Garand vs. Springfield M1A

kamagong

kamagong

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I need a rifle. OK, so I probably don't need a rifle, but I really want one. I've had my eye on the Springfield M1A, and from what I've read it's a great rifle. It's certainly a looker. I've never been able to pull the trigger on one though as I think $1500 is a bit too much, at least it is for my tastes. I've been looking at the possibility of picking up a SKS, but truth be told, I find them ugly. I still want a semi-auto though, so lately I've been thinking about getting a CMP Garand as it is one of the few semi-autos that are available here in California. I have a few questions so please bear with me.

1. How are the CMP rifles? I'm thinking of getting a service grade Garand, which they describe as good to very good. Does anyone have any experience with them, I'm wondering how they'd do as a SHTF tool. Are they useable as is, or will I need to take it to a smith?
2. Are the CMP rifles C&R eligible? If they are that just might be enough motivation for me to contact the ATF and get my C&R license.
3. How does the Garand compare to the M1A? Accuracy? Durability?
4. What about the .308 vs. the 30-06? I know ammo prices are going through the roof, which caliber is cheaper?
5. Am I being nuts here? Can I trust my life to a 60-year-old rifle or should I just suck it up and buy the M1A?

That's all the questions I have for now. Thanks for all the help all.
 
I haven't done the CMP thing yet, but from what I hear the vast majority of people who do it love it. They are useable and smiths usually know how to fix them up if not too accurate. I have a Garand specialist out here in Tx if you get really desperate. Also, if for some reason you get something really valuble dont alter or shoot it! Yet again, I don't know how exactly CMP works so I don't know if they auction off their really rare stuff or just happen upon it and give it away.

Dude, you obviously have never watched Band of Brothers or Saving Private Ryan, yes it will do as a SHTF rifle (a shotgun would be a great purchase also here). But I gotta warn you, from one civilian to another, if you ever plan more than 8 rounds of fmj 30-06 you best be looking for something belt fed, body armor, and an APC.

I don't think they are on the C&R list, and if they were I think they would cost a fortune. Go ahead and get your C&R , but SKS's are not California Legal. You can get all the bolt action rifles that fought with and against your Garand with a C&R.

Accuracy can be as good as, but there is no reason to butcher a Garand if you want long range accuracy.The scope is wierd because of the enbloc clip (not magazine) and you are ruining a piece of history.

All ammo is going up, the good thing about both calibers is that you can find them everwhere. Surplus greek 30-06 is real cheap right now compared to what our GI's are using in Iraq. On my Shotgun news, front page 480 rounds of the Greek FMJ in garand clips is $150.

Yes you can trust your life to a Garand. I trust my life to a SKS and a Mosin Nagant on a regular basis, but that is another story. ;)

I hope I answered it all.
 
There are different grades of CMP rifles. One of them should suit you.
I've had 4 Garands and wish I still did. But if I had to pick one I'd choose the M1A. .308 ammo is probably going to be a little cheaper. The M1A is more accurate than the Garand, and the 308 more accurate than the 06, if truth be told.
The M1A is a little lighter. It's nice to have 20 rnd mags, too. You might find one used cheaper than the 1500 you mentioned.

But both are wonderful rifles. The Garand is not CR eligible, but you could trust your life to it.

munk
 
Garands and M1A's are basically the same operating system with changes in barrel length, sights, and method of feeding.
Both are reliable workhorses, battle proven, and can be very accurate with just a little love.
Carlos Hathcock WON at Camp Perry in the late 60's with a box stock 20+ yr old Garand!
I am on my 3rd Garand, a 1944 Springfield, and have a Socom 16 M1A variant.
I would trust my life, well except my rt. thumb, to either.

DaddyDett
 
I've aquired a couple Garands thru the CMP & been pleased with both. Study the website, meet the requirements, fill in the paperwork, & a FedEx truck will deliver to your door.
Uplander
 
308 vs 06: IF we're talking semi auto, I don't see the advantages of the 06, but there are advantages for the 308

Money wise there is still interest in the 308 because of NATO and surplus. Surplus 06 is much harder to find. There is more 'shoot em up' ammo in 308 than 06. Wolf makes cheap 308 for heavens sakes!
The 308 is more accurate. Look at all the records it took from the 06, civilian and military. Many gunwriters have felt over the years that the 308 was the second best or best factory round for accuracy. As the 222 isn't too common anymore, that leaves the 308
IF you are talking about hunting, the 06 is more versatile. It can handle heavier bullets. I have to ask; are you going to put 220 or 200 gr hunting bullets in your Garand? You'd have to take some care doing that, at least a lot of people think so. And when you're done, is that really the best tool to hunt the game indicated by the bullet weights?

The discussion changes if we're talking about a bolt. But even then, I live in Montana, and if I want a heavier gr weight bullet than 180, I grab a bigger cartridge, I don't use my 06.

