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Started By
Message
So, I decided to order one of the Garands from Royal Tiger Imports
Posted on 3/7/24 at 1:31 pm
Posted on 3/7/24 at 1:31 pm
I've always wanted a Garand, and for years toyed with the idea of getting one from the CMP. I never did, due to all the various hoops to jump through.
I didn't just want "a Garand", I wanted something with a little history behind it. I do have some older milsurp rifles, and I want the "been there done that" part, not just a pile of parts stuck into a brand new stock.
So, RTI has been listing guns in "original condition, unrefinished"... which looked fairly rough. They would list actual guns with photos, so you could see what you'd get.
For $899 (yeah, a little higher than CMP base prices), I picked this up.
It is a Springfield Armory, with all SA parts. The receiver dates to April 1943, the barrel is SA marked 1944. As I recall, the bore and throat erosion were both around 3-4, so shot quite a bit but not completely shot out.
There is really very little pitting anywhere. The parkerizing is worn but still present, lots of freckling but that cleaned up with oil and TLC, the gas port looks mostly in the white (as I understand, it's stainless and would usually lose the black finish in a hurry), it has post-WW2 sights and a late trigger guard.
The stock is dinged up but no cracks, and with a little care cleaned up nicely. I rubbed down with raw linseed oil, and a few applications seemed to help the wood a LOT.
I didn't remove the numbering, as I understand those are rack numbers, and just some more history.
These came from Ethiopia, and my understanding is the US sent them a shipment of about 10k-20k. So we likely arsenal refurbished, then sent them, and they stored them as-is. So my best guess is this is as-is from when we shelved the guns, I don't expect the Ethiopians did any further "refurbishing" or what-not.
I took it to the range recently and shot some S&B 30.06 Garand load ammo through it, ran great and seemed accurate enough to my eyes. Might not be a match-grade gun, but I'm not a match-grade shooter
No hangups, shots grouped where I aimed (no flyers, no indication of widening groups or keyholing).
I was a bit surprised at how soft it was, as I was thinking it would be closer to the 8mm Mausers I have, or at least harder recoiling than my Cetme (a Spanish 308 semiauto, basically same design as HK G3). It's softer than the Cetme.
Oh, and yeah- I did give myself a slight case of Garand Thumb , while breaking it down, cleaning deeply and reassembling it. Nothing too bad, but between being a lefty, and just trying to figure out how this gun works, it was bound to happen.
I'm really pleased with it, it seems to be exactly what I wanted- a WW2 weapon that was redeployed to Korea, then was lend-leased out; and then coming home with me in basically the same condition it was on the rack. That's worth the extra money, as I wanted a surplus, not "just a rifle". I didn't want a brand new gun.
That's my review and impression, if anyone is curious about them.
To add- yeah, they did stick an import stamping on it, as required by any importer. It's a very faint electropencil marking on the barrel, that you really have to look for to find. Right hand side, in the photo it looks like some frecking above the gas tube.
I didn't just want "a Garand", I wanted something with a little history behind it. I do have some older milsurp rifles, and I want the "been there done that" part, not just a pile of parts stuck into a brand new stock.
So, RTI has been listing guns in "original condition, unrefinished"... which looked fairly rough. They would list actual guns with photos, so you could see what you'd get.
For $899 (yeah, a little higher than CMP base prices), I picked this up.
It is a Springfield Armory, with all SA parts. The receiver dates to April 1943, the barrel is SA marked 1944. As I recall, the bore and throat erosion were both around 3-4, so shot quite a bit but not completely shot out.
There is really very little pitting anywhere. The parkerizing is worn but still present, lots of freckling but that cleaned up with oil and TLC, the gas port looks mostly in the white (as I understand, it's stainless and would usually lose the black finish in a hurry), it has post-WW2 sights and a late trigger guard.
The stock is dinged up but no cracks, and with a little care cleaned up nicely. I rubbed down with raw linseed oil, and a few applications seemed to help the wood a LOT.
I didn't remove the numbering, as I understand those are rack numbers, and just some more history.
These came from Ethiopia, and my understanding is the US sent them a shipment of about 10k-20k. So we likely arsenal refurbished, then sent them, and they stored them as-is. So my best guess is this is as-is from when we shelved the guns, I don't expect the Ethiopians did any further "refurbishing" or what-not.
