Sven wrote:
"I have my heart set on a Winchester - to adopt my winny War Baby (M1 Carbine)... but these are not currently available... any chance CMP will release more?"
Sven, It's not a question of CMP "releasing" more Winny's, it's a matter of the CMP FINDING more Winny's in the incoming crates of rifles the Army sends them. The vast majority of rifles are SA's, with a fair number of HRA's. VERY few Winny's and IHC's are in the mix... probably on the order of only 2-3% of the total mix (that's just a SWAG on my part).
Prior to last April it was strictly "luck of the draw" on what type of M1 you got... you did not get to choose. Your order was filled with the next rifle on the shelf, regardless of who made it. You only got a Winny if you were very, very lucky.
The CMP announced this last April that you could now order whichever of the 4 manufacturers you want, Spfld Armory, IHC, H&R, or Winchester. It took less than 6 months for them to accumulate a THREE YEAR backorder log for Winny's & IHC's.
I waited about 6 weeks before submitting an order for a Winny. Just this last week I received the Winny Service Grade I ordered last May 18th... 10-1/2 months wait. It's taken them that long to catch up to my number on the waiting list, and the list had been open less than 2 months when mine went in.
They stopped taking Winny and IHC orders on Sept. 1 of last year. They say they have a backorder log for those two manufacturers that will stretch out for at least another two years.
After they catch up, they will most likely start another backorder list.... and this is the IMPORTANT part if you want to get a Winny.... When CMP does announce that they are again taking orders for Winny's and IHC's, if you are NOT ALREADY CMP QUALIFIED and can get your order in the mail to them POST HASTE the list may be closed down again before you get qualified. Everyone who's been waiting for the list to re-open for 3 years will suddenly be dropping bou-cou orders in the mail...
IF you are not now CMP qualified, DO SO.
Just my thoughts...
Swampy
Garands forever