the M14 an inferior rifle…
Inferior?Yes.The only upgrade was the larger capacity magazine
I have both the M1 Carbine and the M1 Garand. these are 2 of my most prized rifles. the carbine is just fun to shoot. It runs like a sewing machine.
My Garand IS my most prized rifle. There’s just something about being able to get moa accuracy out of a rifle that’s been so far and seen so much.
I went to the depot in Anniston and picked mine up and when I got it home, I found a Greek range card with the target dope out to 800 meters on it. totally great rifle!
Good article, but for those of us who served in the US Military, it makes me cringe every time you
call an M1 a “gun”. When you served, you learned REAL QUICK that the M1 is a “rifle”, not a “gun”.
As the Marines used to say, “This is my rifle, this is my gun. One is for shootin’, the other for fun”.
As you can imagine, the Jarhead would point to his rifle when describing it, and to his crotch when
describing a “gun”…… PLEASE, don’t insult the M1 in the future by calling it merely a “gun”. This
old rifle is a sacred piece to those who carried it, and deserves to retain the title “Rifle”!
ex-S/Sgt Adam Keller
p on you. Keller. Communication on this site from what I can tell is mostly right on target. 99% of us here seem to get it. This is not a place for picky revering. 99% of us are here because it’s already revered. You want to sit it on a pedestal at your house with the word ‘rifle’ under it and stare at it, go ahead. That’s your right. For the rest of us that will either buy one or more or wish we could, enjoyment of this site overtrumps any demand for perfection. Get over it!
Right on……..we all get it…..same as the magazine/ clip argument. To be a picky a$$ hobbyist who loves to look like the King Kong of knowledge… (regardless of the fact he may or may not have carried this battle implement into war) is just ridiculous. Don’t kill the messenger Keller…hes providing us a great service! Gun, rife, magazine, clip……….we all understand.
Adam Keller, thank you for your service.
During the Vietnam Era in the Army, we were made to call it a “weapon.” You did pushups if you called it a gun. ha,ha
Bought a CMP M1 a few years ago with a SN 36,xxx.
Shoots well with the Greek ammo CMP sells.
All my friends who have shot it put most rounds in the black at 100 yards without touching the sights.
A sweet shooter that I would use for hunting elk but it is just a little too heavy. So instead I use an AR-10 which is almost as heavy…………………
I expect to buy a Garand in the next couple of months and would really like to get one that is clean and as new as possible. There were some that are assembled or rebuilt with period new parts and that may be the way I go. The price isn’t an issue if I can get my money’s worth. I am also looking at the sniper grade guns. I really just want a gun that is as new as possible. My dad bought an M-1 Carbine years ago. It was unused and therefore full of cosmoline. That, to me, insured that the gun was indeed unused and new. Cosmoline is a good thing, but is hard to clean out. Please let me know what grades I should be looking at. Thanks
I would get the service grade special, as it says. They are like new and not parts guns. But I don’t know if I’d wait two months lol.
Cosmoline cleans out good in a hot shower
You have had a couple of great articles. I’ve been pondering buying one but I finally broke down and ordered the M1 in the Special Grade in .308. I have 3 other weapons (M1A, FN, and Savage) that shoot .308/7.62 and didn’t want the hassle of another type of ammo to buy. I am anxiously awaiting its arrival today. The website said it would be 4-6 weeks or so to get one. But I mailed in my paperwork 6/8 and they processed and FedEx is delivering today, 6/25. So it actually takes a lot less than the 4 weeks. Anyway, just can’t wait – like a kid on Christmas (again!).
Thanks alot. Your first article cost me $650 for a Service Grade Springfield (and it’s a beauty!) and now this article will probably cause me to buy a Field Grade Winchester. I’m not even going to read your article on the M1C and M1D!
Tom
M-1 Garands at gun auctions in south central Pa are bringing $1000. plus
I can confirm this–just went to the big antique arms ahow in Timonium, MD. Tons of M1’s for sale, and not one of them under $1000 in any condition.
While serving in the Navy aboard ship had the opportunity to shoot on a team. We got our basic coaching at Lakehurst NJ from a Marine Gunny Sgt & our them leader A Marine Captian. When the match guns showed up the scores went thru the roof for all of us. The service rifles were ok but not up to the task of target competition. The ammo we shot was Lake City, with173 gr bullets at 2640fps. 600 yards was a pleasure to shoot in matches & with the combination of gun and ammo 10 X groups were not common but possible if You did your part. To give an idea of what was possible the Navy Team 1964 won out with Garands specially built for match work over Bolt guns in the service rifle match. Not sure of all the details as I’m over the hill and where I read the account is not clear. I currently have a Springfield M-1 & M-1-A in match condition both shoot better than I ever could & still do there part with good ammo. There are several articles available for reloading for both weapons but extreme caution is recommended because of the nature of the beast. If your not up to speed on reloading ask for help, read, but above all caution is the only way to stay Safe.
Howdy Bill,
This is a confession about being ignorant and naiive.
In 1968 I was “picked up” as a shooter on the 3rd USA AMTU at
Ft Benning. We fired Match Grade M-14s.
Many matches but the first “All Services Match” I noticed
the Marines were all shooting M-1 Garands. I stepped over
to my coach and made a comment like,”Those poor Marines
have to shoot those old M-1s”. My coach laughed and
“ordered” me to read the score board after every relay.
Did I feel DENSE or what. After that enlightenment
whenever we shot against Marines I could be found
over with the Marines learning how to load two instead of five.
In 1986 a buddy and I ordered,Then,2 DCM rifles at 185.00 a pop.
They came on the same day. My Buddies had new wood all around
and shot very tight. Mine looked like the one John Wayne
carried up Suribachi and,at best, did about a six inch group.
I love it.
I really wouldn’t attribute the first round flyer issue to the Cirterion barrel, I’ve seen a number of these in use and it’s not a barrel issue more of an issue with how the gun was assembled and harmonics with-in that particular rifle. Personally my M1 with a Crterion barrel will consistantly shoot sub 2 inch 100 yards groups with issue ball ammo, no flyers. The acceptable accuraccy for an issued rifle was 2 1/2 inches with 150 gr. ball ammo so apparently all of your rifles fit into those parameters. All in all you recived good shooters. Great article.
Micheal,… I concurr with most of your comment………15 yrs. back I acquired cmp ….set it up with handloads designed for the old mil. ball……..takeing data from an old T M I have from ammo school at Fort Knox in 1962……with my old eyes it shoots great just like the one I carried and shot expert with so long ago………now to the “flyer” thing several have mentioned………that seem to occur with a lot of Garands I’ve fired over the last 50 years…..I’ve notice it happens when people try to ease the bolt home on the first round…..not the way to do it………do that with a brisk motion…..much like it would occurr on fireing the weapon…….it always worked for me……..to reloaders reading this post…….keep in mind the pressure range the original Garand ball was loaded to……that is the secret to trouble free range time……..
I bought a correct grade Springfield M1 from CMP. The Correct Grade has all the parts correct for the year of manufacturing. The date of the manufacture of the gun is 1955. And I was told that this was the last year the Garand’s were manufactured and that the last Garand’s to be manufactured were the best. I was hoping that you would have included a Correct Grade in your testing. So far, I have not been able to achieve the kind of groups that I would like at 100yds shooting both the surplus ammo and my 168 grn. Sierra Match King bullet reloads. At 50yds I did shoot very tight groups.
They are not currently available so even if we could borrow one like yours there would be little point.
