New "O-66" Garand

[Mustang51]

I've been interested in rebuilt marked Garands and glommed this one today...





Only have these auction pics and this description

U.S. Garand M1 semi-automatic rifle by Springfield Armory., .30 cal., SA barrel dated 11-65, military finish, wood stock, serial #4219605, in overall very good condition showing significant original military finish, good bore, crisp action and markings. The smooth wood military stock has the “P” proof on the pistol grip. The butt stock features sling swivels and a checkered metal butt plate with trap.

Better pics when it arrives

 

[1KPerDay]

cool!

 

[ontarget]

Looks great. I'd love to get one someday. Congrats.

 

[tark]

very nice. That rear hand guard band caught my interest immediately. Milled and grooved. Don't see those that often anymore.

Anyway, enjoy that priceless piece of history!

 

[Mustang51]

Thanks, Guys!

The O-66 Garand arrived at my FFL today to begin it's 10 day "cooling off" period. I got a chance to look it over and it looks good. There is a boxed "P"
cartouche on the pistol grip of the stock. The stock and metal are in excellent shape...literally no dents, dings or scratches on the stock and the same on the metal. There are no rub marks anywhere, even in the op rod groove on the receiver. Stock looks like an Overton replacement with a very dark finish..

The barrel is an 11-65 SA, with a sharp, shiny bore that gauges about .5 on the CMP muzzle gauge.

Could be wrong about this, but almost looks like it has not been used since it was rebuilt.

More and better pics after I've "cooled off" for 10 days...

 

[Onmilo]

Thanks, Guys!

The O-66 Garand arrived at my FFL today to begin it's 10 day "cooling off" period. I got a chance to look it over and it looks good. There is a boxed "P"
cartouche on the pistol grip of the stock. The stock and metal are in excellent shape...literally no dents, dings or scratches on the stock and the same on the metal. There are no rub marks anywhere, even in the op rod groove on the receiver. Stock looks like an Overton replacement with a very dark finish..

The barrel is an 11-65 SA, with a sharp, shiny bore that gauges about .5 on the CMP muzzle gauge.

Could be wrong about this, but almost looks like it has not been used since it was rebuilt.

More and better pics after I've "cooled off" for 10 days...

I have a Danish issued Springfield bought from the CMP that was rebuilt in the 1990s and apparently never issued after.
As new VAR barrel, Beech stock, birch handguards and a whole bunch of like new Italian parts.
The work was done in the early 90s after the Danes had purchased .308 caliber Garands from Beretta.
You have an excellent example of an end of an era rebuild.
Enjoy it.

 

[Mustang51]

I have a Danish issued Springfield bought from the CMP that was rebuilt in the 1990s and apparently never issued after.As new VAR barrel, Beech stock, birch handguards and a whole bunch of like new Italian parts.The work was done in the early 90s after the Danes had purchased .308 caliber Garands from Beretta.
You have an excellent example of an end of an era rebuild.
Enjoy it.

wow, Onmilo...that sounds like a pretty nice one. And the VAR barrel is a real plus. Have you shot yours much?

I've been looking into the history of these "O" marked rifles and found that "O-6x" marked Garands were rebuilt by the Marine Corps in 1965, 1966 or 1967 and were electro-penciled on the top of the receiver, just behind the rear sight, with the letter "O" (assumed to be for "overhaul" and the last two digits of the year. So this was overhauled either at the Marine Corp depot at Barstow, California or Albany, Georgia in 1966.

 

[Reloadron]

Interesting because as mentioned the rear handguard band is the early grooved and milled design. Personally, I would remove the band and replace it with the more common stamped design. There are plenty of Garand Collectors who would pay to have that band. Heck, if you want a new band shoot me a PM and I will give you one.

Mustang 51 shared some good dope as to the O marked rifles.

You likely have yourself a fine shooter so enjoy it.

Ron

 

[Onmilo]

wow, Onmilo...that sounds like a pretty nice one. And the VAR barrel is a real plus. Have you shot yours much?

I've been looking into the history of these "O" marked rifles and found that "O-6x" marked Garands were rebuilt by the Marine Corps in 1965, 1966 or 1967 and were electro-penciled on the top of the receiver, just behind the rear sight, with the letter "O" (assumed to be for "overhaul" and the last two digits of the year. So this was overhauled either at the Marine Corp depot at Barstow, California or Albany, Georgia in 1966.

Exactly 24 rounds of Danish ammo has gone down the tube in the 20 some years I've owned it.
It's a safe queen.

 

[Mustang51]

Thanks Reloadatron!

I'll post better pics and a range report when I can.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Garands are excellent. They have superb stopping power and reliability compared to anything we have today. The only thing the M4A1 carbine has over the old Garand is shots per magazine and automatic fire, neither of which are needed by a competent marksman.

 

[OldBrownDog]

Garands are excellent. They have superb stopping power and reliability compared to anything we have today. The only thing the M4A1 carbine has over the old Garand is shots per magazine and automatic fire, neither of which are needed by a competent marksman.

I beg to differ. The fact is the recoil and weight of a Garand are just too much for modern combat operations. Our GIs carry a lot of stuff now that they didn't in WWII. And it's life saving - but body armor plates aren't light. Not to mention that 210 rounds of 5.56 is a lot more than 80 of .30/06. Finally, my understanding is that the full auto switch is almost never used, except in emergencies (we have 249's and 240B's for suppressing fire).

The Garand was a superb weapon, and ahead of it's time. I have two and love them for what they are. But to say we went to an inferior rifle because we don't have competent marksmen is ridiculous. I can buy 1.5 MOA ARs (M4's) all day for <$1K. I can't get ANY Garand for that, except from the CMP, which is pretty much out.

