Centruy Garands

[Nightcrawler]

I know, I know, they're not GI quality. But, if I WERE to buy a genuine USGI Garand, assuming I could find one, I wouldn't want to shoot it! I'd get it cleaned up and preserve it! I have a sense of collector's value for such things. A genuine WWII service rifle should be saved for posterity, not shot until it wears out. I feel the same way about other WWII service rifles, too. I know where I can get a genuine Enfield Jungle Carbine, but I'd wanna put that up on the wall, or preserve it, not use it for plinking. I'm just funny that way.

With that in mind, would it be a good idea to get one of the "budget" Garands out there? I figure that if worse comes to worse comes to worst, I could always send it to Fulton Armory or Smith Enterprise and have them give it a work over, but for a Garand that I'd mostly be plinking with, I don't know if it'd be necessary.

 

[Dead]

Night get (2) of the Danish issue M1's from DCM, they are like 400bucks each and have GI recievers!!!!!!! Not that bad bad Century ones, and they cost the same $$$.

 

[Noban]

Nightcrawler - My experience with the Century Garands is not a good one. I've had a chance to shoot two and they both had problems. On one the op rod channel was out of spec, causing the rod to drag, resulting in numerous jams. This one also had poor sights - the elevation knob broke after 15 minutes of use. On the second rifle, the clip kept ejecting after each shot and the stock looked like it was dragged 20 miles down a gravel road.

I recommend that you look into the DCM program, get an authentic GI Garand, and enjoy it.

BTW, my local dealer is selling Century Garands for (everyone sit down) $700.

[Edited by Noban on 05-30-2001 at 07:29 PM]

 

[Steve Smith]

Nighcrawler, I just don't understand why anyone would buy a $500 Century when there are so many good USGI M1s in the CMP warehouse. The Danish models, as Dead has alredy referenced, may be bought for $400, and many (most?) have new barrels.


Oh yeah, shott the *ell out of it!

 

[darogue1]

M1 garands.....

I know that IAI makes one that is mil spec. Judging from the M1 Carbine that I have I think that they are in the running for my hard earned $$$. Also saw a company in shotgun news that is making them(Interstate Arms). They say that retail price is about $700. Hope that this helps---DAROGUE1

 

[awisler]

I would have to second the vote for sticking with USGI Garands -- These are available for $400 - $500 from the CMP (depending on whether you get the Danish or Service Grade) and are built on genuine USGI receivers. They are good shooters, and you don't have to worry about hurting them because they're already well-loved . Although I, too am nostalgic about the fact that mine are 40 or 50 years old, they've been armory-rebuilt with a mix of different parts and aren't truly "collector" rifles anyway. I don't have any personal experience with the Century rifles, but I hear that their greatest defect is the receivers, which are not built to Milspec and simply may not hold up; even if you get the rest of the rifle reworked, you can't fix the receiver. Worse yet, they may come apart on you. The CMP rifles are usually cheaper, anyway.

Check the CMP website (www.odcmp.com) for info on buying Garands from them -- it requires a little paperwork, but it's definitely worth it. Best wishes.

Andrew