Obligatory CMP Garand pics (and range report)

[joemoia]

I received a CMP 308 Special Grade Garand a couple of weeks ago but hadn't gotten around to posting any pics. I finally had some time to post a couple today. The rifle is marked Springfield Armory SN 3735XXX, which puts its original manufacture date in May 1945. The second pic shows the spacer block (white object) which precludes loading 30-06 ammo into the rifle. pics were taken before I cleaned it after shooting which explains the powder marks on the spacer blocks.





I've had the rifle out once with 3 friends, shooting approx. 50 rds of Portaguese Milsurp 7.62 (FNM 81-19) that I wanted to get rid of (Berdan primed). A couple of observations:

1. The felt recoil of the 308 is significantly less than the 30-06. One of the guys brought out his 30-06 Garand and everybody commented on how "soft" the 308 recoil was compared to the 30-06 version.

2. The rifle is amazingly accurate. We were "plinking" bowling pins @ 200 yds from a rest. The rifle was fired straight out of the case, no cleaning, no detailed strip, no formal zeroing, nada. After firing 2 rounds to establish a sight picture I had 6 "hits" from the first clip. Firing a 2nd clip at approx 1 rd/2 sec intervals I had 7 out of 8 hits. The other shooters had similar results. I consider myself an average (i.e. mediocre) shooter with 60 + yr old eyes, reflexes and nerves. I have 5 other modern iron sight 308 rifles (including an M1A) and NONE of them shoots as well as this rifle.

The Garand is my new favorite rifle and my only regret is that after tomorrow's weekly shoot I will be disassembling the rifle to refinish the stock, so no more shooting it for a while.

[stevie]

Nice looking rifle, sounds like you got a winner

[SanPedroShooter]

I didnt realize the CMP was selling .308's now.

I guess I need to check their website.

Good job and nice rifle.

I love my Garand over all the others I own. Even if I dont shoot it much. They are works of art and fighting rifles.

We wont see their like again. The CMP deal is one of the best buys in the gun world right now in my opinion.

[G-Man WC]

What year were Garand's switched from 06 to 308?
-g

[Orlando]

. The rifle was fired straight out of the case, no cleaning, no detailed strip, .

Not the best thing to do. I realize its a newly built rifle but every new firearm should be tore down cleaned and properly greased
I have seen alot of CMP Garands come bone dry , not a bit of grease on them for lubrication

[joemoia]

What year were Garand's switched from 06 to 308?
-g

AFAIK all Garands were manufactured in 30-06. The CMP "Special Grade" is a completely refurbished rifle using a SA receiver, new prod barrel, new prod stock and hand guard and possibly new prod internal parts. They can be ordered in 30-06 or 308 cal. You can also buy 308 Garands from Fulton Armory

In the 60's The US Navy converted some 30-06 Garands to 7.62 cal.

http://www.forgottenweapons.com/m1-garand-development/navy-7-62mm-garand-conversion/

[joemoia]

Not the best thing to do. I realize its a newly built rifle but every new firearm should be tore down cleaned and properly greased
I have seen alot of CMP Garands come bone dry , not a bit of grease on them for lubrication

There was some lube (not much) on the rifle when I received it. I didn't think 50 rds would hurt it and it didn't. I cleaned and greased the rifle after I took the pics

[Lifeon2whls]

It looks like you got the new Walnut stock. I have one on mine as well (HRA service grade) and have seen the Walnuts age over time. They darken and begin to look more like the GI stocks. I was thinking about oiling my stock but after that discovery decided against it...what are you planning to do to yours since you said you will be refinishing it?

[joemoia]

It looks like you got the new Walnut stock. I have one on mine as well (HRA service grade) and have seen the Walnuts age over time. They darken and begin to look more like the GI stocks. I was thinking about oiling my stock but after that discovery decided against it...what are you planning to do to yours since you said you will be refinishing it?

Yes, its a new walnut stock. A couple of my friends also said they would leave the stock alone. I'm going to put a couple of coats of linseed oil on it and maybe some wax.

[Eljay]

I'd just use boiled lindseed oil or tung oil (pure tung oil, not minwax tung oil finish which is mostly modern). It's the traditional finish and it's easy to put on and it works well. The only problem with the wax is that once you've added it you're kind of stuck with it. Only add it if you're really sure you want wax on it.