Regarding the “no resale” comments you mentioned, there used to be a statement on the order form that rifles and ammunition were not for COMMERICAL resale. This was intended to discourage profiteering by some who would buy their personal limit of rifles and ammo, then “flip” them at inflated prices at gun shows and other venues. I have seen, and I’m sure others have seen tables with a half dozen M1s and a stack of CMP marked M2 ball at a show.
Orest Michaels, the CMP CEO, has stated repeatedly over the years that it is not illegal for an individual to sell their CMP rifle. I’ve seen him state on the CMP Forum that he it was not expected that they be buried with the purchaser.
I’m not affiliated with the CMP but have been a frequent customer since 2000. They have an excellent staff and will take care of their customers, including those who evidently do not actually read the descriptions of the rifles on the web site before they place their order. They have refined their ordering system and products over the years and have expanded their product line whenever possible to better serve both shooters and collectors.
When I purchased my first M1, there was no option as to manufacturer, wood, appearance or finish. You mailed your paperwork, and if you included a post card, a few weeks later you would receive it, telling you that they had received your order. A couple of months later, a FEDEX truck would show up at your house. No emails, notice of any kind. Please compare that with the system in place today.
The CMP is a truly great organization with a mission to encourage and increase participation in the shooting sports by our nations youth. They accomplish this by selling surplus US Military arms and ammunition. What could be better than that?
I remember that CMP rifle sales were not intened for “Commercial” resale also. The point is that CMP is providing guns to clubs and individuals to use to learn about firearms, improve their skills, and compete. CMP was not providing inexpensive firearms, and some collectable, for dealers to snatch up and make an easy profit. As has been pointed out, they are not illegal to resell, and never have been.
Great articles! Thanks!
You are only allowed to buy 12 a year. Obviously to prevent speculators from cleaning the inventoty to resell.
I couldn’t agree more. The fellows at the South store are extremely helpful and will go out of their way to help especially working with a first time buyer.
Garand collecting is a ‘sickness’ for which there is no known cure. I know because i live about an hour away and started collecting a couple of years ago, I won’t tell how many I have but I just bought my 3rd safe and it is already full!
JR
Let’s just say it seems to me to be in bad taste to flip purchases from the CMP for commercial sale. It might not be illegal but it is in bad taste, in my opinion. There are many things one can do legally which is bad style.
Gentlemen:
I acquired an M-1 Garand about 30 years ago. It is an M-1 C, scope milled to the receiver with a Griffin and Howe sniper scope thereon and the gun is in all original National Match configuration. It came with a leather lace up original cheek pad and teh wood is absoultely beautiful. I took this gun to my then friend (now deceased) named John Bunch. He was the .45 cal Camp Perry Pistol Shoot National Champion for several years I understood and he was teh man who designed teh Carry-Handle/Sight for the M-16 shortly after 1957 or 58. He worked in the Armory at the US Air Force Academy in the mid 60’s and when he saw my gun he said immediately “Hey, I know this gun!” He went on to say he built two dozen M-1 Garands for sniper work during the Vietnam War in all National Match with the Griffin and Howe milled to the receiver C-scopes and mounts. This was one he had handled so many years ago as a younger man. John passed away several years ago living next to Dallas in Sachse, Texas and nearby community. This gun shoots at 100 yards dime size groups with Open sights continously. With the scope I could only get quarter to fifty cent piece size groups to I have always said I can shoot better and more accurately with the National Match sights on the gun as deisgned. I’m getting old and this year is my last Elk Hunt in Colorado. I shoot a 165 boattail SP Nosler loaded to shoot at 2876′ per sec from the barrell. I find it is the most accurate round for this gun at ranges of three to four hundred yards which I can barely see with the scope.
I can honestly say if you want a great shooting all around deadly accurate hunting rifle that can be loaded from small (light) to large size (heavey) rounds, this is the ONLY ONE to buy. It is a true joy to shoot.
g. gunter
Dallas, Texas
Good story. Thanks for sharing and good luck on your hunt!
Your review of the CMP Garands was a pleasure to read, probably because I’m not sure if anyone has ever bothered doing one before. As to the fact that you had mixed results with the Federal and Hornady ammo, that is no surprise; I recall reading somewhere (can’t remember exactly where) that some of the early testing ammo was as high as 180 grain, and since barrels were made by both Springfield Armory and Winchester during the WW2 production era, results could vary between the two. Personally I feel each rifle settles into its own timing groove, which may have more of an effect on accuracy than we realize, and Federal probably has one of the few remaining 30-06 ammo products which will consistently cycle the Garands properly, probably being more a powder issue than a bullet issue. I was initially surprised by the CMP refurb models, until I noticed that the new Springfield Armory no longer lists new Garands in their catalog. That may be due to insufficient demand, and from what I heard from a dealer, some heavy demands made by DoD for SA to pump out large numbers of their M1A models for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, due to the govt’s squandering of the warehuse quantities of M-14s which were left over after the M-16 replaced it. No matter; the Garand is a classic American rifle (my Dad’s had a SN of 3,xxx) that continues to stand the test of time and will forever be a notable part of American history. We must shoot it and love it.
I would like more information as to how to obtain one of the preferred collector guns/
Thanks,
R. Lloyd Carrizosa
Read the first article.
The federal ammo is definitely not match ammo. It is in-expensive ammo with a reduced velocity. They claim this will save wear on the op-rod and gas system of the rifle. I am unsure if this claim is valid for a rifle in good condition.
The Hornaday I consider to be match ammo for the garand and 1903.
Kreiger makes the criterian line of barrels as well as a premium line of barrels (different weights, rifling options, and stainless steel ) and will install / fit / headspace the barrels.
There is also the option of installing an adjustable gas valve on the garand which does meet cmp match rules as well as installing match sights from Smith International.
Why new wood makes a difference with a garand is that new wood usually holds the receiver more tightly. So while shooting the reciever is not moving around in the stock. There are many aftermarkert manufactures of replacement Garand Stocks such as Boyds.
Any gun from the CMP should be cleaned and checked by a qualified gunsmith before use. This is in the terms of the sale.
What the other member mentioned to you as a clause in the contract is as follows:
“and that I am purchasing this rifle for my (or myjunior shooter’s) personal use”
The language of this has changed over the years. In the past I believe it was more explicit regarding not purchaseing the rifles for re-selling them.
So, how and where can I order one of them. Which one would you recommend? I would love to have one of these but I thought you had to be a member of some clubs or the BSA etc. I’m a lifetime member of the NRA and the TSRA. ???
Karl
Read the first article it explains.
I submitted a reply to “Steve” concerning his remark about international treaties. I do not see it included on your blog site. I understand that you need to censure undesirable postings but my posting should have registered as being accurate, informative and worthwhile. Please reply with your reason for not including my posting on your blog site.
We remove posts for many reasons. It could have just been a bad hair day.
The easiest way to belong to a “qualifying club” is to join the Garand Collectors Association, P.O. Box 7498, N. Kansas City, MO 64116. Website is http://www.the gca.org. $25 per year gets you four quarterly magazines, the “GCA Journal”, full of articles and pics about our beloved Garand, and the service members who carried it, and membership, unlike with a local or state shooting club, requires no other activity. Membership renews or starts annually on September 1, so I recommend you wait until just after September 1 to sign up and submit your fee, unless you are in a great hurry to buy a Garand from CMP, then consider your $25 now part of the cost of the rifle, because the membership will have to be renewed come September 1. As part of becoming a member, you indicate to the GCA on the sign-up form whether or not to have them share your membership with the CMP on request; it is the easiest way to go if you are contemplating a CMP purchase. Membership is well in excess of 10,000 members, has some well-known people on its Board of Directors well-respected gun experts, especially Garand experts, who contribute to technical and historical articles in the Journal, and administratively its activities have been contracted out to a very able private company whose business is to manage the administrative activities of organizations like the GCA. I highly recommend you join.
