Should I buy an old M1 Garand?

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Fourluckyspades

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Hey, me again.

I know a local gunshop that has 3 M1 Garands for sale at $700. All are about Korean war vintage. The gun shop don't have much information about them (or at least the guy I was talking to didn't) but they don't look like they are going to explode if I shoot them, even if they are a little rusted and beat up. Wish I could get some photos.

Now my question is should I buy one of these and replace a part or too, or buy a professionally made one for 1200-2000 dollars? I'm more into buying one of these for the history of the gun, so I'm leaning more so towards a vintage M1 Garand rather than a proffesional one. Then again, I'm not an expert with these guns and I would rather not have the back of the receiver blow up in my face because it was too old. Action does seem to work flawlessly though.

Also, I'm not sure how much an old M1 Garand is worth, so please tell me if I would be paying too much.

I'll try and get some photos, but it's not like they have bent barrels and broken triggers; just a little rusted and beaten up stocks.

Hope you can help.
 
The prices have gotten ridiculous lately.. My advice would be to get one with good metal and bore as you can always replace the dinged up stock later if you want too.

PS Militaria usually sets them anywhere from 625-675 so to see rust for 700 is a bit much I think.
 
Due to hard battle and military use, my fair to good condition Garand suffered a broken firing pin during shooting, as well as the whole trigger housing module come flying off during shooting . Both problems was easy enough to solve with new firing pin from Numrich Arms, and tightening of the trigger guard spring, that keeps the whole trigger module in place.

I start to believe, that a Garand, regardsless of age, and due to the many parts it needs to work during the semi automatic firing cycling process, need tender loving care, all the time, in order to function when needed ?
 
I have no problems with mine at all, It was designed by a Canadian :D he knew what he was doing, you might have problems if you feed it the wrong kind of ammo, if the parts are worn out you might have problems; spare parts are not really an issue. The Garand was 20 years ahead of anything else that was available at the time when it was adopted in 1936. The only time I had my Garand out was in the winter, so I had it dry, it's almost time to take her out again, I guess I will have to grease her up! :D
 
I spoke to military personel who was issued the Garand, and they told me that they did not have, or knew of anyone who had the kind of nasty problems I had with my Garand.

I can only imagine that all Garand's issued to troops, have been through the armoury inspection/replacement and repairs before being issued again ?
 
+1 for buying one from P&S Militaria

They are great to deal with and with the prices between $625 and $675 for Garands in fairly good overall condition its better than paying $700 for one that is showing rust! My advice is to look for one with decent metal and don't focus too much on what condition the wood is in as stocks and handguards can be had fairly easily from Numrich.

Also you can't have more fun than going out and littering the range with .30-06 brass, I was at Blast Off a couple of weeks ago and used one of my Garands for as many events as possible.
 
fat tony said:
I meant stuff like the lite magnum ammo and or stuff with extra heavy bullets, anything that will give the wrong / excessive port pressure. ;) :)
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Yeah, I know. ;)

For those that didn't get the joke, the Garand rifle was originally intended to use a 10 round clip of .276 Pedersen (7x51).
 
I should pick up a Garand. Everyone shoots 30-06 around where I live, and my dad knows the CO's and he gets all their brass. Is there a major difference between manufacturers?
 
The Garand was one of the first military rifles that was produced to such high specifications, parts from one contractor are 100 percent usable in another gun from another contractor. It can withstand rounds of 120,000 psi, before the bolt lugs cracked, they did a test where they started feeding it increasingly over proof rounds, the bolt lugs started cracking after they successfully fired some 120,000 cup proof rounds, after the bolt lug cracked, they fired something like 5000 more M2 service rounds, with no further damage. I have a H&R and I love it, it shoots like a pussycat, and I imagine it would kill pretty much any thing on 4 legs in North America - I would not want to go up against it if 5X 30-06 did not bring it down. :eek:
 
snowhunter said:
I can only imagine that all Garand's issued to troops, have been through the armoury inspection/replacement and repairs before being issued again ?
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Many surplus Garand came back after a few hand-me-down tours with 3rd world armies. Your expectation may be a wee bit high.
 
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