Looking from advice from those more knowledgable than myself - first Garand purchase

[wkelley70]

I am looking for advice from those more knowledgable than myself on the purchase of my first Garand.

I am looking for a shooter, but also wish for it to be "correct". An aftermarket barrel or stock (and HW) are fine, but the rest of the rifle must be correct. Also, I would prefer to purchase from the CMP, but this is not a must. My goal is a shooter that looks as much like new as can be reasonably expected without getting a collectors grade rifle.

On the CMP website I found the following possibilities:

• RM1HRASSP/RM1SASSP
• RM1SACR/RM1HRACR

I have done a lot of reading on this forum, and others, but still do not completely understand the differences between the above (SSP vs CR).

Any insight or advise would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Bill

Information

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[Mark in Rochester]

The 5.8 's are very nice some look unused - if you are going to just own one garand I would get a 5.8 Million SN

M1 Garand, SA (Springfield) Correct Grade
Please allow 30-60 days for delivery
Only available in serial # ranges between
5.4 and 5.8 million

CORRECT GRADE: (Very Good to Excellent)
Correct Grade Rifles are similar to the Service Grade (above), but will show less wear and use. Correct Grade rifles will have all correct parts for the date of manufacture with 80% or better overall original metal finish. The stock and handguards will be of walnut and correct for the rifle but will have some dings, dents, scratches and marring of the wood finish. Stocks will have the appropriate original inspector's cartouche. The rifle bore will be very good with no significant defects and with a throat erosion of less than 4 and a muzzle wear of 2 or less. Very good to excellent condition. Limited quantities are occasionally available. Prices start at $1100 depending on manufacturer.



$1100
S&H $22.95 per rifle

[Snafu]

I agree can not go wrong with the 5.8 correct

[Rick Cummelin]

I agree on the suggestion of a Correct Grade SA. Not only will the rifle function flawlessly, but it will look nearly new.

Buying from sources other than the CMP (gun shows, pawn shops, etc.) can be a real crap shoot, as there are many M1s out there that are simply not worth what sellers ask for them. CMP Correct Grade rifles are as good as they get.

[gulliver62]

The differences between the 2 are:
xxxxCR are completely correct. This includes the stock and stock metal.
xxxxSSP have new manufacture wood and stock hardware (front handguard ferule & heat shield, lower band, butt plate & screws, not sure about lower band and pin) but all the rest of the metal is correct. The stock will likely have a CMP cartouche stamped in it and you will need to do some finishing to the stock.
If you have the extra $200 go for the correct grade. I bought one of the SSP back when they were ~$700 (later put a correct stock/hardware on it) but they have shot up in the last couple of years.

[wkelley70]

gulliver62, other than the stock and associated stock hardware, was your SSP correct? I can swing the extra $200 for he CR, but I am conflicted about shooting something that original. Also, I really would like a stock that is in really nice shape and couldn't bring my self to re-finishing a CR stock.

[Mark in Rochester]

Service Grade M1 Garand
RM1SASSP M1 Garand, Service Grade Springfield Special.
allow 30-60 days for delivery.
SA collector grade metal in excellent almost new condition. Walnut stocks and handguards and associated hardware are new manufacture. NOT original SA manufacture.
$895
S&H $22.95 per rifle

The SN is 3 million - I would expect to see lock bar sights - so I would say no the SSP are not correct

[colt100]

Given what you are asking, I would go with one of the CMP special grades. They put a new barrel and wood on the rifle and this is very close to what a "new" garand would be like, and you don't have to feel guilty shooting it at the range.

If you want a shooter, get a shooter. If you want a correct rifle, it's a shame to take it out and shoot it as you'll eventually wear the barrel out and it will lose value as a collecter grade.

If the barrel is a replacement, then it isn't technically correct, unless you replace it with another barrel in the same manufacturing time, which can be a challenge to find depending on what barrel you are looking for.

I say get the rebuilt rifle that the CMP sells and save up for a nice collecter safe queen if that is what you want.

JMO. Good luck!