A very good piece of information concerning this group. I shall become a member. Question: While I was in the Marines I carried this rifle everywhere I went. I was an expert shooter and at 900 yards I could have a target pattern just like in the 50 yard targets you show. In dedicated hands this was a deadly weapon, although the ping of the ejected magazine could be heard quite clearly on the field of battle. I would have this rifle over anything else, ‘cept a BAR of that time frame. It to was a fine weapon. Rather than spewing bullets all over the place, it constantly placed its fire in tight patterns. Do you see any problem with multiple purchases of this rifle?
Jimmy
no why?
Just to clarify… are you really claiming that you can shoot ~1″ groups with a Garand from 900 yards?
Sssshhhhh! Let him make a fool of himself.
The M-1 Garand issued when I was drafted in late 1963 used an 8 round CLIP loaded from the top,never got the famous M-1 thumb though.Early 1964 we were issued a cosmoline packed M-14,these used a 20 round MAGAZINE.At Ft.Gordon Ga,the firing ranges were only out to 600 meters & with a peep sight it was very difficult to get a 3 shot 6 inch pattern with either weapon at that range.I have an “expert” badge,by the way…900yards??The only place we fired on a range like that was direct fire with the 105mm Howitzer at Ft Sill.
I was trilled to hit a 20″ target @ 500 yards 3 out of 5 with a friends $3800 M1A, iron sites. That was 10 year ago. Today I’m happy to hit a 3″ group at 100 yards with the Garand and 1903.
Thanks you for your service Mr. Porter, but with all due respect, shooting groups on a 1 X 1 target at 900 yards with open sights, I dont think so !
Dan,
Right on, not even the expert snipers today could shoot 1″ groups at 900 yards with a Garand. I know cause I tried it…
Oh and by-the-way that comment he makes about the ‘ping’ of the ejected 8 round clip being heard on the battlefield is also..BS!
Think about it….your in a firefight with a squad of men everyone firing their weapons at a target downrange….and the enemy sitting out at say 200 yards is gonna hear that ‘ping’…..I don’t think so, at least I never did…..Now take any of my Garands in the quiet of my gun room and heck yeah you can hear the ‘ping’….this ‘urban legend’ has been around for years and is being perpetuated by scores of ‘armchair’ rifle experts whose only encounter with an enemy returning fire is palying a video game…
JR
They had peep sights
I have heard some stories about a rifleman loading an enblock with 1 round and firing it so the germans would hear it and pop out only to be mowed down by a bar i don’t know f it is true or not
U cant but you can just chamber a round
I don’t think your remarks are done with respect for this man,
You weren’t there with him and it’s his story to tell and even
If it isn’t true you are not here to jude people on there comments
And I was in VietNam 68-69 for what its worth, I just think we all
Have the right to tell our story the way we want to and not be jude
All the time by the way people evaluate the way we think that does
Not mean that we have to beleave every thing that we hear!
So, 1″ at over half a mile? With a standard issue Garand?
On a windy day… 🙂
Last I knew, if you have an ‘Honorable’ DD214, you don’t need any of the club membership stuff.
The correct address fot the Garand collectors association is:
http://www.thegca.org/membership
Regards,
Lonnie
Great review.. Thanks!
Wish I could aford one.
Wish we could have gotten all those returns from South Korea. Almost a million guns and most have been warehoused for decades.
Wish I had my M-14 form the 60’s and all the 1911 pistols that are very very rare today.
I never found out what happened to our weapons in South Korea after the M-16’s were issued. The M-14’s were the best for that area and they never failed to fire like the M-16’s in the cold winter.
The M14s that weren’t kept in the inventory for special use were either sold or given as part of an aid package to friendly governments. Whatever was left were destroyed at the order of Pres. Clinton. The ones that they kept are being used in Iraq & Afghanistan with devastating effect. I shot the M1, the M14 and the M16. The black rifle doesn’t kick very hard, but the M14 is my favorite. I wish I could get my hands on one.
You really don’t want to know what happened to them. It would break your heart…..
But some made it out of S. Korea to the shores of Greece and Crete so they all didn’t go to waste.
but 80% of them were dumped in to the ocean when Obama decided not to sign the import authorization for them to come in to port in the USA. My nephew worked on a ship that was bringing back over 1000 of them in originally sealed post Korean war crates. They were ordered to toss the remainder of the crates over the side of the ship two days before making port in the USA. Made me sick to see the photos of them being tossed in to the sea.. Dam Obama wants to destroy everything decent in this country.
My gut tells me that this whole deal at the Sandy hook school was cooked up by the democrats to disarm American citizens. Why is it that the same week these children were shot the Social Security dept removed the right for anyone to view the national death index records database? They knew that people would want to see if any of these people were actually in fact dead. That would be the proof. Once you are declared dead a coroner have 48 hours to post the information to the Social security Administration for them to update the master death index. since this incident happened it has been closed to the public except to those paying to do extensive research on Ancestry .com. you cannot see anything newer than 1999. They say it’s to prevent identity theft. It’s all Bullsh*t.
Strange isn’t it?……
As long as our Military takes orders from a Domestic Enemy of The Constitution, we will never see the true Armory rifles. Shame on Obama and those who follow blindly. This is what it is gonna take people. The Officers of our Military are being thinned down to those who will follow Obama and those who will not.
I read an article last year about South Korea wanting to send 650,000 M1 Carbines back to the United States and Obama would not allow it. He allows millions of ILLEGAL aliens to come to the United States and take away from Americans, but he puts brakes on 650,000 military collector’s items. I wonder how much revenue those rifles would have generated for the government. Something’s bad wrong with that picture.
To Mike in Virginia can you find out the exact location in the ocean where they M1 Rifle’s were dumped? I’m wondering if it is international waters were we could recover them with Scuba Divers? If enough people were interested in investing some money to recover the arms and if it would be possible to bring them into the U.S. as “Sunken Treasures” and distribute them the the investor’s? Just a thought.
I also remember how accurate my M-14 was… and I was issued different ones at different bases (MCAS & Viet Nam). Yet, my memory tells me that we had ‘blued’ rifles, not parkerized ones like I see in all the media relating to that time period. Am I that forgetful or were (some) M-14s issued to Marines blued?
I have one of all three, Garand, M1A, and a Colt AR-15.
The Garand is amazing, it’s a Springfield, re-barreled in 1968 with a NM Winchester barrel and using 168 BTHP match ammo, it will shoot 1″ groups at 300 yds from a bench rest, without a gun-vise. Gotta watch your breathing…
The M1A is also a Springfield, in their loaded series, beautiful fit and finish and it will shoot the same results as the Garand using either my 165 gr Sierra Matchking handloads or stock Federal Premium ammo with the bullets.
The Colt AR-15 is an A3-Elite HBAR, 24″ med-heavy SS barrel from Colt with Nikon Monark scope and a bi-pod. At 300yds, using 55gr match ammo, you can actually place 5 for 5 holes touching, if you can control your breathing.
In my humble opinion, it wouldn’ matter which rifle I had in my hands, I would feel confident out to 500 yds. Past that range, I would certainly want the Garand or the M1A. In an experienced set of hands, both .30 caliber rifles are capable of 1,000 yd hits.
Proper bullet selection for the distance and target material (paper vs. animal), breathing control and trigger control are the most critical factors with these or any other quality rifle when it comes to consistent accuracy.
I dearly remember my M14 and shooting quarters (and hitting with iron sights) at 500 yards. I wish I could my hands on an M14.
