CMP M1 GARAND RACK GRADE

[MrTwigg]

It looks like CMP is running out of M1's. I held off when they still had Service grade available and now all that's left are the Rack Grade.

Are these "Worth It" as shooters ? I'm not looking to win any NRA matches with it I'd just like to be able to hit targets at 100 - 200 yards.

Which I can do with a variety of other rifles using iron sights.

Opinions ?

 

[HankB]

READ the description of the "Rack Grade" rifles at the CMP website - it's virtually certain that you will get a rifle that meets the description. It's likely that it will barely meet the description.

Rack Grade Rifles are mechanically the same as Field Grade rifles above, but will show more wear on many of their parts, may have more pitting on the metal parts than a Service Grade rifle. Wood will be sound, but well used, with cracks, poor fit, and many dents and gouges. Throat erosion will be 5 or more and muzzle wear may be over a 3 on a muzzle gauge. Because the overall appearance and condition will generally be rougher than any other grade, rifles in this grade are considered poor to fair.

Unless you have an opportunity to shop one of the stores in person, you are very unlikely to get a rifle that's "better" than that grade's minimum description.

I have a USGI Service Grade and a Greek return SG . . . both of these are mixmasters but are late serial numbers (5.9 and 5.8 million serial number ranges respectively), have good barrels, and decent wood, though there's some binding of the op rod on the Greek that I haven't fixed yet.

A USGI Field Grade arrived with a barrel gaging 4.5 on throat erosion, a loose rear sight, buttplate worn almost smooth, and a stock that looks as if it had been chewed on by rabid beavers. (On the plus side, it's a WWII SA with what may be the original barrel.) Did it meet the FG spec? Yes . . . and actually the TE was just a hair better than the "5 or more" called for, so I have no actual basis to make a formal complaint. It's just that I'm not one of the lucky ones who supposedly got SG rifles for FG prices.

I've heard some of the rack grades can be mighty ratty . . .

 

[SoCalShooter]

I intend to order the same set of rifles, but I intend to rebuild them. You may need to rebarrel them.

 

[thumper723]

I ordered a greek racker about a year ago.

It was TW 2 MW 2.5 when I gauged it.

NM Op-Rod as well, and a SMOOOTH Milled IHC trigger.

Ugly ass stock though. Gas cylinder is perfect, but in the white almost.

Shoots great.

In my and my friends experience, the CMP description is the absolout worst it will be. Mine was much nicer. The stock was the only crummy thing. Total mix-master (SA 6-43 reciever, 8-55 barrel, H&R bolt, IHC trigger, NM op rod) but shoots better than me.

 

[Cerca Trova]

Mr. Twigg,

CMP for the ammo, but you can do much better in finding a shooter/keeper. If you want to shoot/restore/pass on this fine battle rifle, buy the best you can afford now. I did in January, and for a correct grade, rebarreled SA 7-43, it shoots lights out. Picked up an appropriate bayonet for it as well. It is now, for me at least, heirloom quality and a tangable link to history.

CT

 

[donkee]

I just went to The North Store today. I looked through the woodless danes, found 2 that were 2.5MW and 3,3.5TE.

Got a racker that is 3MW and 4TE with a stock that should iron out pretty good, gonna take a bit of time to do it though.

Picked up a couple rounds of Greek 30-06 too......

All in all, pretty happy with my "projects"...