Bought an M1 Garand

[Hick]

153988153989153990153991153992I recently got my hands on a very nice M1 Garand. Shoots very nice (all reloads, of course). Man these things are fun! It was originally in a collection (reason for the 2012 date) and apparently had not been fired much by the collector-- if at all. It still had the yellow armorers tag on the trigger group.

[MtGun44]

Garands are good rifles. Don't use too slow a powder with full power loads, port
pressure can be too high and damage a VERY expensive oprod.

[lancem]

Being a special grade I believe means that the rifle was rebuilt by the CMP and is in effect as close to new as you can get. The only problem I have with M1's is taking enough ammo with me to the range :)

[Baja_Traveler]

Love mine! I've got several 50 Cal. ammo boxes full of these for when the mood presents itself:

154004

[Toymaker]

I think I fell in love with the Garand in 1954. When I retired 55 years later I bought one. What a joy. Its rough on the rims of brass but there are several people at my range who shoot them and don't reload. They're more than happy to let me pick up their brass. Be sure to keep that gas plug tight - I finally started using a bit of silver anti-seize grease; stay away from commercial 30-06 ammo not made for the Garand; never exceed 2,750 fps. In fact, I get better accuracy between 2,300 and 2,400 fps with the 169 grain Sierra MatchKing. Experimenting with a cast bullet now.

[Hardcast416taylor]

Hornady offers factory loaded ammo for the M-1 specifically.Robert

[Scharfschuetze]

Congrats Hick!

You didn't tell us which armory or factory made it. We can probably help you with the history if you tell us that.

Now that you've caught the Garand bug, consider reading a few good books such as these and you'll enjoy your rifle even more.

[zap1586]

What a great U.S. Rifle and round, you won't be disappointed, keep it well oiled.

[cheese1566]

Greased!

[seagiant]

Hi,
Owning both M-14's and Garand M1's I think the Garands are more accurate!

This is really an apples to apples comparison as my present Garand is chambered in .308!

There was a story one time about some robbers that were going to hit a place and figured it would be easy as it was just an old man with a beat up Garand!

Didn't work out to well for the robbers as I remember it!

I believe EVERY head of household should own a battle rifle!

[Nowherefound]

Congratulations!!!
Now to the bad news, the one you got is so pretty you will not want to shoot her.
The good news, it gives you a reason to get another Garand to be your beater and range gun!
At least that is what happened to me, The CMP sent me a perfect matching '54 HRA so the next year I asked for an older gun figuring I wouldn't mind wearing out one that has already been around the block. Well, they sent me a '42 receiver with a '43 barrel and it is by far my favorite firearm to load and shoot for, it whispers sweet nothings in my ear when we are on the firing line.
http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p773/centurioncs/Shooting/IMG_20151119_1235222_rewind_zpsaazyull1.jpg (http://s1350.photobucket.com/user/centurioncs/media/Shooting/IMG_20151119_1235222_rewind_zpsaazyull1.jpg.html)
Now I NEVER shoot that well, but got lucky and that was an example of how my day went last week, sometimes the stars actually do line up. that is a 8 shot group at 50 yards using a 220 grain slug and IMR4895.

[thegatman]

You can buy an adjustable gas port that helps with reloads. Takes the pressure off the op rod and damage to the brass.

[Hick]

Thanks for all the great feedback-- I'll try to answer all the questions.

The Garand is H&R. #5613279-- which I think puts it in about 1955 for manufacture. The receiver, bolt, barrel, op rod, trigger group and other parts that have drawing numbers all match the published H&R data for that time period, along with H&R stamps. The barrel is date stamped 10-54. It has the CMP stamp, but I haven't been able to figure out what was replaced-- unless it was the stock (certainly not the barrel or receiver).

Thanks to all the threads I've read I already knew to watch out for 30-06 commercial loads. Right now I'm loading 47 grains IMR4064 with a 150 grain FMJ/BT and getting 2650 fps. That load seems to be working well without beating the rifle too much. I haven't trid cas

Owning more would be fun-- but I've bought two rifles this year and I think I've stretched household good will about as much as I can at the moment.

[captain-03]

Congratulations!! ... and welcome to the Club!! Only problem I ever had was "trying" to stop buying them ... just can not resist ... My first was a CMP Special --- then more just seemed to follow ...

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj19/twwoodall/Guns/IMG_2446.jpg (http://s268.photobucket.com/user/twwoodall/media/Guns/IMG_2446.jpg.html)


http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj19/twwoodall/Guns/IMG_2495.jpg (http://s268.photobucket.com/user/twwoodall/media/Guns/IMG_2495.jpg.html)


Since this picture was taken, another IHC has been added!! Can not stop!! HELP!!!!!!!!!

[Scharfschuetze]

Captain 03,

You are a man on a mission!

Nice collection.

[pacomdiver]

captain,
looks like my one gunsafe, 10 garands including a M1D, thinking of taking one of my harvesters to perry next year

[pretzelxx]

Man.. I really want one. Such a beautiful match of wood and steel...

[merlin101]

Man.. I really want one. Such a beautiful match of wood and steel...

Same here, think we can talk Captain-O3 outa one?

[spokeshave]

I haven't been able to figure out what was replaced-- unless it was the stock (certainly not the barrel or receiver).



When the CMP sold the service grade specials they were made from basically New rifles that had been returned from Greece. The Greeks had removed the stocks, presumably to replace worn out/broken stocks on other rifles. The cmp replaced the stocks and stock hardware. They were said to be collector grade rifle with replacement stock.
Congrats you can't get a much better M1 than that!

[Artful]

Excellent score - congratulations!

[AggiePharmD]

Nice rifle but you'd better be careful. These things multiply like rabbits. Don't ask me how but one if mine managed to turning into 4 plus 3 stripped recievers. Gotta love the Garand.

[tygar]

Congratulations!!!
Now to the bad news, the one you got is so pretty you will not want to shoot her.
The good news, it gives you a reason to get another Garand to be your beater and range gun!
At least that is what happened to me, The CMP sent me a perfect matching '54 HRA so the next year I asked for an older gun figuring I wouldn't mind wearing out one that has already been around the block. Well, they sent me a '42 receiver with a '43 barrel and it is by far my favorite firearm to load and shoot for, it whispers sweet nothings in my ear when we are on the firing line.

I also got one almost as NIB from them, the one year only "Select Grade". All matching & it is one of the last ever made 6mil, 90k, 1956.

After shooting it & finding it is deadly accurate, I just pulled my "perfect" stock with cartouches & bedded a stock I had sitting around & then found another that fit good without bedding for Garand Matches & shoot it sparingly. Great fun.

But...I disagree with the statement above about them being more accurate than M14. Nope! You can come close with a match M1 in 308 but NM to NM or service grade to service grade the M14 is better. Of course, that's just my op.