CMP Garand question

[IEShooter]

I'm thinking of buying a CMP Garand and wanted to get opinions on whether to get the Service or Special grade.

Since my intent is to shoot it, I'm contemplating the Special grade as I can get the "Springfield Special" with a new barrel.

This option costs $100 more, so is it worth it over the "regular" Special grade in either H&R or Springfield that they rate as excellent, almost new condition?

What's the opinions on this?

Regards,

John

[t0kie]

Get the service grade & spend the $100 for ammo. My 2 cents.
________
WEB SHOWS

[SanPedroShooter]

I agree, but my experiance is limited. Check out CMP forums.

[Geodetic]

I'd lean towards the service grade. I have 4 service grades and 1 special. In my opinion if you want a newer and less used (or a chance at it) get an H&R M1. These were all made after Korea and generally will likely not have been banged around as much. Remember its all luck of the draw, but you can put a post-it note on your order for a certain preference. If they have your preference in arms reach supposedly they honor it. If you want a pristine presentation piece the special is the way to go. My special looked great out of the box, but it was dry as a bone so I had to field strip, grease and lube it anyway. I also used Fairtrimmers on the stock as it felt like it was fresh out of the lumber mill, and literally still had saw dust coming off. My service grades I like best. They have character.

[IEShooter]

Garand

I'd lean towards the service grade. I have 4 service grades and 1 special. In my opinion if you want a newer and less used (or a chance at it) get an H&R M1. These were all made after Korea and generally will likely not have been banged around as much. Remember its all luck of the draw, but you can put a post-it note on your order for a certain preference. If they have your preference in arms reach supposedly they honor it. If you want a pristine presentation piece the special is the way to go. My special looked great out of the box, but it was dry as a bone so I had to field strip, grease and lube it anyway. I also used Fairtrimmers on the stock as it felt like it was fresh out of the lumber mill, and literally still had saw dust coming off. My service grades I like best. They have character.

Thanks for the reply. Their description of the Special grade is that the Springfield Armory models will have new barrels and possibly some new parts. This makes it sound like the gun may be pieced together to make a complete rifle. The descripton of the H&R, Special sounds as if the metal parts are in almost new condition with very little use and with a new stock.

This may be the route I take as I'm not so much interested in character as I am in having a Garand that is as close to originally issued condition as possible.

An unfinished stock is no problem as I'm a woodworker with plenty of experience applying finishes. A nice hand rubbed oil finish on the stock would look very nice.

Thanks again!!!

Regards,

John

[AngryPossum]

Service Grade HRA....I was happy.

[IEShooter]

Service Grade

Very nice looking rifle. Is that the original stock? It doesn't look new, but still looks to be in fine shape.

[mls343]

Service Grade and Ammo would be my vote. I just received my two new HRA's on Monday. They sure are purty and are both going to be nice shooters.

[Russ661]

The H&R service grades at $595 are a great deal. Sure they will have mixed manufacturers parts, as a rule Springfield, but it is easy enough to find a trade on the CMP site plus you stand an even chance at getting a USGI stock which is a huge plus IMO. These rifles look to be straight out of an arsenal rebuild so they are in great shape. My H&R had a SA trigger group and SA op rod; everything else was HR. Less than 3 weeks and I had traded for what I believe to be the correct H&R parts so now I have what is in all honesty a correct rifle. Not a CMP papered correct grade rifle but correct none-the-less. If you want a really nice rifle with everything correct except the stock buy the service grade special for $895. Read the CMP description: SA collector grade metal in excellent almost new condition. Walnut stocks and handguards and associated hardware are new manufacture.
Either way you can't go wrong.

[IEShooter]

Garand

The H&R service grades at $595 are a great deal. Sure they will have mixed manufacturers parts, as a rule Springfield, but it is easy enough to find a trade on the CMP site plus you stand an even chance at getting a USGI stock which is a huge plus IMO. These rifles look to be straight out of an arsenal rebuild so they are in great shape. My H&R had a SA trigger group and SA op rod; everything else was HR. Less than 3 weeks and I had traded for what I believe to be the correct H&R parts so now I have what is in all honesty a correct rifle. Not a CMP papered correct grade rifle but correct none-the-less. If you want a really nice rifle with everything correct except the stock buy the service grade special for $895. Read the CMP description: SA collector grade metal in excellent almost new condition. Walnut stocks and handguards and associated hardware are new manufacture.
Either way you can't go wrong.

Russ,

Thanks. Within the special grade catagory, would you recommend the SAPECIAL with new barrel or the H&R or SA with original USGI barrel?

I don't care about having a "correct" rifle with matching parts. I'd prefer a new stock and a like new or new barrel.

[MongooseV8]

I could be wrong but I think all the special grades have new barrels. I think the difference between the $895 and $995 SA Special is the later has more refinished USGI parts instead of new reproduction parts. In the general grade description it says the special grades have new barrels and stocks?

[ColdDeadHands1]

I recommend the Service grade. 1) they are in great shape for a reasonable price. 2) I prefer holding the "history" in my hands thinking where it has been and who it has shot. New stocks and barrels take away from this IMO.

[thehummerguy]

I own 7 or 8 CMP Garands of Various Grades...What I learned was from the CMP Forums. Regardless of the Grade you Get, The Rifle will be in Spec from the Goverment Requirments. Headspaced, TE, Muzzle wear etc....

I got a Rack Grade H&R that was ALL matching H&R parts with Grenade launching Disk on a ver Nice DAS Marked Stock for 395.00

My Winchester for 800.00 had a Stock that looked like it went through 4 or 5 world Wars...But being I had been told the wood on those Winnie's was bad, I bought the brand new stock set from CMP for 150.00 and the Rifle is Beutiful.

The H&R's are by Far the best deal at $595.00, I have several that are Minty IMHO.

I have a Blue Sky I got years ago...pretty much eats up a muzzle gauge but is a REALLY low WW2 SN....5 Digits to be exact, Gun was Re-Parked, Can hit crap with it. It's my wall hanger.


I have been buying M1's from DCM/CMP for many years...My First was 310.00, Greatest Gun Buying experinces I have had, I absolutely Love
buying from them, Better yet is when the box shows up, It's like Xmas. If those Rifles could Only talk...But in a way they do by Drawing numbers. I know that CMP is going to be releasing the Greek Air Force Returns soon if not already, What I have read is that some of those rifles
are Brand new unfired...Again, That from the CMP Forum.

[thehummerguy]

Here is an Answer to a Question on the CMP Forum from the COO of CMP, His name is Orest, The question is "Where else are there M1's that could come back from other Country's:

Here is his response:

2) Yes, we know where the rifles were shipped - but we (CMP) do not know if they still exist there or when the country may decide they no longer need them/ It is their call.

3) At current rate of sale, and assuming we do not receive any more - we will be completely sold out in about 4 years.

[IEShooter]

Garand

Thanks for all the replies. I spent some time on the CMP forum and based on my needs, a Special Grade SA that comes with a new barrel and stock seems to be the right choice.

Spendy at $1000, but it'll be the only Garand I ever own and as stated in the OP, I'm not interested in having an original USGI stock, patina, "correct" parts, etc..

I want a rifle that is in like "new" condition so I can shoot the heck out of it over the coming decades. It isn't intended to be a collector item, just a high quality rifle to shoot.

Thanks for all the advice and assistance.

Regards,

John