A few Garand questions.....

[jmoore]

Yes - I know this is an AR list.....:)

Years ago, I got rid of my Garands & Enfields. All were high quality shooters. (And yes - lots of regrets.:)
Now - two months into retirement - I’m feeling like re-visiting Garands.
Some Qs....

1). Looking for some good, respected sources for purchasing my first re-entry Garand. Looking for something between rack grade and top-of-the-line. Want functionality, good tolerances and appearance. Not concerned about matching numbers and history at this point in time. Suggestions?
2). 308 vs 06???? Pros & cons nowadays?
3). Other suggestions?????

TIA

geezer john

[Lefty223]

1) Go to CMP.org website, see what’s available, read up on the various grades and buy the best grade YOU can afford. Some come with new stocks and Criterion barrels.

2) I’m a 308 fan! Yeah, yeah ... no collector value and wasn't what Uncle carried in Korea or what GrandDad carried in Europe ... but of those were likely rearsenaled too already ... so there you go.

PROS for 30-06 - You can buy the ported gas plug by Garand Gear, which opens up more ammo avaialabiloty, where non-ported M1s need a specific powder profile at a specific pressure curvento avoidndamaging the operating rod, and receiver ... and you, lol!

CONS for 30-06 - Now to me, it used to be where I’d see milsurp Greek or other ball ammo for the Garand all over the place, but now all my friends with non-ported M1s are searching high & low for ammo (Surplus) to feed them.

PROS for 308 - Just cool, very accurate and using the Schuester adjustable gas plugs, I can dial in the cycling to M1A specific commercial or surplus loads (have been getting AMU Lake City ammo lately) or commercial loads, like the Federal M1A specific loading with the 168-grn open-tipped match ammo, shooting 1 MOA or better in my 308 Garand built to all National Match standards. She’s negative on the muzzle end and 0 at the throat and a reknowned Garand/M1A guru said it was one of the best 308 Garands he’s ver seen. Bought it on the cheap too, when everyone was abandoning M1s & M1As for the ‘black rifles’.

CONS for the 308 - It’s not what Uncle carried in Korea ... but he would have, if he could have, LOL!

3) Go CMP and buy the best ... and if you can (not sure due to Covid) drive to the CMP store ...

[dmd08]

Get a cmp special. No provenance and it's probably not a looker but they have new criterion barrels. Looks like rack grade specials can be had right now for $650.

[MountainRaven]

1- CMP
2- 30-06 (but it doesn't really matter). In pre-covid times I had no issue finding 30-06 designed to be run through Garands from Prvi, S&B, Federal (American Eagle), and Hornady. It may be easier to find 7.62x51mm NATO and MSR-safe 308 Win nowadays. Easier to get a quality Garand from the CMP in 30-06, IME.
3- Make sure you get an M1 web sling from ATF and an M1923 cartridge belt...

[RUTGERS95]

get both

[notorious_ar15]

You might also give Fulton Armory a look outside of the CMP process.

[MountainRaven]

If I ever get the bug to minimize my guns to a rifle and a pistol, I’m going to put find a way to mount an AP Micro and SureFire on my Garand. I believe Ultimak makes a railed replacement upper handguard that would work.

[SeriousStudent]

If I ever get the bug to minimize my guns to a rifle and a pistol, I’m going to put find a way to mount an AP Micro and SureFire on my Garand. I believe Ultimak makes a railed replacement upper handguard that would work.

I know someone in California that did exactly that on an M1 carbine, and uses it very well.

[ABNAK]

If I ever get the bug to minimize my guns to a rifle and a pistol, I’m going to put find a way to mount an AP Micro and SureFire on my Garand. I believe Ultimak makes a railed replacement upper handguard that would work.

I should probably be banned for even posting this, being sacrilegious and all, but here goes:

https://ustacticalsupply.com/sageint...debrstock.aspx

http://www.sageinternationalltd.com/SIL/M1GALCS.html

[SeriousStudent]

I should probably be banned for even posting this, being sacrilegious and all, but here goes:

https://ustacticalsupply.com/sageint...debrstock.aspx

http://www.sageinternationalltd.com/SIL/M1GALCS.html

I had seen those before, and wondered about how heavy there were. I know guys got issued the Sage stocks for M-14 sniper rifles at the beginning of OIF - you know anybody that used one?

And a big part of me wants to get a period-correct bayonet for each rifle. I know I'll never use it for anything, but it just "feels right".