A couple questions from a new Garand owner

Hello everyone,

I recently purchased my first M1 at a gun show, and I just had a couple questions.
The entirety of the gun is in excellent condition (except the gas tube which I'd rate good to vg) and comprised mostly of 1941 and 1944 Springfield parts. The catch is that it has a CAI receiver. I already intended to replace the receiver with a Springfield one, but I was wondering if it's safe to shoot it on the CAI receiver while I save for the SA one, or if I should wait till I get the new one installed.

Also, I paid $500 for the gun, which seemed like a good price to me, considering the next cheapest Garand at the show was going for $900. So I hope I didn't over pay.

Thanks so much everyone for any help and I can get pics up if you would like. :)

There have been a great deal of the CAI receivers put to GI parts. I'm not a fan of the CAI but being safe to shoot? I don't know why not unless there are issues we don't know about. For $500.00 I think you are okay. However, buying a GI receiver and then paying to have it installed correctly is another issue. You can add the cost of a CMP receiver and you are sitting at over $700.00 now less the armor's charge unless you have all the tools to do it yourself. So perhaps now over $800.00? Is it worth replacing it? I don't think so but that is a decision you will need to make.

CMP receiver as follows:

RM1RECSAB M1 Garand Springfield Stripped Receiver $195
Delivery 30-60 days
S&H $9.95 per receiver

Thank you sir for the reply :)

So having a new receiver installed will probably run me ~$100?

Would I perhaps be best off going down to CMP and picking out another rifle, and then either use this one as a parts gun, or part it out?

Best to start a project gun around a receiver. Just my opinion, but I would sell the CAI and start over. Don't ever let the cheapest price being the deciding factor, and shop around before you purchase.

How much do you figure I'd be able to get for it then? There's one on gun broker for $650 but that seems steep to me.

If you can get your initial $500 back, you will be ahead of the game. Anything over that is gravy.

What's the likelihood that I could get $350 for the barreled rec, and bolt? Then I could drop in a CMP barreled rec & bolt, and still break even. I'd have to gauge the barrel, but I'd say it looks to be in VG condition and the bolt is definitely in excellent condition.

I'm just trying to get all my options out on the table before I make a decision

You CAN sell it any way you can break even. The way you suggest IS one way. Someone's likely to buy a working rifle quicker than a barrel with that particular receiver. I'd go the way Johnny Peppers suggests.

Alright, thanks for the help everyone. Much appreciated :)

Good advise Jim. :thup:

We all make mistakes buying guns; this was yours. If you can break even, fine, but I'd take whatever I could get for it, & move on.

When you check Gunbroker, look at COMPLETED auctions, not what folks are asking, which may not be realistic. COMPLETED auctions tell you what someone actually bid.

Yes, folks sometimes get $500-600 for a CAI M1 rifle, but only from someone who is new to M1 rifles. Those who know about them will not buy a CAI, at any price.

Twice I assisted shooters at my range who were having trouble with newly purchased CAI's. I field stripped both rifles, so I had a chance to closely examine all parts. Not only were the receivers out of spec, but the parts were well used. I was able to get 1 rifle to function, but it could only be taken apart/assembled with a hammer & drift punches. The other rifle had a bad op rod slot, & required welding/gunsmithing. In both cases, I warned the owners that their rifles were not safe to fire. I didn't do any metallurgical testing, but I don't think anyone should take a chance on a rifle that they know is not made right.

Another possibility:

If you can wait 20 years, keep it and later sell it to a collector who wants to complete his/her collection with an example of a CIA rifle. I have seen examples of this with the Bannerman abortions that are part Krag, part M1903.

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Originally Posted by Neal Myers

Yes, folks sometimes get $500-600 for a CAI M1 rifle, but only from someone who is new to M1 rifles. Those who know about them will not buy a CAI, at any price.

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Well that was me :banghead: I admit it.

At this point I'm thinking I'll just finish fulfilling the CMP eligibility requirements, go pick out a new rifle, and just deal with this one later.
Perhaps I might gut it for parts later down the road or something, as there are a few nice '41 and '44 SA parts in here.
Or maybe I'll just hang on to it as a wall hanger for a while and do what us019255 says

If that's what you do, eventually you'll stumble across a receiver at a good price. One of the big four I mean. The only thing then is to make sure it's what you need and not some cut and weld or out of spec item. Just hanging an M1 on the wall seems a waste. Mind, as was said, the parts installed COULD be questionable too.

