Alarm! CMP M1903s (and others now for sale)

From the CMP:

BOLT ACTION RIFLES NOW AVAILABLE: CMP has completed the inspection and sorting of all the model M1903, M1903A3, M1917, and Krag rifles we accumulated over the past several years. Please see Rifle Sales for description and pricing of available options. Quantity is relatively small and we expect these will sell quickly. For some models, the quantity is so small that we will sell those in the stores at Camp Perry and Anniston only. Mail orders will be processed in sequence received while quantities last. Please note that there are no large quantities of these models remaining anywhere. Limit of one per model per person until 3 Jan, 2012, at which time limits will be lifted on any remaining models.

The gold rush is on! Get the wimmen & chill'en off the street! Stampede a’comin.

Am wondering what the odds are of finding anything really good. Geez...I already have 10 M1903 Springfields. I was at the CMP 2 weeks ago and bought 6 M1s and a bunch of other stuff. It's a 9 hour drive to get there from Tampa...a night in a hotel......then a 9 hour drive back. Would only be able to buy 1 or 2...well, could buy ammo, too. I don't know....the thought has crossed my mind......

I've made that 9 hr trip from Melbourne Fl. 2x but I drive Fri night take a 2hr nap in the parking lot shop for 4hrs eat at IHOP and drive back arriving home around mid night sat. You think I'm crazy but I like a challenge and I drive a truck for a living so I have lots of practice.
The 2nd time I took my son and only got 1 Garand as the selection was poor and the rifle took 3hrs to pick and it was not nearly as good as the 2 I got on my 1st trip. I have got the remainder of my CMP collection via the mail as shipping is cheaper and since it seems the best are kept in the back I have not been disappointed.
You would think they would put some of the best ones on the floor for those that make the pilgrimage to visit the store but If it was a 30min drive I would have left empty handed but an 18 hr driving investment I guess they know you are going to buy something.

It's kind of well known and even advertised that the better rifles are held in the back for mail order fulfillment. When you are a the store and hand pick your own rifle there isn't much room or complaining. Holding the better rifles for mail order cuts down on the static.

Still though, if you take your time at the store and know what you are looking for you can find some gems. And rumint has it that the staff puts really nice or interesting on the floor from time to time.

I ordered a 1903 and 1903A3 stripped reciever via snail mail on the 29th. I'll post them if I got lucky.

JR

Seems to me that they save the best ones for the auctions.

Good luck finding anything thats all correct and nice except for auction. Mixmasters ,refinished shooter grades is about all you will get. Carbines&springfields gone,gone,dryed up!!!!!

Many of the rifles sold were indeed mixmasters, the same as any other rifle that had been through the Army's inspection/repair system. Many were nearly correct and a few were correct. About 30% had poor-fair bores; about 50% had Good-VG bores & the rest excellent bores. Some had been refinished while a large portion had original finish. There were many, many rifles that will make good shooters and have considerable collector appeal.