June 2, 2013, 12:41 PM | #1 |
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M1 Garand Questions
So just recently I made the decision to join the Army National Guard, didn't take too long to make that decision since its something I've wanted to do for awhile. Well just now I came to the realization that being in the military alone would qualify me to buy an M1 Garand from the CMP. So now I've decided that once I've officially joined and gone through basic training and all that, I would send in an order for a Garand as kind of a little reward to myself for joining .
NOW, that I've gotten all that out of the way, here is my question. I know the Garand is "sensitive" about the 30-06 ammo you put through it, and I know you can buy ammo made specifically made for it... But what if I want to shoot regular factory ammo through it? I've heard that you can buy adjustable gas plugs for it, is that all you need in order to shoot factory ammo? I've also heard that its best to only use 150 grain bullets, is this true? Also, when you actually receive it, is it going to have cosmoline all over it like a mosin nagant? I'll probably have more questions down the road when I actually receive the thing, but that is all for now.
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June 2, 2013, 12:46 PM | #2 |
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Buying a Garand is a great idea! You can buy military surplus ammo that the CMP sells and use it. You can also buy an adjustable gas plug and have the capability to use any commercial reload. I reload for mine and use 150, 155, 165, and 175 bullets. It shoots them all well. Mine came from the CMP very clean. The CMP has a forum which can be very helpful.
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June 2, 2013, 01:15 PM | #3 |
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I never got a rifle from the CMP that was all gummed up with cosmoline but you should take it a part and clean and lube it anyway. No big deal and it will show you the workings of the Garand.
To much is made of the ammo for the Garand. Just use med burning powder or get the surplus ammo from the CMP. Congrats on joining the Guard. You'll enjoy it, I have 19 years with the Alaska National Guard, my only regrets is getting out when I did. Though I did retire (had 25 years between the Guard, RA and Reserve) I still wish I stayed.
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June 2, 2013, 01:26 PM | #4 | |||
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June 2, 2013, 01:36 PM | #5 |
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M1 Rifle
The CG/SA I bought some years ago was a little sticky but cleaned up quick. The stock still bleeds a little on hot days at the range.
The other DCM/CMP rifles were pretty clean. M1903A3 SG/RA and M1 Rifle SG/SA. As advised above take the rifle down to get familiar with it and give a proper greasing. When the CMP had their volunteer program in Anniston rifles got cleaned, inspected, and tested. I do not think they have done that for quite awhile. |
June 2, 2013, 02:14 PM | #6 |
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Just got mine yesterday and I've got to say that it was the cleanest surplus rifle I've ever dealt with. No cosmoline anywhere. I tore it down last night and was very impressed. As for ammo, I ordered mine with 200rds of Greek M2 ball ammo. I plan to reload that brass once it's all been shot up. I only plan to load target ammo for the rifle since I have no plans to use it for hunting. If I were going to shoot other ammo through it I'd probably buy an adjustable gas plug for it.
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June 2, 2013, 02:18 PM | #7 |
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Mehavey, that velocity printed on that M72 match ammo box is what's spec'd at 26 yards; 78 feet. And with peak pressure averaging 50,000 CUP. Not hot at all.
That ammo from Hornady probably has a non-canistered powder. A 168 gr A-MAX™ bullet at 2,710 fps from a Garand barrel, even a new one, will be traveling about 2640 fps 26 yards downrange. |
June 2, 2013, 02:24 PM | #8 | |
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Alright thanks guys, you answered my questions perfectly.
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I don't always go to the range, but when I do, I prefer dosAKs. They say 5 out of 4 people are bad at math. |
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June 2, 2013, 02:49 PM | #9 |
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You'll enjoy the gun. I bought one from the CMP and was (am) very pleased with it.
All the previous provide solid advice. I use the gas plug in the linked previous and like ability to safely use commercial ammo. I use it in the single shot mode and brass doesn't go into the next lane. A word of caution for you about M1 thumb. It can happen but if you pay attention, the bolt will come forward when you load it but it should stop it's forward motion when it begins to strip the top round. You then bump the bolt forward to complete the cycle and off you go. However, a friend of a friend of my 2'nd cousingot his thumb caught in the action when he had it on the bench rest to service it. The bolt was back and the DA accidently bumped the follower the bolt slams home with authority believe me....er....DA and it basically captured his thumb on his right hand. So there I...er.. DA was facing backward trying to pull back the bolt with his left hand. Awkward to say the least. Lost the thumbnail. Enjoy your upcoming purchase! Hobie also known as DA Last edited by 1Hobie; June 2, 2013 at 03:53 PM. |
June 2, 2013, 04:45 PM | #10 | |||
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June 3, 2013, 07:50 AM | #11 |
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I saw a machining or gunsmithing company a while back that converted a Garand to shoot .458 Win Mag. If it can do that, it can handle any .30-06 load within reason with the right adjustments.
