What do you..M1

[Clancy]

Gentlemen,
...think has made the M1 Garand so collectable as well as a range rifle for shooters. I think that this started in the late '80's early 90's when shipments of these rifles started coming into the US from South Korea. These were the Blue Sky's and a few other gun dealers getting them into the US. Yes, there was a small jump in interest into these rifles. Now however, many more people found out about the CMP and Garand collecting is going thru the roof. With the prices so high people are checking to make sure that they have the correct M1 Rifle down to the smallest part. OK Here it comes. What made you get into M1 Garand Rifles, either collecting or for shooting?
Just looking for some input on this

Need some help with hits guys

Thanks again
Clancy
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[FatKatMatt]

I like the history behind the M1 rifle, as well as the looks and the clean lines of it. It also packs a wallop to anyone, or anything, that gets in your way.

It goes nicely with a 1911 as well.

[JesseXXX]

All I know is that I want one!!

[xrMike]

I had to have one because:

-- of the winning legacy and history behind it
-- my grandpa fought with one in Korea
-- it's a good-looking, solid gun with clean lines
-- it throws a big-*** round with authority
-- you can always use it as a club if you run out of ammo

[marksbb]

The power of it's cartridge in a semi-auto platform, the beauty, searching for "correct" parts and most of all, the history you feel when holding the rifle.

[ljdouglas]

For the same reason you have any other battle rifle. The sense of history in your hands. I have a 1943 M1 (used in the Pacific?), a 1939 Springfield '03 and a 1942 '03A3 (used at the beginning of WWII?), a Savage lend-lease Enfield (Battle of Britain?), various Mosin-Nagants (siege of Leningrad?) and so forth. History just becomes a little more palpable when you hold it in your hands...

[Sydwaiz]

I started with CMP 3 years ago. I had never even held an M1 before my first two came in. I'm not too sure what attracted me at first. The price or the history! I was new to the C&R game and felt these would really add to my collection. When my first two came in, that was it, I was in love. Being a machinist, I marveled at all the machine work and small intricacies of it. I had originally ordered 3 M1s at first with the idea of keeping the best and selling the other two but when my first two came in, I immediately ordered another and kept them all! A few months ago, I finally sold one with some regret as I needed a little cash. Of my first two, one was a 5 digit 1940 rifle and knowing it more than likely has seen two wars made it very special to me and just fueled the fire.

I think it is the history of the rifle and the novelty of seeing it in all the old war movies that has made it such a collectable. But I also feel that the low prices of the CMP and the large quantities produced has made it more feasable to collect. And knowing how high gun show prices are makes it feel that much better when you buy one from CMP.

[JesseXXX]

How much....

How much is a nice shooter through the CMP process (more or less)... also.... if you guys want a nice, LOUD , big round shooter (8mm)... get a Hakim... man, that is one sweet rifle.... I love it.

[jdberger]

The Rifle Sales page for the CMP is HERE.

But a quick answer is about $400.

[spencerhut]

Because it's really fun to win a run-and-gun with a 60 year old war horse that was likely used to beat half the German Army to death. Hell it still shoots better than I can hold it.

[mur]

Well I don't have one yet....
The Historical Value to me is what is attractive, Holding a Piece of History from WWII....priceless
Right after I get one of those Carbines from CMP the Garand is Next on my list.

[NRAhighpowershooter]

I think what really made the Garand popular was the 50th anniversary of the ending of WW-II and then the movies that came out afterwards... like Saving Private Ryan and such... 1996 was when the DCM became the CMP and the 'once in a lifetime' Garand purchase went by the wayside when the CMP laxed the limits and you could all of a sudden buy 8 at a time.....

[ivanimal]

I heard that saving private Ryan was a big reason and then Band of brothers, I always just had to have one.

[mur]

I heard that saving private Ryan was a big reason and then Band of brothers, I always just had to have one.

MAN, Those are like my 2 favorite movies......coincidence.....

[mousegun]

M1 is the rifle I grew up with, seeing it in movies, newsreels, on military bases, in photographs -- it was just everywhere, and everyone took it for granted. Never got to shoot one, though. Thought it looked clunky, fat, ungainly, had that funny tube thingy under the muzzle. Then CMP started running out of 'em. Got a Greek return service grade just 'cause I could; figured it would be good to have for my son after me. Took it apart, cleaned it up, learned how to strip it, read some history, etc.

Then I took it to the range and shot it....

EPIPHANY!

Forty two years ago I qualified on the carbine and was given familiarization on the M16. I've since used bolt rifles, slide actions and leverguns. The M1 is a majorly different experience. After that first time at the range the whole concept came together: a powerful, accurate, autoloading main battle rifle that any average joe could be trained to use effectively. It's a bloody work of art, including its production, armory support, training films, manual of arms, field maintenance, the whole shebang. It's a brilliant congress of form, function, style and execution. It's not perfect, but it's a reflection of what perfection could have been at that point.

Finally ended up with four, two HRA service grades, a Springfield field grand, and an HRA correct grade, all shooters.

Mr. Garand done good!