I have now had the opportunity to take my rifles to the range a couple of times and try various loads through the rifles which comprise the top three of the four grades in which they can be purchased.

These are truly fun rifles to shoot. They are very honest, nice shooting rifles. Recoil is negligible, accuracy is only so-so, but you see the underlying potential.

The best of the best shot marginally better than the other two grades. The middle grade of the three grades we purchased shot better than the worst. The difference between best and worst was a bit over an inch in an eight-shot group: best three, middle 4, worst 5 inches.

If I wanted an accurate rifle, I'd buy the lowest grade and have it tech'ed, spec'ed and re-barreled at Fulton Armory. They want about $80 to inspect it; $300 to rebarrel it with a chrome plated barrel and chamber; and they will replace bits and pieces as necessary to bring it up to par. If you started with a $550 rifle, you'd be at about a $1000 when you got done, the cost of the next to the best grade.

However, you would have a rifle that would shoot one heck of a lot better than the best grade CMP has. I would expect a new barrel and inspected and fixed rifle to shoot NLT 2" groups. That is significantly better than the best groups that I have been able to achieve.

I am giving some serious thought to sending my "worst" rifle up to Fulton and having them work it over. I think that the result would be a real rifleman's rifle that you might not win matches with against tricked out M15's/16's, but you wouldnt embarrass yourself either. It would be really neat that you'd be shooting a piece of history and a battle rifle, not a match rifle. Kudude

Kudude,

Have you sent the M1 to Fulton Armory for rework yet? If so, let us know what the result was.

I'm interested in getting an M1 from CMP, too. What grade do you suggest again? I don't want any pitting. Like you, I figure you can fix the wood, rebarrel, etc. But you want a solid action to work with. Any best bet? Is it the service or field grade Greek rifle?

Steve

I had a Garand that would group about the size of a small county. I had an Ex Marine armourer rebarrel it with a Douglas match XX grade barrel, and do a trigger job, it will now put an 8rd clip in less than 1" at 100yds.

Thanks for the info, Major Caliber. Any recommendation on CMP grade of rifle that's likely to provide a good result?

Are you dead set on Fulton?I personally think DGR does the best restorations out there. I'm not knocking Fulton, but if you want it the best it can be give to Dean's

Deans Gun Restoration

Here's a couple of pics of one they did for me a few years ago. This one had one foot in the grave and now it's absalutely stunning

Terry

Wow, beautiful.

No, I'm not set on Fulton, though they're physically close here in Maryland. They've got an 8 month wait for work, though.

Thanks for the link.

I went ahead and ordered a Service Grade and a Correct Grade.

Steve

The bery best deal the CMP ever had, was the select grade rifles they offered a few years ago. They guaranteed a TE of 2 or less, and overall appearance was guaranteed to be above average.
I was in the next to the last group to get one, and I waited over a year for it. I got a Winchester wht a new SA-65 barrel and it will shoot 1 1/2" groups all day long if I do my part. I wish I bought 10 of them!

I found a 1943 Springfield at a gun show. Probably the only part original is the receiver. And I understand that this is not unusual.

New wood, not a mark, scratch, dent. Canvas sling. Seller at the show noted that pretty much the "guts" of the gun had been replace, and the gun "accurized."

It shoots where I point it, looks like a new gun. $600 out the door, about 1999.