CMP Garand: field grade or service grade?

[Anchors]

What's your reasoning on the field grade? I like the fact that they're $300 cheaper.

That is my reasoning. I've seen plenty of NICE field grades. But there is always that mixed bag.
CMP is pretty easy to work with though. They offered to switch my rifle out after they sent it to me because I requested WWII serial with a sticky and it wasn't (even though they have NO obligation to fill that request).

I decided to keep mine, but they're good people. If you get a crappy rifle, they'll make it right I bet.

Wait for the regular (not Special) Service Grades to become available again. They usually cost $100 more than Field Grades and are worth it, although the price is going to be "1% to 50%" higher according to Orest (COO of the CMP) when they go on sale again.

That is also a good idea. I just wasn't sure if they expected to get more. If so, then just wait it out. The $100 is well worth it.

[Eljay]

That is also a good idea. I just wasn't sure if they expected to get more. If so, then just wait it out. The $100 is well worth it.

It's like this. They have a whole bunch of unopened crates. In terms of grade not even they know exactly what they have. So the assumption is that sooner or later they'll build up a stock of service grades and offer them for sale again. But - and this is a big but - it's probably not going to be for a while, and they've already announced that there will be price increases shortly. So the price of a service grade is going to be more than the current $100 extra, and less than the $300 or whatever it is to move up to the special grades.

In other words, buying a service grade "then" might be $200 more than buying a field grade now, and $200 less than buying a service grade special now. Or might not. Nobody knows.

[Justintoxicated]

It's like this. They have a whole bunch of unopened crates. In terms of grade not even they know exactly what they have. So the assumption is that sooner or later they'll build up a stock of service grades and offer them for sale again. But - and this is a big but - it's probably not going to be for a while, and they've already announced that there will be price increases shortly. So the price of a service grade is going to be more than the current $100 extra, and less than the $300 or whatever it is to move up to the special grades.

In other words, buying a service grade "then" might be $200 more than buying a field grade now, and $200 less than buying a service grade special now. Or might not. Nobody knows.

Service Grade specials are $895
Field grade is $495
$495 + $200 ($100 more + theoretical $100 price hike) = $695

And then your guaranteed collector grade metal which I think means all matching metal? "throat erosion under 3 and muzzle wear of 2 or less" is collector grade.

But then again no one really knows what the service grades will cost or if they will be as good as the last batch. For all we know the field grades will remain $495 and service grades will just to $795. ...


But hey you should buy a field grade so they will have one less field grade in the store and that one more step to opening another crate

[Orlando]

That is my reasoning. I've seen plenty of NICE field grades. But there is always that mixed bag.
CMP is pretty easy to work with though. They offered to switch my rifle out after they sent it to me because I requested WWII serial with a sticky and it wasn't (even though they have NO obligation to fill that request).

I decided to keep mine, but they're good people. If you get a crappy rifle, they'll make it right I bet.



That is also a good idea. I just wasn't sure if they expected to get more. If so, then just wait it out. The $100 is well worth it.

A Field Grade by description can be a crappy rifle.
Yes CMP will exchange it even though it falls within the grade descrition.
IMO that is just wrong, you are taking money and time away from CMP and their program. If you arent willing to accept a rifle they send you that falls within the description you should shop elsewhere and not take advantage of their services

[Red Devil]

General Rule to avoid disappointment

Field Grade = When you can go to the North Store or South Store and hand pick
Service Grade = Mail order

+1

For a shooter...? Wait for the Service Grades to come back in and eat the price increase... they have been really nice rifles lately.

Well worth the probable $700.00 dollar new price.

If you can't wait, ...a Service Grade Special at the current price is also a very nice rifle and saves you a few hundred dollars for a shooter that is a Correct sans USGI stock.

Use the savings on Ammo...

[kwansao]

I got a TE 1 ME 2 Field Grade from the CMP last time I ordered. Just spend the extra $ on getting a stock set that suits you and it's as if you've made your own Service Grade.

[hybridatsun350]

I will say that I was very happy with the field grade I got from CMP 3 years ago. Oct 1942 SA with almost all SA parts. Excellent working and shooting condition with some wear to the park finish and a "been there done that" but solid stock.
I don't have barrel/chamber gauges but it passed the "bullet test" and is more accurate than I am, which may not be saying much but I am very happy with it.