I think I'll just go down to CMP and pick out a nice Field Grade, and just keep an eye out for receivers at gun shows or pick one up at CMP while I'm there for this one.

I'd feel bad trying to pass this one off to a new Garand user and seeing how little I may actually be able to get for it, it's almost not worth it.

Sorry for the double post, but I have one last question.

What do you all think a 4-44 SA barrel gauging just under 3 at the muzzle is worth? Unfortunately I don't have a throat gauge so I can't check that.
Thanks for the help everyone!

when you jump on the parts gun you have to be carefful. a good thing resale of it should be really good right now. if you can swing the extra 400.00, CMP has some nice rifles 900.00 last time i looked , and no need to worry about rifle the CMP set up rifles are good new Cryterion barrel parts are gauged stocks are new good shooters. i just had my CMP rifle rebuilt ,by a retired armor Charles Maloney and i am more than impressed ! just had to add my 2 cents in enjoy which ever way you go
just rember DO NOT USE RELOADS in m1 you could have reciever break the few issues i have seen and have been warned of no reloads if she ever goes off with the bolt out of battery bad juju

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Originally Posted by the old gringo

just rember DO NOT USE RELOADS in m1 you could have reciever break the few issues i have seen and have been warned of no reloads if she ever goes off with the bolt out of battery bad juju

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Let's not start that part yet. Let's get him holding an M1 that's to taste first. Then we'll start with that. By the way, I've always reloaded for M1 rifle, and had no problems.

I suppose it might not be a bad idea to decide what if any parts off the CAI receivered assembly you might want to keep before moving it along. Is the intent to make a shooter or build up a collection of correct parts "flying in formatiion"?

For Garands anyways, my desire falls more into having a nice shooter, though someday it would be nice to have a show piece.
With almost all of my guns though, priorities are shoot-ability first, show-i-ness second.

Off the CAI the "nicest" parts on it are the '44 SA bolt, '44 SA barrel, and '41 SA trigger group, which is set in a BMB housing with a '41 SA trigger guard. As far as I can tell, the rest of the gun is comprised of Breda and Beretta parts. Forward handguards are USGI, stock is Danish (I think), op-rod is unknown as it's unmarked except for a 3-digit number, and gas cylinder is also unmarked.

It's not so much what as what shape the parts are in. If they're out of spec or short of hammered, it's not worth putting them in another gun. Some of these examples are using worn out parts because that's what was cheap to purchase second hand to make profit.

Going off the CMP scale I'm guessing this rifle would fall under the Service Grade category, but the metal is all above 90% condition except for the gas cylinder. I suppose I don't really have a definitive way to check if parts are off spec, but when I cycle it by hand everything works as it should

Also, how would I tell if it's been repark'd, or does that matter?

Doesn't really matter. Many business men have done repark to hide out of spec parts. Won't show then. The only way to find out what's happening is to have it examined by those who do that for a living. (I don't say gunsmith because many aren't familiar with these) You have to have someone that does know M1's, not just a guy that likes guns. Your M1 doesn't fall under CMP scale...it has that other reciever. They only use one of the big four...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Your M1 doesn't fall under CMP scale...it has that other reciever. They only use one of the big four...

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Right, I just meant that as an attempt to compare the condition my guns parts are in.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

have it examined by those who do that for a living.

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Like I said...

So this may end fairly well for me. I might be trading the CAI for a National Postal Meter M1 Carbine tomorrow

That would be in your favor for sure. Keep us posted :)

I'll be sure to :)

Well good news everyone. Traded the Garand plus $100 for the Carbine, so I ended up breaking even on the deal since he wanted $600 for the carbine originally :)

Sounds like a a good swap!

So, now we have to start over...where's the pics of the carbine?

Yeah, post them on the carbine forum for all of us to see!!! :D

Yes...or we have to change this to "New carbine owner".

The camera is away for the weekend with the gf, but I will get photos up ASAP :)

Congrats on the new rifle!

Thanks! But of course this means I still need a Garand ;)

I'll be sure to buy a CMP this time 'round though