Goodbye 7.62x39, hello Garand

Willie Lowman · November 3, 2012, 07:22 PM

I made a trade today.

For my like new Norinco SKS sporter, all my 7.62x39 ammo, my 30 round AK mags and drum that I was saving a rainy day I got a Garand and a bayonet. There was some money on my part too.

So as of today I have no com-bloc guns or ammo. I have a Garand. It is a Springfield of 1941 vintage. I already managed to slam my left thumb in the action while screwing around with it... Haven't fired the first round through it yet.

No pics for you! I may get some when I take it out to shoot but I'm not promising anything.

------

Anyone know if that '71 Greek 30-06 ammo is corrosive?

RT · November 3, 2012, 07:36 PM

Good trade

10-96 · November 3, 2012, 07:40 PM

Congratulations! You're gonna love that Garand- even if it may require a bit more up-front money to shoot.

Garand specific ammo is a little on the expensive side, so you might take a look at something like a Schuster Adjustable Gas Plug, a Wolff spring kit from Brownell's, and several spare clips.

Now, if you hit the range and find that it does not shoot to your liking- please don't get rid of it. Consider a Criterion barrel swap. Sure, that's a little more $$- but little in life is as satisfying as a good running M1.

Jeff H · November 3, 2012, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Garand specific ammo is a little on the expensive side, so you might take a look at something like a Schuster Adjustable Gas Plug, a Wolff spring kit from Brownell's, and several spare clips.

Actually, I find the opposite true. Once you set up an account at the CMP, you can get a 200 round ammo can for roughly $100.00 + shipping. That is cheaper than I can find most other 30-06 rounds of any type.

Technosavant · November 3, 2012, 08:53 PM

AIM Surplus also has some Prvi Partizan .30-06 to military specs (the Garand will love it)... it costs a bit more than the Greek stuff through CMP, but it's a bit easier to order (the CMP has great prices and a good cause, but it's a bit more work than most online vendors).

chris in va · November 3, 2012, 10:29 PM

...or just reload. Save those HXP cases after you fire them.

Willie Lowman · November 4, 2012, 07:50 AM

Chris, I reload. The Dillon 650 is sitting about 10 feet behind me quietly reminding me I need to load more .223. It is now just a matter of getting 30-06 dies, another tool head, another shell plate, large rifle case feeder, powder, primers, bullets, tumbling brass, drinking more coffee...

Edward429451 · November 4, 2012, 12:37 PM

That was a good trade. The bonus is all American now.

If I traded an SKS for a Garand I would feel like I ripped him off, lol!.

JR_Roosa · November 4, 2012, 05:16 PM

I love my garand. You will like yours.

J.

10-96 · November 4, 2012, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Actually, I find the opposite true. Once you set up an account at the CMP, you can get a 200 round ammo can for roughly $100.00 + shipping.

Right, but I personally don't anticipate HXP being around for more than a couple more years at most.

Ignition Override · November 5, 2012, 05:01 AM

10-96:
Does most of the CMP's M2 Ball consist of HXP? A friend who moved away has some inside contacts at the CMP from his years on the Navy Rifle Team, and can find out whether any more HXP might be available for future CMP imports.

Do you believe that the CMP won't be able to acquire any more, or that no more exists for Greek exports to us?
I hope that future US signing into, and blind obedience to the UN Small Arms Treaty is not also a threat to this ammo or any leftover quantities of Garands.

If the Greeks have more than a few left (not just their Honour Guards etc), they might be broke enough to send them back.
They have doctors and many other types of workers who have not been paid in months, if the newspaper article is accurate.

sgms · November 5, 2012, 05:00 PM

Good trade, garands are great rifles. You can always get another SKS later they aren't exactly hard to find or expensive for that matter.

bamaranger · November 5, 2012, 09:48 PM

A Garand for an SKS......that's not a trade, that's a steal.

10-96 · November 6, 2012, 03:30 AM

Ignition Override-
One of my buddies was told 2yrs ago by one of the CMP storemembers that they had gotten all that the Greeks had.

I'd also read that on the CMP forum while digging around for folks' pet M2 duplication reload recipes.

So, I don't have an answer for you from a first-hand source, but I do trust what my buddy says.

Willie Lowman · November 6, 2012, 04:55 AM

As I said before, I traded more than just the SKS. At any rate I like the Garand much better so far. The sights are better, the trigger is much better, and despite the size and weight the balance is much better.

After my first test firing of the rifle I noticed the clips don't eject with much authority. They seem to pop out and roll off the side of the rifle. I think they are supposed to be thrown clear. Also, the elevation knob is not aligned properly. When the rear sight is all the way down the number 4 is just above the mark on the gun. I guess this is just a matter of removing the screw in the sight adjustment drum and lining it up correctly?

dodge · November 7, 2012, 08:39 AM

The standard handload for the garand is 47 grs. IMR 4895 with a 150 gr. bullet. Through my research I found that this load is suppose to dupilcate the M2 load that the military used in the day.

