Question for M1 Garand collectors/shooters/fans

[cmansguns]

Years ago I bought a M1 Garand from a person and no documents, case, instructions. Don't know (and never cared) if it was DCM or CMP, as the rifle appeared to be unissued, possibly unfired since January 1966 overhaul at Red River Army Depot in Texas.

All internal parts are IHC, and the rifle is a 1953 IHC "Postage Stamp" serial number.

The barrel is marked SA 8-65 and appears to be a new barrel as was common for rebuilds at the time. The sights are marked NM, the stock has a Box P cartouche with one side open on the wrist.

So all in all....a good looking Garand rebuild. I recently got to wondering about the Throat Erosion/Muzzle Erosion so I went and bought a TE/ME gauge from Fulton Armory.

The results are basically zero-zero which I hadn't heard of before in Garands. Even new barrels showed a tad larger TE than ME. I have heard that Springfield Armory barrels from the mid sixties were exceptionally accurate and equal to (or better) the famed LMR bbls.

Question(s) for you M1 Garand guys (or gals): I haven't forced anything. I let gravity do the work so am I doing something wrong with the gauge? Have you seen in your travels a zero-zero Garand bbl before?

I have posted the same question over on Garand Collectors Assoc. site but haven't heard anything. Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[Dave from Pa]

I have a number of Garands with 0 muzzle.They usually show some reading in the throat area after chambering,usually a .5 on a new barrel.If the reamer was new your barrel may read a 0.I have a rifle I just had barreled at the CMP custom shop and it reads 0 depending on how you wiggle the gauge.

 

[Llance]

Do you know how to field strip the rifle. I would say you should field strip it and then do the throat erosion test again. You may get the same readings but at least the gage will not be sitting at an angle in the throat.

If you don't know how to field strip the rifle then PM me and i'll give you my number to call and i will walk you through the process.

 

[jdlii]

It looks, to me, as though you are good to go! Beautiful Garand and with today's interest a "postage stamp" IHC is desirable and valuable!

Let us know how it shoots.

 

[quikdraw67]

Very nice Garand.

 

[AJ]

I just let gravity control the gage. My thoughts are shoot it or sell it. They are asking stupid money for the Garand's nowadays. In some cases they are getting it. Saw a maybe NIB Garand yesterday at the gun show and they were asking $4300 for it.

 

[Faulkner]

Yes, I have come across a couple of zero-zero M1 rifle barrels before.

Nice looking Garand you have.

 

[AJ]

Yes, I have come across a couple of zero-zero M1 rifle barrels before.

Nice looking Garand you have.

Have seen a few. A friend and I went to the CMP North Store whenever we came to visit. We both had muzzle gages and checked all that were in the racks. Found a few every trip.

 

[waffles]

Echoing the others that have seen a few.

I'd also say, if you're reading this and don't have a garand, go ahead and start doing the CMP paperwork now. The current garand pricing is an absolute steal for such an excellent rifle, and it will not go on forever.

 

[AJ]

Echoing the others that have seen a few.

I'd also say, if you're reading this and don't have a garand, go ahead and start doing the CMP paperwork now. The current garand pricing is an absolute steal for such an excellent rifle, and it will not go on forever.

No longer quite the deal that it was at one time. When I first went to CMP a "Rack Grade" was $400 and a 'Service Grade" was $600.

 

[Dave from Pa]

FWIW the first M1 I received in 1982 cost $127 and was delivered by the mailman Courtesy of the director of civilian marksmanship. There were no grades, you had to fire at least 120 rounds in competition and selection was purely luck of the draw. Your paperwork was cleared by ATF and took approximately one year. At that time the DCM was allocated 2500 a year. You were only allowed one rifle in a lifetime.


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[Freelancer99]

Forget what you paid in 1982, the rifles that are shipping right now are beautiful 60s rebuilds that have never been fired.
Get your paperwork in asap!

 

[Dave from Pa]

They've all been fired.


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[Freelancer99]

I have posted the same question over on Garand Collectors Assoc. site but haven't heard anything. Thanks in advance for any replies.

