To start off with, I have only owned civilian hunting rifles - Marlin336, Winchester 70's, Winchester 94, etc. However, I am a huge history buff and would love to buy an old Garand and possible get involved in the milsurp matches. All I know is "M1 Garand" - do not know which manufactorers are more desirable, better quality, etc. I went by the CMP facility here in Alabama a few weeks ago and was BEWILDERED by the range in prices and manufactorers/levels. Can you guys give me the "quick and dirty" ranking of the manufactorers? They had Winchester, Springfield, H&R, and others. Field grad, rack grade, service grade, etc. All things being equal, the H&R's seemed to be the "better buy" for a shooter as the higher grades were about the same price as the Winchester Field grades - but that was explained to me as due to the fact that the H&R's are from the 1950's and therefore not as historically (WWII) desireable. I don't want to read a book - just a couple of pointers in what to look for if I want a shooter - not an "investment"?
J
J