The rifles of 3 years ago aren't the rifles of today. I've seen regular service grades from a few years back that look like rifles that are now called "special" grade. Supply is dwindling, and quality isn't what it used to be. The CMP does the best they can, but there are only so many of these rifles.

[JAGGUY]

The rifles of 3 years ago aren't the rifles of today. I've seen regular service grades from a few years back that look like rifles that are now called "special" grade. Supply is dwindling, and quality isn't what it used to be. The CMP does the best they can, but there are only so many of these rifles.

Actually, the Greek returns they started selling less than 2 years ago as service grades were FAR nicer than what they had been selling several years before that.
Also, CMP has enough unopened crates sitting in their warehouses to supply buyers for several more years.
At least that's what Orest has said, and being Chief Operating Officer @ CMP he ought to know...

[Orlando]

I got a TE 1 ME 2 Field Grade from the CMP last time I ordered. Just spend the extra $ on getting a stock set that suits you and it's as if you've made your own Service Grade.

Ya and you may be putting a new stock on a Garand with a barrel that needs replaced.
Todays Field Grades are yesterdayS Rack Grades

[Red Devil]

Ya and you may be putting a new stock on a Garand with a barrel that needs replaced.
Todays Field Grades are yesterdayS Rack Grades

Three Service Grades (Mail order) over the last year.

Two (2) birch stocks. (asked for a matched set )
One (1) USGI. (in very good shape)

All have Clean bores and crowns w/ original park that is almost unused.

TE= 2+ MW= 1+
TE= 2+ MW= 0.5+
TE= 2+ MW= 1+

There is no indication that this trend has changed RE: Service Grades.

[Justintoxicated]

Three Service Grades (Mail order) over the last year.

Two (2) birch stocks. (asked for a matched set )
One (1) USGI. (in very good shape)

All have Clean bores and crowns w/ original park that is almost unused.

TE= 2+ MW= 1+
TE= 2+ MW= 0.5+
TE= 2+ MW= 1+

There is no indication that this trend has changed RE: Service Grades.

except that you cant get them and there is going to be a price hike by the end of the month.

[Orlando]

Three Service Grades (Mail order) over the last year.

Two (2) birch stocks. (asked for a matched set )
One (1) USGI. (in very good shape)

All have Clean bores and crowns w/ original park that is almost unused.

TE= 2+ MW= 1+
TE= 2+ MW= 0.5+
TE= 2+ MW= 1+

There is no indication that this trend has changed RE: Service Grades.

I agree on the Service Grades they are some of the nicest available in years.
My comment was about the Field Grades

[Red Devil]

I agree on the Service Grades they are some of the nicest available in years.
My comment was about the Field Grades

Meant to put a "+1" on the quote to your FG post.

except that you cant get them and there is going to be a price hike by the end of the month.

If you are gettin' just one (1)...? (just one, ...I crack myself up )

Mail-Order Service Grade is the bottom.

Not only do you get a solid stock (birch or USGI) but the barrels and parts have been near new.

A new barrel and stock for a FG will run you much more than a Service Grade even w/ the price increase, not to mention the condition of the other parts that wear... so if you can't wait till the first-of-the-year...? go Service Grade Special.

Otherwise, the Service Grades of late have been mostly "special" quality w/o the matched "correct" parts which, for a shooter, doesn't matter.

$700 dollars and a coupla months wait is still $200 dollars less than a SG Special today.

If you have the cash, the SG special gives you a Correct sans USGI stock that you can buy later. Even the Corrects are sweet at $1100 dollars. Both are good if you also have a collector's eye.

But, for a Mail-Order shooter, guaranteed good-to-go...? the Service Grade is it.

It's about you, your money, and your patience.

[pro-nra]

If you wait a little bit, the regular service grades will be back and they'll be a lot cheaper.

First,why would a dwindling finite supply of something be cheaper in the future? Second, Orest already announced a price and shipping increase. Did I miss something between the lines of the CMP announcement that was emailed a week ago?

[Justintoxicated]

First,why would a dwindling finite supply of something be cheaper in the future? Second, Orest already announced a price and shipping increase. Did I miss something between the lines of the CMP announcement that was emailed a week ago?

I think he was referring to cheaper in that it should still be cheaper than the service grade specials are now. The Service Grade specials are guaranteed against less wear too, but that does not mean the Service grades will be worse either.