Posted: 2/22/2013 11:36:28 PM EDT
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Anyone have any thoughts on this?
I had been saving up money to buy a Service Grade Springfield for $625 from the CMP and just when I get the money, they run out. They do still have the H&Rs. I have thought too of popping for the $995 Special Grade which gets a new barrel and stock; I don't think I am too into the "Look at the character the wear brings to this rifle" aspect. I suppose it really doesn't matter, I had just kind of had it in my mind to have a Springfield. As a side note, I know a guy that has a (he says) really good condition IH Garand, and I don't think he has any clue what he has other than thinking that it is cool that his grandpa had a rifle built by a tractor company. He has never fired it and seems to not have any intention of doing so. Maybe I need to see if I can get him talked into buying it. |
| Service grade will get you a very shootable rifle, and the only thing guaranteed to be HRA is the receiver itself. My service grade had a new stock and was a Korean era Springfield but it came with HRA bolt and trigger housing. If you are worried about the barrel you can buy the service grade rifle and a criterion barrel for less than 200, still less than 1000. If you have your heart set on Springfield get the correct grade, otherwise go with the HRA and never look back. IHC are quite a bit more rare (Winchesters even seem easier to find sometimes). |
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If you can, get the IHC.
If not, get a 1950s Springfield. IMO, the late manufactured Springfields are the very best quality. Springfield Armory had been manufacturing Garands for some time by then, and they reallly had the manufacturing technique down. When the CMP gets caught up on orders, they will grade and sort more service grades. Service grade Springfields will become available again this year. |
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IHC Garands are the most sought after of post-war Garands, that is the one I would attempt to buy. H&R Garands were all post war as well, so the fit and finish of the receivers are top notch, but they are not rare.
The "CMP lottery" may have changed in the years since I bought mine, but my CMP service grade Garand had plenty of "character", while my buddy received a SG that looked fresh from an arsenal refinish. My 1903 was very clean and freshly refinished. Win some, lose some. If you are just wanting a shooter you cannot go wrong with a CMP service grade from any manufacturer. |
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Now the fun begins. It will be the longest 60-90 days of your life waiting and checking the CMP site for your order. You should be pleased with your HRA. Mine looked like new aside from the wood, but I specified I wanted GI wood, rather than new.
Don't forget to get a can of HXP to shoot through it. I think they have a limit on cans now, maybe 10 per year. Considering current prices it's a bargain. |
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I occasionally go to Camp Perry and shop. If the service grades come back to the stores in numbers, I'll go this year. I could act as a proxy for some.  There will be between 2000-3000 IHC rifles for sale in the near future, sign up for CMP email alerts or you will miss them because they are only going to last a couple days, probably less than a week. |
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***UPDATE*** Order mailed in this afternoon for a service grade H&R and 25 clips. Now to only wait the 60-90 days; hopefully it'll only be 60-90 days. Clips? I think you mean magazi..... Oh wait 
In 60-90 days I expect to see some pictures posted. The M1 Garand is a clip fed weapon as in 8 round en-bloc clip. |
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***UPDATE*** Order mailed in this afternoon for a service grade H&R and 25 clips. Now to only wait the 60-90 days; hopefully it'll only be 60-90 days. Clips? I think you mean magazi..... Oh wait
In 60-90 days I expect to see some pictures posted. The M1 Garand is a clip fed weapon as in 8 round en-bloc clip. I think they are both aware of that. |
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***UPDATE*** Order mailed in this afternoon for a service grade H&R and 25 clips. Now to only wait the 60-90 days; hopefully it'll only be 60-90 days. Clips? I think you mean magazi..... Oh wait
In 60-90 days I expect to see some pictures posted. The M1 Garand is a clip fed weapon as in 8 round en-bloc clip. I think they are both aware of that. I think Dave is aware of that. He's just a poopy-head, grumpy old son of a bitch fart*** and has to get his digs in on Joel and me. Because that's just the kind of shit bird he is.*** *** But that's exactly the way we love him. 
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I think Dave is aware of that. He's just a poopy-head, grumpy old perverted, son of a bitch fart*** and has to get his digs in on Joel and me. Because that's just the kind of shit bird he is.*** *** But that's exactly the way we love him. And yep, that is why we love him 
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My dad happened to be in Ohio drove up to camp Perry to pick one out for me. Got a service grade $625 H&R 1954 that gauged a 1 out of 10, great looking stock and matching parts.
They shipped it next day and it got back the day after he did. He said the cheaper ones were worn out, the $625 ones looked nice and the cheap sniper ones weren't as nice. 90 days is a long time. |