2aHawaii

General Topics => General Discussion => Topic started by: Paul96734 on October 25, 2014, 11:49:24 PM

Title: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: Paul96734 on October 25, 2014, 11:49:24 PM
Looking to order my first Garand, but I am conflicted on getting a Service or Special Grade rifle. My main concern is potential pitting on the receiver in Hawaii's environment. Does anyone know if the CMP Special receivers are of a better quality, or are the improvements just in the new stock and barell? Long term plan is to make it into a .308 rifle, but I am open to using .30-06 in the beginning if the Service Grade rifles are the route to initially build upon.

Thank you in advance.
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: Tom_G on October 26, 2014, 06:39:15 AM
The special grades aren't any more resistant to pitting than the other grades, just in better shape.  They have the same finish as the originals, albeit more recently applied.
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: ren on October 26, 2014, 06:45:57 AM
From what I understand the receiver is reparked and theycan be one for you in .308
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: zippz on October 26, 2014, 06:47:12 AM
Looking to order my first Garand, but I am conflicted on getting a Service or Special Grade rifle. My main concern is potential pitting on the receiver in Hawaii's environment. Does anyone know if the CMP Special receivers are of a better quality, or are the improvements just in the new stock and barell? Long term plan is to make it into a .308 rifle, but I am open to using .30-06 in the beginning if the Service Grade rifles are the route to initially build upon.

Thank you in advance.

The CMP sells a .308 Garand.  http://www.thecmp.org/Sales/m1garand.htm. (http://www.thecmp.org/Sales/m1garand.htm.)  As long as you keep it maintained and oiled, I don't think there would be a difference as far as pitting.
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: Paul96734 on October 26, 2014, 08:11:09 AM
The CMP sells a .308 Garand.  http://www.thecmp.org/Sales/m1garand.htm. (http://www.thecmp.org/Sales/m1garand.htm.)  As long as you keep it maintained and oiled, I don't think there would be a difference as far as pitting.

I did initially see the .308 available, I was just wondering if the extra 1/3 of the cost of a Service grade was just found in the new barrel and stock.
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: Teichi on October 26, 2014, 03:14:16 PM
I have seen all the different grades at CMP North Store at Camp Perry.The Service grades are pretty good, but you are taking a chance that you will get a lemon.

The Special grades are completely rebuilt with new barrels and wood.

If you are looking to do serious shooting, then go for the Special.

If you want a nostalgic plinker, go for the Service
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: Coastierider on October 26, 2014, 05:21:18 PM
My service grade HRA had a throat gauge and bore gauge of "2", and the wood looked good, just a few small nicks, nothing major.(https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/1380265_623471571028883_1019834289_n.jpg?oh=c9b8446da57e25503220fb61f772e793&oe=54E3C251)
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: Paul96734 on October 26, 2014, 05:59:32 PM
I have seen all the different grades at CMP North Store at Camp Perry.The Service grades are pretty good, but you are taking a chance that you will get a lemon.

The Special grades are completely rebuilt with new barrels and wood.

If you are looking to do serious shooting, then go for the Special.

If you want a nostalgic plinker, go for the Service

I am begining to lean towards the Special in .308 with an adjustable gas plug. I would prefer a totally rebuilt rifle with a standardized round that I can buy/reload across other firearm platforms.

Worse comes to worse, I can buy a Service grade .30-06 later on.

Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: swissk31 on October 31, 2014, 08:08:20 PM
I just order my special in .30-06 along with two cans of the Greek ball ammo.
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: Paul96734 on November 01, 2014, 09:02:14 PM
I just order my special in .30-06 along with two cans of the Greek ball ammo.

Great, but how long will that supply last?
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: Lihikai on November 01, 2014, 10:24:53 PM
Great, but how long will that supply last?

Supposedly CMP will start selling sealed spam cans of Greek HXP M2 once the loose stuff is sold out.  HXP brass is excellent for reloading.
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: Teichi on November 02, 2014, 05:08:11 AM
I bought 2 spam cans earlier this year. They sold out quickly.
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: Paul96734 on November 02, 2014, 09:18:51 AM
Supposedly CMP will start selling sealed spam cans of Greek HXP M2 once the loose stuff is sold out.  HXP brass is excellent for reloading.

Anyone offering classes on how to reload? lol
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: dafrtknocker on November 02, 2014, 09:52:40 AM
Anyone offering classes on how to reload? lol

Maybe X-Ring? https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=16543.0
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: Paul96734 on November 02, 2014, 10:24:57 AM
Maybe X-Ring? https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=16543.0

I would love to learn how to reload for this rifle and my 54R.
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: swissk31 on November 07, 2014, 02:16:52 PM
My m1 CMP special is on it way. I'm getting it monday. I'm actually surprised how quickly my order was processed. They got my order Wednesday processed on Thursday and shipped today.
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: Teichi on November 07, 2014, 02:27:40 PM
I saw spam cans for sale on the CMP Estore.
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: ren on November 07, 2014, 04:00:23 PM
be careful when choosing powder and charge weight.
The Garand's oprod can bend if the burning rate of the powder is too slow or fast
Title: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: swissk31 on November 08, 2014, 09:07:03 AM
The spam cans are listed in estore for 150.00 plus 30.00 shipping to hawaii.
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: Paul96734 on November 09, 2014, 11:42:41 AM
be careful when choosing powder and charge weight.
The Garand's oprod can bend if the burning rate of the powder is too slow or fast

Very true for both cartridges. A gas plug might be the best fall back safety measure.

