When you say last longer I assume you mean being able to fire more rounds before a failure? Then I would say yes. However, keep in mind that any part can fail on any given day but the odds are against it with a Special Grade rifle. Nice thing about the CMP is if you do experience a problem they are there for you with service and support. This can't generally be said of the guy you met walking the gun show last Saturday.
I didn't mean service life with my first question, I meant supply. My reasoning is: There are fewer complete Garands than there are Garand receivers. The CMP only needs a receiver to make a special grade rifle, most every other part is new, therefore, there are more potential special grade garands than there are complete garands in stock.When you say last longer I assume you mean being able to fire more rounds before a failure? Then I would say yes. However, keep in mind that any part can fail on any given day but the odds are against it with a Special Grade rifle. Nice thing about the CMP is if you do experience a problem they are there for you with service and support. This can't generally be said of the guy you met walking the gun show last Saturday.
As to:
In many cases the CMP removes shot out or worn barrels and replaces the barrel with a new manufacture aftermarket Criterion manufacture barrel. They head space the barrel with an added bolt and sell a barreled receiver with bolt, as can be seen on their website. They will be happy to sell the do it yourself types a barreled receiver.
The M1 Garand while a great rifle is also a pretty complex piece of machinery. Unless a perspective buyer knows the rifle inside out and wanders a gun show with a pocket full of gauges it becomes real easy to get a pig in a poke for a rifle. I am not saying all gun show sales of M1 Garands are bad or a pig in a poke rifle. I am saying unless someone really knows what to look for that the CMP is as great as sliced bread. You know what you are getting for your money with support after the sale.
I can show you parts I have removed from M1 Garands that are unserviceable parts. Those same unserviceable parts could easily be parkerized and placed in a rifle. They will look just as pretty as can be. I doubt you would want that rifle.
Ron
Well, I haven't shot one yet but I like historical weapons and have an affinity for iron sights (as well as young eyes which can make good use of them). If I can't get the Garand I'll probably go for a Ruger Gunsite Scout rifle. Though its a bolt action and not historically significant, it has desirable iron sights which are a priority for me.My bad in assuming service life. Initially when I read it I had it correct then let myself believe service life... Go Figure!
OK, let's look at what CMP says about the special grade rifles:
The problem I see is there are only so many of certain parts out there to be had. While aftermarket parts like stocks, hand guards, and even barrels are easy to come by many of the currently parts that are being refinished are not commercially available. For example parts like the operating rod or gas tube (I don't know of any aftermarket gas tubes) as well as many of the small parts like the bullet guide and like parts. Years ago (as little as 15 years ago) these parts were abundant and relatively inexpensive, they are slowly going away. They also have increased considerably in cost.
How long some of the marketed CMP variations will last is anyone's guess. One poster seeming in the know says based on their current sales they will have some rifle packages for another 3 years. I really don't know.
I have a few including an unusual match rifle actually chambered in 7mm-08 which is an odd Garand. I also have a good supply of parts to last me. If a private sale came my way for a good price I would likely grab it.
How long you wait is up to you. Life generally deals out other priorities over buying a new gun. If you have not done so already I suggest you borrow one if possible and shoot it. As I mentioned in an earlier post I have seen people buy an M1 Garand only to find out hindsight they really didn't care for the rifle.
Ron
Are the problems you mentioned a characteristic of the specials or are they just as likely to appear in any other CMP rifle of similar price and grade?
I agree that Orest is in the know but sometimes the things that he says are a little off in terms of time frames. I'm beginning to think that he simply enjoys getting the masses worked into a lather over on the CMP forum by making statements and giving bits of info here and there. In other words, I'm not sure that I take everything that he says as the gospel at this point.
Sorry, didn't know that. All my CMP dealings were in the older DCM days. So then I figure it is as good as gospel.
