FMJMIKE
Member
Just bought my first M1 Garand for $600. I got it from a guy at AR-15.com. Its a CMP Springfield Armory M1 Garand and was produced in 1944. I am extremely happy with it.....[
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My First Garand!
- Thread starter FMJMIKE
- Start date
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Nugilum
Member
Lookin' good!
When will you be able to take it out?
When will you be able to take it out?
shotgunjoel
Member
Pretty
Tim the student
Member
Looks great. How is the bore? It looks like it might be an original stock - is it? How does it shoot - we expect a range report NLT noon, BTW
Sunray
Member
There's something about an M1 Rifle that no other rifle has. I've shot a lot of battle rifles and not one comes close to an M1. I think it's the perfect balance. Not just because J.C. Garand was born in Canada.
The rifle was designed to use .30 M1 ammo with its 174.5 grain bullet. Not .30 M2 ammo's 152 grain bullet. Both Hornady and Federal(American Eagle and Gold Medal brand names) load M1 specific ammo. 150 grain FMJ's and 168 grain match bullets. You'll need clips too. Gunparts has 'em. $1.70 each. They have ammo belts, bayonets, slings(assorted) and most other accessories too.
There are free .pdf manuals available here. Note the need for the provided UN & PW. http://www.biggerhammer.net/manuals/
When you get that far, IMR4895/H4895, IMR4064 or Varget with 150, 168 or 175(both being match bullet$. 168's out to 600 yards, 175's past there) grain bullets. IMR4064 or Varget are more consistently accurate than IMR4895.
Full length resizing every time is required. You don't need CCI "milspec" primers. They're a marketing gimmick for magnum primers. Regular large rifle primers are just fine.
The rifle was designed to use .30 M1 ammo with its 174.5 grain bullet. Not .30 M2 ammo's 152 grain bullet. Both Hornady and Federal(American Eagle and Gold Medal brand names) load M1 specific ammo. 150 grain FMJ's and 168 grain match bullets. You'll need clips too. Gunparts has 'em. $1.70 each. They have ammo belts, bayonets, slings(assorted) and most other accessories too.
There are free .pdf manuals available here. Note the need for the provided UN & PW. http://www.biggerhammer.net/manuals/
When you get that far, IMR4895/H4895, IMR4064 or Varget with 150, 168 or 175(both being match bullet$. 168's out to 600 yards, 175's past there) grain bullets. IMR4064 or Varget are more consistently accurate than IMR4895.
Full length resizing every time is required. You don't need CCI "milspec" primers. They're a marketing gimmick for magnum primers. Regular large rifle primers are just fine.
Boba Fett
Member
Very nice!
Make sure you give us a range report.
Make sure you give us a range report.
Eightball
Member
Nicely done, good sir!
Tim the student
Member
Dude, if you need some clips, let me know. I'll mail you some.
I don't know how familiar you are with Garands, but:
Please don't shoot commercial ammo that is not designed for the Garand. It will make us cry if you do.
Also, check out the CMP forums, there is a wealth of knowledge on there. http://www.odcmp.org/new_forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=33
And here is their tech info: http://www.civilianmarksmanship.com/
There are also a lot of other sites and books that have tons of info. This guy is really well respected in the M1 community, has some good info on his site, and has written a lot of books on Garands: http://www.scott-duff.com/
Lastly, prepare yourself. I bought one not long ago, thinking I only needed one. Happily, I was very mistaken in thinking that. I hope to go to the North Store and get a Service Special if they have any left. No other rifle, shotgun, or handgun has sucked me in like Garands have. I imagine I will be buying them until I am too feeble to shoot them (and I'm 31!), and probably even after I am too feeble to shoot them.
PS - range report ASAP. mkay?
I don't know how familiar you are with Garands, but:
Please don't shoot commercial ammo that is not designed for the Garand. It will make us cry if you do.
Also, check out the CMP forums, there is a wealth of knowledge on there. http://www.odcmp.org/new_forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=33
And here is their tech info: http://www.civilianmarksmanship.com/
There are also a lot of other sites and books that have tons of info. This guy is really well respected in the M1 community, has some good info on his site, and has written a lot of books on Garands: http://www.scott-duff.com/
Lastly, prepare yourself. I bought one not long ago, thinking I only needed one. Happily, I was very mistaken in thinking that. I hope to go to the North Store and get a Service Special if they have any left. No other rifle, shotgun, or handgun has sucked me in like Garands have. I imagine I will be buying them until I am too feeble to shoot them (and I'm 31!), and probably even after I am too feeble to shoot them.
PS - range report ASAP. mkay?
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1KPerDay
Member
NICE! Congrats! Nothing like your first (and I stress the word "first") Garand.
Arkel23
Member
Nice, have fun with it.
Sunray
Member
"...let me know. I'll mail you some..." Nice one Tim. Exceptionally decent of you. Well done.
Looks great. Congrats. I contemplated buying my first one this summer, but I'm putting it off until next year (there are other, older goodies coming instead). I shot a family members several years ago and didn't love it, but now after dealing with more rifles, I see the allure and virtues.
I am not an expert on Garands, but I've been researching them and pricing them on and off the last six months. The wood looks good on that one - all the same vintage, the Parkerizing looks good; if the mechanicals are solid then that's a great buy in my book and wish I'd found that deal. Might have dumped a revolver and bought that myself - it looks good!
