Quote Originally Posted by CapnJohn View Post
BUY the BORE!!!! Put it in the request, less than 2 preferably 1. The later models 5 million plus have all the latest features and upgrades. See the various M1icon books for this info.

Pencil thru buying the "Special". Usually a new stock is needed $150-200, a sling $25-50, and a barrel $120-300 including installation. Then you may need additional parts. For the $400 differential your ahead of the game.

Also as suggested above if anyone is going to the North Store have them look.

In purchasing an '03 by mail I needed to replace the stock and barrel $$$$. Going to the south store for an M1 I only had to replace the stock. Keep this in mind on your order as you'll find this is going to be the case.
+1 on what Capt John just said. I picked up an 5.8 mil Springfield even though I wanted a low s/n because I wanted a shooter. Shoots just as good (as far as I can tel) as my 2.26 mil Springfield that has the same erosion measurements on it's VAR replacement barrel (Both are about TE=1.5 and MW=0.5). Point is, you can always buy the "accessories" later, but getting a worn-out or marginal barrel is usually always more than $200, whereas early style parts can be "found" on the gun when purchased at either the North Store or South Store, depending on where you live.

If my interview goes well tomorrow, I will hopefully be back at the North Store this summer. Gotta feed the addiction, man!

Mike Doerner