Big 5 Garand?

nathangdad · 07-04-2009, 02:54 PM

Based upon my region of the country (Texas Panhandle) the price does seem a bit on the low side for a quality Garand.

I would expect the price to be more around the $1K price point for a used Garand in great shape.

However, prices in your region may differ and I understand that fact.

lunchbox99 · 07-04-2009, 08:37 PM

I checked them out at my big 5, I don't know anything about grands but the one they had seemed to be a bit on the crappy side. The bolt didn't want to close and it seemed like stuff was bending for it to close.

saahole · 07-04-2009, 10:51 PM

i not really saying this is a quality rifle, we will have to wait the ten day to see. but looking at the one at the store it did look like a pos. but i chose to look beyond the grime and goop it was stored in. the muzzle wear gave me the go on taking a chance on it and this one was a smooth operator. i may very well be disappointed in this purchase and that is a risk i am/was willing to take. 9 more days for pics.

texnmidwest · 07-04-2009, 10:56 PM

saahole, the worst it could be is a great start to a nice builder!! Have fun with it and don't look back! The garand is one of the best shooters and sound investments you can make. Have fun with it!!!! Shoot some CMP service rifle competitions with it....fix it up if need be and enjoy a great rifle. A truly rifleman's rifle!

Iron_Colonel · 07-05-2009, 02:44 AM

Congrats on your purchase. I hope it turns out you really do like the gun, and it is a good shooter. Definitely waiting for the pics, so turn the speed on the clock up so we can see it

rondog · 07-05-2009, 02:53 AM

Congrats! And welcome to the club! I'm sure your new M1 will be just fine after she's cleaned up. If not, nearly anything can be fixed/replaced. Might have been a high price initially, but they might be double that soon too. Good you bought when you could. Ain't makin' any more, and people are standing in line for months for them. I paid $700 for my '43 Springfield in a local FTF sale, and she's a good 'un. No waiting, no paperwork, just "meet me at The Village Inn at 7:00". Not real pretty, but she can cook!

Pothole · 07-05-2009, 02:51 PM

dang i wish the Big 5's by me had M1's, i did see and add for Mauser's there though...might have to check them out

saahole · 07-05-2009, 05:43 PM

i don't think they will put them in an add. they probably only have enough of one for each store. the store near me only got one, at the time they said they had it for a week already. not every big five sells fire arms, at least not in looser angeles. i only found out about these through here and went to tale a look to see if a store near me had any. look real close they might not all be in the same shape. good luck and good hunting.

Pothole · 07-10-2009, 08:40 PM

so i stopped by a big 5 yesterday and they had 5 M1's, and man they were not worth what they were asking, rust over everything and the two i looked at needed new barrels, o well maybe if they cut the price in half ill get one to play with

alwaysaz · 07-19-2009, 10:08 PM

SAAhole, did you get a chance to get a pic yet? I'd love to see it.

saahole · 07-19-2009, 10:58 PM

see big 5 gerrand thread that is now hovering arround this one.

chrysler354 · 07-21-2009, 03:04 AM

Saahole, I just went down to my local big 5 as well and ended up purchasing their last Garand!

I didn't get to check headspace or any of that...Don't have the gauges, and besides, the manager informed me that if it doesn't fire or jams with new ammo, I can get a refund. So I figured what the hell...I'll buy it.

The thing is packed with cosmoline..stuffs everywhere. Price may have been a bit steep but I know they will continue to rise, plus availability is extremely scarce. I think I made a good decision.

Let me know how you like your Garand!

Orlando · 07-21-2009, 06:55 AM

[QUOTE=chrysler354;948674]

I didn't get to check headspace or any of that...Don't have the gauges, and besides, the manager informed me that if it doesn't fire or jams with new ammo, I can get a refund. So I figured what the hell...I'll buy it.