Maybe it's my nature because I like to solve problems, but what I'd probably do is find the best load in terms of price/accuracy/whatever for what I wanted to do (hunting, target shooting, whatever), and if it didn't function reliably enough, then I'd look into making it work. I get that not everyone would want to do it this way, though. |
June 3, 2013, 08:31 AM | #12 |
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CMP's website says that being in the military waives both the club membership requirement and the marksmanship activity requirement.
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June 3, 2013, 11:19 AM | #13 | |
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June 3, 2013, 12:54 PM | #14 |
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June 3, 2013, 02:18 PM | #15 |
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Thanks for that link gdvan01, interesting stuff.
As far as the copying of a Military I.D., maybe since the CMP is a government run organization it is legal to use a copy of it only to send to them?
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I don't always go to the range, but when I do, I prefer dosAKs. They say 5 out of 4 people are bad at math. |
June 3, 2013, 02:36 PM | #16 | |
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ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin |
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June 3, 2013, 11:01 PM | #17 | |
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I don't always go to the range, but when I do, I prefer dosAKs. They say 5 out of 4 people are bad at math. |
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June 4, 2013, 09:07 AM | #18 | |
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The CMP was charted by congress to provide marksmanship training to American Citizens, with emphasis on Juniors. Surplus Sales is nothing but a means to fund those programs. The Forerunner of the CMP was the DCM which was run by the Army, and did received federal funds. The CMP doesn't depend on tax dollars, but is totally funded from sales. When I was attending the CMP GSM MI course we were told that if the Sales was to stop today (that was 2-3 years ago) they have the means to continue their marksmanship activities almost indefinitely. But again, the mission of the CMP is not to sell surplus military arms, ammo, and equipment, but to conduct marksmanship activities. This just didn't start in 1996 when the CMP got it's charter, but in 1904 under Teddy Roosevelt. It definitely is more efficient then the DCM.....not to say the Army was a fault, but they had to have their budget approved each year by congress, they were understaffed and under funded and had some silly rules. To give you an example, when I got my Distinguished Rifle badge it took about 18 months under the DCM from the time I finished up on my points and I got the Badge. Now under the CMP if you earn the points, they'll beat you home from the match. To add, not all the stuff sold by the CMP is surplus military, a look at their Stores (e-store) lots of ammo, and other shooting equipment and parts come from commercial sources. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Edit to add: The CMP is about a lot more then M1 Sales, I encourage everyone to visit www.odcmp.com and go through the site and forums. It's a great program.
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Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071 Last edited by kraigwy; June 4, 2013 at 09:16 AM. |
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June 4, 2013, 09:20 AM | #19 |
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I believe the Garand Collectors Association (for $25 a year) is an affiliated organization.
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June 4, 2013, 05:37 PM | #20 |
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M1 Collectors Club is $14 per year
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June 4, 2013, 07:19 PM | #21 |
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tahunua, good job in alerting him to that legal minefield.
Perhaps a short letter from a company commander, on NG letterhead, will do the job of certifying that he is active military. And I expect that CMP office has handled the question a few times before. He can call and ask what they accept as confirmation. Perhaps he can just copy a set of orders which have a current date.... And about the dreaded M1 Thumb (aka Garanditus Slammus Thumsi) - there are two kinds of rifle shooters: those who have suffered from M1 Thumb, and those who are going to. Bart Noir
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June 4, 2013, 07:53 PM | #22 |
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Garand Thumb?
Two kinds of shooters those who put their thumb where it doesnt belong and get bit and shooters who know better and keep their digets out of where they shouldnt be I have been shooting the Garand for many years and never had it and never even a close call. Garand thumb comes form playing around with a empty rifle with the bolt pulled back. |
June 4, 2013, 08:49 PM | #23 |
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I kindof agree, true I haven't shot my M1 all that much yet but garand thumb sounds kindof like beretta bite... a stupid newbie mistake that anyone with comoon sense should be able to avoid.
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ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin |
June 4, 2013, 09:49 PM | #24 | |
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June 4, 2013, 10:30 PM | #25 |
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hmmm... I never thought about an LES... orders are FOUO as well so there might even be issues spreading copies of those but an LES might serve assuming you're comfortable leaving your financial info in someone else'
hands.
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ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin |
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