Inspect your Garands from CMP when you get them.

Folks, I am not trying to be critical of CMP, especially because I'm a huge fan of them.

However, I just got done inspecting a customer's recently acquired Field Grade rifle. This was very unusual in that the threads on the barrel for the gas cylinder lock were almost completely stripped away. The only thread that even still looked like a thread was the first one. All the rest going back looked like small rounded bumps. Such threads will not hold a gas cylinder lock and hence the gas cylinder on the barrel.

I'm sure CMP will make this right, but is just an example that even a few bad ones get past their fine folks.

Greeting Mr. Fisher! I have always enjoyed your post. Thank you for this heads-up! It is a problem I have not personally encountered and for which I would not routinely have been looking. Sincerely. BruceV.

Second the motion!

Four rifles, two with problems:

1. 1945 Field Grade SA with the op rod lug worn down to where it wouldn't stay in the receiver race and an op rod spring that measured less than 19". Had a triple and a thrown op rod on the third clip. An Orion 7 op rod spring and a trip to Mr. Swartz was the fix!

2. 1956 Correct Grade H&R that looked unfired - almost no evidence of action park wear and it was full of Greek grease. Bolt was really stiff to open and wouldn't close without a hard shove. Found the op rod so far out of true it jammed against the stock ferrule and scraped the park off it. Some troop stripped it in the barracks and left the op rod on his bunk to sit on. Probably remained a barracks queen until greased up and shipped to me. The wonderful folks at CMP made the op rod good, God bless 'em.

Yup, gotta check 'em before ya shoot 'em.

Same here. I got a SA FG that ejects after 4 or 5 rounds. Accuracy was pretty horrible too. I know they will fix the early ejection if I send it back, but I haven't had enough range time to really see what's wrong with it. I got to shoot it for one day and then I had to leave town. I need to understand the problem a little better before I contact customer service. Any chance this is something simple? What should I be looking for?

Of course I like the CMP and I'm not trying to discourage anyone from buying there. I'm not being critical, and I don't want to be shouted at by anyone from the CMP forum.

Even a brand new gun from the factory should be stripped down cleaned, inspected and relubed. Just something I have always done ,

They still haven't figured out that an office should come with a deck, and maybe a few bulkheads. I suggested they check with their local Army Engineer Corps.

Regards

Louis of PA

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https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...anDadCo4-1.jpg

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Originally Posted by Coal Burner

Same here. I got a SA FG that ejects after 4 or 5 rounds. Accuracy was pretty horrible too. I know they will fix the early ejection if I send it back, but I haven't had enough range time to really see what's wrong with it. I got to shoot it for one day and then I had to leave town. I need to understand the problem a little better before I contact customer service. Any chance this is something simple? What should I be looking for?

Of course I like the CMP and I'm not trying to discourage anyone from buying there. I'm not being critical, and I don't want to be shouted at by anyone from the CMP forum.

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No reason to send it back its a few dollar fix ,replace the clip latch spring. Field Grades may have worn parts that need replaced . Yes CMP will usually replace them but its not their resonsibility to do so.
As far as the poor accuracy of your Field Grade that isnt a defect, its a Field Grade. Read the description, it can have a pretty well worn out barrel

Thanks, that answers my question. I will get a new clip latch spring and see how it works.

And yes, I'm familiar with the descriptions.

i could never figure out how they checked headspace with the chambers packed with hard greek grease

From the American military patch guide, Left side top to bottom to the right side top to bottom. 1st Marine div. 1st Marine air wing. 2nd Marine div. 2nd Marine air wing. 3rd Marine div. 4th Marine div. 3rd Marine air wing. 5th Marine div. 4th Marine air wing. and the 6th Marine div.

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Originally Posted by kurt varga

I could never figure out how they checked headspace with the chambers packed with hard greek grease

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One of the first Greek RG's I bought from CMP had an op rod spring that came out in several pieces (rusted & brittle) when I disassembled it for inspection, I doubt that the headspace was checked prior to my receiving it.
Since I'd only paid $315 delivered for this Greek I just bought another spring and checked headspace (it was fine) before I first fired it.

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Originally Posted by Louis of PA

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The chevrons are for dress blues circa WWII or earlier, without the crossed rifles or diamond in the center (for First Sergeants). This was before they made the "super sergeant" ranks that included Master Sergeants and Master Gunnery Sergeants. A Corporal in those days was an E3, though he DEFINITELY was an NCO, and the Sergeants were E4's. From what I understand, Sergeant Major was more of a title than a pay grade for quite a while as well. Going back even further, a First Sergeant was a title rather than a pay grade as well.

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Originally Posted by kurt varga

i could never figure out how they checked headspace with the chambers packed with hard greek grease

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Collectors are not headspaced or fired and some Corrects arent either

An SA SG I received a year ago wouldn't take a clip no matter how hard you pushed. Stripped it down again and noticed the follower arm had a decent upward bend to it. Tweaked it back using a straight edge and no problem. Stuff gets by! Who could complain, it was just shy of a correct? Seems it was fairly common to correct timing problems by "adjusting" the follower arm.

Orest has stated that each rifle is test fired prior to being offered for sale. I seem to remmember that this was not allways the case in the past. Collector firearms are never test fired.

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Originally Posted by mh53gunner

Orest has stated that each rifle is test fired prior to being offered for sale. I seem to remmember that this was not allways the case in the past. Collector firearms are never test fired.

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Well then they are packing the chambers full of grease afterwards then on some of the Corrects

I've always thought it was a good idea to field strip and inspect each rifle purchased after you get it home. You can do a cursory inspection when you purchase the rifle, but you might not know if anything is amiss until you field strip and inspect.

Just getting to North Store is about a six hour trip in any case. Trying to inspect a prospective rifle while there is kinda rough. First, you're excited from the anticipation and may not be thinking clearly. Second, no matter how much sleep you've had, you're usually tired from the trip. Third, trying to inspect all those M1s and then narrow the field down to one or two is very hard, especially with the first and second points to consider and due to limited amount of time available. When you've finally narrowed the field to one M1, then having to drive home can be daunting. Usually on the way home, I am operating on pure adrenalin!!! When you finally DO get home, it might take a couple of days to recover and finally inspect that rifle. If something is amiss, it is better to correct it at home rather than bothering the staff at North Store, who, more than likely cannot help you with replacement parts anyway.

Food for thought.

The last Garand purchased at Perry had a cracked rear sight base. Couldn't see the crack until I got home (Calif). I just got another Garand, last week, at CMP-South. Bullet guide is busted. I have never bothered the CMP for parts as I do have spares. But not everyone is like me. CMP does have spare parts, by the way.

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Originally Posted by Coal Burner

Thanks, that answers my question. I will get a new clip latch spring and see how it works.

And yes, I'm familiar with the descriptions.

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You can stretch the clip latch spring for a temporary fix.
jiml

I live close to the South Store and, upon selecting a candidiate, ask the armorers to gauge the gas cylinder and inspect the op rod, and other parts. One rifle I bought had a damaged op rod; it was flat on one side as if it had been dropped on a concrete floor. They replaced that op rod in the store!

BTW, instead of stretching the clip latch spring on a rifle with clip ejection problems, I have taken the spring out of a disposable butane light that pushes the flint against the wheel. The spring is strong & small enough in dia. to slip inside the clip latch spring. I trim the spring to the same length as the CLS, put it inside & reassemble. Using a "helper spring" has cured a couple malfunctioning rifles.