Comparison: CMP Garand or built from receiver?

[Deus Machina]

Alright, I thinking seriously now, and debating whether I want to save up the $600 or $700 to get a field grade from the CMP, or spend $150 here for a receiver, a bit there for the barrel, there for the gas block...

I have tools and the means to make more and experience as a machinist, just not professionally. I'm just unfamiliar enough to not know how hard it would be to find all the parts, if there's any caveats I don't know about building a Garand, and just how much more it would cost to make it from parts.

Even the satisfaction of assembling something of your own gets ruled out by price after a certain point, especially when the cheaper option might allow you to say "This probably shot at Germans."

 

[kaferhaus]

There's no way you can build one for any less than what a CMP will cost you. Chances are good you'd end up with 8-900 in it and as most parts will be "used" you'll have no idea whether or not they're any good. The folks that are selling the receivers already determined that they'd make more money parting the rifle out than putting it into serviceable condition. That should be enough info right there...

Just as likely as the "this more than likely shot at germans" is the likely hood that it was a garrison or training rifle that was then given to the Korean's or some S. American country after the Korean war and never shot at anybody. Most of the Garands and carbines ever produced never left US shores until after the war....

 

[conhntr]

Field grade even with the price increase is 550$ shipped to your front door... They are a pretty dang good deal

 

[HKGuns]

Agree with all of the above. It will cost you significantly more to build one up from parts. Just buy from the CMP and start with a good base rifle in the grade you can afford.

 

[Deus Machina]

I know parts would cost more. I also know I'd be getting a receiver that's not completely beat up and a good barrel.

But even calling it the 'installment plan', it seems so far that the consensus is that the cost would be considerably more, and that available parts might be shoddy.

So, if the CMP's written representation of their field grades is sort of a worst-case thing, I think I'll probably just start putting $50 away here and there.

In this case, I'm starting to think that the historical value--not to mention that I don't have another to study--outweighs the satisfaction of building something on my own.

 

[Geneseo1911]

Not sure where Brandon, FL is, but the CMP south store is in Anniston, AL. You can hand pick your rifle and get what you want, be that a great barrel, a WWII S/N, a nice stock, or whatever. You also don't have to worry about headspacing or parts being out of spec. For what you get, I would say that a CMP M1 is the best deal going in the firearms world. When they run out.....you won't be able to buy one at twice the price.

For $495, I got a "field grade" made in the 50's with 80% finish, a nice (for being 60 years old) matching walnut stock, and a barrel with very little wear (ME 1+). If you can go pick one out, you can save some money and the experience of being surrounded by all those old rifles is magical.

Be aware that the CMP guns have been re-arsenaled many times. You might find a receiver that "shot at the Germans", but the rest of the gun will be a mishmash of parts from different makers and eras. You can get a "correct grade", which is assembled of parts that came from the same factory at about the same time, but they are a bunch more money.

I hear you about wanting to build one and buy it one piece at a time (Johnny Cash style!), but I'm sure you know that the M1 isn't as simple to put together as an AR.

 

[HILLBILLY-06]

So, if the CMP's written representation of their field grades is sort of a worst-case thing, I think I'll probably just start putting $50 away here and there.

In this case, I'm starting to think that the historical value--not to mention that I don't have another to study--outweighs the satisfaction of building something on my own.

I went through all of that when I got my M1 Garand. I weigh'd options, pinched pennies, tried saving for two years to build or buy one. Something alway's came up that was more important at the time. "FINALLY", I was just off one weekend, stoped into a pawn-shop to browse around some, and "Hey" I met a dude there that builds and sell's M1 Garands. Now being it was his own work, you had all sorts of options too on parts, barrels, stock sets, sights, Standard rifle, NM rifle, M1C, M1D, all kinds of eye candy and food for thought in this place. You could even choose G.I. barrel used, or NOS, or civilian barrel replacements as well. You could choose aftermarket Repro G.I. scopes for the M1C & M1D, or the real McCoy from the old days. Now some of these options could cause "sticker-shock" to say the least, BUT... I had the option here to "trade in stuff" from my other non everyday guns. So, I got me an M1 Garand, All G.I. metal parts, NOS barrel SA dated 2-55, Reciever is SA from 1944, New BOYD walnut stock set, and a sling.
So, hang in there dude, and shop around on your time off, it can really lead to better things later on when you least expect it.

 

[Deus Machina]

Yeah, I'm good with my hands, but without something to inspect and reverse-engineer, it can get a little overwhelming.

Really, I don't mind whether or not I can say "this was at Normandy" or whatever, but having something that was actually issued would be nice. I've been wondering what happened to my grandfather's M1, but with various uncles involved...

I don't mind a beat-up stock. If it's field wear, I actually prefer it. Honest stuff. If it's wear from knocking around in the racks, I might refinish. I prefer my used guns to look used, to some extent, because that makes me feel like I can actually use them.

No way I'm getting up to Alabama in the foreseeable future, though. Or else I would. I might not even order one on my C&R, because I haven't been at home often enough to actually sign for anything.

As for making one, it would be a repro. Something like a Garand, I wouldn't feel right changing anything by maybe putting on new sights. They just seem right as-is.

Edit: Enjoy the Cash reference, too. That's actually how I got my first mill and lathe built, several paintball markers, a motorcycle (WIP), my AK and Carcano...

 

[Geneseo1911]

As I said, mine is a field grade, but it probably should have been a service grade. Anyway, if you order a service grade, you can expect it to look at least as good as this one:

Many of those dents steamed out pretty well. You can also put a request on your order form for a good barrel, a good stock, etc, and they will try to find what you want. My only caution if you order one, is to request a GI stock instead of the new birch stock. It is an awful unnatural orange color, although some guys have had luck staining them and making them look better. Or you could request better metal and plan to put it in a new CMP walnut stock , which is quite reasonable.

