IHC "match" Garand and CMP Creedmoor ammo.

Years ago I purchased an IHC Garand at an online estate sale. There weren't many pictures and a rather spare description, but I bid on it and glommed it for a decent price.

When it arrived, I noticed that it had an odd, hooded rear sight and later learned that it was a match sight. I also noted that the op rod was marked "NM", but knew that didn't mean much. I shot the rifle a little with LC CMP ammo, and it seemed decently accurate.

No indication on the barrel of it being NM, nor any other indication that I know of. I guess my question is, other than barrel, sights and op rod, what common modifications did gunsmiths of the day make to a Garand to match prep it?

Recently I've started shooting some of my safe queens and took the IHC and a few other rifles out to the range. I also took a box of the CMP Creedmoor Garand ammo and shot a clip of it through the IHC. I was impressed with the rifle and the ammo.


Here is the rifle...

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...JzHjjpg1-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ZCQkjpg1-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...cmjJjpg1-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DLE0jpg1-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...dZARjpg1-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...hpUXjpg1-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...2UaAjpg1-1.jpg

Didn't have much time, so I was only able to get the rifle on paper at 50 yards and shoot an 8 round clip at 100 yards. At 100 yards, first two were off the 8" reactive target up around 11:00 o'clock. made a small adjustment and got the rifle on paper at 100...still up at about 10:30. Made an agressive sight adjustment and put it at 6 o'clock, at the bottom of the target.. Made a final adjustment and put the last 4 into nice tight group of a little over 1", just below the 10 ring.

Here is the 100 yard/Creedmoor ammo target. I think this Garand has potential

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...UoFJjpg1-1.jpg

Nice and clean, just where it should be...mostly.

Some of the things armorers do involve fitting the stock precisely to the rifle... is there any bedding? Is the receiver really tight in the wood? Is there any wood removal?
Another is fixing the gas cylinder really tight... in a battle rifle there is a little play in the front handguard, but usually not in match guns. Is the guard glued or screwed to the lower band?
They sometimes try to reduce friction by polishing surfaces like the front of the bolt or the saddle of the op rod or even the sides and bottom of the barrel. Is there any evidence of stoning the finish off parts in the trigger group?
If none of these things is present, then probably the owner simply added some NM parts to try to make it shoot better, that's pretty common.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bob seijas

Some of the things armorers do involve fitting the stock precisely to the rifle... is there any bedding? Is the receiver really tight in the wood? Is there any wood removal?
Another is fixing the gas cylinder really tight... in a battle rifle there is a little play in the front handguard, but usually not in match guns. Is the guard glued or screwed to the lower band?
They sometimes try to reduce friction by polishing surfaces like the front of the bolt or the saddle of the op rod or even the sides and bottom of the barrel. Is there any evidence of stoning the finish off parts in the trigger group?
If none of these things is present, then probably the owner simply added some NM parts to try to make it shoot better, that's pretty common.

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Thanks, Bob.

No bedding, but the stock is a fairly tight fit to the receiver. I do not see any wood removal.

The gas cylinder is very tight, has no play that I can feel. The front guard is loose and does not appear to be attached to the band. I do not see any evidence of polishing on the trigger group, although the trigger is crisp.

Nice shooting and real pretty rifle. I have a similar stock on my Navy Garand.

Thanks, John.

I've been shooting some of my "safe queens" lately. Kinda sorry i waited so long with this one.

I'm continuing to shoot the Garands in an attempt to determine what ammo they like.

I took a few more rifles to the range this afternoon, oincluding the IHC with the match sights. I didn't have a lot of time, but did manage to shoot a clip of the Hornady M1 Garand match ammo. It is loaded with Hornady's 168 gr Amax bullet.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...j9mwjpg1-1.jpg

The "match" Garand liked it about as well as the Creedmoor match ammo

@100 yards
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...miaijpg1-1.jpg