I loved the M-14 as well and still wish I could find an original. Excellent rifle.
I took basic training at Ft Bliss Texas, 1969, with the M-14. Qualifies expert and remember knocking down targets at 600 meters with little trouble. The one thing that I didn’t care for was PT with the rifle. Arms would be dead afterwards. Beautiful weapon. Would like to get my hands on one as well.
If you really want a civilian semi automatic M-14, Atlantic Firearms has brand new ones. They even have the Rockola markings on them.
As a Seawolf pilot in Vietnam we could have any rifle we wanted as a personal weapon. I had a Navy M-14 with selective fire. It would fire semi-auto, 3 round burst or full auto. I never fired it on full auto. I sent away to The Old Western Scrounger, a mail order place in California and got a Leatherwood scope mount for it. Then I got a Lyman Alaskan 4 power scope. Why that scope? Because it was designed to have a pack horse fall on it and still work. People asked why I had that big thing. Two reasons: I had 6,000 rounds for it in the back seat and if I was down in a rice paddy I didn’t want to fight hand to hand. I wanted to dump em as they came out of the tree line. Yes, there was such a thing as an M-14 with 3 round selective fire. I sent away to Fred’s M-14 stocks and got a fiberglass stock for use in the rain. I have a nice wood stock that may be cherry that came on mine.
Eyes keeps hearing about the 1911. Eyes usually seek-find-erase my enemies with .223s, .3030s, .257s, or .3006s, but, eyes aints as youngs as eyes used to bees, and should add a handgun to the arsenal. Recommend a 1911?
I’d definitely recommend a 1911. There are literally hundreds to choose from, depending on your type/goal, not to mention price range. I know Kimber’s are super popular. Personally, due to money constraints, I bought a Taurus PT-1911 in .38 Super for less than $500. It comes with just about every upgrade you’d do to a 1911 (except fine trigger-pull tuning) and after owning for a couple of years and firing approximately 1,000 rounds through it, I’m extremely happy with my purchase. Of course I only use it for self-defense and target practice, carrying it daily. If you were going to shoot competition or for some other endeavor you’d probably want a more expensive weapon. But I’ve put just about every brand of ammo you can imagine, including my own hand-loads, and only had one FTF, a stovepipe. I’ve also fired a Kimber and an STI and couldn’t tell any difference in accuracy, although both of those were .45s.
My basic training was run using the Garand. Old man had a sporterized 03-A3 and I grew up shooting it and a .22 getting a merit badge to be an Eagle Scout.
DI’s couldn’t believe I could knock down those targets with no training. So I liked the Garand. Bought one through the mail about 1970 for $75.00. Too bad I swapped it for an AKC dog. I thought the Senate refused to approve Obama’s (H. Clinton really) refusal to bring back the M1’s we sent to Korea. So they got dumped at sea eh? Guess that determines my vote!!
I’d recommend a S&W 4566. SS and double action. I carry that or a S&W 1066 (10mm) Same features but it has more velocity and foot pounds energy. Both fit in the same holster. Both slide and frame are stainless steel on both.
if wishes were horses beggars would ride. We all wish we had these guns , my friend.
I was really lucky in that my wife’s father was stationed on Tinian during World War II as a bombardier left is 45 to me. According to colt the pistol was made in 1916 and was one of the first orders to go out to the Army. It’s a beautiful condition he just had it hanging in his closet for all this time.
I would love to get my hands of a good M1 carbine as well as an M1. The and 14 was a very good rifle as long as you left it off the auto setting. Under automatic fire I don’t think anyone can control it weapon. The other military weapon I’d love to get my hands on his of Browning BAR.
But you know the old saying if wishes were horses we don’t take a ride.
Maybe we can still get some from Korea after obama is out of office.
My fear is that Obama and / or HIS replacement will NEVER be out of office. We are going into a disturbing and dark era of mediocrity for our once great nation, as the following administrations will certainly continue his path of destroying our constitutional rights. He has single-handedly created an ever increasing majority of under educated and devoted voters who depend on the government for their existence and will vote for any Democrat that promises to continue this course. I am purchasing as many firearms and ammunition as possible as I fear a complete shut down of my freedom and opportunity to own an historical weapon such as the one described in this article.
What Obama has done to this country and to its people is the worst than any president could do. Here we are after getting out of Nam and being told we were bad soldiers for just doing our job.. And now we have this idiot running our country with supporters who don’t have a clue what he is really doing… Where is Ronald Reagan when you need him the most? Our very constitutional rights are being altered and the government says that it is for our own good??? Oh, I just wanted to wish the NSA happy holidays guys and gals, ’cause I know you are reading this!!!! We are not paranoid, we are pissed off to no end. OK, I know I am late but better late than never!!!
I have one of those “between the wars” Korean lend-lease Garands and I love it. It was in ugly condition when I bought it at a gun show twenty years ago, but I put a lot of work into it and it is beautiful now and will be that way forever!
I have a high numbered H&R built in the mid 50’s, Korean war issue. Purchased through the CMP for $250 in 1994. All original parts with very little wear. Love that rifle!
I have one of those between-the-wars Korean Garands. It was in sad shape when I bought it at a gun show for $250.00 in 1992, but it looks like new now after sanding and staining the cherry stock…
It shoots 1-1.5 inch groups at 50 yards, so I’d say it is a keeper. I love it!
hope their not being destroyed!
Oh, how I’d like my M1 back. On qual Day at PI in 1961, I shot a possible from the 500 yard line with mine. It had battle sites of 0/0. This old Marine drools at the thought of having another one. My Mom worked at Springfield Armory in the 40’s making these. And I still prefer the peep site of scopes.
Yeah, 650,000 M1 Carbines were blocked by obama from coming back over here.
Millions of bloggers have drooled over the return of the Korean Garands, since the internet was created. #1: Stop drooling: If you want a freaking Garand, BUY one from the CMP, like this GREAT article suggests, get them NOW when they ARE available, like I have for over 10 years… #2: M-14’s will NEVER be available to the public, they are automatic weapons, no need to blame Obama, a GOP administration since WW2 never sold them either… However, the CMP did sell M-14 parts kits a number of years ago. They contained EVERY GI part except the receiver and bolt, I bought 10 of them. They were available on the CMP web site for over a year… #3: Every GOP administration including the 12 years of the Bush’s going back to Korea, AND Nixon and Reagan, DID NOT ALLOW importing the Korean Garands, so stop blaming Clinton or Obama… #4: Obama did not order the disposal of the Korean Garands, re-read #3… #5: I think it was about 4 years ago, the CMP started to limit the number of some of the Garands you can purchase to ONLY 12 PER YEAR…!!!!! That does not include the M1-D or M1-C, which you may purchase AS MANY as you like, if you have the money… If any of you folks had been paying close attention to the CMP, like a few of us have, for the last ten or more years, you could have bought basically NEW Garands from the CMP… I bought “correct” Garands that are covered in heavy grease, that have absolutely no indication that the slide was racked more then a few times since assembled at the factory in 1955. They were sent to Greece, in the late 50’s or 60’s then returned to the CMP a few years ago. Most OR all of the original complete “correct” Greece return Garands with the original stock are GONE, except a few that are on the CMP auction web site… When I first saw them, they were $900, and in a few years were $1100. The “Special” Garands that are now available “may” be made of new, or like new actions without original stocks, or assembled from new parts, with a commercial new stock embossed with the CMP logo, to keep scumbags from reselling the complete rifles as “original”… You may still be able to buy completely original Garands if you purchase a rack grade. Many of them are well used, and rebuilt with mixed parts… If you had been paying attention to the CMP in the last 10 years, like a few of us have, you may have had the opportunity to purchase outstanding Carbines from ALL manufacturers, including fantastic Danish lease returns, some that are in “WOW” condition. There was NO limit to the number you could purchase at times, but they went FAST, if your order was in the CMP office on the stated start of sales day, you got them… At times, only 50 or 100 were available, other times a few thousand. I was SO lucky and BLESSED when the “CMP sale of the Century” happened. They had a list of over 30 different rifles available: M1903’s, M1903A3’s, M1917’s, ETC, and military training 22’s of all kinds, quantities ranging from 20 to 2000 of each. I put my order in for 12 different rifles, and I guess I was one of the first letters opened, I got 11 of them…!!! They ranged in price from $400 to $800… Some of them are like NEW… The CMP website states that they will never more be available… So, in a nutshell, my point is, don’t blame Carter, Clinton, or Obama because you don’t have any guaranteed – original – documented US rifles, blame yourself for being asleep at the wheel…..!!! By the way, CMP Garands will never be $100, like they were 20 years ago from the DMC… The CMP was created by an act of Congress in 1996, in a bill H.R.3466, INTRODUCED in the House BY A DEMOCRAT FROM NY, – Rep. Carolyn Maloney, to be a self supportive means of civilian shooting, training, and education… So, if the bill was not introduced by a DEMOCTAT, YOU WOULD NOT BUY ANY RIFLES AT ALL…!!! 100% of all CMP rifle sales go for shooting training and education… And the more money they get for the rifles, the more training and matches the CMP can host at places like the National Matches at Camp Perry, Etc… The CMP stands for The CIVILIAN MARKSMANSHIP PROGRAM… The former director of the CMP has stated a number of times, once the guns are gone, the CMP will be gone… Get ’em while you can…
The CMP was started in 1903, not 1996.
