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Old March 9, 2013, 07:57 PM   #1
Homerboy
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CMP Garand in .308?

CMP has new Special Garands with a spacer installed to allow .308 ammo. Anybody have any experience with these? I like the fact that the guns will shoot .308. an easier to find round. Gotta figure the surplus 30-06 ammo the Garand needs is eventually going to dry up. But a side of me says it's sacriledge to make a Garand into a .308.
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Old March 9, 2013, 09:46 PM   #2
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If its ammo availability that worries you, there's other companies making military load 150gr .30-06 for the M1 Garand. I'd not go .308 solely for that reason.

If, however, you are set up with .308 as it is (or you already reload it), then a .308 Garand may be a worthwhile investment.
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Old March 10, 2013, 12:17 AM   #3
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I didn't think that any of the old Navy conversions were still in the pipe. Bart B. was around for that fiasco and doesn't recommend them. Not terribly safe and not very accurate from what I gather.

Yes surplus 30-06 will dry up eventually. Good reason to get into reloading or buy a rifle in a different caliber.

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Old March 10, 2013, 06:32 AM   #4
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The CMP .308 is built with a new Criterion barrel and new wood. The ones I've seen or heard about are nice shooters. Being in .308 is just another option.
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Old March 10, 2013, 08:56 AM   #5
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From the last post, Im assuming the rifle is "chambered" in .308, and isnt a 30-06 with the inserts.

Homerboys post sounded like it might be inserts, unless he was referring to the "block" that wont allow a clip of 30-06 to be inserted.

If it is the inserts, I think Id pass.

I have an M1 in .308 and its a shooter. I also have one in 30-06, and it too shoots well. I reload for both, so as long as I can get components, ammo cost really isnt an issue.

Other than the basic M1 safety issues (ammo and function) the only thing that I think you need to pay extra attention to, if you have guns in both calibers is, you dont get a clip of .308 into a 30-06 gun. To me, thats scarier than getting a 30-06 clip into a .308 gun. If you are shooting both at the same time, its very easy to get the clips mixed up, as they are really not all that different, unless held side by side.
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Old March 10, 2013, 12:56 PM   #6
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It's a CMP Garand Special with a .308 barrel and the block inserted to prevent .30-06 from being inserted into the gun.
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Old March 10, 2013, 03:35 PM   #7
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In that case, with a new Criterion barrel, I'd go for it.

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Old March 11, 2013, 06:21 AM   #8
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If its ammo availability that worries you, there's other companies making military load 150gr .30-06 for the M1 Garand. I'd not go .308 solely for that reason.
Hornady and Federal (American Eagle) both make M1-specific loads. And Hornady has a 168-gr match load (A-max) so not just M2-ball-equivalent.
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Old March 11, 2013, 11:28 AM   #9
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They had a few racks of these at the CMP North store a month or so ago when I visited. They're rebuilds with new stocks, a new .308 barrel and new finish.

Probably about as close as you'd get to a "new" M1. I wouldn't worry about the supply of .30-06 though. Even if you don't reload, the CMP sells new manufacture Lake City, about $110 shipped for 200 rounds.
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Old March 11, 2013, 12:02 PM   #10
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I like them recommend them and if I could afford it would get another one just in case something happens to the one I have.
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Old March 12, 2013, 02:01 PM   #11
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I wouldn't worry about the supply of .30-06 though. Even if you don't reload, the CMP sells new manufacture Lake City, about $110 shipped for 200 rounds.
I believe you are referring to the surplus Greek HXP 30-06 M2 the CMP sells for about $110 shipped for 200 rounds.

Regardless, the HXP is great stuff. Just got another ammo box of it today from the CMP via Fed Ex.
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Old March 12, 2013, 02:35 PM   #12
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How long ago did you place the order? I've heard that they're behind but nobody there can tell me how far behind they are.
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Old March 12, 2013, 09:44 PM   #13
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How long ago did you place the order? I've heard that they're behind but nobody there can tell me how far behind they are.
I placed my order on January 27. Fed Ex delivered on March 8. I wasn't home, and CMP required a signature, so I had to pick it up from Fed Ex today.

In all, the ammo order only took about a week longer to fill than my last order from them, which was pre-panic.
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Old March 15, 2013, 06:53 AM   #14
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I hope that CMP will still have these available around the end of the year. Kinda hard for me to send off the paperwork right now.
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Old March 15, 2013, 06:57 AM   #15
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If its ammo availability that worries you, there's other companies making military load 150gr .30-06 for the M1 Garand. I'd not go .308 solely for that reason.

If, however, you are set up with .308 as it is (or you already reload it), then a .308 Garand may be a worthwhile investment.
Ok, I'm not smart on 30.06 ammo. What's the difference between the military 30.06 load for the Garand and just regular 30.06 ammo I use in my Remington?
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Old March 15, 2013, 08:01 AM   #16
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The military 30-06 is loaded to a specific spec and power range, that the M1, and other guns in service in that caliber, were designed to operate in.

The commercial stuff is loaded in a variety of loads, some using heavier bullets and slower burning powders that are outside the M1's designed operating range, which may cause damage to the gun.
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Old March 15, 2013, 08:30 AM   #17
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So if I wanted to buy an M1 Garand, would I be better off getting it in a .308 just because I could get modern ammo for it?
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Old March 15, 2013, 10:25 AM   #18
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You can still get GI/surplus 30-06 ammo for the CMP for somewhat reasonable prices, and there are commercial loads available for it that shouldnt be an issue.

They also make an adjustable gas plug for the M1 thats supposed to allow shooting the heavier loads without damage. I ve never used one, but a number of others here seem to approve of them.

.308 can have the similar issues too, so you have to weigh that as well.

Personally, Id just go with one in 30-06.
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Old March 15, 2013, 10:32 AM   #19
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So if I wanted to buy an M1 Garand, would I be better off getting it in a .308 just because I could get modern ammo for it?
Only if you want one in .308.

Federal (and other companies, I believe) make Garand-specific loads. There is also a list floating out there of other commercial ammo that is Garand-safe. I believe plain old Remington 150-grain Core-Loct is on that list, if you want a good commercial hunting load.

Also, changing out the gas plug with an inexpensive aftermarket plug (by Schuster, McCann, Garand Gear, etc.) allows shooting of pretty much any modern commercial ammo through a Garand. It's a drop-in part. Some need adjustment. Some don't. It does not permanently modify the gun, so you can put the USGI plug back in for matches that require it.
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