CMP..... Which one to choose for a shooter?

[Norsemen308]

I heard CMP has a good lot of Garands at the time. WHich one would you select for a shooter? THis isnt a coffee table gun, I want to shoot the hell out of it and even take a deer or two in the future with it. WHich would you choose?

[CEDaytonaRydr]

Rack grade Springfield, but they don't have any at the moment. Get a field grader and call it a day. The service grade rifles have new stocks and gauge a little better but the field graders are just fine....

[TRICKSTER]

Rack grade Springfield, but they don't have any at the moment. Get a field grader and call it a day. The service grade rifles have new stocks and gauge a little better but the field graders are just fine....

Field Grades are luck of the draw. You may get a nice one or you may get one with a worn barrel, good choice if you can pick one in person and see what you are getting, but mail order can be risky. I have been to both stores and trust me, some of the field grades are real dogs.
They are not offering service grades at this time, but if you are not in a hurry, they will be offered again in the future, but expect the price to be higher as CMP has announced that a price increase for all grades is in the works.

If you have the cash, and want one now, I would get a RM1SPECIAL / Special Grade M1 Garand. $995 and you get a rebuilt to basically new condition M1 Garand with a new commercial barrel.

[Norsemen308]

^dam your honesty LOL, i really dont want to buy collector grade but everyone is so mixed lol guess Ill just have to pony up to the big guy

[1-M-42]

Earlier this year I got two Service Grade Springfields and a Special Grade Springfield. It was almost impossible to visually tell them apart. The special had the new Criterion barrel and the parts were ALL Springfield and were almost all brand new. All three were 5.8 Million serial numbers. I bought the Special to shoot in competition after I finish getting it even more ready. Both Service grades gauged at 1 on both ends. They were in incredible shape. I've seen some really great Field Grades but what Trickster said about it being the luck of the draw is true. If you've got the money you won't be disappointed by the Special, that's for sure. If you can wait, I think you'll find the same is true for the Service Grade as well

[Norsemen308]

their site says the service grades are instock? just not the winchester service grades...

thank you for your imput 1-m-42

[stevie]

The service grade specials are in stock, not the standard service grades.

The SG specials should make for a good shooter.

[TRICKSTER]

their site says the service grades are instock? just not the winchester service grades...

thank you for your imput 1-m-42

Those are the SA and HRA Service Grade Specials for $895. These are nice rifles with correct/collector grade metal and new walnut stocks. The normal service grades were $595 for SA & HRA and $795 for WRA. If you want to save a hundred bucks and go for one of these that would be up to you, but most people buy these and try and locate a correct USGI stock to make a correct collector's rifle. Whatever you decide, I would send in the order soon before the prices go up.

[Justintoxicated]

Wwhats the easiest way to locate a correct USGI stock? The CMP special would probably be the best shooter since it has a new barrel, but I personally went for the SG Special.

[doug-y-doug]

How long does it normally take for them to restock a particular grade after it sells out? Where do you guys think they'll go with the price increases? +$100? By how much did they increase the prices last time?

[Orlando]

Do not get a Rack or Field Garde by mail order, more than likely they will need rebarreled
I have handled many many hundreds of them at the North Store and while they are a few gems mixed in most of them have tomato stakes for barrels. If you can get to a store the Field Grades are worth a look but you will have to go through them all and maybe find a decent shooter
Do yourself a favor and get a Service Grade or better
I expect the Service Grades to be back in stock after the first of the year and maybe a $25.00 -$50.00 increse (only a guess)

[Flintlock Tom]

I went to the GCA matches in Phoenix back in Sept. and looked over the rifles that CMP brought out. I was in the market for a field grade shooter, but, the samples they brought were real dogs: mis-matched wood, really worn metal and some still had dirt ground into the very worn butt-plates.
I ended up going with a H&R service grade special.

[Orlando]

Wwhats the easiest way to locate a correct USGI stock? The CMP special would probably be the best shooter since it has a new barrel, but I personally went for the SG Special.

If you are trying to make your SG Special correct by replacing the stock it would have been better to buy a Correct Grade
A very good condition properly stamped SA Post War stock/handguards will run you $200.00-$250.00 unless you find a real deal somewhere

[mls343]

Wait for a Service Grade. Even with the price increase estimated at $100.00, it is still a heck of a bargain.

Just my $0.02

[Eljay]

The service grade specials are *really* nice right now. The metal looks unused (they were test fired, but no visible wear). Everything's matching/correct other than the stock of course. So I'd get that or a correct grade if you really want a USGI stock. The CMP specials (the rebuilt ones) are of course nice as well but I don't think it makes sense to spend the extra hundred bucks given how nice the service grade specials are right now.