I know my post is a tad late, but…
I received a Service Grade Garand (Springfield)as a gift from my employer last year and it is the finest weapon I have ever held, shot, cleaned, cradled or had the pleasure of calling my own. The serial numbers on my receiver date it to 1942. I know the gun is not “original”, but the thought of owning a weapon that may have very well been carried in battle during WWII just adds to it’s appeal.
I’ve fired about 100 rounds through it from target / practice reloads to military surplus (Viet Nam era, I believe!), and groups have been, at worst, discounting a couple of fliers, @ 5″ at 100 yds from a bench rest with the iron sights set as received. I’ve never tried Hornady ammo, but I will now that I see how much better they seem to be.
For what it’s worth, I have a picture of my dad dated December 1944, taken during the Battle Of The Bulge (where he was), holding his Army issue Garand, , which makes this weapon even more of a treasure to me.
1,000,000+ just sitting in Korea… Proves Obama isn’t an American…
January 22nd,2013
Reply to C. Foltz,
The Communist — Internationalist ‘Re elected’ by a Peerage of like malcreatants
Is Definitely …..No American! Just a very dangerous “entity” who heads up an administration that
DISCRACES every combat veteran that has shed their blood on foreign soil for the sake of American
Liberty!
Very well said my Brother, from a Marine and Police Officer retired to a great American I believe.
From a retired Gunny 1965–1986 i am with all of you. Semper Fi my brother’s
i want to say bad things about our prez, but i know i will be monitored, So consider it said. I’m a former Marine from the Nam era and we have to stand up and fight this govt is for the birds lets start making them worry
retired Airborne trooper, veteran of Viet Nam. Pleased to call you all brothers and any like minded sister veterans who have not posted.
Oh! I forgot! Hi NSA guys. How are you doin’ today?
You are so right brother Carbine!!! When will it end??? Does anyone in our government even think clearly anymore.??They have a problem, they send us, but do they really care what happens to us afterwards???
January 22nd,2013
Reply to C. Foltz,
The Communist — Internationalist ‘Re elected’ by a Peerage of like malcreatants
Is Definitely …..No American! Just a very dangerous “entity” who heads up an administration that
DISCRACES every combat veteran that has shed their blood on foreign soil for the sake of American
Liberty!
Oh, the worst is yet to come. as a u.s. senator, that son of a bitch was anti gun. his votes as senator were not to control guns, but eliminate them. one million of our guns just gathering dust (if they haven’t been destroyed)
Come and take them.
I am no Obama supporter, but that is hardly a fair statement considering every President since the end of the America’s involvement in the Korean War has let those rifles stay in Korea also. Calling the Americanism of each into question using the logic of your statement. In all things we should each strive to be both honest and impartial.
Impartial? IMPARTIAL?! Honesty, yes, absolutely. Impartial? You can’t be and still call yourself a Patriot. An American. Impartialness is one of the reasons we are in this mess. Impartialness is for pussies and politicians. Give me one good reason to be impartial when it comes to our President, Barrack Osama Bin Laden Obama, or for most of our elected officials and I will consider it. Just ONE reason.
Gary 2 Guns
YOU hit the nail dead on the head..
William,
Every President may have let them stay in Korea but this “Socialist” has made it his mission to disarm and destroy the private ownership of firearms in this country. And no president had ordered the destruction of a million historical firearms by dumping them into the ocean 2 days off the coast of America! His intentions are plain to see if you can admit it and that is to destroy America’s prestige and exceptionalism and make the middle class a bunch of welfare rats. How else do you think he was re-elected millions of food stamp, welfare and disability recipients didn’t want their free ride to stop. now he wants to disarm those believe in the U.S. Constitution instead of the UN’s oppressive controls and so called treaties. he cannot go after your guns using American Law now he using a UN chartered treaty to try and go around our laws. Don’t you believe for one minute that he cannot get it through the senate, all he had to do is as he did in Obamacare, Bribe crooked Senators with pork barrel spending and payoffs.
People call Obama a socialist when he is farther right than the most conservative candidate for office in other countries, I think it’s hilarious. That said, I don’t agree with all of his policies, as with any politician, and wish the public were EDUCATED about firearms, as ignorance is one of the greatest dangers to public safety, not the actual firearms.
From one Larry to another, I take exception to your comment about the disability recipients above. I didn’t vote for hussien obama neither time. And I sure didn’t ask for my spine to collapse and have to be put back together with lag bolts, screws, plates, and rods that ended my working career. My huge disability check is about 1/3 of what I was making on my job. If you would stop and take note, you would see how every time the government cuts spending they start with us first. We got a 1.5% raise in January and I now draw $57.50 LESS than I did last year. Go figure. If you think I got a free ride I’d like to swap backbones with you and let you have the free ride so I could work again. Aside from this part of your comment I’m pretty much in agreement with you on the other. They are killing this country from within.
Impartial you say? Since when has Mr. Transparency been impartial on anything except with the muslims? As an American who served during the first Gulf war, and fell victim to the Billary cutbacks, their impartialness, excuse me the lack thereof, cost many lives because Billary did not have the balls to pull the trigger on bin Laden when he had the chance because he knew it would bite him if he did. Instead, he leaves him around to plan and direct the WTC and Pentagon attack and we all know how that turned out. I have no doubt Sandy Hook was a false flag and oDummy and the victicrats are running all the way to bank with the gun control fiasco. Not about guns but simply about control and we all know that too. Sadly though, it is not just the liar in chief but pretty much every senator and representative either on the bandwagon for gun control or sitting on their sorry (__Y__)es and allowing control to happen. Either way, we are screwed unless and until we get someone to do their job, uphold their oath, and impeach and prosecute Osama Obama before he completely destroys America. Yes, I am well aware he is a puppet of Soros and the like but he had climbed the strings and holds the control now. God bless America and her heroes.
