M1 Garand

Thinking about getting my dad one for his 60th.

Can someone school me on what to look for as well as value?
Where the best place to find one would be? I know of CMP.
What to look for besides matching serial numbers?

You would be hard pressed to find a deal better than cmp on my opinion. Not that they can't be had. Wear in the bore is the main thing. To me Garands prices are too high right now. Good luck hope you find one he will like. I have a couple right now that I would never sell. One us as issued. The other doesn't match at all but only has about 25% wear. I love me a Garand!

CMP is still the best bet. And can find a gem there on ocassion. As close as you are, visit in person. Go on Wed (I think that is the first day of the week they are open).

Key for me is TE (throat erosion) and ME (muzzle erosion) readings. Irrc, mine os about 2 on each. 0-3 TE and 0-2 ME are ok and will make good shooters (imo). I will sacrifice higher TE than I will ME.

CMP is the best place but the gems are fewer and farther between. Most field grades are gone and the price on the higher grades is way more than the field grade.

Ask tenX. He has some and can give you some pointers.

I want one, but I want one [Or an M1a] in .308.

X2 on the M1a in .308.

Surplus M1A? I might be interested in one of those as well.

Are the prices in the catalog accurate?

CMP is going to be your best bet, get there when the doors open. You can also visit the store inside the CMP range, the usually have one or two Garands. The one and only trip I ever made to the CMP was on a whim and when I showed up I was lucky enough to get one in 308 with a new Criterion barrel and stock, a lot of the parts were refurbished or new, I think I paid 900.00 out the door, now they aren't even making them anymore.

Springfield Armory makes them new.

Yea, I may go that route.

Check out the CMP store in Anniston. I went in there this past Saturday. They had a whole bunch of Garands for sale (20-25). They're not cheap either. I saw as low as 800 up to 1300.

Thanks for the info. I see that they are only open Thur-Sat. I may have to ride out there after hunting season.

Don't waste your time on a CMP if you actually want to shoot it.

Go to Fulton Armory and get one built, best in the Biz.

Those are nice.

Ended up getting him a Springfield M1A "loaded". We shot it yesterday for the first time, pretty sweet gun.

you made a good pick

I used to shot a National Match Garand and a M1A in Police Olympic competition. I liked the M1A because I could use the magazine bottom to rest on my hand, but that dang Garand shot lights out. It was an Air National Guard gun and they ended up cutting it up..damn near made me cry. I won a LOT of medals with that gun and made a bunch of hot gun State Troopers mad with it!!!

Why did they cut it up? Who did it belong to?

it belonged to the guard, they decommed it and cut it up. I'd a give em good money for that gun.

That's sad.