CMP M1 Garand : Field Grade vs. Service Grade

[East_TN_Patriot]

Looking at the CMP M1 Garands available right now and wondered if anyone has any input on the grades. Is it worth the extra $100 for the service grade over a field grade rifle?

[Mike.357]

I suppose if you are not going to go and hand pick your own it mightbe better to get a service grade rifle.

But the bigger concern to me would be how the chamber and muzzle measure out. You can find a great rack grade rifle in these regards.

Mine is a rack grade HRA and while the wood has character and some of the parkarizing looks 60 years old I would not trade it for much of anything. Muzzle and throat are top notch. Mine was handpicked just not by me.

[Tempest455]

Yes and I would go in person and pick your own.

[Capbyrd]

Yes and I would go in person and pick your own.

The problem with that is that the CMP isn't putting out very many field and service grade rifles anymore. Just a few a week.

What do you want from your M1? If you just want a really nice rifle that you can shoot for the rest of eternity, and you don't care if the rifle has history, order a special or service special.

[NRA]

Hey Patriot swing by and pick me up........... road trip to Anniston!

[East_TN_Patriot]

Hey Patriot swing by and pick me up........... road trip to Anniston!

Actually, I may have to take you up on that.

[East_TN_Patriot]

The problem with that is that the CMP isn't putting out very many field and service grade rifles anymore. Just a few a week.

What do you want from your M1? If you just want a really nice rifle that you can shoot for the rest of eternity, and you don't care if the rifle has history, order a special or service special.

When I looked at the CMP website last night, all they had were field grade and service grade with a couple of special grade rifles, but those were over $1000 each. I prefer to have one of the older ones, but in good enough shape to shoot every once in a while. It may be easiest to just head down to Anniston AL one day and pick one out.

[Garufa]

The CMP has a very active forum and many post store reports. Not a great gauge of what things will be like when you get there but it's still worth checking out.

[Capbyrd]

The CMP has a very active forum and many post store reports. Not a great gauge of what things will be like when you get there but it's still worth checking out.

Most definitely!

[JDM175]

If at all possible go down to Anniston and hand pick your own. I bought a service grade but a guy that went with us bought a field grade just as good but we did spend about 2 hours going through the racks and gauging out prospective rifles. Also after I gauged mine out I took it to the counter and had one of the old guys that works there strip it down and tell me what he thought. If at all possible go down there as it is well worth it and the people are more than willing to help.

Being this close I would really go down there. For someone who absolutely can’t make it down there I would suggest paying the money for CMP to handpick one out if they still do that.