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Building your own Garand

jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
edited July 2002 in Ask the Experts
I've seen these ads for complete M-1 parts kits minus the reciever for like $200 bucks. As I am in the CMP, I can order a reciever right to my door. These are available from $250. The total is $450, which would be cheaper than even the cheapest service grade US M--1, though more expensive than the Danish. Price aside, it seems to me that by building one's own rifle, one would be familiarized with its functioning in a manner beyond that which can be learned by regular stripping. So is it worth it?

"...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf
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Comments

  • nmyersnmyers Member Posts: 16,887 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Probably not.

    For someone like you, who has the ability to buy from CMP, it's definitely not worth it.

    Most of the parts kits available today are pretty sad. They have well-used parts, mostly stripped from Danish M1's. You will probably need to replace bad parts & buy new wood. And, you're going to have to pay someone to assemble it unless you already have the equipment and gauges needed, such as tech manual, padded vice, barrel wrench, headspace, timing, and gas cylinder gauges, etc.

    Rather than spend $600-700 on a "project" gun, you are better off buying a CMP service grade for $500.

    Neal
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  • jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
    edited November -1
    Thanks, that is what I was supsecting. I could probably handle the headspacing, as I know I could get some go/no go gauges, but the rest would be beyond me.

    "...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf
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  • IconoclastIconoclast Member Posts: 10,515 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    nmyers, thanks - I was also contemplating this project in a vague way and hadn't thought of the extra gauges required for dealing with the gas-operated semi-auto mechanism.
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  • dheffleydheffley Member Posts: 25,000 ✭
    edited November -1
    Had a friend who bought a new receiver and a parts kit. He brought it to me for building. After looking over the parts and their condition, I told him to sell it all, recover what money he could, and I would get him a good M1 for about $100 more than he spent.

    Those were the worst parts I've ever seen!

    Save, research, then buy the best.Join the NRA, NOW!Teach them young, teach them safe, teach them forever, but most of all, teach them to VOTE!
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  • joeaf1911a1joeaf1911a1 Member Posts: 2,962 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    NMYERS gave the straight of it. The service grade M-1 is only a little more than the Dainish from CMP, but both are a very good buy.
    Also, if you have a function problem CMP will advise you, send you
    parts if something is wrong or exchange the rifle. I feel the value
    of a original G.I. M-1 rifle will always be more than one just put
    together from parts. It takes too many tools and guages AND KNOWHOW
    to barrel and build one, also, quality of parts are unknown in kits.
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