That alone would make me scared. Sounds as thoiugh the salesman doesnt know squat
#1 you dont shoot "new" commercail ammo in a garand unless it is especially made for it . Hornady makes a rd but is over $1.40 per rd, cant remember the other comapany. Use surplus ammo of good quality.
There is no way I would take a chance on one of these Garands in the condition they are in without checking headspace first.
You could be asking for trouble

chrysler354 · 07-21-2009, 04:23 PM

My bad, I wasn't clear about what he said regarding the ammo. I think what he meant was as long as I used correct ammo in it and it jams, he would refund it. I mean, how could you go wrong? It may have been a bit more, but I don't see it being that much more expensive than a CMP.
I didn't like the fact you had to pay membership for the CMP, shipping, plus a license allowing the rifle to be shipped directly to you. And if you don't do that you have to pay a FFL transfer fee which are bucks.
And to top it all off...you have to wait...for an eternity! I have to wait 10 days and its driving me crazy. I couldn't stand waiting that long. I've also heard about some CMP rifles people have received that have mismatched wood or even cracks, which I didn't see on this rifle at all. Maybe I got lucky and picked a good one, I won't be sure till I get it apart. But even if its rough..I'm still happy with my choice. I've wanted a Garand for 5 years and now I finally own one.
Here is a picture of it that I took in the store..you can't really tell much by it though.

texnmidwest · 07-21-2009, 05:11 PM

+100 about the ammo!!!! Use surplus ammo or reloads that are loaded to m2 specs. Otherwise you could bend your rifles op rod.

Would not hurt to have a gunsmith check it over for you. Might cost you a few bucks but it would be worth knowing what you have. Have him check headspace as Orlando mentioned and then Throat erosion and Muzzle erosion. Main thing is just to make sure it is safe to shoot. Garands are a lot of fun!

07-04-2009, 02:54 PM	#21
nathangdad Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 5,087	Hi Orlando Based upon my region of the country (Texas Panhandle) the price does seem a bit on the low side for a quality Garand. I would expect the price to be more around the $1K price point for a used Garand in great shape. However, prices in your region may differ and I understand that fact.

07-04-2009, 08:37 PM	#22
lunchbox99 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: washington Posts: 860	I checked them out at my big 5, I don't know anything about grands but the one they had seemed to be a bit on the crappy side. The bolt didn't want to close and it seemed like stuff was bending for it to close. __________________ I need to buy 2 of each gun so they have a friend when I am not shooting them

07-04-2009, 10:56 PM	#24
texnmidwest Some People's kids.... Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South east Wisconsin Posts: 6,888	saahole, the worst it could be is a great start to a nice builder!! Have fun with it and don't look back! The garand is one of the best shooters and sound investments you can make. Have fun with it!!!! Shoot some CMP service rifle competitions with it....fix it up if need be and enjoy a great rifle. A truly rifleman's rifle! __________________ never pass up a bathroom, never waste a ** , and never trust a fart.

07-05-2009, 02:44 AM	#25
Iron_Colonel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Washington St. Posts: 3,210	Congrats on your purchase. I hope it turns out you really do like the gun, and it is a good shooter. Definitely waiting for the pics, so turn the speed on the clock up so we can see it __________________ Mosin Nagant evangelist on a mission to convert YOU!

07-05-2009, 02:53 AM	#26
rondog Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 3,220	Congrats! And welcome to the club! I'm sure your new M1 will be just fine after she's cleaned up. If not, nearly anything can be fixed/replaced. Might have been a high price initially, but they might be double that soon too. Good you bought when you could. Ain't makin' any more, and people are standing in line for months for them. I paid $700 for my '43 Springfield in a local FTF sale, and she's a good 'un. No waiting, no paperwork, just "meet me at The Village Inn at 7:00". Not real pretty, but she can cook! __________________ I child-proofed my house, but they still keep getting in!

07-04-2009, 10:51 PM	#23
saahole Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 55	i not really saying this is a quality rifle, we will have to wait the ten day to see. but looking at the one at the store it did look like a pos. but i chose to look beyond the grime and goop it was stored in. the muzzle wear gave me the go on taking a chance on it and this one was a smooth operator. i may very well be disappointed in this purchase and that is a risk i am/was willing to take. 9 more days for pics.

