My first M1 Garand

[jsfricks]

A member on a local forum posted 15 M1 Garands for sale about a two weeks ago. I've been wanting one, and with the government supply starting to dry up and prices continuing to rise, I decided it was time. I called and told him what I was looking for in one and when I arrived he had 5 set out for me. He's been collecting since 1985, and said at one time he had as many as almost 140. He's down to 75-80 now. He is an encyclopedia of knowledge on Garands and was very helpful. A great guy to deal with. He said if I didn't like what was on the table I could pick from any in his safe. After about an hour and a half I finally decided on a Springfield Armory March 1945 with military stock, with a 1955 replacement barrel that appears and measured as very little/ unfired condition. He even spent time showing me how to break it all down, and then letting me do it. Threw in some milsurp ammo and grease. I felt like his prices were more than fair, especially with so many to choose from, taking time to go over the rifle with me, and sharing his wealth of knowledge in the 2 hours I spent at his house. Very happy with my purchase and hope it's not my last Garand. A few pictures.

 

[Ron M.]

My dad, former marine sergeant, told me about Garand thumb...I thought he was kidding...ouch. By the way, beautiful rifle!

 

[M1A]

I love mine. Nice pick. Enjoy it.
Lots of videos on the you tube, and search will be your friend.

 

[gmiller0737]

I have 1 as well Mine is a H&R from The CMP,Check the web site Orion7 if you need parts/stuff He has Many Items & Cmp Forums has many knowledgeable folks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[kbm6893]

I've owned 3, and still own 2. A Springfield 1944 with GI wood, and an HRA 1955 with mostly original parts. Both service grade and both amazing rifles. When I got my first garand I sold an AR to buy another M1.

And I've never even come close to M1 thumb. It generally only happens when you're playing with an unloaded gun. Just watch that op rod and you'll be fine.

8 rounds of .30-06 in a semi auto is some serious firepower

 

[ladder13]

Nice SA garand.

I'll guarantee it won't be your last. I have a few....SA's, a Winchester, HRA's and a IHC "tractor gun".

Then there's the 1903's and A3's, Remington, SA, Smith-Corona. And a Winchester 1917.

Missing a 1903 RIA.

Leslie Tam is the sling meister


Les Tam Slings

 

[StakeOut]

US Rifle cal .30 M-1 Garand issued on February 8th,1961 to Pvt 1924648 at Paris Island S.C.

This is my rifle.
There are many like it, but this one is mine.
It is my life.
I must master it as I must master my life.
Without me my rifle is useless.
Without my rifle, I am useless.
I must fire my rifle true.
I must shoot straighter than the enemy who is trying to kill me.
I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will.
My rifle and I know that what counts in war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, or the smoke we make. We know that it is the hits that count.
We will hit.

My rifle is human, even as I am human, because it is my life.
Thus, I will learn it as a brother.
I will learn its weaknesses, its strengths, its parts, its accessories, its sights and its barrel.
I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready.
We will become part of each other.

Before God I swear this creed.
My rifle and I are the defenders of my country.
We are the masters of our enemy.
We are the saviors of my life.

So be it, until victory is America's and there is no enemy.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Beautiful gun, maybe one day I will get one. Thank you for posting.

 

[loc n load]

M1 Garand

With my dad and 6 of my uncles being WW II combat vets, I grew up on stories of the Garand. I own several, competed with Garands for 20 years in service rifle competition. Immense respect for the rifle and the 30-06 cartridge. Like the Garand so much, that is where my forum name originated from. Enjoy your "new rifle".

 

[Jingles]

I love the "ping" when the clip ejects. It really turns heads at the range. Congrats on a nice score!

 

[SmokelessPowder]

An M1 is a beauty and a beast. Everybody should have one.

 

[Welder1]

Nice choice Sir. As stated above likely not your last. For some reason shooting the Garand rifle always seems to give that extra thrill when you consider the history and importance.

 

[loknload]

That's a real nice M1,,,,Enjoy! .........

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Congratulations on a nice rifle!....To me they are the best looking military rifle ever built....I own several....In the "glory days of the CMP" back in 08 &09 we would make the trips to Anniston to buy carbines/garands/clips & ammo...To walk into the storein Anniston and see racks of 100's of garands & carbines and SMELL the cosmoline was thrilling......Sadly those days appear gone unless our next administration is more friendly toward gun ownership.......Bright side is CMP still has lots of Greek surplus 30/06 ammo loose(bulk) and on enbloc's...The Greek surplus is great ammo and from my garands average 2684 fps over the cronograph.......LOAD UP & ENJOY!

 

[JohnRippert]

My favorite rifle to shoot. There is just something about a Garand. I went through a spell when I was working on getting the "Big 4" but never got the IHC. I have 5 left out of the half dozen I purchased from the CMP, plus enough odds ends and receivers to put together 3 more. I would not be at all surprised if you ended up with more.

 

[richcory]

They are great guns, really love mine

 

[jessebogan]

Mine is a January 45 Springfield. Typical armory rebuild, lots of mixed parts. Barrel is dated 66. Not quite as pretty as yours, but a fine rifle non the less. I think every serious shooter should own one. I will one day pass it down to my son, but not before I am too old and feeble to shoot it anymore.

 

[Diamondtreo]

It took me 4 years to gather the "Big 4" with a whole lot of extras accumulated along the way. 2nd on the suggestion for Orion7, especially for his stainless steel replacement recoil springs. I ran across an interesting find in a LGS - what turned out to be an original (yes, all drawing nos, sights, stock and finish) April of 1941, that went to England on Lend Lease. It has all the evidence of stamping on each part for acceptance and export to boot. Some would look down at the 4 holes a previous owner drilled to mount a commercial equivalent of a type C scope mount, but heck, who else can take a pristine as-issued M1 Garand out to shoot?

 

[Grayfox]

I made the trip to Anniston back in 2007. Picked up a nice May 1943 Springfield. Great rifle!
I have since found it a few friends to keep it company.

 

[Frank46]

Back in the mid 80's when the import restrictions were relaxed a buddy who owned a gun shop had bought about 200 of them and they were the blue sky imports. Walked in the store and was like a feeding frenzy as they were still in their boxes. I was Garandless at the time so asked what was going on and he told me take your pick @$250 each. Well joined the frenzy and finally picked up a 1943 Springfield Armory with a RA national match op rod. Really nice barrel. Put it on hold with $100 down and picked it up a week later. Best deal I ever made. Still have it and don't intend to let it go anytime soon. Yours looks beautiful and while mine came with the birch stock I picked up a walnut stock and forend wood when midway had them on sale. Frank