What to Choose

[S.C.]

I am in the market to get a m1 rifle, I am in no way a rich man (which is somewhat affecting my decision) but I have saved up some money for the purchase. I am looking for something that is fun to shoot and take down to the range and maybe even do some long distance shooting. The choices im pondering are a m1 garand, springfield m1a, or a polytech m14. the only thing close to these i have fired before was a springfield SOCOM, and i loved it. but I'm lookinf for a longer barrel. Please, any advise would be helpful

[Orlando]

Since you say funds are limited get a CMP M1 Garand. The ammo is much cheaper. Surplus 7.62x51 is a average of 50 cents per rd. when you can find it and its getting scarece. M2 ball 30.06 ammo is half the price and plentiful for now anyway

[Dookiebutt]

Where are you located?

[S.C.]

Southern California (orange county)

[Dookiebutt]

Order from CMP. If you were closer, I'd tell you to drive.

[S.C.]

But are'nt the reasonable priced ones from CMP really beat up? And do they really take up to 3 months to get?

[Orlando]

S.C. what do you consider reasonable prices?
Yes CMP rack Gardes can be a little rough, I would get a Service Grade or if you cant afford it get a Field Grade. A Field Garde will make a decent shooter for informal plinking at the range.The wood may need a little work but thats half the fun. You wont buy a Garand at a cheaper price in better condition than what you will get at CMP.

[Ben Hartley]

S.C.:

I'll second Orlando's vote: go for the CMP Garand.

Now, I quite understand your concern with price -- aren't we all? -- but take a look at what a Springfield, Inc. (the commercial outfit) gets for their M1A / M1A "Socom" rifles. Can you beat the price at gun shop or at a gun show for a used rifle? Maybe.

OK, now the Polytech M14. As I understand it, it's of Chinese manufacture, and while it's probably serviceable, some of its metallurgy -- particularly in its bolt -- is "iffy." Additionally, U.S.-made parts, specifically in the gas system and in the sights, tend to be unusable on the Polytechs. (Anyone else out there know more about these? Please, guys, give us a hand here! [grin])

Are the CMP rifles "beat up?" Sure, some are. Again, recognise that in most instances these rifles have have been in the hands of troops for a very long time. Some have been rebuilt, some better than others, no doubt. That said, CMP has an enviable reputation for standing behind what it sells; if it isn't satisfactory, they'll make it right. In all fairness, Springfield, Inc. enjoys the same reputation, so that's a wash.

Ammunition is another consideration, as Orlando has already pointed out: military .30-'06 is readily available while military 7.62x51 isn't, and commercial .308 (which is not the same thing) is expensive as the dickens. (In either case, firing commercial ammunition in either one is not a good idea, although the M1 is more critical in this regard.)

Here's one more suggestion before you make a decision: find a shooting club somewhere near you that has a high-power rifle range. Pay 'em a visit, and find out if any of the shooters there have a M1 that you may shoot. (I'll almost guarantee that any M1 owner is delighted to be asked.) That done, you'll have another point for comparison.

And here's the web address for the Civil Marksmanship Program (CMP):

CMP Home

That'll give you access to all the products, prices, and eligibility requirements -- along with a lot more.

Hope the helps.

Ben Hartley

[S.C.]

Thanks for all the help guys this is really giving me alot to think about.

[Capt'n Mil Coll]

Hi SC, I own and shoot all three of these rifles. Here is what I would tell you.
Shootability: Garand can be shot all day. I have shot over 800 rounds in one sitting with the Garand. The Norinco M1A kicks the sh** out of my shoulder, especially when you use the butt plate shoulder holder. The Springfield is in the middle. You can shoot a lot longer than the Norinco but not as much as the Garand.
Accuracy: By far the Springfield is going to be the tack driver. No question there. Although the Garand and the Norinco are very good they are not as good.
Cost: The Springfield will cost about $1700. The Norinco about $1200. or more. The Garand from CMP will be the cheepest. I didnt go look what they wanted but you can.
Fun: You said you wanted something fun to shoot. Out of the three...although it is fun to hit the bullseye at 250 feet using the Springfield, the Garand is the most fun to shoot. Get one, shoot it and you will see.
Id say for your purposes Id get the Garand. And I shoot a lot of different rifles. Hope that helped.

[jkrzos]

Howdy,

I have them both and have never had a feed problem with either. I purchased from the CMP(M-1 & '03) Springfields for $800.00 for both. The '03 was packed in cosmoline, but the Garand came clean. It has some dings, but no major problems. I love them both. The Polytech is also a good gun. I have a Norinco(Pre-ban) M1A and never had a problem. The range officer made fun of the Chinck mfgd gun, but after I put them in the X ring he changed his mind. I had a Polytech, but traded it for a AR-15. Go with the one you can afford. CMP has good stuff and I have never been disappointed buying from them. If you are a Veteran, use your DD-214 for their approval. I have used my DD-214, 03FFL, and Gun Club name for their approval and got the guns within 3 weeks. They are go people to work with. Good Luck

Johnk568

[Dookiebutt]

Ben gave you some great things to think about. Here are some places to explore . .Where to Shoot in Orange County, California .

[rfc357]

You can buy an M1 from the CMP, have the gun professionally re-parked ($75 from Springfield Armory, Inc.) and replace the wood ($125 or so, plus some elbow grease). At the end of the day, you will have a dynamite rifle. Remember, the CMP M1 will be perfectly shootable out of the box.

It takes a long time to get a rifle from CMP because they consist of a small number of people trying to do the best job they can. My experience has been that it does not take as long as they estimate, and the received product will be better than advertised. You do need some patience.

I have bought five rifles from CMP, and have never been disappointed. Guys in my club have bought literally hundreds of rifles, and you can't find anyone who has anything bad to say.

I like my Springfield Armory and Rock River rifles a lot, but CMP sells history at bargain prices. The ammo is a dynamite deal also.

[Orlando]

Heres some pics of a field grade that I hand picked.