ARs/M4s have their faults. But they are more accurate, more ergonomic and better suited to modern combat then the Garand. Stop fighting a war that ended 60 years ago.

 

[Onmilo]

I beg to differ. The fact is the recoil and weight of a Garand are just too much for modern combat operations. Our GIs carry a lot of stuff now that they didn't in WWII. And it's life saving - but body armor plates aren't light. Not to mention that 210 rounds of 5.56 is a lot more than 80 of .30/06. Finally, my understanding is that the full auto switch is almost never used, except in emergencies (we have 249's and 240B's for suppressing fire).

The Garand was a superb weapon, and ahead of it's time. I have two and love them for what they are. But to say we went to an inferior rifle because we don't have competent marksmen is ridiculous. I can buy 1.5 MOA ARs (M4's) all day for <$1K. I can't get ANY Garand for that, except from the CMP, which is pretty much out.

ARs/M4s have their faults. But they are more accurate, more ergonomic and better suited to modern combat then the Garand. Stop fighting a war that ended 60 years ago.

You are aware that an M4 decked out with all the bells and whistles weighs more than an M1 Garand, Right?

 

[Panzerschwein]

You are aware that an M4 decked out with all the bells and whistles weighs more than an M1 Garand, Right?

+1

I agree.

 

[Onmilo]

+1

I agree.

I'm not going to mention the basic M1 Garand combat load of 80 rounds in the cartridge belt and two six clip bandoleers slung across the chest or carried in the combat pack.
(That's 176 rounds + 8 boys and girls.)

If you think modern GI's carry more than earlier combat soldiers you are delusional.

 

[X-Rap]

God please say your not saying we should still be fielding the Garand.

 

[OldBrownDog]

Ok. Lets do math.

M1 Garand + web sling - 10 lbs, 10oz. loaded, on average?

M4A1 (7# 8oz., loaded) + ACOG (9 oz), DD RIS Rail (1#, 1 oz.), AN/PEQ-15 (7.5 oz w/batteries) and forward grip (2 oz?). Makes 9 lbs, 11.5 oz. loaded, with batteries and cool-guy stuff. And now I have optics - which the Garand doesn't have.

Weights taken straight from Wiki or manufacturer's pages.

Pretty sure I mentioned the Garand standard combat load of 80 rounds compared to M4 standard load of 210 in my first post. If we're including bandoleers of Garand ammo, most infantrymen in Iraq/Afghanistan went out with 400+ rounds for the M4. I'd gladly carry more than double the number of 5.56 rounds for the same weight.


As to Infantry loadout weight...
WWII Rifleman - 82 lbs.
http://www.45thdivision.org/Pictures/General_Knowlege/combatload.htm

Iraq/Afghanistan
http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/weight-of-war-gear-that-protects-troops-also-injures-them/

When soldiers headed out on extended foot patrols, their average load ranged from 87 pounds to 127 pounds. When they came under attack and dropped their rucksacks, most of their fighting loads still exceeded 60 pounds.

A 2007 study by a Navy research-advisory committee found Marines typically have loads from 97 to 135 pounds.

The M4 is a better combat rifle than the Garand. It is now, it would've been in WWII and it would've been at Agincourt. The Garand was great for it's time. Not anymore. If it was we'd still be fielding it.

P.S. If I'm delusional, please find me data that supports your claim.

 

[Onmilo]

God please say your not saying we should still be fielding the Garand.

Oh heck no, the M1 is an obsolete design by anyone's standards.

OldBrownDog
BooHoo.
Compare the AVERAGE loads carried by both and you'll note they are very close to being the same.
It isn't uncommon for soldiers of every generation to exceed the AVERAGE weight of equipment carried and the second article shows modern soldiers being routinely injured by these load outs as was true in the past.
As for weapon weight, add a sopmod stock & add 4 ounces, add a popular grip pod & add 7 ounces= 10lbs, 4 0z, not too far off 10lbs 10 oz AVERAGE weight of the M1 you showed.
Add the heavy NAVSCOM M4 full auto barrel and add one pound putting the M4 at 11 lbs 4 ounces fully decked with all the modern bells and whistles.
The M1s I have in my collection weigh less than that 10 lb 10 oz average too.
The M4 is a better weapon at anything close range, i.e. 400 meters and I didn't say I wouldn't choose one over the M1 Garand today.
Then again, if an M1 was what I had to fight with I wouldn't throw my hands in the air and surrender either.

 

[Mustang51]

I picked up the "O-66" Garand today, since the 10-day "cooling off" period has elapsed.

It is in great shape. It almost looks like it was overhauled and then went into storage. The stock, bore, and parkerizing are in near perfect condition. There are a few very light rub marks on the stock and very few dents or dings.

The bore is "1-" on the CMP muzzle gauge and the lands and grooves are shiny and sharp.

Everything feels tight and I'm looking forward to shooting this one.

 

[Reloadron]

Again congratulations on owning a fine rifle and an enjoyable rifle to shoot. May it bring you many happy days on the range.

Ron

 

[Mustang51]

Thanks, Ron. I'll post a range report when I get a chance to shoot it.

 

[Onmilo]

Thanks, Ron. I'll post a range report when I get a chance to shoot it.

I bet you'll be mildly surprised at how well it does shoot with some good quality ammunition.

 

[Mustang51]

I've got some Hornady Garand match ammo, some Creedmoor Garand match ammo, some PPU and Hornady range ammo and some handloads. I'm hoping this is a good shooter. It ought to be.

 

[Hardtarget]

Your gun looks great! Much better than mine but I'm very glad to have one in the safe! It was a gift from family. Probably wouldn't have one if they had not gotten together and made it happen. Love 'em all!

I know we'll see range report and pictures ... SOON!

Mark

 

[Nature Boy]

That is wonderful Mustang. Can I have it when you're done with it?