Safe Queen or Shooter: What to Do with a Collector Grade M1 Garand

[gunner]

I´ll never would shoot it. I would be happy to own it and would oil it and prepare the wood and i would have a look at it from time to time. Great rifle!

[DaveN]

Hello,the first pic is 3 service grades that I could almost say are collector grade. Obviously the bottom rifle has been given a replacement stock but the metal on all 3 of these is perfect. the 2 rifle shot is perfect metal with light birch stocks. Some of the rifles in the mas shot are WWII rifles with mixed parts and 50's stocks and some mismatch wood.

[gunner]

....and i´m looking since years for a more or less good one!

Recieved good news, a elderly shooter wants to sell his guns and he has a Garand. Don´t know which maker but i´m looking forward to meet him. Sorry for hijacking the thread, but has one of you guys a few advices on what i have to look at?

Thanks in advance

[browningautorifle]

I think you inspected enough service rifles in your time, it's the same...It's not like you have a great deal of choice where you are?

[gunner]

I think you inspected enough service rifles in your time, it's the same...It's not like you have a great deal of choice where you are?

Thats correct, Jim!

The problem is that you can get really good ones for horrific prices, somewhere between 700Euros to 1000Euros, or you can get some bad ones. And bad ones are worn out ones. What i meant is there a series of rifles or a maker which is known for lower quality? Years ago i had a chance to get a original snipers version, all numbers matching including the scope, but i lost it to a guy who was only a few minutes faster than i. The price was great and the rifle too. A elderly man sold it, because it won´t fit right into his collection of some hundreds of K98 rifles. And he sold it for around $1400! Bad luck

[browningautorifle]

Easy answer there Ulrich, no bad makers. Not a pig in the bunch. It just depends on what you're looking for (if you had a choice of several). I'm sure you NEED a good shooter to begin with. Correct parts list for originality would be a distant second. The actual manufacturer would come after those. Remember, a dark barrel CAN shoot passibly and a shiney one's sometimes shot out. (like an old MG3 barrel)

[gunner]

Thanks for your advice, Jim! I´ll post it if i´m able to get it.

[Amsdorf]

Just wanted to report back and let everyone know I've decided to shoot it, in fact, I did today, for the first time. VERY accurate, everything is so nice and tight. I was able to put an eight round group into a 8 inch paper plate at 100 yards, holding it at my shoulder and resting the front stock on a small bean bag on top of a 30 cal ammo bag. I managed a fairly good group, which I was pretty pleased with since I do have fifty year old eyes and this was the first time I shot a Garand. I'm looking forward to seeing what I can do with it on my lead sled, which I didn't have with me today. I figured, what the heck, life is too short not to enjoy something meant to be used, so...there you go.

Thanks for all the good advice.

[hamour]

I am currently shooting a SA Service Grade Special. The only thing it needed to be a collector grade was a GI stock and stock metal.

I used 5" stick on targets at 50 yds and 8" stick on targets at 100 and 200 yds. These big black circles sit right on top of the post and you can get some good groups.

I have since put an Ultimak scout mount on with 2x7 Burris EER on this rifle. With the scope I was able to see groups shrink as the 1955 BBL break in. With good handloads I am getting 1" to 1.5" groups at 100 yds. I think you did the right thing to shoot the rifle, enjoy it while you can.

Shooting these new or almost new rifles is great fun. I am going to get a deer with mine this year.

[onlycrimson]

It's always hard to say. I shoot everything I get on a matter of principle, which is why I don't buy safe queens, but will shoot If I get. Always a personal preference.