Question about Air Force Premium Grade M1 Garands

[CSDGuy]

A few years ago, I got an M1 from the CMP. Someone recently noted that it has some characteristics of a AFPG M1. (It may be/have been one.) That got me to doing some research on them, but I can't find much info about them on the 'net, aside from them having an AFPG stamp on the barrel and that they were built-up at Lackland AFB.

Anyone know more than that about these rifles?

[locktime]

Lifted from a gunbroker auction:

Air Force Premium Grade NM M-1 Garand. These were built into match rifles by AF armorers at the USAF Competitive Weapons Shop at Lackland AFB. One of the distinguishing marks of a AFPG M-1 NM is that the windage knove is modified for 1/2 minute windage adjustment as shown in the pictures. A standard rear sight base was utilized then the mating surface of the windage knob was ground flat and 8 grooves were milled on the knob at precise intervals. The AF armorers drilled into the receiver at the 6 o'clock of the windage hole on the receiver, and a spring and detent were installed to allow the system to work. Very few AFPG Garands made it into civilian hands, far fewer than Navy B's as it was common for the AF team member to "aquire" their rifles upon retirement and many were sold to state shooting associations and clubs through the DCM. After the largest supporter of the competitive marsmanship in the AF Gen. LeMay passed away the program died off and the AF turned most of the surviving AFPG M-1's into drill rifles rather then sending them back to the Army control at Anniston CMP. You can read on the rifle in the Garand Collectors Association Journal vol. 16 No.2 Spring 2002 issue. This rifle will make a great piece in any collection. The rifle has a SA NM barrel with the correct AFPG stamping. NM opp rod. NM rear sight elevator. correct windage knob. SA trigger mech. HRA hammer. Receiver is SA stamped 30M1. The stock has obviously been re done at some point most likely by the armorers in the AF when the rifles were being turned into Parade rifles

[CSDGuy]

I found that GB auction too. IIRC, that one was for a 7.62 chambered rifle. That's about all I have found too.

[CSDGuy]

My rifle does not have the AFPG rear sight mod. That means either the AF didn't get that far with it, they switched to using a 1/2 MOA NM sight system, my rifle was being worked on when it had to be turned in and was not finished at Lackland AFB or someone who knows their AFPG mods worked on it. Knowing the CMP, they sent it to me in the condition they got it in, and some stuff still has grease in it, so it could have been shot as a DCM club rifle and later returned.

Someone knowledgeable in building rifles for competition built mine. Everything fits just too well. They say that proof, however, is in the shooting. Once I obtain match ammo for it, I'm going to see exactly how good the groups are. Good groups should mean that it's a competition gun. Bad or average groups mean it's a parts gun. Or so they say.

Any which way, I'm keeping it... as a shooter.