I'm interested in a 1942 Springfield M1 Garand for sale locally. The seller is asking $800. I know very little about these rifles. What should I be looking out for when buying a garand? I know thus is a rather broad question but any input would be appreciated.
Garand newb
- Thread starter Groverino
- Start date
Thats what i'm thinking.
- Location
- Fredericton NB
$800 is a steal.
Remember though, you can't just go out and buy regular old .30-06 ammo from your LGS for these without having an adjustable gas plug or reloading ammo to the proper specs. If it is all complete and the bore is good, it is a great price!
Ian
Ian
For a new Garand owner, here's some good sticky threads (click here)http://www.milsurps.com/forumdisplay.php?f=108
Period U.S. Training videos are also quite good ….
Rifle Marksmanship with the M1 Garand Rifle (1942) http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=4269
M1 Garand Handling (Stripping & Assembling) http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=4271
Blueprints and Specifications for the Springfield M1 Garand .30 Caliber Service Rifle http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=4326
FM23-5, U.S. RIFLE CALIBER .30 MANUAL for M1 Garand Service Rifle http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=4328
Regards,
Doug
Period U.S. Training videos are also quite good ….
Rifle Marksmanship with the M1 Garand Rifle (1942) http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=4269
M1 Garand Handling (Stripping & Assembling) http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=4271
Blueprints and Specifications for the Springfield M1 Garand .30 Caliber Service Rifle http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=4326
FM23-5, U.S. RIFLE CALIBER .30 MANUAL for M1 Garand Service Rifle http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=4328
Regards,
Doug
That is a good price. Especially for a '42. That can be confirmed by S/N at oldguns.net.
If anybody tries to tell you it has matching numbers he/she/it doesn't know what they're talking about. The numbers on M1 Rifle parts are drawing numbers and have nothing whatever to so with the S/N. Said drawing numbers on the barrel will tell you the year of manufacture. Doesn't matter if the receiver and barrel are made by different companies. Not a bad thing if they were though. Ditto for the other parts, but matching part makers on M1's was mostly likely made that way by somebody with too much time and money. Weapons techs did not and do not care who made any part they replaced.
Start with the general condition, then the barrel, then the gas tube and op rod end(there are dimension specs you can check if you can and have a vernier or micrometer). If you have one, putting a loaded cartridge, preferably an M2 round, in the muzzle will let you see how far the muzzle has eroded. If the muzzle swallows a bullet, it's worn. Possibly to the point of worn out. Not a safety thing. Just an accuracy thing.
Try and look under the stock for rust too. Just a field strip will do. Excess pitting is a bad thing.
Millions of rounds of factory ammo have been fired out of M1 Rifles long before there was such a thing as an adjustable gas plug.
Try and get the seller to throw in some clips too. You can't shoot the thing, semi-automatically, without 'em.
If anybody tries to tell you it has matching numbers he/she/it doesn't know what they're talking about. The numbers on M1 Rifle parts are drawing numbers and have nothing whatever to so with the S/N. Said drawing numbers on the barrel will tell you the year of manufacture. Doesn't matter if the receiver and barrel are made by different companies. Not a bad thing if they were though. Ditto for the other parts, but matching part makers on M1's was mostly likely made that way by somebody with too much time and money. Weapons techs did not and do not care who made any part they replaced.
Start with the general condition, then the barrel, then the gas tube and op rod end(there are dimension specs you can check if you can and have a vernier or micrometer). If you have one, putting a loaded cartridge, preferably an M2 round, in the muzzle will let you see how far the muzzle has eroded. If the muzzle swallows a bullet, it's worn. Possibly to the point of worn out. Not a safety thing. Just an accuracy thing.
Try and look under the stock for rust too. Just a field strip will do. Excess pitting is a bad thing.
Millions of rounds of factory ammo have been fired out of M1 Rifles long before there was such a thing as an adjustable gas plug.
Try and get the seller to throw in some clips too. You can't shoot the thing, semi-automatically, without 'em.