For great answers go to the CMP Forums Garand sub forum, the best of the best will be happy to help.

 

[Marlin57M]

I took delivery February 2021 of a Rack Grade Special from CMP. It's a December 1943 Springfield manufactured M1 with new barrel and stock. Cost was $650 delivered to my home in a very nice case. The first 8 shots were at 50 yards to check sighting and functioning. Then moved to 100 yards and first 3 shots were in a 1 1/8" group with my 150gr bullet loads. Was ringing steel at 300 yards yesterday with 168gr loads. Beautiful and accurate rifle. A fantastic bargain at $650!

 

[waffles]

No longer quite the deal that it was at one time. When I first went to CMP a "Rack Grade" was $400 and a 'Service Grade" was $600.

A WASR10 was $400 when I started shooting, it's now $800. A mosin was $60, now it's $350. A house was...well now that's just depressing and I won't bring myself down.

Prices increase. $650 for a field grade Garand is an absolutely stupid good deal, and well below market, as is $750 for a service when they have them. Take a look at what flipped CMP garands go for.

 

[minconrevo]

Like most everything else, the price of a M1 Garand from DCM now CMP is higher than it was a few years ago. Still a good value today. The Civilian Marksmanship Program website lists descriptions of various grades of M1's as well as current pricing. Some M1 barrels shoot better than others. Some even in the over 3 range at the muzzle shoot well. I received a Rack Grade M1 just a few months ago in that range; its SA barrel shoots great. GI stock is "well experienced" and finish shows honest wear.

The commercial Criterion barrel is a good replacement for a truly shot-out or badly rust pitted GI barrel. Likewise the Danish VAR, LMR and late dated Springfield Armory barrels are prized for being "best" quality barrels.

 

[jake1945]

I sold a Winchester M1 garand a few years ago. It was all Winchester except the barrel and stock. I sold it for $1200 w/bayonet. I currently own a WW2 SA garand that was completely gone by Deans Guns including a repark and new Wenig stock. Sadly Deans is not in business anymore! I value this gaand at $2000 minimum!

 

[Faulkner]

I sold a Winchester M1 garand a few years ago. It was all Winchester except the barrel and stock. I sold it for $1200 w/bayonet. I currently own a WW2 SA garand that was completely gone by Deans Guns including a repark and new Wenig stock. Sadly Deans is not in business anymore! I value this gaand at $2000 minimum!

I knew Dean had passed away 5 or 6 years ago, but I didn't know his apprentice had closed the business. Dean did a complete restoration on a M1903 for me in 2012 and did an awesome job at a fair price. I hate to hear DGR is out of business.

 

[Mike 139]

OP... You can contact CMP and for a small charge, they will advise if the Rifle was sold by DCM or CMP... Home - Civilian Marksmanship Program re-build programs during the 60's resulted in outstanding Rifles ,usually new SA barrels and NM Op-rods...The Receiver leg was marked with the Arsenal and month and year...Some Stocks were also marked and some were not...Your Barrel date is 8-66, so I would get the letter of confirmation...Should be an outstanding Shooter, as long as the Stock has good lockup when You close the Trigger Guard. ..
Gauges vary, depending on wear and manufacturer..I have a Fulton Muzzle gauge and an Aramor TE gauge...

I went to Anniston in 2003 and participated in the Volunteer Armorer program...They were working the Danish returns and the 03A3s....I bought an SA Danish...WW2, 2 mil. Serial Range, that had a VAR Barrel on it that gauged 0 on the Muzzle....with AMA surplus ammo, it would consistently shoot low- mid 400s @ 200 yds....Danish disc in the Stock and all...A lot of People spent money sending off their Rifles to have Krieger barrels and Wenig Stocks to keep up.....Injuries and age brought Competition to an end for me, but I still have an HRA 5.7 that I brought back that is an RRAD .7-65 rebuild, marked on Lower Receiver leg, with SA 11-64 Barrel, that shoots real well...Apparently CMP has recently received some more of these from a US depot and they're sending them out now..