 

[mgkdrgn]

there is a reason why older cars are chopped for parts when stolen rather than sold whole

same goes for older guns

no way you are going to "roll your own" and get nearly the quality for the $ you will get from CMP

 

[Cal-gun Fan]

Yeah, I'm good with my hands, but without something to inspect and reverse-engineer, it can get a little overwhelming.

Really, I don't mind whether or not I can say "this was at Normandy" or whatever, but having something that was actually issued would be nice. I've been wondering what happened to my grandfather's M1, but with various uncles involved...

I don't mind a beat-up stock. If it's field wear, I actually prefer it. Honest stuff. If it's wear from knocking around in the racks, I might refinish. I prefer my used guns to look used, to some extent, because that makes me feel like I can actually use them.

No way I'm getting up to Alabama in the foreseeable future, though. Or else I would. I might not even order one on my C&R, because I haven't been at home often enough to actually sign for anything.

As for making one, it would be a repro. Something like a Garand, I wouldn't feel right changing anything by maybe putting on new sights. They just seem right as-is.

Edit: Enjoy the Cash reference, too. That's actually how I got my first mill and lathe built, several paintball markers, a motorcycle (WIP), my AK and Carcano...

You don't need an FFL to order one from the CMP. They have some sort of license or agreement where they can ship one directly to your house, no FFL or nada.

 

[P-32]

My take on the question....The CMP sells stripped receivers and you can buy an aftermarket barrel from them. Things are good so far, Right? Finding all of the parts is going to be a pain. There are some aftermarket parts not worth the time or the money to order them. (read JUNK)

A few years back, one probably could have come up with USGI parts but that day is long gone. While not impossible, finding a decent gas cylinder and op rod is going to take some time and money. Putting a trigger group together would be a long drawn out process. Forget finding a WWII era barrel worth anything.

What to do…..I like the idea of getting a rack grade. You can put a new barrel on it, you can put new wood on it. You can make it look like it’s new. With the rack grade you will in the end save yourself from headaches and spinning tires. IMHO.

Thinking about it, if you want to make sure you win't get hurt, the CMP still have Correct grades. These are expensive, but you will not be hurt. My H&R looked like it had never been issued and I know it would an easy sell for way more than I have in it. And I shoot it. It's going to take me awhile to wear it out.

I know this was not what you had in mind but to even come close to your desires the rack grade will fit it. The rack grades didn't become rack grades from sitting around. In 2007 I picked out a rack grade from the North store which turned out to be about three parts away from being WWII correct. This included the lock bar rear sight, the narrow front sight and an uncut op rod..

 

[Orlando]

Parts are easy to find just very expensive compared to a very nice $625.00 Service Grade
Its a no brainer

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Among other issues like regarding service checks of varied components and the tools and test blocks required - I would talk to some one about the requirements involved in barreling a Garand receiver before getting into this.

The correctly securing of the barrel and the right wrench block to not damage the receiver are incentive enough to have it done elsewhere by an out fit that has already learned the mistakes.

Many's the adventurous fella who has said "I've got the tools and the basic know-how and hell - I've barreled actions before" Then run into crap barrel blocks, sub standard vices/clamps, incompatible barrels/receivers and unwarned indexing issues to name but a few of the pit falls.

 

[HILLBILLY-06]

Many's the adventurous fella who has said "I've got the tools and the basic know-how and hell - I've barreled actions before" Then run into crap barrel blocks, sub standard vices/clamps, incompatible barrels/receivers and unwarned indexing issues to name but a few of the pit falls.

Gee, I sure am glad Henry Ford didn't feel that unlucky, But you do make a very important point about building a rifle from parts. "Propper good working Tools" is an absolute must have to safely, and confidently build any firearm. Even then there must be attention to every detail, such as the ones you mentioned above, and a certain skill to get you through it. But with all this in hand, Building a rifle can be done, and searching for the right parts is still not that bad. Sometimes its a little difficult to just get one part, when some guy has a whole box of NOS parts he's trying to move. Plus the one you can build or have someone build, won't be any different from some of the ones on the CMP rack for sale. The may have all GI parts, but sometimes mixed manufature. That don't mean they are lousey rifles, just not as desirible to some as an all matching parts rifle. Good luck with you decision though in any case. After all, it's like they said before, it really depends on how much you really want to spend. I don't know why exactly, but around here, a decent looking M1C or M1D goes between $2,000.00 & $3,000.00 depending on lots of factors. There's even a place on the internet, some collectors aassosiation, has some of those listed for upward of $9,000.00 But that's surely a topic for another discussion.

 

[FlyinBryan]

Parts are easy to find just very expensive compared to a very nice $625.00 Service Grade
Its a no brainer

listen to this man.

it is absolutely a no brainer.

they are headspaced. they are checked and spec'd in all critical dimensions. if there is a problem with your rifle they fix it,,,,,,fast,,,,,,,,for free.

they are the best thing going in the m1 garand department. no one is even close.

 

[plodder]

CMP Field Grade Sprinfield on top, Service Grade HRA on bottom. For the extra $100 I would suggest the Service Grade, but I am very happy with both. They are a little ugly when you get them, but using multiple treatments of whiting powder mixed with acetone, then steel wooled off, you can get almost all of the decades worth of oil & grease out of the walnut. After a light sanding and rubbing in of fresh Tung Oil, they are beautiful with a lot of "character". They are Korean war era and if only they could talk..........