7.62 garand

M

major519

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Hi Fellas

I have been away from the shooting game for a few years but am contemplating getting back into it.

I would like to pick up a Garand as this is one of the few rifles I have always liked but never had.

My question is with regards to the availability and pros and cons of a 7.62 re-barreled Garand.

How is the availability of such a beast and is it really worthwhile or would I be better of to stick to an original .30-06 version? Hows the availability these days on surplus 7.62 Nato or surplus 30-06 for that matter?
 
Pretty much ziltch surplus for both 7.62x51 and 7.62x63. You best best is to start reloading, then you will never be SOL for ammo, it's much cheaper then commercial, and still cheaper then surplus.
Personally, I reload, and prefer the x63 version of the M1.....cause that's how it was made.
For x51, the Nork M14's are a pretty good rifle and pretty good deal right now.
 
I've heard the 7.62 Garands have a lot less kick, but I haven't fired both versions so I can't say for sure. 7.62x51 M1 Garands are harder to come by than 30-06 ones that's for sure. The price can get ugly for one too. IMO, just buy a 30-06 Garand, you're still likely to ding your wallet pretty good! If you want the 7.62, do what Hitzy said and buy a M14 and save yourself some cash to buy ammo or reloading tools and components. Between the two rounds, 7.62 surplus is more common, but getting pricey and harder to find. 30-06 surplus is virtually none existent on the market.
 
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Re Barrel or not

I rebarreled my Garand a couple of years back. The hardest part was finding a 7.62 barrel in Canada. I got lucky and found one here on gun nuts,$200 later and another $100 to have it installed and headspaced. It was probably one of my best shooting investments. I have had absolutely no issues with it, and have probably put a couple of thousand rounds through it since. It easily holds its own against any of the other milsurps I have shot against.
7.62 is readily availiable compared to 3006 just make sure you buy in bulk, when you see it.
While the M14s are a nice option the Garand with the enbloc has a larger legal capacity, and is quicker to reload if your into milsurp shooting competitions. If you think you might want to put optics on it later go with the M14.
Just my 2 cents
Wyle1
 
I've had two Garands built in 7.62x51, and worn one barrel out. They shoot better than similarly match-conditioned .30-'06. Long-time match shooters have always told me the 7.62x51 is the more accurate, and I believe it. The same long-time shooters have always told me that the M1 is more accurate than the M14/M1A, and I believe that too.

I really like the ready-made Douglas barrels. They are not GI-contour, which requires modification of the handguards. I don't know how you would get one north of the border. Maybe someone who imports a bunch of Douglas barrels or blanks can include one for you. Ask Douglas who imports them north of the border.

Lots of people at Culver's Shooting Page express concern over the barrels with the inserts having the inserts come out at inopportune times.

CDD
 
Krieger makes barrels for the Garand and you can purchase them with either 30-06 or 308 short chambering (Or get them without and chamber them in whatever 30 cal you can make feed) . These are superb match grade barrels and the results from them have been very impressive.
 
You will have to find one in canada....garand rifle barrels can't be export from the usa. But, if you find a 308 barrel the conversion is pretty easy and you will have a great rifle.
 
I have a Garand in 7.62 in a plastic Ramline stock. The ammo is easier to find, and uses less powder to reload. The recoil 'feels' lighter, which maybe because the plastic stock flexes as it does.

If I was to choose a semi-auto deep-swamp deer rifle that didn't need to be handled tenderly amongst the cedars, that would be my first choice.
 
If you want it just for shooting, either will work just fine. If I wanted a 7.62 version I would put a Krieger in it.

But a GI 30-06 would probably show better appreciation since it is a real rifle.

I have converted a number of milsurps to shooters over the years. Regret every one now that I realize I desicrated pieces of history. Financialy it was a big mistake, too.
 
There is yet another variation on the 7.62mm Garand theme.This is the Italian Tipo 2 conversion which was approx 1/2 " shorter than the standard M1. These were made up using the following unique parts: a standard .30-06 barrel shortened at the breech, re-threaded and re-chambered to 7.62 NATO,a shortened operating rod,a stock shortened at the front end to accept the standard stock ferrule,and a shortened rear handguard.All other parts are standard. These make up into a very nice rifle and I've built a couple of them on the ex-Danish Breda receivers.
 
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