M1 Garands at Big 5....
 

Big 5 sporting goods has been advertising old M1 Garands for $699. I took a look the other day, and the store I visited had just one left, and it was pretty beat (e.g., pieces of the stock missing near the barrel). I passed. Does anyone know if Big 5 made a mass purchase of these rifles recently? And if so, from where? Any advice on what should I be on the lookout for when purchasing one of these would be appreciated. Generally speaking is $699 a good price? Thanks!

They get them from Century Arms, and as you noticed they are crap. If you want a M1 get it from the CMP. M1 Garand Sales

CMP Sales


The Big5 Garands are bottom of the barrel. They came from Korea. I would be VERY carefull on what you buy.

Do understand Garands need a STRICT diet of M2 ball ammo.

M2 Ball has a slower burn rate on the powder. If you use commercial ammo, buy a Schuster plug to prevent damage to the OP-ROD

I like what I see on the M1 sales page... anyone familiar with the service grade rifles?

I've looked at the Charter Arms rifles at our local Dunham's Sporting Goods and they are terrible...

Just because it's Century doesn't necessarily mean it's crap. It just means they bought bulk stock overseas. I've got several Century Arms/Big 5 specials and they all work just fine. You clean 'em up real good, pull the trigger and they go "bang" every time - decent accuracy too. I bought several Mosin-Nagants for dirt cheap there - now I've got a nice inventory of spare parts too. Something to keep in mind. Maybe it's better to have 2 or 3 "OK" M1s versus one "uber nice" M1 for the same price. Depends what you want it for. If you want it to collect, get the better one. If you want it to use or as a "in-case-the-zombies-come" line of defense, I figure it's better to have more pieces/parts around, even if they're not the prettiest.

Bottom line is don't write off the specials just because they don't live up to your personal "spoon snob factor". It depends what you want 'em for.

(That said, my next purchase will be a nickel-plated 1911, so I'm gettin' some spoon snobbishness in too!)

Not a "spoon snob" at all, I am saying they are crap because every one I have seen is garbage. No finish, and furniture looks like it did double duty as a fence post.

If you want a Garand, you can spend $699 on an unknown origin P.O.S. from Big-5/Century Garand or you can get a better rifle for less money with a Springfield or HRA Field Grade for $495 that is guaranteed to be in serviceable condition?

Nah I hear ya'. I just know there are some you buy to shoot (even if they look like hell) and there are others you get to polish up and show off/collect. I've got enough functionality now - I'd like a few "nice" (snob) collector pieces.

Well, if you want a shooter, that is what the low end (Field and Rack grade) CMP rifles are, and they are in much better condition and less money then the Big-5 rifles.

Rare or pristine rifles are still going to cost you a lot, even from CMP.

If it doesn't shoot well, you can put the $200 you saved toward a new barrel.

Actually, the field and rack grade are not servicable condition. The Service Grade meets that standard. That said I have been to the South Store and there are some VERY nice fiedl and rack grades that are better that are generally better than the non-CMP repats.

M1 garand is my #1 ultimate lust rifle...

Unfortunately with pay cuts at work and a new wife no more new toys for scooter. :(

Are the Centurian Barrels $200 now?? Even servicable GI barrels can be had for less that $200. (Unless of course you are including the cost of the smith to install it).

Speaking of Garands, I see that Springfield Armory has pulled them from their website. Are they no longer selling them? I have one of the recent ones released by then and it's awesome.

Thanks for the recommendation. I noticed hat in the "field grade", the Winchester model
(WRA) is $200 more than the Springfield (SA) model. Is the WRA just better, or more rare?

The Service grade SA for $595 looks maybe to be the best deal?

500,000 WRA's built to 5MILLION Springfields.

I have a WRA and a Springfield. The Springfield's machining and forgings are a done to a higher standard than the Winchester

I'm now looking for a H&R and a International Harvester.

I missed a Beretta Garand by a few minutes!

Uh-oh
 

Uh oh... I have fired at least 500 rounds of modern ammo in mine.

My brother used to shoot the heck out of modern commercial ammo in his Garand too. Can't say i ever saw him have a problem doing so.

He's a lucky man!

Yeah, i used to tell him "Bro GI .30 ball is loaded to .308 specs."

He never listened. Shot what he wanted until he sold it some months ago.