What should I look for when I look at a M1 Garande?

Question

Like for example should the barrel be so thick and when I dry fire the gun does the gun have to make a special click? And lastly, the M1's I'll be looking at are old WWII ones. And how do I know that the parts in the gun are good enough so I can shoot the M1 and how do I know the parts will still last a while?

and yes this a sequel to my first question.

Answer 1

Bound's hubby here:

First, there are two types of Garand: US government issue Garand and commercial Garand.

Currently, the only commercial Garand I am aware of is the Springfield Armory manufactured Garand. This sells for well over $1000 and the parts used to build the rifles are supposed to be either newly manufactured or new USGI parts.

USGI Garands were manufactured from just before WWII into the 1950s, just after the Korean Conflict. Many M1 Garands have come back into the US by way of importers. The problem with these re-imported Garands is that the barrels that had been marked with the importer's name may have been rebarreled and the quality of the parts on the rifle should be considered suspect.

Your best source for a USGI Garand is to purchase one from the Civilian Marksmanship Program (see link below). The CMP currently has two basic types of Garands available. US issue and Lend/Lease. The Lend/Lease issue Garands have been recently returned from Denmark and Greece. Lend/Lease Garands may have mil-spec parts manufactured by European manufacturers such as Beretta.

If you buy an M1 through the CMP, whether US issue or Lend/Lease issue, all of the rifles come through US arsenal (mine had been shipped from Red River). Before a Garand is released for sale, military armerors inspect each Garand for safe headspace and functioning. CMP Garands are sold complete and safe. CMP Garands, whether US issue or Lend/Lease are sold in different grades such as: field, rack, service, collector, etc. Check out their website and pricing by grade.

You can get a CMP Garand currently for as little as $400. My most recent Garand is a Greek Lend/Lease rifle, purchased for $300. I replaced the stock because I like nice looking wood. This rifle was bought as and is a shooter. The barrel is a little worn and should be replaced to improve the accuracy. As is, this "Greek" Garand can hold the 9 ring at 200 yards. This is decent accuracy for a 50 plus year old rifle that may have it's original barrel. Probably by this summer, it will be wearing a new barrel.

If you buy a CMP rifle, you will be receiving a rifle the same as it would have been issued to a US soldier during either WWII or the Korean Conflict. I would strongly suggest if you were to buy a Garand that you buy it from the CMP. Worries about inferior or improper part would be needless concern.

Good luck.

Answer 2

most, if not all Garands (yea its spelt like that) have GI barrels. they are not medium or heavy barrels. If you plan on getting a WW2 Garand, they wont come cheap. Be lucky to find one under $700. But if money is not an issue, they are awesome rifles. One thing you should look for is if the barrel is worn out. take a bore light and look down the bore. but make sure the bolt is locked open before you do that. some Garands dont have all original parts and are in great shape. mine is not a GI is a mix match of parts and its not even a Springfield, Internaltional Harvester or H&R reciver, but i still love it regardless. get one now before the supply dries up.

Answer 3

Don't dry fire a gun unless you have a snap cap in it! Another thing you may find on an old garande is a very worn trigger assemble that will fire two rounds back to back like a full auto. I had one many years ago in 1978 made by Win. and it would do that to me ( get alot of funny looks at the range when it happens). The steel on these guns are very hard almost to hard to drill, they are probable one of the best guns ever made for the military other than the M1A1 or m-14. you can also get a replacement barrel through shotgun news, they have alot of old military issue that foreign gov. have released for sale and they tend to end up back here in the states. My brother-in law has 9 of them at his house. you should try and get a look at a tankers model about 6-8" shorter, nice gun. Also never shot any bullets above 150 Gr's. it may bend your gas operator rod.

Answer 4

Look closely at the barrels, look for pitting, shininess and ask or have the throat and muzzle tested for wear. CMP is a place to find good shooters. Or you can buy brand new ones from Fulton Armory, Springfield Armory and a few others. I found a real nice one at a tiny gun show. A good gun store should have the new ones and, if you're lucky, maybe an old one, too.

Answer 5

I was going to answer...but ... Marlin810 has said it all. THe Man obviously knows His way around a Garand.

Answer 6

As can usually be expected, Bound's Hubby hits the nail on the head. He gets my vote.