07-05-2009, 02:51 PM	#27
Pothole Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Washington Posts: 193 Images: 18	dang i wish the Big 5's by me had M1's, i did see and add for Mauser's there though...might have to check them out

07-05-2009, 05:43 PM	#28
saahole Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 55	i don't think they will put them in an add. they probably only have enough of one for each store. the store near me only got one, at the time they said they had it for a week already. not every big five sells fire arms, at least not in looser angeles. i only found out about these through here and went to tale a look to see if a store near me had any. look real close they might not all be in the same shape. good luck and good hunting.

07-10-2009, 08:40 PM	#29
Pothole Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Washington Posts: 193 Images: 18	so i stopped by a big 5 yesterday and they had 5 M1's, and man they were not worth what they were asking, rust over everything and the two i looked at needed new barrels, o well maybe if they cut the price in half ill get one to play with

07-19-2009, 10:08 PM	#30
alwaysaz Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 47	SAAhole, did you get a chance to get a pic yet? I'd love to see it.

07-19-2009, 10:58 PM	#31
saahole Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 55	see big 5 gerrand thread that is now hovering arround this one.

07-21-2009, 03:04 AM	#32
chrysler354 Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 7	Saahole, I just went down to my local big 5 as well and ended up purchasing their last Garand! I didn't get to check headspace or any of that...Don't have the gauges, and besides, the manager informed me that if it doesn't fire or jams with new ammo, I can get a refund. So I figured what the hell...I'll buy it. The thing is packed with cosmoline..stuffs everywhere. Price may have been a bit steep but I know they will continue to rise, plus availability is extremely scarce. I think I made a good decision. Let me know how you like your Garand!

07-21-2009, 06:55 AM	#33
Orlando Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,162	[QUOTE=chrysler354;948674] I didn't get to check headspace or any of that...Don't have the gauges, and besides, the manager informed me that if it doesn't fire or jams with new ammo, I can get a refund. So I figured what the hell...I'll buy it. That alone would make me scared. Sounds as thoiugh the salesman doesnt know squat #1 you dont shoot "new" commercail ammo in a garand unless it is especially made for it . Hornady makes a rd but is over $1.40 per rd, cant remember the other comapany. Use surplus ammo of good quality. There is no way I would take a chance on one of these Garands in the condition they are in without checking headspace first. You could be asking for trouble

07-21-2009, 04:23 PM	#34
chrysler354 Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 7	My bad, I wasn't clear about what he said regarding the ammo. I think what he meant was as long as I used correct ammo in it and it jams, he would refund it. I mean, how could you go wrong? It may have been a bit more, but I don't see it being that much more expensive than a CMP. I didn't like the fact you had to pay membership for the CMP, shipping, plus a license allowing the rifle to be shipped directly to you. And if you don't do that you have to pay a FFL transfer fee which are bucks. And to top it all off...you have to wait...for an eternity! I have to wait 10 days and its driving me crazy. I couldn't stand waiting that long. I've also heard about some CMP rifles people have received that have mismatched wood or even cracks, which I didn't see on this rifle at all. Maybe I got lucky and picked a good one, I won't be sure till I get it apart. But even if its rough..I'm still happy with my choice. I've wanted a Garand for 5 years and now I finally own one. Here is a picture of it that I took in the store..you can't really tell much by it though.

07-21-2009, 05:11 PM	#35
texnmidwest Some People's kids.... Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South east Wisconsin Posts: 6,888	+100 about the ammo!!!! Use surplus ammo or reloads that are loaded to m2 specs. Otherwise you could bend your rifles op rod. Would not hurt to have a gunsmith check it over for you. Might cost you a few bucks but it would be worth knowing what you have. Have him check headspace as Orlando mentioned and then Throat erosion and Muzzle erosion. Main thing is just to make sure it is safe to shoot. Garands are a lot of fun! __________________ never pass up a bathroom, never waste a ** , and never trust a fart.