Garand rebarrel decision

[Monte Harrison]

I have a Garand made in 1943 with the original barrel still on it. I'm pretty sure the trigger group is not original, since it is Winchester and the barrel and receiver are Springfield. Don't know if the stock and op rod are original. It could really use a new barrel. If I replace the barrel, does that reduce the rifle's collector appeal, and therefore, value? Would it be smarter to sell this rifle as is, and get another one from CMP? I'd have a hard time parting with it, since it was my first M1. Y'all make up my mind.

 

[Steve Smith]

An original barrel doesn't significantly increase the value unless all the rest is there. I say rebarrel it and enjoy it.

 

[C.R.Sam]

Agree with Steve.


Sam

 

[Old Fuff]

I'd rebarrel it. So long as you keep the original one the process can be reversed if you or anyone else in the future want's it that way.

 

[RustyHammer]

Rebarrel to .308!

 

[Nightcrawler]

Rebarrel to .308!

And while you're at it, convert a .357 Sig pistol to 9x19mm!

To each his own, I guess, but I can't imagine what anyone would want with a .308 Garand. *shrug*

 

[Carnitas]

$150/K surplus ammo perhaps?

 

[Nightcrawler]

Yes, but why not then just buy an M14 clone? This goes doubly so for those that want to convert M1s to take detachable box magazines. Why spend so much time and effort getting an M1 to be more like an M14? Why bother having a long-action Garand fire a short cartridge? I've handled both the M1 and the M14; there doesn't seem to be a significant hanlding difference between the two, and in truth the M14 is the direct descendant of the M1.

To each his own, I suppose, but I wouldn't want to change the cartridge of a Garand anymore than I'd want to rechamber a Krag, a Springfield 1903, or any other vintage rifle.

 

[Destructo6]

Why rebarrel a Garand to .308? Well, I have a Garand and not a M1A. It would make more sense to rebarrel the Garand in .308 to go with the 3 other .308 rifles I own than to buy an entirely new rifle (and accessories).

Your complaint about converting to the detachable mag Garand is agreed to, but I don't believe I would notice a change to .308, except when I pay for ammo.

 

[Swampy]

Nightcrawler wrote:

To each his own, I suppose, but I wouldn't want to change the cartridge of a Garand anymore than I'd want to rechamber a Krag, a Springfield 1903, or any other vintage rifle.

I'm with Destruct66 on this issue.... Of all the Garands I own, I only own one in .308 (my IHC Match Grade), but it definitely is my favorite to shoot.

The ammo issue comes to the fore here. M2 ball is getting scarce and is already half again (in some cases TWICE) the cost of good surplus .308. I do handload most of my ammo now, both '06 and .308, but even with milsurp powder and bullets I can't reload .308 for what I can buy Port, SA, or now even the Aussie stuff for (.15 to .17 cents a pop). In the future it would be nice to have a good "practice rifle" for which I could shoot a lot of decently cheap ammo and also NOT have to reload for. A .308 Garand would be ideal for me......

I already have a couple of candidates in my safe with less than stellar barrels that I'm just itching to send off for one of the Champions Choice Douglas re-barrels....... in .308.

BTW, I own a very nice SA M1-A, with a Douglas barrel, and it's a mondo wundermus shooter....... but since I started shooting M1's a few years back I bet it hasn't been out of the safe more than 2-3 times.

The Garand is MY baby...... and in .308 it's the greatest thing since sliced bread and bottled beer.

Just my 2 bits,
Swampy

Garands forever

 

[Monte Harrison]

Yes, but why not then just buy an M14 clone?

Money, honey. A new barrel costs a couple hundred, an M1A goes for upwards of a grand. I'm going to keep my Garand '06 at least for now, with a takeoff barrel that is a bit better than the one it has, partly for sentimentality and partly because I'm too cheap to buy a new barrel.

 

[Khornet]

.308 Garands

are historically correct, too. The Navy, being smarter than the other services as usual, issued them in .308 for awhile.

 

[Gator]

Monte,

You WILL, absolutely, 100%, without a doubt, no way around it decrease the value of your Garand by removing the original barrel. If you are not going to shoot it I would sell and buy another fron the CMP. Actually, you could get more than enough for a new M1 by selling just the stripped, barreled '43 receiver.

You should also do more research on the other parts you have; a complete Winchester trigger group could possibly be worth a couple hundred by itself, some op rods go for big bucks too, and the rarer stocks are approaching $1000. Original flush-nut sights are up to $400. You PROBABLY do not have any rare parts on your rifle....but check before you sell!

 

[dude]

Rebarrel to .308!

 

[Steve Smith]

Hmm, Gator brings up a good point. There is always the possibility that some nut out there will pay outrageous amounts of money for some little dingus on your rifle. Make the guy's day and take his money. Check it out first.