My Latest Purchase (or just pictures of your current guns)

[sevenhelmet]

A couple of years ago I bought a used 1980's Marlin .357. They're a neat gun, but I found like most old guns with drift style front sights, they're really annoying to zero, and even worse if you swap between .38 Special and .357 because of the POI shift. I decided I was going to modify it and put a rail and ghost sights on it. The kit I bought was missing a part, I ran short on time and....it still needs some attention.

Marlin apparently lost its way for a while (hence why I bought an old one), but they were reborn a couple of years ago when the lever craze hit the industry. I'm not sure what the results were, but people had high hopes. The fact they added the ability to add modern components (scout scope/red dot and a suppressor) was a plus.

If I was looking to buy new now, I'd research Marlin and seriously look at the Henry's that have side-gate loading. The tube loading is...not my cup of tea.

Can confirm all of that. I made the mistake of buying a Marlin from their Remington / Cerberus Group owned shitty production period (2011-2021ish). After some mechanical re-work, a new trigger, and aftermarket peep sights, it's now a solid little brush gun. If I had it to do over, I'd just find an old one at a gun show or something. I did learn a lot about Marlin during the re-work though, which was its own kind of fun.

Avoid anything with a serial number starting with "MR". A well cared-for rifle with a pre-Remington serial number (no letters) should be good to go, as should anything made after 2021- not sure how Ruger is serializing those. Simply racking the lever can reveal some of the reason why.

 

[johnboyA6E]

any M1 Garand lovers here?

I've been looking around and thinking of dipping my toes into the M1 world, and the more I learn the more I know how much I don't know.

What are the biggest things to look for?

Seems like the remaining stock at CMP is drying up and may not be around much longer. They have "expert grade" still available, which is a 'service grade' rifle with new barrel and stock - anyone seen one of those? I also see local private sales listed anywhere from 1500-3000 for various configs.

thanks!

 

[Griz882]

any M1 Garand lovers here?

I've been looking around and thinking of dipping my toes into the M1 world, and the more I learn the more I know how much I don't know.

What are the biggest things to look for?

Seems like the remaining stock at CMP is drying up and may not be around much longer. They have "expert grade" still available, which is a 'service grade' rifle with new barrel and stock - anyone seen one of those? I also see local private sales listed anywhere from 1500-3000 for various configs.

thanks!

I love my Garand. I don’t shoot very often, maybe once every two months, but I always take it and fire off a few rounds. Keep it clean and it will run ammo all day long.

 

[johnboyA6E]

what condition is your Garand? original barrel and stock? how worn is the muzzle/throat?

how accurate do you think it is?

i don't expect to compete in any M1 matches, but I'd like to be able to hit targets, 2MOA, hopefully closer to 1.

 

[Griz882]

I bought a “correct grade” from CMP back when they were about $800 so the throat was around 2 and the muzzle 3. I seem to do OK with it. If you get an “expert grade” you’ll get a new barrel so you should be fine in terms of accuracy.

 

[Max Q]

Seems like the remaining stock at CMP is drying up and may not be around much longer. They have "expert grade" still available, which is a 'service grade' rifle with new barrel and stock - anyone seen one of those? I also see local private sales listed anywhere from 1500-3000 for various configs.

There is always the hope that the CMP could collect the Turkish and South Korean Garands (along with 600k m1 carbines in limbo)
but that is less and less likely as the years go on.

Don’t know where you are, but if you’re interested in one, take the drive to Anniston or Camp Perry. They could have different stock than online

 

[ChuckMK23]

what condition is your Garand? original barrel and stock? how worn is the muzzle/throat?

how accurate do you think it is?

i don't expect to compete in any M1 matches, but I'd like to be able to hit targets, 2MOA, hopefully closer to 1.

Service Grade from CMP and it’s a a joy to shoot (for maybe 20 rounds, then I need to give my shoulder a rest). CMP grading is very very conservative in favor of the buyer. You will generally receive a much better rifle condition wise than what you order. My rifle is a mixed bag of Springfield and HR&A parts - but functions flawlessly and even with my novice rifleman skills, I can hit an 24” gong at 300 yards.

Stocks tend to be fairly fugly on delivery. Easily cleaned up with some steam and boiling water, a brush, some detergent and restored with linseed oil or even a wood treatment like Scotts Liquid Gold.

Pick up an M1907 sling as well as a descent canvas Cotten WW2 sling and cartridge belt! 30.06 Springfield ammo is generally plentiful and deals of surplus Greek and South Korea ammo are available from both the Alabama and Ohio CMP stores.

Buy one sooner than later - and you will be pleased with a Service or Rack Grade rifle.

 

[Rocketman]

I have early production Marlins (no safety, JM stamped) in 35 Rem, 30/30, 44 mag, 357 mag and .22. Be careful they are an addiction.

 

[sevenhelmet]

I have early production Marlins (no safety, JM stamped) in 35 Rem, 30/30, 44 mag, 357 mag and .22. Be careful they are an addiction.

Ugghhh, the cross bolt hammer-block safety: *CLICK* “Shit!”

(Deer alerts and runs away)

I hate that thing- the cross bolt on my hunting shotgun (Browning A5) blocks the trigger instead of the hammer, so there’s immediate tactile feedback if you’re on safe, making for a quicker (and silent) correction.

I deleted my MR click-shit safety with an aftermarket plug, so it’s like an original Marlin. I had almost forgotten about that lawyerized abomination.

 

[Birdbrain]

Big fan of my SIG P320 M18. It’s easily been my favorite handgun yet. I like Glocks, S&W M&P, etc but this one just feels right. Plus it’s the Navy’s service pistol so it has some work sentiment.

 

[sevenhelmet]

Big fan of my SIG P320 M18. It’s easily been my favorite handgun yet. I like Glocks, S&W M&P, etc but this one just feels right. Plus it’s the Navy’s service pistol so it has some work sentiment.

Bought my Mk-25 for the same reason, since the M11 was my service pistol on AD- it just needed a rail for a light.

Thoughts on the allegations of 320s having safety issues? I don’t really have a dog in that fight, just curious.

 

[Birdbrain]

Bought my Mk-25 for the same reason, since the M11 was my service pistol on AD- it just needed a rail for a light.

Thoughts on the allegations of 320s having safety issues? I don’t really have a dog in that fight, just curious.

I read articles and saw videos of SIG P320s having drop safe issues (specifically muzzle down) years ago, but I’ve read that SIG has since fixed that issue since 8AUG17 and offers a fix to pistols produce before that.

Personally I’m a big fan of the frame mounted safety on the civilian M18 version which is just like the service pistol, because the normal P320 has no safety at all, even on the trigger.

 

[OscarMyers]

Bought my Mk-25 for the same reason, since the M11 was my service pistol on AD- it just needed a rail for a light.

Thoughts on the allegations of 320s having safety issues? I don’t really have a dog in that fight, just curious.

Dude. I love my MK-25! Have you done the SRT upgrade yet?

 

[sevenhelmet]

Dude. I love my MK-25! Have you done the SRT upgrade yet?

Yep! First thing I did when I bought it around 10 years ago.

I have several thousand rounds through it now- has never let me down.

 

[OscarMyers]

Yep! First thing I did when I bought it around 10 years ago.

I have several thousand rounds through it now- has never let me down.

Did you do it or have a gunsmith? I have the parts kit but haven’t gotten around to researching the install.