Buying an M1, what do I need to know?

[Charles McKinley]

I may be able to get a CMP M1 on the way to the Ohio IBC.

I want a shooter.
I was looking at the CMP Forum, North Store thread:
http://forums.thecmp.org/showthread.php?t=70205

The CMP website has a lot of terminology I'm not familiar with such as gaguing the bore and the throat.

What terms do I need to know to not look like a total idiot.  I do have a government ID 10 T number issued to me though! 

What is ment by:
5.9M and 5.79M-
Lock bars-
NM rifles-

By any chance will any of you that know what you are looking at going to be there Friday, March 9th after noon?

Thanks in advance,

Stand

[douglas34474]

I may be able to get a CMP M1 on the way to the Ohio IBC.

I want a shooter.

The CMP website has a lot of terminology I'm not familiar with such as gaguing the bore and the throat.

Gauging the TE and MW means to check the diameter of the rifling at each end of the barrel. A new barrel can run from -.5 to a reading of 2. So try to find the lowest number you can.

What terms do I need to know to not look like a total idiot.  I do have a government ID 10 T number issued to me though! 

What is ment by:
5.9M and 5.79M-

That's a serial number range.

Lock bars-

WW2 vintage sights.

NM rifles-

National Match rifles. Rare, don't look to find one.

Thanks in advance,

Stand

Just find the best looking Service Grade you can. If your trip was like mine, your arms will be sore from lifting rifles.

[9mm4545]

Welcome to the addiction! Last piece of advice: buy more ammo than you think you will ever need. I seriously doubt that the prices are ever going to drop and I regret not buying more when I had the chance.

[Reddot]

9MM4545 is exactly right about ammo; and speaking of ammo, stick with M2 ball (or any of the other standard .30 cal surplus stuff)--regular 'deer hunting' .30-06 ammo from Walmart can quickly bend/break an operating rod. 
An adjustable gas plug's a good idea, but I think it's best to avoid commercial hunting ammo altogether.
Good Luck!!

[Unbridled Liberty]

If they are not too busy, ask one of the armorers behind the counter for help.  I told them "I'm looking for a shooter and I don't have a clue what I'm doing.".  One of them came out on the floor and helped me quite a bit.  I ended up with a nice rifle that indeed is a shooter.

UL

[nyrasgt]

9/45,
   Suggest the following re CMP Garand purchase:
-absolutely concur with previous posters re Svc rifle shooter and lowest gauge numbers...as well as assistance from CMP armorer.
-besides the obvious - shooting - your rifle, is wonderful prop for a PA lunchtime
"commercial" for the CMP, i.e. "...and look what you (too) can qualify to purchase throught the CMP, at about half the cost of free market Garands...
not to mention the value as an appreciating investment, like original Shelby Mustangs... - never going to be cheaper and gummint not making any more...
-same is also the case for PA tables @ gun shows - terrific bait to bring people to your table - even if all they want to do is buy yours...nope - not for sale, but I can tell you how to qualify for one of your own...APPLESEED...
   My table bait consists of all-CMP rifles:  Garand, carbine, Springfield 1903, M1917 Enfield (actually Winchester), CMP Bushmaster AR15, and CMP Daisy 853 air rifle (currently selling for $100!!!).  Priceless!
Excelsior,
madMark

[ThaiFighter]

also might wanna budget about 4x what you think you'll need...

cuz if you think you'll wind up buying only one once you get to know 'em, I gots some news for ya! 

I now own two and an 03-A3 and am stalking bayos, scabbards, n parts to make 'em correct.   

[Sly223]

Last I checked the Field grade and service grade were the same price.
Warning the Garand is an Addiction,
My only advice is to keep you fingers clear this is a mans rifle and it will make you cry!
You will soon find out why we were able to save the world with these rifles!

[Edheler]

Last I checked the Field grade and service grade were the same price.

The current prices are:

Field Grade: $525
Service Grade: $625
Service Grade with collector grade metal: $950
Special Grade: $995
Correct Grade: $1150

[Edheler]

also might wanna budget about 4x what you think you'll need...

I don't know what Stand has budgeted, but my personal limit is $2k. I am doing the same thing he is and am stopping by the CMP North store on the way to the Gibsonburg, OH IBC.

[Charles McKinley]

$2k 

Unfortunatly I think the van just ate my Garand for this trip. 

I'm going to look anyway.  At the very least I will be better informed for my next trip and get some ammo and maybe a pair of Daisy 853s for the kids.

Thanks Guys

[Edheler]

Unfortunatly I think the van just ate my Garand for this trip. 

Doh! Say it isn't so!

[AFTERMATH]

I don't even have a grand but I've got a Garand - given the choice - I'm rather glad to have the latter.

[Nickle]

My advice?

Since you're going to the store in person, just ask them to help you. They will, and are usually willing to let you use their TE and MW gages to check out the rifles, even show you how they work. Great people, from what I hear.

Stick to Field and Service grades.

Avoid the higher grades, new stocks and new hardware. Lock bar sights are a collector thing, for a shooter, you don't need one, and probably don't want one, as they replaced it for a reason.

Almost all of the WW2 vintage Garands have been rebuilt at least once. So the "brand" refers to the brand of the receiver, not the rest of the parts.

Correct grade rifles are all late manufacture, Korea vintage or post Korea vintage, never ended up getting enough wear to end up going to rebuild. They're good, but pricey. Wear wise, you're paying an outrageous price for a barrel.

For example, I have a Winchester (all Winchester M1's are WW2 vintage). It got handed over to Denmark, was rebuilt there at least, as it has a VAR (Danish arsenal) barrel. Very few Winchester parts were on it when I got it. I've swapped out a few parts to make it more "Winchester", but didn't get obsessed with it. I bought from a friend who had earlier bought it from CMP.

NM Garands they'll have were National Match at some point. That's recorded by a stamping on the receiver. That doesn't mean they're NM grade/quality now. The barrel may have been changed, parts may have been swapped out. That all happens before CMP gets them, usually done at some point in the life of the rifle.

[Charles McKinley]

The winds of fortune changed and I was able to bring home a very nice service grade HRA and a Daisy for each of the monsters. 

Thanks for all the help.  The IBC was fantastic.  The guys at the CMP were very nice but consider it a failure if you leave with any money left! 

I even took the M1 to a meeting tonight to present AS to a club.  I hope they liked the presentation.  The club is only about a half hour from the house!