Question About Garand Replacement Stock From CMP

[RiggerBoot]

I have a 5 series Garand with an aftermarket birch stock.
Well, like that Johnny Cash song, I really have a 3, 4, 5 series Garand.

I have ordered a replacement walnut stock with metal from CMP.

Were there any major variations during the manufacturing life of the Garand
such that there may be something I need to look out for when fitting the new stock ?

Or were all Garands pretty much the same shape and any old Garand stock will pretty much fit onto my Garand ?

I will say this :
Even if it is a Mixmaster with a big ugly orange-ish colored stock, this is one of the two best rifles I have ever used.
The other best is a 1903A3.

...Well okay, the third other best is my Marlin 30-30.


Thanks,
Charlie

Information

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[Neal Myers]

5 series? I think that you have your Garands & your BMWs mixed up.

CMP has never sold USGI replacement stocks. They have always had more metal than wood, which is why they contracted for commercial stocks stamped with their "cartouche" & logo. You should get a nice walnut stock, but it will still be "aftermarket".

Any M1 rifle stock that comes with metal will be close to "drop in". The only fitting that is occasionally required is to get good lock up when you close the trigger guard. You may have to take a little wood off the angled flats on either side of the "mag well".

[RiggerBoot]

Okay, thank you for the reply.

Can't remember if the stock is supposed to be plain or stamped with the CMP logo,
(I think there was a choice) but I don't really care either way.
This rifle was put together with parts from who knows where so there's no collector value,
but it is a first-class piece of machinery and deserves a good piece of walnut.

By 5 series I meant the serial number starts with a 5, so it's seriously post-WW2.


Thanks,
Charlie

[browningautorifle]

Hvae you tried the stock on it yet? It may or may not just fit up easy...

[RiggerBoot]

No, it's on order and will probably arrive the day after I go back offshore.

[no4mk1t]

Over the 20+ years of production, the M1 stock and hand guards got beefier. When you compare a WW2 stock to a post war stock, it is quite noticeable. IIRC this was done to make the stocks stand up to grenade launching better. I seem to remember being told that there were on the order of 11 revisions to the M1 stock drawing over the years.

The stocks that have been produced in the last several years, primarily by Boyds, are fatter still, with a pistol grip those with small hands might consider too large. The current CMP stocks are slimmed down in this area to WW2 dimensions.

Most M1's will have trigger guard trunnions that are worn flat by years of field stripping. This reduces clamping pressure. I believe that Boyds is making their stocks larger in this dimension to compensate for this wear. This is evidenced by the fact that if you try to close the trigger guard on a Boyds stock with a trigger guard with new round trunnions, you will not be able to latch it. (see photo)
Both trigger guards were bought back in the 80's through the DCM and were shipped to me from Rock Island. The one on the left is new. The one on the right is heavily worn, but looks new due to being refinished. Most trigger guards will have a flat spot that is between these two examples.
Don't forget to grease the trunnions!

Your new Boyds or CMP stock may not be a complete drop in and may require a minor amount of fitting to properly assemble. Here's a tutorial on what to look for and how to do it.
The stocks shown are CMP stocks.

How to Make an M1 Shoot Better

[RiggerBoot]

Thanks for the reply no4mk1t.
I've had it apart a couple of times, and now I'm looking forward to more.


Charlie

[jeep]

The CMP new wood is very good and rub her down with linseed oil. If you want that nice red hue rub some red food coloring on it till you get it then linseed for a few weeks. OOOO steel wool will take the nap of and use it very slow and lite. Then linseed agian. I use raw linseed oil not boiled.

[RiggerBoot]

I've read that artist supply stores have the best quality linseed oil.
Don't have first-hand experience with this, though.

[jeep]

Fiebings Dark Brown leather dye from Tandy Leathercraft is a good stock color. You can get it on line.