Civilian Marksmanship Program

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Smash05

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Jul 16, 2007
Messages
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Looking at maybe picking up a Garand in the near future - have people had good luck?
 
I have seen a few of them. I'm not sure which grade they were, but they were pretty rough, as in well used. I guess you pays your money and takes your chances.

Before you order one from CMP, scroll through the listings on gunbroker and compare.
 
I got a sweet Garand, but it was a few years ago when they had more to choose from, this was 2005. I went to Camp Perry and hand selected one. I don't think you can go wrong as long as you get a higher grade, I think I paid $550 for mine back then. The stock sucked, but I didn't care about that. I redid the stock and it looks really sweet.
 
ive seen some really nice service grade ones, and some not so nice service grade ones.

the next step up is usually good, but for the price of those you might as well just go to a gunshow or something
 
If you are patient, you pick up a used one from someone who has moved on to a different rifle for similar money. Then you can assess if the price and quality are a good value for you. FWIW, my last one came from an estate sale for ~$375 that had a rough stock and great metal; a real keeper in my book.
 
Four years or so ago, I bought 2 of the Service Grade M 1 Garands from the DCM, but since I desired the Winchester made rifles, also from the Danish Lend Lease batch, I waited for almost 11 months prior to them being shipped. Each was tagged with the results of the air guage of the bore, and while neither looked like new, the both perfom admirabley. Either of them will do better than I and my old eyes can, I have spent no money on either of them, although I did do some stock sanding, and later rubbed linseed oil back into it. At the time I believe I paid $550 each, plus shipping, and would certianly do so again if I wanted another. As it is, I have only sent maybe 3K rounds down range with them, and they will be going strong long after I'm gone. I have seldom seen anything decent at gun shows for less than $8 or 9 hundred, so think I got a good deal. I also have an Carbine, 30 cal M-1 which I purchased, as well as an old 30 -40 Krag and 1911 my father bought from same source, all which have performed well.
I specifically desired both the carbine and the garand, as those were my issued weapens at various times when I was in Korea, before the M 14 had been adapted for the Army.
 
IMHO, CMP is the only way to buy a Garand unless you are looking for something very specific and know exactly what you are looking at. If you buy one from them, you know it has been headspace checked, the muzzle wear gaged, and at least test fired. You can be sure that it's not a put together one using a welded receiver or any of the other of myriad of problems that can and do arise when Garand shopping. Also, if you have a problem after the purchase, you can call and talk to one of their armorers and get help resolving the problem up to and including returning the firearm for another. Try that with you local gun dealer or with someone off Gunbroker.

Also the prices though the CMP are by far and away better than you will likely find anywhere else for comparable quality, and the service elsewhere won't even come close. Yes, there's always the chance you're going to run across some widow selling an original gas-trap Garand for $500, but don't count on it.

If you're looking for a shooter, get a field grade and know you're probably going to get a good shooter even if it's not a beauty queen. Go to their site, read the descriptions and assume that whatever you order is going to be the minimum to meet the description. You won't be dissapointed and you might even be pleasantly surprised.

But, be aware that the waits for CMP items right now are very long.....90 - 120 days if I remember correctly.

I've gotten 2 Garands, a 1903a3, and an M1 carbine from the CMP and have never been disappointed. I'll likely be getting another Garand in October. I'm going to the Garand Collectors Association convention which is being held at the CMP this year. I may even get to pull it out of the crate myself.:cool: Can't wait to get good and greasy.
 
Getting a Garand from the CMP is a wonderful experience, there's nothing like getting a rifle delivered directly to your door.

It's true that some of the guns are a bit rough cosmetically, but they'll all shoot. If it doesn't the CMP will make it right. Plus there is no better way to get a Garand at a good price. Expect to pay at least a $1k for a Garand at a gun show or at a store. In contrast you can get a perfectly good service grade rifle from the CMP for $595.
 
The CMP is also offer a grade called the CMP Special, here is their description...

M1 Garand Springfield Armory receiver. New production stock and handguard set with CMP cartouche, a new production barrel and new web sling. Receiver and most other parts are refinished USGI, but some parts may be new manufacture. $995.00

I know you won't touch one like that at a gun show for under 1500 bucks, probably more.
 
Pay attention locally, and tell your friends that you're looking for one. I got a Garand in decent shape for $600 last night. It's got an import stamp, and a previous buyer put a new stock on it. There used to be racks full of these at Woolworth's, and they're still out there now, hiding in small collections and spare bedrooms.
 
Garands are simply fantastic rifles. For a .30-06, they are amazingly easy to shoot, and suprisingly accurate using just irons.
 
+1 on being accurate. i was out shooting with some friends who had scopes on their bolt action 30 06 rifles and i had a paratrooper model garand with open sights. shooting at a target at over 300 yards i was outshooting the guys with scopes. if you have never shot or handled an m1, be careful that you dont end up with an m1 thumb :D.
 
I bought my CMP Garand 5 years ago and ordered a "service grade" rifle. I attached a small note to my paperwork explaining that I was a WWII buff and would appreciate it if they could send a rifle with a serial number from the war years. I was told they wouldn't honor requests , but I included the polite note anyway...

I received a beautiful SA rifle with a mid 1944 serial number and a very good stock. I was very pleased with the experience, but I had to take a day off from work to receive the package. :)
 
If you can. make the trip to the North or South CMP store and pick out your own. I have three from the CMP. One I ordered, a rack grade, a service grade I picked up the North store at Camp Perry and one I build from a CMP receiver and stock. You can not go wrong going with the CMP. The gun will me worth more than what you paid for it the minute you receive if from them,

M1Garand-2.jpg
 
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