CMP Garand - Any gotchas?

[Brad Johnson]

I've almost got enough pennies saved up for a CMP Garand. I meet all the requirements (according to the ones published on the CMP website. Are there any "gotcha's" I need to be aware of, or any special tricks that would help expedite things?

Thanks in advance!

Brad

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

Any "gotchas"??  Nope.

If you live anywhere within a day's drive from the CMP store in Ohio then it's worth your while to go there and pick out your rifle.  Other than that, it's an easy, painless process.  Enjoy!

[Fly320s]

One gotcha:  eventually, the CMP will run-out of rifles to sell.  Buy one while you can.

[Brad Johnson]

It won't be too long (30-45 days). The field grade stuff - the $425 option - is listed as "fair to good" condition. What do they consider "fair to good"?

Also, there is a listing for some rifles that were loaned to Greece. Are these particular guns in better/worse condition than the non-loan guns?

Brad

[Fly320s]

I think the CMP website tells you what condition fair to good represents.  Such as dings and scrathes on the stock and certain levels of throat erosion, rifling erosion, and muzzle wear.

For more info, go check out www.surplusrifle.com.

edited: should be surplusrifle.com, not rifles.  Looks like you'd better hurry there, too.  They are shutting down at the end of March 2007.

[MechAg94]

I don't know that the Greek rifles are any better or worse.  It is mixed.  I have a service grade Greek.  I also went to the CMP South store in Anniston, AL in October and picked out a Greek field grade with almost a brand new barrel.  It had a bent front sight wing, but I had a spare gas cylinder at home so that is already fixed.  Sometimes they will allow more barrel wear on field grades if the wood and metal are in good shape and sometimes barrel wear is forgiven if other areas are excellent.  It all depends. 

If you can take a trip to either the CMP North or South store.  It is fun and you get to use the tools to pick out the best rifle you can.  Other than that, you can request WWII numbers and stuff that like that if you want specific serial numbers.  The rifles on the rack were mixed.  Many WWII numbers and many post WWII production.  CMP also has some of the cheapest ammo options you are going to find.

One other option is to get a rack grade and plan on buying a new barrel and new stock.  That will get you a good looking gun and a good shooter but will cost more. 

Also, plan on getting new op rod springs and maybe the extractor spring and latch pin spring.  I got the new stainless op rod spring in mine.  Neither of my Garands were 100% reliable until I put in the new op rod spring.  Sarcoinc.com sells parts.  There are others.

CMP has a page on the proper cleaning and use of grease and oil on the gun.  I suggest reading up on this.  Garands use grease in key locations, not just oil.

[HankB]

READ the descriptions . . . a few years back, it wasn't unusual to get a rifle that was in better condition than written at the CMP site . . . sometime, much better.

From my limited personal experience, and that of a few friends, today you're much more likely to get a rifle that meets, rather than surpasses, the written descriptions.

If you're only getting one rifle, try to get a Service Grade, if they're still available.

[MechAg94]

I do agree with Hank.  If you are going mail order, get the best rifle you can.

[brimic]

Order a new oprod spring right away, change it out before you even shoot the rifle for the first time.

[cosine]

Isn't there a rumor going around that CMP will be getting some Service Grade rifles in as soon as they sort through their latest batch? I thought I read something like that on a gun forum somewhere.