M1 Garand Questions & Pricing

[ham]

Iv'e been looking at a M1 Garand for my next C&R purchase? what would be some of the issues (other than good rifling) to check on when buying one? I'm not looking for a collector piece to hang on the wall but a solid range & practical use/SHTF weapon.

since I can't go though CMP to purchase one, other than checking the GC clasifieds, are there any stores that have reasonable prices on them. I'm looking to save about a $1,000 for it.

thanks.

[TRICKSTER]

Is there a specific reason you can't purchase from CMP? For $1000 you can get a CMP Special Grade, rebuilt, reparked, new wood and barrel.

[CEDaytonaRydr]

Iv'e been looking at a M1 Garand for my next C&R purchase? what would be some of the issues (other than good rifling) to check on when buying one? I'm not looking for a collector piece to hang on the wall but a solid range & practical use/SHTF weapon.

since I can't go though CMP to purchase one, other than checking the GC clasifieds, are there any stores that have reasonable prices on them. I'm looking to save about a $1,000 for it.

thanks.

Without buying over $100 worth of tooling, it's going to be tough. The quality of a Garand depends on a lot of variables; throat erosion, muzzle wear, headspace, etc. Since you can't buy from CMP, Big 5 sells Garands on occasion. They're overpriced and in very rough shape but I think (at a minimum) they are functionally safe to fire.

Honestly, there are better options for SHTF that are much cheaper. Consider some of the following: Egyptian Rasheed, Egyptian Hakim, SKS, Kel Tec SU-16, WASR AK-style OLL or a Saiga. Most of those are well under your price point...

[Nihonto Chicken]

Why Not CMP???

If you can at all qualify for a CMP purchase, that is the way to go. If not, then you are likely dependent on hit-or-miss, either web sites such as here and Gunbroker if you have a C&R FFL, or else whatever gun and pawn shops you can access. The CMP "standard" is called the "Service Grade" (currently not available) and goes for $595 + $22 shipping, and is a pretty nice rifle (there are two lower and two higher grades). The same Service Grade rifle will likely be priced and additional $200 or more at a gun show, as will a retail Big 5 import stamped dog.

As far as a SHTF rifle, a Garand might be good for outside the house on a farm or a ranch, but has way too much over-penetration for inside the home or in an urban or suburban setting if you care at all about collateral damage, as the '06 round can go through a number of stick built houses, taking out anybody in the way. I think a shotgun, carbine or handgun might serve better for home protection, but that's JMO.

[Levetti]

I regularly see them for $800-900 in the SF Bay area. Like mentioned above you would need about $100 dollars worth of gages to check everything youself, but most shops won't sell guns that aren't previosly inspected for function (headspace, firing pin protrusion, bore, gas block function, bolt group, etc). Stay away from shady sellers and just check that the op rod functions smoothly and it clicks when you pull the trigger and you should be fine.

[ham]

why not CMP?

I'm not a U.S. citizen.

[old-trapper]

I have one for sale in here with dies, brass,leather sling and clips for $950. it is a unfired DCM rebuild from the 80s. I dont like the new wood etc on the current dcm guns. This on is just a nice clean piece of us history. It is so nice i want to sleep with it but I need the room in my safe for 3 new gn i just got.....look me up.

[old-trapper]

national match op rod on mine

[kwansao]

Triple a sporting goods in Vallejo has 2

[GMG]

Tagged.

[Eljay]

I would ask around / post on the want to buy forum and try to get a CMP gun second hand. Service grade and up is all good stuff, and there's probably somebody out there who got new birch wood who would be willing to part with their rifle at cost or a few bucks above in order to try again and maybe get USGI wood this time. Since you're interested in a shooter anyway, that might work out for everybody.

[campperrykid]

Rings true:

I would ask around / post on the want to buy forum and try to get a CMP gun second hand. Service grade and up is all good stuff, and there's probably somebody out there who got new birch wood who would be willing to part with their rifle at cost or a few bucks above in order to try again and maybe get USGI wood this time. Since you're interested in a shooter anyway, that might work out for everybody.

Same general idea , just another possible resource :
The GCA Journal often has nice shooter rebuillt Garands for sale in the classified ad section at decent prices. Might be worth the annual dues just for the chance to buy from ads in a publication that supports ethical dealings.