I was in America today.. oh wait.. i mean PA, and i stopped by Sarco in Easton. Wow what an awesome store. If i was loaded i could have spent about 20 grand in there today. It also made me more then anything want to move out of nj, seeing all those nice guns that are illegal a mile east haha. Anyway finally sprung and got myself a bad a** SA M1 Garand. Iv been putting off getting one for years so im stoked right now. Gonna run some rounds through it tomorrow at BA to make sure everything functions properly.

 

Heres a few quick pics from my phone

 

 

 

 

If anyone gets a chance to go to Sarco DO IT. Awesome place, awesome helpful dudes, good times

Very nice!

Very nice,, Welcome back to the PR of NJ..

So jealous. I need to get out there soon. Very nice rifle.

So jealous. I need to get out there soon. Very nice rifle.

 

Don't do it this month...

I know

Nice, I'm going to make a trek this probably in 2 weeks to head out to see my in-laws in PA. I'll make a trip to check it out.

 

Did you pick it up right there or did you have to get it shipped back to NJ?

Nice 1942 6 digit! Watch out Garanditus is a hard one to cure, they tend to multiply

Nice, I'm going to make a trek this probably in 2 weeks to head out to see my in-laws in PA. I'll make a trip to check it out.

 

Did you pick it up right there or did you have to get it shipped back to NJ?

 

Brought it right home from there. They had all the paper work for NJ so no problems. Not sure how they would work handguns and nj p2p's, but long guns are no prob. also picked up a bunch of iranian m2 ball surplus and they threw in 20 of the 8rnd blocks too.

 

 

Nice 1942 6 digit! Watch out Garanditus is a hard one to cure, they tend to multiply

 

I know i almost also bought a "tanker garand" which i never even heard of, but its basically a short barreled garand carbine. It was converted to a .308 though so i passed.

Brought it right home from there. They had all the paper work for NJ so no problems. Not sure how they would work handguns and nj p2p's, but long guns are no prob. also picked up a bunch of iranian m2 ball surplus and they threw in 20 of the 8rnd blocks too.

 

Thanks, good to know. I'll make sure it is on my stop points when I go.

Thanks, good to know. I'll make sure it is on my stop points when I go.

 

Be sure to. Even if you don't pick anything up it's still a cool place to visit & handle some goodies.

 

PS. think of a good excuse to tell the ole ball and chain because if your into mil. surplus like i am your going to end up buying something.

Brought it right home from there. They had all the paper work for NJ so no problems. Not sure how they would work handguns and nj p2p's, but long guns are no prob. also picked up a bunch of iranian m2 ball surplus and they threw in 20 of the 8rnd blocks too.

 

 

I know i almost also bought a "tanker garand" which i never even heard of, but its basically a short barreled garand carbine. It was converted to a .308 though so i passed.

 

You can't buy handguns any place but your state of residence. Sarco would have to ship a handgun to a NJ FFL.

 

The "Tanker Garand" was in reality a marketing ploy. The US experimented with shorter barrel Garands about the end of WWII and actually made a handful. The first issue they found was a tremendous muzzle blast from the shorter barrel. the end of the war came and the project was dropped. Virtually all these "tankers" were destroyed.

 

Back in the 50s a lot of Garands were being sold surplus. Dealers invented the "Tanker Garand" by chopping the barrels, oprods and stocks and modifying the gas port. They were advertised as "designed for tankers by George Patton' which was all BS, just a way to be able to sell more.

 

If its done right a Tanker M1 is as reliable as a standard M1. the issue is usually getting the oprods shortened correctly. I have one in 7.62 NATO and it does have a hell of a muzzle blast but is accurate and an all around neat gun.

it suckcs, SARCO is only 20 minutes from my house. I find myself down there so much that the guys working there actually know me. That is a blessing and a curse. Blessing because I can get some awesoem deals or hand pick the parts I want but a curse because my bank account hates me.

Nice gun!! If you don't mind would you let us know the price or a price range that the gun was? My son just got his FID and that's what he wants. I just never see any around here for him to handle, did they have more of them? I think now I have a reason to go visit the in-laws, I think they are near this place.

Nice gun!! If you don't mind would you let us know the price or a price range that the gun was? My son just got his FID and that's what he wants. I just never see any around here for him to handle, did they have more of them? I think now I have a reason to go visit the in-laws, I think they are near this place.

 

Efinger in Bound Brook has a few on the used rack, though I would recommend buying elsewhere due to the inflated prices. Good place to handle one though.

Nice gun!! If you don't mind would you let us know the price or a price range that the gun was? My son just got his FID and that's what he wants. I just never see any around here for him to handle, did they have more of them? I think now I have a reason to go visit the in-laws, I think they are near this place.

 

Mine was $1040. Which was actually the cheapest one there. I think they had 3 left, 2 of them being the scoped garands and the other was a winchester which are on the rarer side and all 3 where priced around $2000.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Took it out today and only managed to get off about 6 rounds out of 50 of the shittiy iranian m2 ball i picked up. Im pissed. looking at the ammo closer all the primers are sunken in. Im going to pick up some new good stuff and bring it back in a few days to make sure its not the gun.