Both weapons have heavy bullet loadings for target. The M14 stripped the Garand of the military target records just like the AR took them from the M14 (It just took the AR 20 years of further development to do it)

It always boils down to what you want to do.

I would feel OK with either weapon. The Garand is trustworthy even if it has more small moving parts. Though I'm from the paranoid school of life, and prefer 20 round mags to 8 round clips, the Garand is fine if the shooter is fine.

It says a lot that we would even discuss a 70 year + old military semi auto as a weapon.

"My SHTF rifle needs to be lightweight, and reasonably accurate mag capacity and speed of fire are not priorities to me because I'd be moving into the woods and shooting at moose, caribou, etc. eating is a bigger concern than invading UN soldiers or something like that here in Alaska.

If you're nearer a big city, with more mean people, or looking at a barricading type situation, either full sized military rifle would probably serve you well." RWS

That makes a lot of sense.



munk
 
In the assault rifles ........in order..............:-)
1. FN FAL
2. H & K
3. BM 59
4. AK
5. Springfield M1A
 
Valuable insight all. As to trying to address my needs, remember that our semi-auto rifle selection in CA is pretty limited. Off the top of my mind I can only think of four rifles that are available here--the Garand, the M1A and its variants, the SKS, and the Mini-14.

Another thing to consider is that we also do not have 20-rounders available here. We're limited to ten, and from what I've seen they're pretty expensive locally compared to other places. So it seems that the eight shots of the Garand fare pretty well compared to the ten shots of the M1A. And I think it's much more affordable to stock up on the eight shot clips of the Garand that it is the ten round magazines of the M1A.

I appreciate your guys' thoughts about the weight of the Garand. Truth be told, I don't think I'd ever bug out to the hills. I'm actually more worried about what could happen should the Big One hit as I'm in earthquake country and the levees nearby are starting to show their age. Because of my family I'd have to dig in and prepare to defend the old homestead. In that case weight probably won't be much of an issue.

That's all I can think of for now. Keep the good suggestions coming guys! :thumbup:
 
The Garand weighs in at about 10.3 lbs, the M1A at about 9.3. lbs.
Yeah, with a load-out of 120 rds, either is a lead sled compared to an AR or AK/AKM.
The .308 and 30-06 have appr. 1/3 greater effective range, and even with ball ammo
are IMHO much more valid survival hunting rounds.
While we do own .223 weapons, Lil Bit would be grabbing the Garand, and I the Socom 16 in a SHTF scenario. I guess the boys would be schleppin the AR's as 2nd echelon weapons.

One point to consider as well, Kamagong....
10 rd mags in the M1A are a pain in the fingers.
They are not that easy to get in and out of the weapon.

DaddyDett
 
The BM-59 is a cross between the Garand and the M1A, but made to much higher quality standards than either one and with some improvements, like a straight-in and out magazine. It is also shorter and lighter than the garand.
However, anybody familiar with the basic Garand action will immediately be competent with the BM-59.
 
yes nice rifle for sure. made in Italy. I almost bought one. Sorry I didn't, they are hard to find now.
 
308 vs 06: IF we're talking semi auto, I don't see the advantages of the 06, but there are advantages for the 308
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I picked up one of those limited edition M40 M600 Vietnam Era production sponsored by the SSA. It's a reproduction by Remington for the USMC Remington M40 issued during Vietnam. I couldn't get the original Redfield "Tombstone" scope. They were going for a couple of thousand on Ebay and so forth so I got a same power Leupold Mark 4 3-9x40mm w/mil dot reticle. This is my b*tch at the range. It is chambered in the original .308 (7.62 NATO). Snipers during the current conflict have used the .308 with the most current M40 very effectively during offensive maneuvers from rooftops and so forth. Prior to the original issue, snipers in Vietnam used a variety of deer type rifles, including GSgt Carlos Hatchcock who used a Winchester Model 70; .30-06. which he kept zeroed at 700 yards! Every round fired with my M40 is in honor of a fallen Marine during that period. I'm very religious about this and try to make every round count. Sadly, I don't think I will ever reach, 14,386 shots.

The .308 can be a monster from bolt action to fully automatic. .30-06 is a large round for large targets. That caliber has a lot of history behind it during WWII. But the M14 is still in service after all these years. Tough choice and good question. Sorry, I can't give a good answer or suggestion.
 
I would agree. At a Range where I was shooting the first rifle I personaly bought a gent was there with a BM-59. He let me fire about five rounds through it. I have to admit it was sweet.

Although I was happy with my No.4 Lee-Enfield I was putting through it's paces that afternoon.

Marc Adkins

Dr. Mudd said:
Almost nobody knows what or how nice they are now ... except for a few of us. :thumbup:
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