M1 Garand....help and suggestions.

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Cohiba

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Hey All....

Slowly thinking about buying one of these....but I have a few questions.

NO!!! NO to the M14, YES to the M1 Garand.

Yes I know about the CMP Program. Do I order from them and have it shipped to a FFL Dealer here or has anyone gone to one of the two stores they own and obtained the rifle from them?
http://thecmp.org/cmp_sales/rifle_sales/m1-garand/

I would like a nice, clean, shooter model. Are parts and especially barrels available...if so from whom?? Who in Oklahoma could work on one when it's broken???

Any makers to look for or stay away from? I'm not into a specific maker from WWII or should I look for a WWII model. WWII....will they have or how do you know if all the parts are original(except the barrel)??

Arsenal rebuild....who's good and who to stay away from?

Mixed parts okay?? I've seen quite a few with wood furniture replaced or different shades of color. Clips plentiful for loading ammo into the gun(that work)??

Any good books , websites, people, or gun stores to visit or call??

Stay away from this purchase? *** I'm in NO hurry and want to be as knowledgeable as possible BEFORE my purchase***

Any and all help is appreciated!!!

Thanks!!
 
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bsmith918

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CMP is simply luck of the draw. I’ve never received a rifle that didn’t meet the criteria stated on their site, but that is a very broad criteria. The stores are also a crapshoot. I haven’t been in a few years, but the selection sucked at that time. As far as getting them worked on, no biggie. I do my own work and have all of the tools needed to fix anything that can go wrong. I’m sure there are plenty of gunsmiths around yo take care of issues. In regards to getting a rifle, just decide what specifically you are looking for and go from there. If you want something specific, you will need to place a WTB ad snd find it. If you don’t care about any specifics and just want a representation to shoot the hell out if, send in a CMP order. I may sell some of mine in the near future, but am not sure.
 

mr ed

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99% of all Garands and parts are USGI.
However there are some aftermarkets to stay away from
Federal Ordnance
National Ordnance
Beretta
Breda
Springfield Armory of Geneseo Ill.
These all had someone make receivers for them. Then assembled with surplus parts.
I ordered a customer one of the Geneseo Springfields back in the 80's .
It was supposed to be some super whoopty-do national match gun that cost about 8 or 10 times what one from the CMP cost.
It came with an amazing test target featuring a cloverleaf hole pattern.
The only problem was they never finished chamber reaming the barrel after fitting it.
So it wouldn't chamber a round.
 

mr ed

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Just remember when you get one and take it apart. The op rod IS supposed to have the 2-3 bends and a kink to it .
Don't try to straighten it. LOL!
 

bsmith918

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Running into commercial Garands is fairly uncommon, but do stay away. The same goes for “tankers”. Another thing to remember is that virtually all have been rebuilt at least once and most more than once. I’d stick to something that is either directly from the CMP or has a certificate. No need to take a chance on something like a welded receiver.
 

CharlieWH2O

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It is hard to go wrong with CMP and a trip to a store is interesting. I stopped at the Alabama store a few years ago after Obummer decided he wouldn't send CMP any more rifles (I think from Korea} but did not purchase there. The two I have owned I picked up on this site. As bsmith918 said all have been rebuilt at LEAST once so mixed parts and stocks are inevitable. Parts are readily available as are resources online to identify the mfgr of all the parts by number. CMP website has a host of info and they will ship you a rifle to your door. No need to go through a FFL. En bloc clips are also readily available but surplus ammo seems to be a bit scarce.
 

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