Maybe the reason those rifles weren’t brought back years ago is South Korea could have needed to keep them on hand to arm every able bodied man in case of an invasion from the North. Could be they have now re-armed with more modern weapons and have no need to keep them anymore. Actually, I haven’t read or heard about any surplus rifles they were trying to ship back until recently.
Directed to Chris Foltz comment – That’s a very dumb thing to say! You should sit and rethink what you said and see how ridiculous it sounds. How does that prove that he’s not an American? I would listen to the idiots calling for a birth certificate before I’d listen to what you have to say with a statement like that…. People can say and think some of the craziest things these day because they don’t like who’s the President of the US and in some cases the race of the person leading America. I just see it as a sly way to get out a racist comment without being called a raciest. At least you didn’t go right out racist on your comment as some of the idiots do online, thanks for that (I guess); but, what you said could lead one to believe that there is a racist undertone… He is the President of the United States of America plain and simple and for a 2nd term now, get over it! You don’t have to respect the man, but, respect to position regardless of who’s doing the job at the time. I was enjoying this article until I read some of the stupid comments like this one about guns being left in Korea!! Tell me, how many Presidents has there been since the Korean War? And now you want to blame this man for guns still being in Korea!!! There may not even be any guns over there to even get… Korea has no real natural resources of their own and the metal in those guns would go a long way towards helping the Koreans get needed resources to produce bigger, better, and more modern guns and cases for their ammo! Come on guy get with the times, please.
As a U.S. MARINE he is the commander and chief and thats that….
ding ding here is one who will fire on Americans.
Kenneth E sums it up very well. He is the duly elected president of our country. He has done more good than bad. The hatred for him is generated by the color of his skin, not his birth place or politics. Most of us, were raised in an era when any non-white person were considered inferior to white people. Some white people still believe that. It is past the time for those people to face reality. We are all the same.
Regardless, I thought this was a blog for gun lovers, not for racism or politics.
No he is the racist selling out his own people, keeping them defenseless victims taking away their guns and sending their jobs to china. Wake up! The only racists left in America are the black leadership keeping their own people down for political gains and corporate payoffs.
Did you ever notice where the largest population of abortion clinics are in poor black neighborhoods that is not right ! Mass genocide disguised and if thats not enough planned parent hood is telling pimps how to run a buisiness which is sexual slavery.
Look into the history of planned parent hood and you will find that the org was setup try to control the population of blacks in this country, all setup by the left. Now genocide? maybe.
hi i have never served in the armed forces but i respect with all my heart those that did you are all american heros obama is and always will be a POS not because of his skin color because he hates america and americans and what this country was founded on our princapals our beliefs and our american way of doing things we help everyone on the planet but he doesnt want us to be able to protect ourselves not from someone breaking in but from HIM and his beliefs i dont believe he was born here nor do i believe he wants whats best for us see a movie please see this its called (obamas america 2016) it has the reasons he should never have been elected im not one for movies about him but see it and then youll know the reason he scares the crap out of me ? I SALUTE ALL OUR VETRANS THE REAL AMERICAN HEROS and please dont forget the daily heros in our lifes THE POLICE OFFICERS AND FIFEFIGHTERS who everyday risk ther lifes to protect us thank you for giving me the space to print this just a average guy gerry maloney chicago
commandervand chief / community organizer and thats really that !!!!!
Do you remember the oath that you took when you enlisted? It supersedes anything that the president orders. To give you an example: would you kill your mother if the president ordered it so? I would hope the hell not. Yet, your statement reflects otheerwise. Something tells me that you’ll be on the side of “We The People” when the SHTF. Read the Bill of Rights. It’s all we have.
ONLY if he is actually the POTUS. And that, my friend, is still open to discussion.
Do you know where the term “Tell it to the Marines” came from?
M. davis is just about as stupid as they are born. He is not ignorant because the truth is presented every hour and day the damage this piece of crap president and his also crappy liberal, marxist regime is doing to our REPUBLIC. m needs to wipe the up obama’s rear crap from his eyes and ears and maybe he would be able to see the truth.
evidently m doesn’t have children or grandchildren, if he does, he cares not the debt this piece of crap president and his democrat regime, has placed on them. They will never be able to pay this debt.
m evidently knows nothing about economics or he is very rich and doesn’t care if the less fortunate survive.
m.davis,
Being the commander in chief doesn’t make what he is doing right. What a COP OUT, the Commander in Chief has an obligation to protect the Constitution not try to destroy it at every turn. Get your head out of your rectum, check your package a think for yourself. He is supposed to Lead, Protect and Command not tear the heart out of this country. Instead he is being a Community organizer and trying to bring us under the UN so he doesn’t have to make a decision and has someone else to blame when things come crashing down. Leaders step up and take responsibility not deflect and deny.
Dude!! It is ILLEGAL to follow ILLEGAL ORDERS! I refer you to the My Lai incident in which lt. Calley and others were prosecuted for following illegal orders.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Lai_Massacre
Are you going to fire on civilians?
screw th birth certificate what about his phony SS card
Always to defend obamy they bring up the ‘race card’. Some of you need to WAKE UP. We’re in a world of $h1t and time is running out. I supported Herman Cain, does that make me a raciest? In Nam we where all brothers, but a close friend of mine(black) did time in Long Binn Jail, he told me you had to take sides in LBJ. So it is now. We must take sides. Color is not the issue. The issue is FREEDOM!
Merriam-Webster Definition of RACISM
1: a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race
2: racial prejudice or discrimination
I am white, therefore everything I am about to say that is negative about the bi-racial president is “Racist.”
– As a senator, the man had no voting record – that’s because he’s bi-racial
– He had no managerial experience – that’s because he’s bi-racial
– He sealed his entire personal history – that’s because he’s bi-racial
– He’s never had a previous job for which his performance was objectively measured – that’s because he’s bi-racial
– He has expanded the scope of the “Patriot Act” the Liberals so loudly protested under Bush, but have remained silent about under Obama – that’s because he’s bi-racial
– He has sent taxpayer money to Detroit union-shops that assisted turn-over of assets to the unions, in exchange for union support at the polls – that’s because he’s bi-racial
– He has failed to discipline Eric Holder’s chain of command for “Fast and Furious” a not-only failed, but corrupt scheme to implicate AZ guns shops in Mexican drug-war crimes – that’s because he’s bi-racial
– He believes the Constitution is subject to his interpretation and is not a timeless document originally designed to protect citizens from Gov’t corruption – that’s because he’s bi-racial
– He harbors anti-American sentiment because he believes America to be imperialistic – that’s because he’s bi-racial
– He doubled the national debt – that’s because he’s bi-racial
– He has not held anyone accountable for Benghazi – that’s because he’s bi-racial
– He has not lived up to his promise to be the “most transparent administration ever” – that’s because he’s bi-racial
– He has allowed an attack on the Second Amendment rights of people owning guns of a type that is responsible for fewer than 1% of gun murders – that’s because he’s bi-racial
– He appointed a Secretary of Treasury that didn’t pay his income tax – that’s because he’s bi-racial
– His Senate seat was auctioned off by Blago in the Chicago “Pay to Play” corrupt political machine from which he came – that’s because he’s bi-racial
– He spent three years blaming the budget crisis on Bush, even thought the budget was controlled by a Democrat run Congress for 68 of the past 80 years – that’s because he’s bi-racial
– He got caught suppressing news of layoffs until after his re-election – that’s because he’s bi-racial
I am French, Scotch, Welsh, English, Cherokee and Negro… members of my family have fought and died in every war this country has had since Jamestown… so, I guess that makes me a damn racist !!!