November 3, 2012, 07:22 PM	#1
Willie Lowman Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2009 Location: Uh-Hi-O Posts: 3,006	Goodbye 7.62x39, hello Garand I made a trade today. For my like new Norinco SKS sporter, all my 7.62x39 ammo, my 30 round AK mags and drum that I was saving a rainy day I got a Garand and a bayonet. There was some money on my part too. So as of today I have no com-bloc guns or ammo. I have a Garand. It is a Springfield of 1941 vintage. I already managed to slam my left thumb in the action while screwing around with it... Haven't fired the first round through it yet. No pics for you! I may get some when I take it out to shoot but I'm not promising anything. ------ Anyone know if that '71 Greek 30-06 ammo is corrosive? __________________ "9mm has a very long history of being a pointy little bullet moving quickly" --Sevens

November 3, 2012, 07:40 PM	#3
10-96 Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Location: Tx Panhandle Territory Posts: 4,160	Congratulations! You're gonna love that Garand- even if it may require a bit more up-front money to shoot. Garand specific ammo is a little on the expensive side, so you might take a look at something like a Schuster Adjustable Gas Plug, a Wolff spring kit from Brownell's, and several spare clips. Now, if you hit the range and find that it does not shoot to your liking- please don't get rid of it. Consider a Criterion barrel swap. Sure, that's a little more $$- but little in life is as satisfying as a good running M1. __________________ Rednecks... Keeping the woods critter-free since March 2, 1836. (TX Independence Day) I suspect a thing or two... because I've seen a thing or two.

November 4, 2012, 07:50 AM	#7
Willie Lowman Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2009 Location: Uh-Hi-O Posts: 3,006	Chris, I reload. The Dillon 650 is sitting about 10 feet behind me quietly reminding me I need to load more .223. It is now just a matter of getting 30-06 dies, another tool head, another shell plate, large rifle case feeder, powder, primers, bullets, tumbling brass, drinking more coffee... __________________ "9mm has a very long history of being a pointy little bullet moving quickly" --Sevens

November 5, 2012, 09:48 PM	#13
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,329	not a trade, a.......... A Garand for an SKS......that's not a trade, that's a steal.

November 6, 2012, 03:30 AM	#14
10-96 Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Location: Tx Panhandle Territory Posts: 4,160	Ignition Override- One of my buddies was told 2yrs ago by one of the CMP storemembers that they had gotten all that the Greeks had. I'd also read that on the CMP forum while digging around for folks' pet M2 duplication reload recipes. So, I don't have an answer for you from a first-hand source, but I do trust what my buddy says. __________________ Rednecks... Keeping the woods critter-free since March 2, 1836. (TX Independence Day) I suspect a thing or two... because I've seen a thing or two.

November 3, 2012, 07:36 PM	#2
RT Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2000 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 2,194	Good trade

November 3, 2012, 08:53 PM	#5
Technosavant Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2007 Location: St. Louis, MO area Posts: 4,040	AIM Surplus also has some Prvi Partizan .30-06 to military specs (the Garand will love it)... it costs a bit more than the Greek stuff through CMP, but it's a bit easier to order (the CMP has great prices and a good cause, but it's a bit more work than most online vendors).

November 3, 2012, 10:29 PM	#6
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	...or just reload. Save those HXP cases after you fire them.

November 4, 2012, 12:37 PM	#8
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	That was a good trade. The bonus is all American now. If I traded an SKS for a Garand I would feel like I ripped him off, lol!.

November 4, 2012, 05:16 PM	#9
JR_Roosa Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2009 Posts: 130	I love my garand. You will like yours. J.

November 5, 2012, 05:01 AM	#11
Ignition Override Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2008 Location: About 20 nm from the Big Muddy Posts: 2,889	10-96: Does most of the CMP's M2 Ball consist of HXP? A friend who moved away has some inside contacts at the CMP from his years on the Navy Rifle Team, and can find out whether any more HXP might be available for future CMP imports. Do you believe that the CMP won't be able to acquire any more, or that no more exists for Greek exports to us? I hope that future US signing into, and blind obedience to the UN Small Arms Treaty is not also a threat to this ammo or any leftover quantities of Garands. If the Greeks have more than a few left (not just their Honour Guards etc), they might be broke enough to send them back. They have doctors and many other types of workers who have not been paid in months, if the newspaper article is accurate.

November 5, 2012, 05:00 PM	#12
sgms Senior Member Join Date: May 30, 2010 Location: Arizona or Ohio depending Posts: 1,021	Good trade, garands are great rifles. You can always get another SKS later they aren't exactly hard to find or expensive for that matter.

November 6, 2012, 04:55 AM	#15
Willie Lowman Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2009 Location: Uh-Hi-O Posts: 3,006	As I said before, I traded more than just the SKS. At any rate I like the Garand much better so far. The sights are better, the trigger is much better, and despite the size and weight the balance is much better. After my first test firing of the rifle I noticed the clips don't eject with much authority. They seem to pop out and roll off the side of the rifle. I think they are supposed to be thrown clear. Also, the elevation knob is not aligned properly. When the rear sight is all the way down the number 4 is just above the mark on the gun. I guess this is just a matter of removing the screw in the sight adjustment drum and lining it up correctly? __________________ "9mm has a very long history of being a pointy little bullet moving quickly" --Sevens

November 7, 2012, 08:39 AM	#16
dodge Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2001 Location: ridgerunner from Northern PA Posts: 291	The standard handload for the garand is 47 grs. IMR 4895 with a 150 gr. bullet. Through my research I found that this load is suppose to dupilcate the M2 load that the military used in the day.