I am not an expert on Garands, but I've been researching them and pricing them on and off the last six months. The wood looks good on that one - all the same vintage, the Parkerizing looks good; if the mechanicals are solid then that's a great buy in my book and wish I'd found that deal. Might have dumped a revolver and bought that myself - it looks good!
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skidooman603
Member
This day in age, a Garand for $600 is a bargain, providing it shoots well and is mechanically sound. Enjoy and take care to shoot proper ammo.
ambidextrous1
Member
It looks great, Mike! How about dressing it up with a leather sling? Replicas of the old GI sling are available from the "usual places"; I prefer the slings with brass hardware.
As said Federal and Hornady both make a Garand specific load but very pricey
http://accurateshooter.wordpress.com/2009/05/14/federal-introduces-affordable-m1-garand-ammo/
http://www.hornady.com/story.php?s=775
Your best option is good quality surplus (personally I would stay away from any Korean surplus) or handload
You can use commercial ammo other than the two loads listed above if you use a adjustable gas screw, available at MidwayUSA or Brownells, etc
Congrats on the Garand, she might be your first but they do multiply!
http://accurateshooter.wordpress.com/2009/05/14/federal-introduces-affordable-m1-garand-ammo/
http://www.hornady.com/story.php?s=775
Your best option is good quality surplus (personally I would stay away from any Korean surplus) or handload
You can use commercial ammo other than the two loads listed above if you use a adjustable gas screw, available at MidwayUSA or Brownells, etc
Congrats on the Garand, she might be your first but they do multiply!
Bentonville
Member
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2006
- Messages
- 527
Tim the Student (and many other posters as well) folks like you with generosity and good info. make THR the high road. Thanks.
First thing I would do is a complete tear down clean and lube. The garand must have grease on moving parts, not oil.
You do not need to use any so called high tech gun grease. Any high quality wheel bearing grease will work fine and is much cheaper.
http://www.nicolausassociates.com/PDF/M1GarandRifleGreasePoints.pdf
You should also replace the Op Rod spring as it could possibly be 50 years old and weak. The Op Rod spring is what cushions the bolt from slamming into the reciver when firing. A weak spring is very hard on the reciver and can cause function problems.
Get one from Orion 7
http://www.m1garandrifle.com/Garandparts.htm
Stay away from Wolf Op Rod springs as they can cause more problems .
If you have any questions or problems just ask
You do not need to use any so called high tech gun grease. Any high quality wheel bearing grease will work fine and is much cheaper.
http://www.nicolausassociates.com/PDF/M1GarandRifleGreasePoints.pdf
You should also replace the Op Rod spring as it could possibly be 50 years old and weak. The Op Rod spring is what cushions the bolt from slamming into the reciver when firing. A weak spring is very hard on the reciver and can cause function problems.
Get one from Orion 7
http://www.m1garandrifle.com/Garandparts.htm
Stay away from Wolf Op Rod springs as they can cause more problems .
If you have any questions or problems just ask
Tim the student
Member
Just being a nice guy. Besides, can you imagine getting your first Garand and not having any clips for it? We don't even do things like that at Gitmo.
Heck, even a CMP Garand comes with a clip! You've gotta at least ear the ping right off the bat. Congrats on a fine looking rifle. I also have a 1944 Springfield. It looks like I can just make out a cartouche (stamping) on the right side of your stock above the rear of the trigger guard, or am I imagining that?
One caution beyond shooting proper ammo....Garands are addicting. Right now I have two and will soon have three, and possibly a fourth. I live too darn close to the CMP Store
One caution beyond shooting proper ammo....Garands are addicting. Right now I have two and will soon have three, and possibly a fourth. I live too darn close to the CMP Store
Tim the student
Member
Yeah, it looks to me like there is a cartouche there. I think it might be the eagle, and not crossed cannons with initials. Hard to say though.
Here is what I think it is:
Here is what I think it is:
FLNT4EVR
Member
Thats a nice looking Garand.When you buy clips ,get USgov issue.The new ones sold buy SG and Cheaper than dirt are pos.After you catch the Garand bug you will read and learn all you can about them. Ther are even web pages just about the clips.I have been lucky enough to find 9 that were manufactured during WWII and 1 that is of pre war manufacture.If I was a dedicated re-enactor,they are what would be in my ammo belt.I keep them seperate from my others because they go perfectly with my 1942 Springfield Garand.
RockyMtnTactical
Member
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2006
- Messages
- 3,539
Not bad!
FMJMIKE
Member
The cartouche is an Eagle with three stars and arrows. There is also a circled P on the pistol grip. Sorry no range report because I do not have any ammo. It was an impulse purchase. I plan on ordering ammo from the CMP. It comes with en bloc clips. I was told this was a Greek return Garand. I have the CMP paperwork and shipping box. Thanks for the compliments.
Tim the student
Member
Man, too bad you don't have any ammo. Know anyone that would let you reload some? If you don't want to wait, I know there are some commercial places that sell surplus Garand safe ammo. I don't know them, but I read about them in a thread here.
It really is a nice rifle, btw. I think it's money well spent. Have fun with it!
It really is a nice rifle, btw. I think it's money well spent. Have fun with it!
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