Keep drinking that Koolaid my friend.
Amen, brother!
Thank you, you said it better than I can.
Accurate and well said.
Blacks voted 96% for him. That’s about as racist as it gets.
Very well said. How can some of these sheeple say that he has done so much good for America? He has done all you stated plus lots more to cripple America. He swore to UPHOLD the Constitution(another lie from his lips) yet has bypassed it any way he can. Maybe all of us Vets have been missing out on something by not drinking the same Koolaid they have!! Thanks anyway- I don’t want it. We’ve taken the same oath as him, but to us it means something. Color of skin does not matter – his actions do.
Its funny as hell you think he does anything – the shebeast runs that place – and she runs him. Shes as nasty as the shebeast on the supreme court now – because shes a latino woman she knows more than white men, sure, and hows that latin america where so many people keep running from doing? Same as africa where the men there keep running into the arms of white women in america or europe – instead of being the George Washingtons of that continent, they run off to white women. Awesome bunch, both places, they and their women, obviously superior to the white man.
The evil of this world is 10 lightyears beyond the comprehension of ANY woman, and several beyond the comprehension of most men too.
Obama is NOT NEGRO!! He’s Arab!
And watch him maneuver us into letting him go for a third term.
He is not an American, he does not have the inbred values we have: 4th of July parades, Thanksgiving, Veterans Day, etc. He says the words, goes through the motions but he can never truly know or feel in his heart the pride we Americans feel about our great country.
His pot smoking juvenile days and questionable sexual preferences are fact. Remember how the democrats raked Bush over the coals because he was only an Air Force pilot with an Air Guard who played around.
Right on Brother ! ! ! !
Given your ancestry being similar to mine I can only say “Mongrels of the world UNITE!” LOL. Oh wait. the ancestry of EVERYONE alive originally came from Africa. According the the latest news I have heard is that we are all cousins. Just a few thousand people managed to survive some big catastrophe to repopulate the world. So everybody alive is a mongrel. Eeeww. That gives me something in common with BO. But I can get rid of my BO by taking a shower…
Spare us the sententious race-baiting, sir. I doubt any significant percentages of those who dislike Him for His politics dislike him any more or less for his skintone.
And I’m sure, in any case, they are FAR outnumbered by those racists who support Him SOLELY for his skintone and with little, if any, idea what His political agenda is.
Thank you very much PsychoDad !!!
I stand with you completely, for you have described the whole truth of this ugly matter…….
But still, I can’t quit without saying, “God Bless Us All”
Take the race card and put it where it will do some good, because diarrhea of the mouth is a common aliment among liberals who support Obama for only one reason, the color of his skin. That is the only plausible explanation for people who apparently haven’t noticed that gasoline prices doubled almost the day Obama took office and have stayed that way ever since. This means almost everything we buy has gone up because almost everything is shipped by truck, and everything made from plastic also has
risen. Then there are the numerous scandals such as Fast & Furious where Obama and his Waffen SS group leader Holder gives automatic weapons to murdering Mexican drug gangs while like true Nazi’s trying to disarm the rest of America. They hated Bush for Iraq but their other liberal lying hero Hilary voted for the war against Saddam, or is it just to convenient to forget that? Many people other than blacks voted for Obama with the hope he would unite the races but he has been the biggest divider of people along race, economic and religious lines than anyone in the History of this Country.
Finally count me a birther because I read his book “Dreams From My Father” where he states that he and his mother never lived with his supposed real father Barack Obama Sr. because shortly after he married Anne Dunham he went to Harvard and they did not follow him to the mainland. But nude pictures of Obama’s mother taken by Frank Marshall Davis at about the time Anne Dunham was pregnant with Barry Soetoro aka Barack Obama fit the timeline that Davis is Obama’s real father. People have suggested that his mother knew he was going to be President someday which is why she forged his birth certificate. The reason she forged his birth certificate was two fold, one she didn’t want her son to be known as the son of the number one Communist propagandist to be picked up by the FBI should we go to war with Russia. And two because she being American was well aware of the many advantages of American citizenship and she was going to secure those advantages for her bastard son.
TO KENNETH….you sound like you are one of the people that are destroying this Country! A true leftist…dedicated to destroying everything this Country stands for.1st. Do you know for a fact that Obama WAS born in this Country? There is so much overwhelming evidence that shows he was born in Kenya…even Obama himself said it in a video….and WHY does his S.S. # come back to a long deceased person from Conn.?…, But the real kicker is when you imply that cris foltz is a racist for not liking Obama…You are proving that you are a typical liberal anti American leftist for that’s what they do…use the race card at will whenever it suits their evil purpose…..and you whine your little whine about how the so. Koreans need the metal in those AMERICAN guns so badly…your type always sticks up for anybody but America…korea is a richer nation than the U.S.A. did you know that? and that’s because of the U.S.A. we built that Country, protected that Country…with our tax dollars…Those guns belong in America and Obama is preventing that, and YHOU are supporting Obama. So you are traitor trash in my opinion! So get the hell out of these gun forums you commie troll…better yet…get the hell out of this Country!!!
“So get the hell out of these gun forums you commie troll…better yet…get the hell out of this Country!!!”
Tolerance and rational thought?
As a veteran (3rd generation and my son makes it 4) – I find the post by robert brittner to be as offensive as any I’ve ever read in my life.
“America, love it or leave it”? By whose standards?
You are a joke and an embarrassment to our country. As is the complete moron that blames everything in his tiny imagination created by a tiny brain that everything about Obama is due to his being “bi-racial”.
I shed blood for my country as did my dad and my grandfather. I’m thankful my son is relatively safe serving in the Navy on a submarine. But he wants to go into Special Forces which the Navy won’t permit after training him to be a “nuke” – so he’ll go into the Army when he’s fulfilled his obligation to the submarine service.
Talk is cheap. Racial slurs are certainly the words of small minded people – it a joke when they speak of the US Constitution as if they have a clue what it’s about.
A bigger joke still if someone “supports” Obama – (doesn’t necessarily “support” – just isn’t full of blind and irrational hatred) that they get called “traitor trash”. Guess that makes the majority of voters in this country “traitor trash”.
There was a time when I didn’t understand why people said that while all Republicans are NOT idiots, that all idiots are Republicans. Now I see how true it is.
To truly believe the kind of nonsense like “if a rape results in a pregnancy, it’s God’s will” and other comments along the same moronic line of reasoning is proof of the idiocy of those who go along with it.
The “Birthers” are crying about a non issue for the 5th year as if it is reality. The stupidity of the far right is an embarrassment to this great country. We spent trillions of dollars and cost hundreds of thousands lives to kill one man in Iraq. (All based on WMDs that were a complete fabrication).
I’m certainly no “left wing liberal” (whatever that even means) – but I am progressive enough to want to see out country move forward, not go backwards. “Leave it to Beaver” and “Father knows Best” were TV shows, not some reflection of how the country really was.
You “Tea Party” psychos scare me and you scare our military as well. GWB spent us into the worst recession of the past 100 years and cut benefits to our men in uniform. (not to mention he went AWOL when he had to take a drug test). He’s a “hero” to you and Obama is a villain? God help us all!
There is a lot of anger here, we should stick to the facts. Lets start with a few:
1. Obama’s maternal grandmother said in a notarize sworn statement that she was at Obama’s birth in Kenya.
2. Same thing with the doctor that delivered him, a white woman having a baby in Kenya was a big deal back then.
3. Obama was strained at an early age to be Muslim, like both of his father and step father. He was sent to a Muslim School.
4, He has stated in public the most beautiful sound in the world is the Muslim call to prayer.
