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Trading for a Garand today, anything I should look for?
ridgleyart
Member Posts: 937 ✭✭✭✭
I'm potentially trading for a Springfield M1 Garand today, have never owned one, just wondering if there are specific trouble areas I should look for. TIA
Comments
Be concerned about muzzle erosion, throat erosion......these were made/used in the day of corrosive primers. Be aware that there were Garands that were scrapped out, and the receivers have been cut. There are also people who welded these things back together and sold them, so they are out there. Maybe the experts will chime in now.
Thanks HPD.
Muzzle erosion can be checked the hillbilly way. Stick a loaded round in the muzzle. There should be a little bit of the bullet sticking out before the cartridge case mouth sets on the crown of the barrel. If the case touches the barrel she's fairly worn. I know of no way to check throat erosion without the fancy throat erosion gauge like Mark C. has. They also make an up town gauge for checking muzzle erosion. Be advised though. many of those old rifles have a bore that looks like the inside of a sewer pipe, and they shoot just fine. So don't let poor gauge readings be a deal breaker.
I compared a round of M2 ball (shown in your photos) to a muzzle wear gauge. If you find that you have 5/16" of copper jacket showing when gently inserted in the muzzle, the bore is close to new; if the round enFYters the bore up to the case rim, the barrel is worn out & needs replacement.
While some import marked M1 rifles may be fine, that's a red flag that says, "have me checked out by a gunsmith before you buy me".
You should be able to find a YouTube video that shows how to do the first step in field stripping (separate the receiver group from the stock). Look for worn finish on the parts inside.
FYI, ammo pictured is currently selling for $1.50 a round.
Neal
Watch for bent operating rod from high pressure loads.-----------------Ray
Mr. Christian should be along shortly to get you lined out. Trust him! He must be out feeding his unicorn and polishing the Ban Hammer, normally he'd be on a thread about Garands like white on rice.
We can still say 'White on rice'?
Doesn't this have its roots with Bill Clinton and Susan when she was on his National Security Staff?
Brad Steele
IF it's a Blue Sky import, stay away, imo.
If I were buying a Garand, I would be buying it from @mark christian .
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
If I get it I will be into the gun for about $400.
If it's that one in the picture, just check the receiver inside and out for weld marks. Other than that, just buy it before the seller comes to his senses.
I got way more than that for both of the ones I have sold & they were both rack grade although I have seen pictures of what some rack grades look like & mine looked much better. Mine were rack grade only because of bore or throat erosion.
So far i have gotten a 1911 .45, a Mi carbine & two MI rifles from the DCM & the CMP. I got to hand pick the second MI rifle from a truckload they brought to Camp Pendleton. They took them back to Alabama & I had to pay shipping but no Kalifornia fees, taxes, waiting period or transfer dealer. The 1911 cost $17 including shipping & came straight to my house. I waited too long for the $20 MI carbine & still have a form saying I am on a waiting list. I asked if they would honor that price when they got the new lot & the reply was, "I appreciate your sense of humor." They then said to include a copy of this e mail & the form I had with my order & they would cherry pick me a carbine.
I need to move to your neck in the woods.
It's not the prettiest gun in the world, but it seemed to pass the inspection of what you guys told me to look for.
I need to move to your neck in the woods.
Ditto ---------------Ray
If you got that Garand and that ammo for $400 you probably got a great deal. Have someone that really knows Garands check it out and he’ll help you know for sure what you got. I’ve seen some really good re-welded receivers that were nearly impossible to tell but dangerous as hell. The 30-06 round is nothing to mess with and can do some serious damage in an unsafe gun. In a good Garand, it’s a true joy to shoot.