I've considered getting a Garand. What do I need to look out for when buying one?

wait till the next CMP trip around the end of September~. Just tag along and you will get a good one cheap.

I've considered getting a Garand. What do I need to look out for when buying one?

 

Look for a good price for sure. They tend to be on the expensive side (at least for my budget). So if you find one for like $400 most likely it's a pos or needs a ton of TLC. Of course thats not in all cases, but If you found a "mint" porsche for $2000 you'd prob ask some questions too right?

Took it out today and only managed to get off about 6 rounds out of 50 of the shittiy iranian m2 ball i picked up. Im pissed. looking at the ammo closer all the primers are sunken in. Im going to pick up some new good stuff and bring it back in a few days to make sure its not the gun.

 

That rifle should have no problem with the Iranian ammo. Make sure you use ammo intended for the M1 gas system, too fast or too slow powder will mess up your op rod. The greek M2 ball from the CMP is what you want.... Ive used the American Eagle specifically loaded for the Garand and my gun hates it..... What sort of problems did you have firing the Iranian stuff?

That rifle should have no problem with the Iranian ammo. Make sure you use ammo intended for the M1 gas system, too fast or too slow powder will mess up your op rod. The greek M2 ball from the CMP is what you want.... Ive used the American Eagle specifically loaded for the Garand and my gun hates it..... What sort of problems did you have firing the Iranian stuff?

 

The ammo just wasn't firing, didn't seem tike a light strike on the primer either. I asked the guy behind the counter his opinion on whether it was a light strike or not and he didn't seem to think it was either. When i took a closer look at the ammo the primers seem to be seated pretty deep and sunken in. Also the bullets them selves where spinning on the case so when one did fire i think it wasn't leaving the chamber right and the spent shell was also not ejecting.

 

I took it home and tore it all apart cleaning everything w/ special attention on the bolt. Nothing was really terribly dirty. Might try and take it back out today and see if maybe all it needed was a good clean.

 

Also Does any one know how far the firing pin should stick out when u push it forward w/ you finger?

Took it back out today and it worked great with the AE M1 garand 30-06 so problem solved just shitty iranian ammo.

nice to hear.

 

Rule #1- If you reload, stick with 168gr or lower and IMR 4895 and you are good to go. (The PRIVI 168gr BTHP that wideners has are AWESOME for the price!)

Rule #2- Stay away from anything but original GI enbloc clips. Anything aftermarket other than the agressive engineering ones are junk.

 

Now you just need to order a set of lockbars and you are set nicely. Head over to http://www.forums.thecmp.org there is a ton of knowledge over there and people are always willing to help out a new guy. But watch out, Garanditus is a hardcore addiction......

Wow i just drooled on my computer, great collection. Thank you for the great advise. I haven't gotten into reloading yet, but now that i have the garand i think i might start, I also have saved a lot of 8mm mauser & 308 brass id also like to reload.

 

Any link to that pirvi ammo? Just so i would know I'm looking at the right stuff.

 

Thanks again

well I just looked and they are out of stock...... But here is the link for when they do get them back in. http://wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=8439&dir=278|281|1081|1161 The brass just get off gunbroker, I normally pay about $50 for 500 and for 8mm I just convert the 30-06 brass. Just push the shoulder back on the 30-06 brass and trim to make 8mm.

Here are a few links that may be of interest to you....

 

http://myplace.frontier.com/~aleccorapinski/index.html

http://www.garandgear.com/

http://www.trfindley.com/pgsnstmpsm1.html

http://www.trfindley.com/pgm1stkid.html

nice to hear.

 

Rule #1- If you reload, stick with 168gr or lower and IMR 4895 and you are good to go. (The PRIVI 168gr BTHP that wideners has are AWESOME for the price!)

Rule #2- Stay away from anything but original GI enbloc clips. Anything aftermarket other than the agressive engineering ones are junk.

 

Now you just need to order a set of lockbars and you are set nicely. Head over to http://www.forums.thecmp.org there is a ton of knowledge over there and people are always willing to help out a new guy. But watch out, Garanditus is a hardcore addiction......

 

Just a picture of goodness.. Nice, very nice..

Garands were test-fired by the War Dept. back in the 30's after a dip into a trough of muddy water! So a little dirt or even a .22 LR casing down in the base usually won't cause it to malfunction......

 

Glad you got the ammo problem fixed! And mine LOVES the Greek Ball M2 ammo!

 

Just remember to "Grease Weaser" = that means use those little grease tubes that Sarco sells that store in the butt of the rifle next to the cleaning kit. Apply the white grease to the op-rod's channel so the side of the bolt gets some lube too. Will prevent wear and make rifle function better. Hopefully the guys at Sarco were old enough to clue you in on how to take care of it, or sell you the Military Manual.

 

Enjoy that fine piece of American History, for it is "The greatest Battle Implement ever devised"

 

Dave