5. Upon returning from Kenya Michelle Obama said “it was nice seeing my husbands birthplace”.
6.. Obama traded 5 high ranking terrorist Officers for one treasonous American.
7.. 219 innocent Christian School Girls were captured by Muslim terrorists. Michelle texted “bring our girls home” Obama did nothing. He sent the Navy and SEALS after Captain Phillips, but did nothing for those little girls. They now have been forced to convert to Islam and sold to rich old Muslims as sex slaves. IS THIS WHAT WE HAVE BECOME ? I spent 500 days in combat in Vietnam, wounded 5 times. We were there to protect the innocent Vietnamese, and many good men were killed on that mission.
8. What are we today ? Our troops protect the opium fields in Afghanistan for Johnson & Johnson. The farmers got $800 a kilo on the black market for their opium, J&J offered them $28 and seized their fields. Notice the flood of opiate pain meds being passed out at the VA, and the addicts created by them ?
9. Bruce Baker a Reporter wrote a news story Oct. 15, 2014 about a bombed out WMD’s factories in Iraq. He saw chemical weapon artillery shells filled with Sarin gas, Mustard Gas, and a whole lot more. They were laying around on the floor of the factors. No guards. When Obama pulled the troops out, ISIS filled the vacuum. ISIS went to the Chemical Weapons Plants and just picked up the WMD’s and loaded them on to trucks. THERE WERE WMDS IN IRAQ…AND NOW ISIS HAS THEM. The majority were taken out of the country by Russian Commercial Airliners with interiors stripped. Iraqi generals admitted this, our satellites confirmed their statements perfectly. They filmed the convoy from the planes landing in Syria, and the truck convoy taking everything to the BAKA VALLEY and storing it all in caves, where they continue to be guarded by terrorists. Obama knows this, he knows ISIS has their hands on almost unlimited WMD’S and does NOTHING.
These are all facts. The man wants a race war, for a diversion from his real plan of segregating American citizens into groups and exterminating one group at a time. His Brown Shirts are the Latino Army that he has been secretly building and arming for years. They are the reason the government ordered 7 BILLION rounds of assault rifle ammunition in hollow point. HP cannot be used by the American military. The US Postal Service was just discovered ordering 200,000 round of pistol ammo, as was the Depart. of Agriculture. Obama is building a secret Federal Police Force made of illegal aliens, who’ll shoot Americans without hesitation.
As Obama is not a REAL AMERICAN, his mother, fathers and grand father were all Communist Activists. This is not Africa, we are not cowardly Euros-trash, and we are armed. When he unleashes the illegal alien army on American citizens, they will unite, color will vanish, Red White & Blue will be the only color we see. The blood of our forefathers flows through our veins and our streets will run red with the blood of traitors….and one black traitor, and his wife will pay the price for TREASON.
I’m 65, I’m up for a couple of firefights against illegal alien traitors, Latino gangs, trained Latino Federal Police Forces…. I have the will, the courage and the desire to finally rid the country of DOMESTIC ENEMIES.
About the “Can’t sell them” comment, most likely a case of not keeping up with changes. Back quite a few years ago when the CMP was the DCM rules for purchase of an M1 where stricter. Even then the restriction that you can’t sell them had a time limit on it, after a few years ownership you could then sell them. You did not have to keep them for life or will them to your next of kin. The DCM in my opinion was much more user friendly to those of us that actually where into the shooting sports and to clubs that promoted junior programs. That’s not a slam on the CMP, those folks up there do a wonderful job, they do not have the support that the DCM enjoyed.
I as well wish we could have gotten those M1’s back rom Korea, I sure would love to own one. As very young troop in Germany I was knocking out the V ring in a regular target from 500 yards on a KD range. My Captain called out where you from son, I replied” Tennessee sir”. To which he said keep knocking those V bulls son and you can represent us on the Rifle team. Which I did and spent too much time on the frozen snow covered ground of ranges form K Town to Graphenwoehr and other places like Hohenfels and places I cannot even remember anymore.
I carried one of those M1’s in Korea and sure like that weapon, which I would own one, but at 77 and 90% ddisabled , I fear that will not happen.
made the USAREUR Team in the middle 60’s but didn’t travel to Camp Perry Ohio because It was tired of being away from the family who were in Karlsruhe Germany at that time .
We were shooting M14 by this time, Its a great rifle too..
You neglect to include the requirements that you must belong to a NRA affiliated club and be a NRA member to purchase, Most of these clubs are too far to travel to join, and they do not welcome everyone into their fold. what are the alternatives? I belong to 2 clubs and they are not NRA affiliated yet they push NRA membership! Thanks
Dan M NRA Life member
If you read the instructions, there are cheap clubs you can join through the mail that qualify.
The ‘rule’ about selling Garands you get from CMP is an unwritten rule, but very strongly recommended. The reason is that with the prices of good rifles on the commercial market in the thousands of dollars, we don’t want people buying them from CMP then reselling them for a profit. They are historic rifles and deserve proper respect and care, and should not be treated as profit generating items. In addition, all of the rifles are ‘parts’ guns. They have been arsenal rebuilt at least once and often several times before CMP got them. Sometimes you get lucky and get one that was rebuilt and then put into storage, like the one I got (late war SA Service Grade, with a mint ’54 barrel). If somebody is selling one and says it is ‘all correct’ they’re blowing smoke up your skirt. It got that way because they swapped out parts to get it that way – they sure didn’t buy it from CMP in that form.
Btw, the average M1 is a 2-4 MOA rifle with M2 Ball ammo. You can improve that some with good handloads, but you’ll get better accuracy on average with 168 gr. bullets at about 2600 fps. Also, don’t use civilian commercial ammo. It is too hot. Use surplus military like the HXP Greek ammo that CMP sells, or the Garand specific loads from Hornady and Federal. The original load the M1 was designed around was the same 173 gr. WWI version of the ’06, sometimes referred to as ‘M1 Ball’. The Army changed to the 150 flat based spitzer FMJ in the mid-30’s to lower the recoil for trainees. The chamber was never altered though, which is why 168 gr. bullets today are usually more accurate than the 150s. Best of all is 175 gr. that duplicates the match ammo of years past. And, yeah, I’m one of those ‘old geazers’ you referred to in your article. Show some respect, son.
I noticed Mike in Virginia said something about the Sandy Hook school shooting…Did anyone else see the super bowl game where about 10 or 12 of the kids that were supposed to have been shot and killed actually showed up at the ball game. It was a special showing for the kids that were killed..But the kids that were supposedly killed, showed up in the group of young kids that were there to show support for those killed…It’s crazy, but those kids were there, only they weren’t 6 and 7 year old. …they were like 12 and 13 years old…Knocked me for a loop when I saw the young kids pictures and said they were killed, and then they show up and were about 6 or 7 years older in real life…you could tell the pics. were the kids that were supposed to be dead, and they were the ones that showed up at the ball game…I think you can look this up, unless they were made to take the pictures down because it proves that it was all a hoax. I don’t see how someone could fake something like that so I think it was real by the way it looked to me…
I have an M 1 that my bud used as a parade rifle the years are 1944/ barrel is 1951, then closed up for parade’s I bought a 1951 barrel talk to the CMP (Armorers in AL) about their barrel remover, they told me I shouldn’t do that and it was unsafe, so I took it to a old timer gunsmith had it done up, gauge tested (all 3), I’ve put 500 rounds thru it and of all my rifle’s it’s my favorite, my rifle is a piece of history, even the stock has a SA/R… what’s left on there rifle’s that are original, I know the stock and barrel are not, I do think they are a good organization, but don’t do what they do, it’s unsafe………