Originally Posted by
Diamondback
alongside my CMP Garand when I finally order it. HB = Handbuild or Homebuild, right?
I have one Korean War Era IHC Garand that I bought from a guy who was moving into assisted living with his wife. It is so nice that: 1) I paid him more than he was asking; 2) I vowed not to shoot it except to sight it in.
I found it hard to keep that promise so I set about getting another one. Quite by accident I stumbled onto the CMP Advanced Maintenance Course held at the CMP Custom Shop in Anniston, AL.
http://thecmp.org/training-tech/adva...tenance-class/
The course tuition was $1018.00 for a three day course, plus either $850.00 or $1050.00 for the rifle you build from parts.
About the different grades of rifles - primarily that is based on the receiver you choose. Some guys wanted specific manufacturers and specific serial number ranges, so they went to the table with the higher dollar receivers. I wanted a shooter, so I went to the 'bargain' receiver table and found the best looking receiver with the highest serial number - I settled on a Springfield Armory with a SN of 5,93*,***.
The receivers had all been re-parkerized as had all the other parts. All the rifles were fitted with brand new Criterion barrels as well as new walnut stocks. My rifle looks brand new.
A brief run down of what I considered the highpoints: you learn to install the barrel and time the sights; you fit the bolt to your receiver, lapping it in; you assemble the rear sight and learn how to make it adjust positively; you assemble your trigger group and clean it up substantially (see below), you fit your receiver to a brand new stock.
The morning of the second class began at the CMP store in Anniston. Don't go with a credit card. They discount ammo pretty good if you are buying a rifle, IIRC 40%, and of course they have accoutrements and rifles for sale. I walked out with a good looking 1903 Scant-stock and a couple cases of ammo. A couple guys walked out with two additional rifles.
For all intents and purposes our rifles were completed by the end of the second day, the third day was spent at the CMP's Talledega Marksmanship Park. The morning was spent removing as much creep from our triggers as desired, I was well satisfied with the result on my trigger. Also, we were able to visit the CMP store at the marksmanship park. More rifles and ammo were purchased. I refrained from buying the little 1903A3 I fell in lust with, and satisfied myself with two more cases of ammo, plus a hat, tee-shirt, etc.
That afternoon the custom shop staff fired eight rounds to function test your rifle (liability) and then you were turned loose sight it in. My rifle was shooting left, the electronic targets made it easy for the custom shop guys to see how you were doing, and although I had a good group, one of them decided to shot it - using his/their ammo. His results were identical, so I was just going to make a windage adjustment, verify and call it good. He said, nope, sometimes the receivers and barrels don't like each other, I want you to go back to the shop and we'll give you another barrel. So I drove back to Anniston, met with the custom shop forearm and watched someone who builds these things everyday re-barrel my rifle. Then back to the range.
By the time I got there all my classmates had cleared the range. I got on a firing point and was blessed by the presence of a safety officer, who turned out to be a nice guy. I fired one round, saw where it hit and came off the rifle to make the adjustments. He wanted me to fire more, I told him, I'm good to adjust on that, and he proceeded to make my elevation adjustment. I was tempted to tell him to back off, but then thought to myself, he's used to working with idiots, and decided to relax.
His adjustments were spot-on, my next three rounds looked pretty good, with two x's and one 10. I decided I really like those electronic targets. The RO seemed surprised when I ejected the clip, showed clear, and began cleaning up. He said something, and I told him that I'd shot service rifle all summer so really didn't want to shoot anymore from the bench, plus I had miles to go before I slept.......
Diamondback, I provide all this detail so that you would have some idea how much fun, and knowledge, is to be had at this class. I'm going to try to go again in 2021. They also are talking about doing a follow-on class for those who have attended AMC. When that happens, I'm definitely in.
In addition, when the ramp drops, I'm fully prepared to hit the beach: https://olongapooutfitters.com/equip...and-chest-rig/
Last edited by 26 Inf; 10-07-19 at 01:23.
Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the President... - Theodore Roosevelt, Lincoln and Free Speech, Metropolitan Magazine, Volume 47, Number 6, May 1918.
Every Communist must grasp the truth. Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. Our principle is that the Party commands the gun, and the gun must never be allowed to command the Party Mao Zedong, 6 November, 1938 - speech to the Communist Patry of China's sixth Central Committee
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