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AR15.COM
2/19/2015 4:38:32 PM EDT
Hi all,

I'm looking at a 90% condition Springfield M1 Garand in .308/7.62 for sale. It seems to have a very wide price range from what I've seen online. I can pick one up for $650. I want to make sure that is a fair price. Any input is appreciated. Thanks!

Also, are there any M1 specific problem areasI should look at before buying?
2/19/2015 4:47:53 PM EDT
[#1]
Is this a "Navy" conversion to a 30.06 Garand?

or a "new" Springfield Armory Inc .308 Garand?
2/19/2015 5:50:16 PM EDT
[#2]
That is something I didn't consider. Is there a major difference in value / quality?

*Edit*
Top of receiver behind rear sight says:

US Rifle
Cal. [not legible in photo]
Springfield
Armory
S/N
2/19/2015 7:50:37 PM EDT
[#3]
The serial number should be helpful

http://fulton-armory.com/faqs/m1g-faqs/tea/m1serial.htm

or  

http://myplace.frontier.com/~aleccorapinski/id11.html


I have a Springfield Armory Inc M1 Garand in 30.06 the serial number for my commercial model is 71033XX


Military M1 Garands were converted to .308 in two ways.  Originally a chamber sleeve was glued into a 30.06 barrel (the least desirable conversion) and by being rebarreled to .308.  The photos I have seen of these conversions had 7.62 NATO stamped on the oprod.


look here

https://www.gunandgame.com/threads/story-of-308-garands.165860/

not quite 1/2 way down the page.
2/19/2015 8:25:54 PM EDT
[#4]
Thanks for the links. According to the fulton-armory, this M1 was built in March of 1944. The more reading about the M1 and different builds, the more nervous I am about getting this rifle. I still don't know if it's worth the $650. or not.
2/19/2015 9:06:28 PM EDT
[#5]
That sounds like a decent price.  Checked the CMP lately?
2/19/2015 9:42:16 PM EDT
[#6]
I've seen a few in my searches, but I'm not exactly an M1 guru.  Is CMP generally preferred over Springfield?
2/21/2015 8:44:24 PM EDT
[#7]
CMP isn't necessarily better or worse than Springfield Armory. I would prefer a new Springfield armory over a worn out CMP rifle any day.  Most of the CMP rifles currently for sale are either rebuilds, pretty beat up, but serviceable, or extremely expensive collector grade ones.

If you can get a decent used one for $650, that is a good price.  Take a look at the on line gun sale and auction sites to see what people are asking for Garands today. That will give you a pretty good idea of what people think they rifles are worth.
2/22/2015 7:11:22 PM EDT
[#8]
If you want a 308 garand, your options are fewer.
There were 2 types of navy conversions, ones where an adapter was fitted to the current 30-06 chambers and one where barrels were machined from scratch to be 308. The ones with the dedicated 308 chambers are preferred. Additionally, an original production garand is probably more desirable than a new production one, if you ever go to sell it. If the gun has paperwork saying that it was given away as a prize from a shooting competition (meaning that it was assembled as a whole gun by the navy) it will generally be worth more than a barreled reciever that was bought from the CMP and built into a gun.


If you want a 30-06 garand, I would say buy it from the CMP. They have the best prices and it will ship straight to your door, and the money they earn all goes back towards the shooting sports. Their options and prices are fewer than in previous years, but even a field grade ($630) won't be shot out. I bought a service grade  ($730 now) and it looks great and shoots well. I noticed that it had a small crack in its old stock (hairline) and they sent me a new stock free of charge. If you really want a garand in the way it was designed I'd go this way. Garands have a closed gas system, so loaded ammo has to be made at very specific pressure levels when it reaches the gas port or you risk bending the operating rod. In 30-06 it means buying M2 ball surplus ammo (not modern day hunting ammo). IN a .308 Garand, I honestly couldn't tell you what to buy pressure wise. If you reload, then this point is largely moot.

Not sure from your previous post if you know or not, but the CMP (Civilian Marksmanship Program) is a non-profit that simply sells surplus garands. You can buy a Springfield or Harington & Richardson Garand from them direct and ahve it shipped to your door. They do the background check, so no FFL required.
http://thecmp.org/cmp_sales/rifle_sales/m1-garand/
3/8/2015 10:32:09 AM EDT
[#9]
You know what would be great? IF there was a dedicated sub forum for M1's and M1A's, where one could go and seek help on that platform. Is this a thread topic about M1 precision rifles, no? great, off to the right subforum.





3/8/2015 10:56:13 AM EDT
[#10]
Quote History
Quoted:
You know what would be great? IF there was a dedicated sub forum for M1's and M1A's, where one could go and seek help on that platform. Is this a thread topic about M1 precision rifles, no? great, off to the right subforum.



View Quote


You know what else would be great? If grumpy old jerks on this board would treat our newer members with a little more respect than your crybaby rant. There are a lot of subforums on this AR15 website that many folks don't know about. It really wouldn't hurt to guide him in that direction, without being such a curmudgeon.
3/8/2015 1:06:31 PM EDT
[#11]
Quote History
Quoted:


You know what else would be great? If grumpy old jerks on this board would treat our newer members with a little more respect than your crybaby rant. There are a lot of subforums on this AR15 website that many folks don't know about. It really wouldn't hurt to guide him in that direction, without being such a curmudgeon.
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
You know what would be great? IF there was a dedicated sub forum for M1's and M1A's, where one could go and seek help on that platform. Is this a thread topic about M1 precision rifles, no? great, off to the right subforum.





You know what else would be great? If grumpy old jerks on this board would treat our newer members with a little more respect than your crybaby rant. There are a lot of subforums on this AR15 website that many folks don't know about. It really wouldn't hurt to guide him in that direction, without being such a curmudgeon.


Good news. Click on "Armory" above and than onto "M1/M1A". You're there.
Now, let's get back to constructive discussions.
3/21/2015 11:28:22 PM EDT
[#12]
I believe the CMP is offering M1 Garands built on wartime recievers with criterion barrels chambered in 308.
I believe it would come with new wood, resurfaced GI parts except the barrel.
I bought a CMP special before the 308s became available, but I would have bought the 06 anyway.

http://thecmp.org/cmp_sales/rifle_sales/m1-garand/

Check out the CMP special grade .308
It is more than you have been looking at,but, My special chambered in 30-06 is practically brand new and is a shooter.

I don't think you could go wrong with this rifle.
I would get one but I just bought a DPMS GII hunter to fill that space in the gun cabinet.

I believe you can shoot any 7.62X51 or standard .308. There are gas plugs available to allow you to chamber and fire any .308 win within a reasonable load.
I am not sure if the plug allows you to shoot the Garand type matches, I don't shoot matches but I could with this M-1.

Good luck with your choice, be wary of the sleeved barrels.
3/28/2015 2:34:15 AM EDT
[#13]
Quote History
Quoted:
CMP isn't necessarily better or worse than Springfield Armory. I would prefer a new Springfield armory over a worn out CMP rifle any day.  Most of the CMP rifles currently for sale are either rebuilds, pretty beat up, but serviceable, or extremely expensive collector grade ones.

If you can get a decent used one for $650, that is a good price.  Take a look at the on line gun sale and auction sites to see what people are asking for Garands today. That will give you a pretty good idea of what people think they rifles are worth.
View Quote


CMP Special Grade is a pretty good deal for a basically brand new semiauto 30-06. I love mine.