International Harv. gun

[pistolero]

Hello Gentlemen, I just bought from an estate sale a garand with international harvester receiver but a mixed bag of other parts including a springfield barrel with blue sky imports stamped on it. I havent gaged yet but rifling looks real good. winchester trigger group with milled guard. other parts are springfield from what I can determine with my limited knowledge of Garands. as far as condition of all parts, receiver looks possibly unfired, trigger group and op rod also look as new, with very little rub marks on them. As I said I know very little about garands though this is my second. I have owned a short barrel springfield that I received in trade from my brother several years ago for some fifty cal. ammo. I promptly blew up the gas chamber because of my ignorance of not knowing you are not supposed to use hunting ammo!! Since then I have spent over 1k dollars trying to get it fixed with three different so-called garand gunsmiths! I have decided to replace the short barrel and op rod on the springfield with correct standard parts. I will do the same with the international harvester if I can find the correct parts.

I have two questions for you guys. I paid 800 for the internation harvester with the blue sky import stamped barrel. what would you guys say to the price I paid? to much? or did I do OK?
Secondly, can I use any commercial ammo on this garand? I talked to one gentlemen that posts on this site that owns 23 garands that I will be OK with federal power shok 150 grain showing 2910 fps and 2820 muzzle energy on the box. Or remington 150 grain core-lokt (no other specs on the box) I just would just like a second opinion about this ammo. I don't want to repeat my foolish behavior!
There is something about these WW2 battle rifles. I have a real affinity for them. I guess the garands are my favorite weapon! thank you for any info you can give me.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Calif-Steve]

Trying to find a nice IH barrrel will be a challenge. You basically bought a receiver for $800.00, a little spendy to me. I do have a couple of IH parts in the box, but they seem hard to find. Good luck. If you can handload try 46/47 grains of Varget with a nice 150 gr. hunting bullet.
Also, "short barrel" ??--Tanker Garand??? -- Be aware many Tanker receivers were made from "re-weld" receivers. Be aware!!! You do not want to put any money into a Tanker!!

[Joe W]

If the rifle has a "mixed bag of parts" and has been rebarreled, and a "Blue Sky" to boot, you can be sure the receiver is not "unfired". They don't change barrels on unfired weapons. Other parts are most likely refinished. Also IHC was not a " WW2 battle rifle", it was manufactured between 1953 and 1955.
I wouldn't even consider trying to restore it. By the time you buy a barrel, all the parts you will need, plus a correct stock, which will cost you about $ 400.00 to $500.00 alone, you could have bought a correct IHC and a nice CMP service grade or two.
Not to mention that finding the correct barrel and stock will be very, very difficult.
I would just leave the IHC as is. Take it to a gunsmith and have him look it over. If he says it is safe to fire then take it out and enjoy. At this point, if you want to sell it, you may get your money back but, if you start adding parts, you will end up having more into the rifle than you will ever get for it.

[pistolero]

thanks for the info guys, I will just keep this as a shooter