I am noticing that more re-loadable .30-06 brass seems to be available online now than .308. Possibly because the .30-06 is now more of a "hunting" round, while the .308 is being bought up by the AR-10 community?

A few spam cans of re-loadable Greek .30-06 seems like a good deal now.
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: ren on November 09, 2014, 12:48:01 PM
Very true for both cartridges. A gas plug might be the best fall back safety measure.

I am noticing that more re-loadable .30-06 brass seems to be available online now than .308. Possibly because the .30-06 is now more of a "hunting" round, while the .308 is being bought up by the AR-10 community?

A few spam cans of re-loadable Greek .30-06 seems like a good deal now.
lots of factors about the avail of 3006 brass. I have a lot of it since shooting my Garand is expensive and tiring..though it is so much fun than shooting anything else I have. FYI, some of the Greek ammo runs a bit hotter than the issued old LC 3006. I too have an adj. gas plug. When I first got my Garand I made a mistake by buying some 3006 ammo from Sports Authority (little too hot for a Garand). Then I shot some Korean ammo with the corrosive primers and did not clean my barrel thoroughly. I then got it refinished & rebarreled at DGR.
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: Paul96734 on November 09, 2014, 01:12:56 PM
lots of factors about the avail of 3006 brass. I have a lot of it since shooting my Garand is expensive and tiring..though it is so much fun than shooting anything else I have. FYI, some of the Greek ammo runs a bit hotter than the issued old LC 3006. I too have an adj. gas plug. When I first got my Garand I made a mistake by buying some 3006 ammo from Sports Authority (little too hot for a Garand). Then I shot some Korean ammo with the corrosive primers and did not clean my barrel thoroughly. I then got it refinished & rebarreled at DGR.

Which gas plug do you have? I see the adjustable one from Schuster, another from Garandgear, and one other. I was thinking the Schuster's or Graandgear would be fine since I would using either surplus ammo or home reloads (following Garand tolerance recipes). Schuster's you have to re-adjust for each style of ammo, while Garandgear seems to be universal.
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: ren on November 09, 2014, 01:43:25 PM
Schuster from here: https://www.adcofirearms.com/itemdetails.cfm?inventorynumber=51 (https://www.adcofirearms.com/itemdetails.cfm?inventorynumber=51)
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: Heavies on November 09, 2014, 11:01:07 PM
I tried an adjustable.  While it was nice to be able to tune for different loads and made a slight improvement in accuracy, reliability suffered and became a little frustrating.   I have since put the standard plug back in.  I stick to garand safe loads and have no issues with function. 
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: swissk31 on November 10, 2014, 02:04:40 PM
(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/11/10/33e4fa57836485ed770300586c83f499.jpg).

Just got my M1 I'll post some better pictures later.
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: Teichi on November 10, 2014, 02:34:23 PM
Like a virgin.

The Puuloa Garand/Vintage Rifle Match has been pushed back to 21 December.
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: Wake27 on November 10, 2014, 04:19:31 PM
Since you guys have mentioned ammo, is there anywhere on island that has better prices than CMPs right now? On the mainland I have a bunch of the 150gr PPU stuff but wasn't sure if there is any of that here.
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: Paul96734 on November 10, 2014, 04:24:47 PM
(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/11/10/33e4fa57836485ed770300586c83f499.jpg).

Just got my M1 I'll post some better pictures later.

Must....order....mine!!!
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: Paul96734 on November 10, 2014, 04:25:59 PM
Since you guys have mentioned ammo, is there anywhere on island that has better prices than CMPs right now? On the mainland I have a bunch of the 150gr PPU stuff but wasn't sure if there is any of that here.

Good question. I have yet to check the lgs's for Garand friendly ammo.
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: swissk31 on November 10, 2014, 04:28:54 PM

Since you guys have mentioned ammo, is there anywhere on island that has better prices than CMPs right now? On the mainland I have a bunch of the 150gr PPU stuff but wasn't sure if there is any of that here.

Not really. It about a dollar or more a round here on island for .30-06
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: Paul96734 on November 10, 2014, 06:50:59 PM
I tried an adjustable.  While it was nice to be able to tune for different loads and made a slight improvement in accuracy, reliability suffered and became a little frustrating.   I have since put the standard plug back in.  I stick to garand safe loads and have no issues with function.

Can you recomend a book or manual for Garand reloads?
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: Lihikai on November 10, 2014, 07:23:49 PM
Can you recomend a book or manual for Garand reloads?
I believe that the Sierra manual has a section on loads for gas guns.  The Garand has been around for a long time and most of the popular loads are well known using Varget, 4985, 4064, etc.

You can find tons of good information here: http://forums.thecmp.org/forumdisplay.php?f=94 (http://forums.thecmp.org/forumdisplay.php?f=94)
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: Paul96734 on December 05, 2014, 06:08:47 PM
Ordered my rifle yesterday. I opted for the .30-06 CMP Special. I am already looking into ordering a Service grade, and debating getting into the "correct" field. Thank you all that have replied to this post!!!
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: Lihikai on December 05, 2014, 07:17:51 PM
You're going to love it.  M1s are addicting.  If you ever need help completing your receiver, let me know.  I've been collecting and building M1s for many years.
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: z06psi on December 06, 2014, 07:34:59 AM
Just ordered one as well.  .30-06 CMP special.  I had forgotten about this program for some reason.
Title: Re: Service or CMP Special Garand Receiver Quality
Post by: Heavies on December 06, 2014, 08:44:22 AM
Like a virgin.

The Puuloa Garand/Vintage Rifle Match has been pushed back to 21 December.
Cancelled....  Any word on next one?