First M1 Garand, what to do?

Greetings gentlemen, I recently purchased my first M1 Garand. She has seen better days but she is mine. When I got it, I decided to replace the stock due to the one that was on it had been repaired with what looked like brass brads and had been horribly sanded. Fitment around the receiver/ trigger group was really loose and I figure that will affect accuracy. There was also no sign of cartouches on the stock. I'm going to keep that old stock, but it is in pretty bad shape. I ordered a Boyds walnut stock installed it and it fit great and was an huge improvement. I also bought the kit of new metal for the stock.

My next change will be the barrel. The one on it is marked Blue Sky/ Arlington VA. I was told when I bought the rifle both the ME and the TE were about 4. I don't have any gauges but the muzzle is extremely worn. If you put a round in it there is about a 1/64 gap all the way around. Now come my dilemma. Should I go with a new barrel or a period correct barrel? I found one that was dated one month before my receiver and is advertised as ME-2,TE-3.5. Price seems reasonable. I do plan on this being my primary shooter so I'm torn.... New or period correct?

I originally got into WW rifles when the son came home from 4 years in the Marine Corp. He was home about 2 months and was missing his girl (M4) and drug me along to buy one. It all started with a Mosin and is still growing. I'm infatuated with the history behind these old girls and that is what has me leaning towards a period correct barrel.

If you put the period correct on it and it's your primary shooter you will be changing it out in a couple of years. Four at the most. I guess that would depend on how much you shoot. I would suggest a brand new Criterion barrel for accuracy. I put one in 7.62 on mine and it's exellent. I kept the .30 cal barrel in case something ever comes up but it's a Dane so it can sit. Stay away from the blue sky barrels as they tend to have issues.

Vote #2 for a new barrel. You have already put a new stock on her. If you install (or have installed) a new barrel you can have a great shooter for many, many years. I vote for keeping it in 30-06. If the price of ammo is the real consideration, learn to reload.

If you are bitten with the collector bug, find original or lovingly restored examples (like with alcohol, one is two many 10 are not enough) and keep shooting your first one. I still have my first which is a mixmaster with a glass bedded stock. Not collectable, but I would still bet my life on it.

Thanks guys, sometimes a second opinion puts things in perspective. I'm going to get to the range in the next few weeks and see how accurate she shoots, once my adjustable gas plug arrives. If it is still accurate I'm going to stick with this barrel for a while. If not I'll get a new one from DGR and have them put it on, unless I can find someone locally. Has anyone on here dealt with Doug's Gun Restoration in the past? US19255 I see you are from Bitterroot, many years ago I spent my summers on my uncles ranch just outside of Stevensville. He was also a sheriff there for a while. Gorgeous country up there in the valley and alot of great memories. I bet it has grown alot since I was there in the 70's.

It may shoot 6 inches as is and if you can live with that for two years then you will undoubtedly have found a new barrel by then. It's just if the pipe ain't perfect, I can't live with it. Like Ed says, for you guys in the US keep it in .30 cal.

As your primary shooter I would go for the new barrel. I would also agree shoot it first,
learn how to shoot it, then rebarrel. Enjoy your new friend.
Tom