Special Rack Grade Garands

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CMP is currently offering rack grade specials that are built on newly reparkerized, pitted receivers. They come with a brand new production Criterion barrel and new, unfinished walnut furniture. Springfield and HRA are $650 and Winchesters are $700.

I wanted a pure shooter for a practice rifle to save the wear and tear on my HRA match rifle, so I bought one. They originally sent me a Springfield with a very faintly remaining heel stamp, but the rear sight ear on the receiver was screwed up. I had them exchange it for one of the Winchesters instead. It came today and I am pleased with it. It has a noticeably lead-dipped heel and a mostly IHC trigger group. The trigger pull is smooth and breaks just under 5 pounds. It should be a good shooter. For anybody looking for a shooter grade Garand, I think these are a decent buy.

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If you don't care about collectability and just want a good "daily driver", it is hard to beat the rack grade specials, IMHO. Not only do you get a brand new barrel, you also get brand new walnut furniture that you can stain and refinish however you like without destroying any history.
 
CMP is currently offering rack grade specials that are built on newly reparkerized, pitted receivers. They come with a brand new production Criterion barrel and new, unfinished walnut furniture. Springfield and HRA are $650 and Winchesters are $700.

I wanted a pure shooter for a practice rifle to save the wear and tear on my HRA match rifle, so I bought one. They originally sent me a Springfield with a very faintly remaining heel stamp, but the rear sight ear on the receiver was screwed up. I had them exchange it for one of the Winchesters instead. It came today and I am pleased with it. It has a noticeably lead-dipped heel and a mostly IHC trigger group. The trigger pull is smooth and breaks just under 5 pounds. It should be a good shooter. For anybody looking for a shooter grade Garand, I think these are a decent buy.

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Link?

I don’t see the ones you’re talking about on their site
 
They're under the "Special Grade" listing.

CMP Special Rack Grade (.30-06) M1 Garand. This is a partially refurbished rifle with a refinished M1 WRA receiver, new production criterion barrel, new production American Walnut stock and handguards, and new web sling. Receiver is the only part of the rifle that has been refinished. Remainder of the other parts have NOT been refinished.
Receiver will have heavy pitting above the wood line.


http://thecmp.org/cmp_sales/rifle_sales/m1-garand/

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That is a good looking rifle.
Thanks. It appears to shoot pretty good too. I just ran a few clips of HXP '73 through it off a shaky bench with no sling and bad eyesight, and still managed to put 6 out of 8 in about 4" at 100. If I actually sling it up and prone out, I think it'd do 2.5" - 3" easily. It also hit 10 of 10 on a 10" plate at 200 and was ringing a 20"x 30" at 500 regularly once I sorted out the windage. It could use some tweaking, but I think it's got good potential so far.

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Saw one today walking around the Charlotte show. Guy wanted only $950.
 
Saw one today walking around the Charlotte show. Guy wanted only $950.

Most that I see at shows are just CMP flippers. But if you don't know at least the basics, you can really get burned. I met a guy at the range a few months ago that had a Garand he bought off a guy at a gun show. From a short distance, it had an awesome, dark "been there, done that" patina on it. But it was import marked and upon inspection you could tell that it was a mixmaster mule somebody pieced together from their leftover/reject parts bin. The stock had no cartouche and was so loose and worn out, the trigger group would unlatch and nearly fall out with each shot. It was having some cycling issues, and I suspect the op rod was probably out of spec among other things. The guy happily gave me the story he bought and told me he talked the seller down to $900. He pretty much got bent over and sodomized right there in the aisle, sans grease - and walked off thinking he got a great deal. I bit my lip and moved on.
 
$650 is not a bad price for a shooter-grade M1. But I do remember (and miss) the days of $195 barreled receivers :)

Add a good sling to that M1, get a solid prone position and you can chew up the 10-ring! Here's a target that I shot with my M1 at PHA last year using 125gr handloads; 200yds on an NRA SR target.

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$650 is not a bad price for a shooter-grade M1. But I do remember (and miss) the days of $195 barreled receivers :)

Add a good sling to that M1, get a solid prone position and you can chew up the 10-ring! Here's a target that I shot with my M1 at PHA last year using 125gr handloads; 200yds on an NRA SR target.

EpQFOEK.jpg

I run a Turner sling on my match rifle. I have heard folks running 125 gr loads, but I have only loaded 150 gr loads. If you don't mind my asking, what are the details of your 125 gr loads (powder, primer, bullet, speed, etc.)?
 
This was the load that I used for 200yd shooting with my M1 and also in CMP Garand matches. Picked up a gold medal at the National JCG Garand match this year using this load.

Speer 125gr TNT
47.5gr IMR 4895
WLR primer
Hornady brass
3.2" OAL

Bear in mind that the 125 is a short bullet, so you can play around with the OAL to suit your rifle. I've also used anywhere from 47-48 grains with no significant difference. I’ve never chrono’d this load as I’ve never really cared about the velocity. If it shoots well... what does it matter?

These bullets are also on sale at MidwayUSA with a rebate right now. Stock up!
https://www.carolinafirearmsforum.c...g-9-6-cents-300blk-bullets.51150/#post-893195
 
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For several years I used a cheap $25 repro from IMA. It worked okay, but was not great. The Turner was a huge step up and well worth the difference. The Brown must be pretty damn solid to make a Turner feel cheap!

And thanks for the load data. I have been thinking of toying with a lighter load to save wear and tear on the shoulder and rifle, but have not really done much research on the topic yet. And truth be told, I don't completely trust much of the information from random unknown entities that I find on the internet. It is good to hear anecdotal data and evidence from a "local" source.
 
I just ordered one of the Turner seconds. I've only shot position with USGI web slings up until now.
 
I love the Turner I have now. But based on the above endorsement, I think I am gonna pick up a Brown to try as well. I can use any additional advantage I can get!
 
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