M1 Garand

[5ontarget]

TA,
Where did you get your M1? Who manufactured it? For some reason, this rifle has always been something that I wanted. It must be the history behind it. I surely wouldn't want to carry it around all day hunting. From what I hear, they can be pretty painful to shoot for prolonged periods at the range, and there are more accurate guns that cost less. But I still want one, an old mil surp, not one of the new reproductions.
Around here the International makes of the M1 are going for a premium, I'm sure because of the International truck plant outside of town.
From what I've read the mil-surps are getting harder to come by, and in poorer condition.
I think I've been bitten by a mil-surp spider, and cosmoline is slowly taking over my body. I've recently applied for a C&R.

[TA]

5ontarget,

Mine is a Springfield USGI. I got it from The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). That is the best place to get them. You can get a nice one (Service Grade) with low muzzle/throat erosion for around $500. I think the Rack Grades run about $400. There is a North Store at Camp Perry in Ohio and the South Store is in Anniston Alabama. They also sell Springfield 03A's. They are all military issue. To qualify for purchase, you must be a US Citizen, Legal to own a firearm, proof of marksmanship ( they accept a CCW permit, FFL, match score etc.) and be a member of a CMP affiliated club (there are lots of them, about $20/yr.). Most guys just order them online, but it is best if you can go there and look them over. I went to the North Store.

Here's the link: www.odcmp.com/Services/Rifles/sales.htm

The C&R collecting is really a lot of fun. Cleaning all the cosmoline off is 1/2 the fun, seeing what treasure awaits you. Shooting them is a blast! And yes there are more accurate rifles. You can get a Swiss K-31 for less than $100 and it will shoot surprising groups at 100 yards with iron sights. But the M1 Garand is an M1 Garand. They can be very accurate. They are common in competition shooting and have an effective range of ~450 yards. Just watch your thumb when loading a clip!

When you get your C&R, make copies of it UNSIGNED and sign the copies with blue or red ink. Send them off to all the dealers you might do business with. Don't forget Brownells and Midway USA. They give nice discounts to FFL holders.

["DoubleAction"]

TA; I started off with the M-14 in Basic Training and never saw much of it afterward until I began running into duties involved in the packing, shipping, transportation, and transfer of the rifle. I have only held a current version of the commercial box magazine version of the M-1, which reminds me alot of the M-14.
I often wonder how many of the M-14 rifles were destroyed, after being retired from many of the Military Academies, or other such institutions. I spent over a week packing M-14s in large steel storage conexes and collected others from a large academy; Must have been thousands of these rifles.
I've heard of the Civilian Marksmanship Program's offer on the M-1 Garrands, but I've yet to hear anything about the M-14s.

[TA]

That would be great if CMP started getting M-14's. They are pretty scarce but I do occasionally see them on auction, but as you would expect, expensive.

CMP is a great organization that has been around for many years promoting civilian marksmanship. I think the original idea was to help keep some of the general population trained in case Uncle Sam needed them. I know a guy that picked up and still has a USGI 1911 for $25 once upon a time from them. I told him I would double his money, he said no.

[TA]

I found this on surpusrifle.com about the M-14. This may explain why CMP never had these available. "DCM" is Director of Civilian Marksmanship.

After the M14 was phased out of mainstream service it could not be sold to the public as surplus due to the perceived (by the DCM) ability of converting the weapon to full-auto. Large quantities of many unissued or brand new M14 rifles were destroyed.

["DoubleAction"]

From what I've read about the existance of the CMP, stems from the lack of marksmanship skills developed prior to military service and combat duty. During WWII, many men entered combat with only a basic knowledge of using a rifle.
My own opinion when there exist a military obligation, there also should exist a form of preliminary traning.
The Swiss seem to be on the ball with this one.

["DoubleAction"]

ta said:

I found this on surpusrifle.com about the M-14. This may explain why CMP never had these available. "DCM" is Director of Civilian Marksmanship.

After the M14 was phased out of mainstream service it could not be sold to the public as surplus due to the perceived (by the DCM) ability of converting the weapon to full-auto. Large quantities of many unissued or brand new M14 rifles were destroyed.

There were some very nice rifles in those conexes. I had heard that alot of weapons were destroyed, and alot of 1911A1s.

[5ontarget]

TA,

I'm also considering a couple of Euro and Russian weapons.

Considering a Mosin 91/30 or perhaps a mauser of some flavor. I know both are readily available, and like them both. These will be shot, not just cleaned and stored. What's your experience with them?
I've read other boards, and people are all for one model and the rest are crap, or say just get them both. Well, I agree with the later, but one of them has to be first. (yes, I realize they are both relatively inexpensive, but I can only get one at a time.)
The mausers that I most commonly see are the yugos, but I'm sure with a little searching and my C&R, I can find a distributor/dealer with others.

[TA]

With C&R's, I have found it best to get what is hot at the time. Certain models come and go. I try to get what is good when the good ones are available. You never can tell how many more, if any, will be imported.

There are still Russian Capture K98's, but are $200-300. They don't have the nicest bores as you can imagine. The Yugo 24/47 is a good buy right now. Aim Surplus still has real nice ones I think and are good people to deal with. The unissued condition M48A's also seem to be getting a little more scarce. www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Rifles.html

I don't have any Mosins. I have wanted to get an M39. There is only one place I know that has these. www.gunsnammo.com/

I have heard good things about the 91/30's and you can get them cheap.

About the best C&R forum I have found is Parrallax Bills. Check it out if you haven't already.
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