I took it to the range recently and shot some S&B 30.06 Garand load ammo through it, ran great and seemed accurate enough to my eyes. Might not be a match-grade gun, but I'm not a match-grade shooter
No hangups, shots grouped where I aimed (no flyers, no indication of widening groups or keyholing).
I was a bit surprised at how soft it was, as I was thinking it would be closer to the 8mm Mausers I have, or at least harder recoiling than my Cetme (a Spanish 308 semiauto, basically same design as HK G3). It's softer than the Cetme.
Oh, and yeah- I did give myself a slight case of Garand Thumb , while breaking it down, cleaning deeply and reassembling it. Nothing too bad, but between being a lefty, and just trying to figure out how this gun works, it was bound to happen.
I'm really pleased with it, it seems to be exactly what I wanted- a WW2 weapon that was redeployed to Korea, then was lend-leased out; and then coming home with me in basically the same condition it was on the rack. That's worth the extra money, as I wanted a surplus, not "just a rifle". I didn't want a brand new gun.
That's my review and impression, if anyone is curious about them.
To add- yeah, they did stick an import stamping on it, as required by any importer. It's a very faint electropencil marking on the barrel, that you really have to look for to find. Right hand side, in the photo it looks like some frecking above the gas tube.
This post was edited on 3/7/24 at 1:39 pm
Posted on 3/7/24 at 1:47 pm to Scoob
Great pieces of American history. I picked out a field grade rifle from the CMP about 10 years ago and was able to find one with some original character (original stock, 1943 SA receiver, milled trigger guard) and a Norwegian replacement barrel still in great condition.
I don't shoot that one as much because I don't have a lot of my Greek surplus ammo left, but have a 1944 Springfield CMP 308 special which is one of my favorite rifles to shoot.
I've thought about ordering an M1 carbine through Royal Tiger but they ain't cheap.
I don't shoot that one as much because I don't have a lot of my Greek surplus ammo left, but have a 1944 Springfield CMP 308 special which is one of my favorite rifles to shoot.
I've thought about ordering an M1 carbine through Royal Tiger but they ain't cheap.
Posted on 3/7/24 at 2:59 pm to Scoob
Im glad you’re happy with your rifle.
But man, 900$ . They must be making a fortune off those things. They can’t be paying more than 200$ for them. I think I gave 200$ for my 8mm still in grease.
But man, 900$ . They must be making a fortune off those things. They can’t be paying more than 200$ for them. I think I gave 200$ for my 8mm still in grease.
This post was edited on 3/7/24 at 3:01 pm
Posted on 3/8/24 at 3:16 pm to Scoob
Been looking for a nice 1903 to go with my Garand, so difficult to find one at a reasonable price now.
Posted on 3/8/24 at 6:19 pm to Scoob
Every American should own a Garand. They are a lot of fun to shoot. So much history there...
I own several CMP Garands and haven't been disappointed yet. Although I love the originals in 30.06 my favorite and easily my most accurate is my .308 Expert.
I also have an M1D, yes I love the Garand.
I own several CMP Garands and haven't been disappointed yet. Although I love the originals in 30.06 my favorite and easily my most accurate is my .308 Expert.
I also have an M1D, yes I love the Garand.
Posted on 3/8/24 at 10:02 pm to Scoob
Love the Garands. Mine are service grades and are fine shooters. They are CMP rifles from trips to the North and South stores to hand pick them.
Posted on 3/9/24 at 7:44 am to Scoob
This is so awesome. You certainly did your homework, nicely done!
Posted on 3/9/24 at 3:59 pm to Scoob
Nice looking rifle with the been there look. Checked out the RTI prices on M1 carbines-ouch! The Garand prices varied a lot. Search for these on Gunbroker and compare. Some are fixed price and others are auction. Just another option.
Just a note: Ammo for Garands has a certain pressure curve.
Just a note: Ammo for Garands has a certain pressure curve.
Posted on 3/9/24 at 10:41 pm to Scoob
If you live within a reasonable drive to the CMP South it’s well worth the trip. Picked up a service grade M1917 their first weekend open in ‘24 and they had some great stuff in inventory.
The staff is awesome and really knows their stuff. I already have a Garand but picking one out at the CMP would be a rite of passage, in my opinion.
The staff is awesome and really knows their stuff. I already have a Garand but picking one out at the CMP would be a rite of passage, in my opinion.
Posted on 3/10/24 at 11:13 pm to Scoob
I shot one at the Tuskegee Natl Forest and it was pretty cool at the tight groups you could put together at 100 years with iron sights
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