Fulton Armory vs CMP

[CryptoDave]

So I ordered and received a CMP M1 Garand with an ME of 1 and a TE of 2. It is a 1952 SA.

I plan to do Garand Match Competitions.

My question is: I was also thinking about getting a Fulton Armory M1 Match Grade Competition. Is this over kill, meaning that the CMP will shoot just as well as the Fulton Armory? I don't want or need 2 M1's that are essentially the same.

Thanks

Dave

[CryptoDave]

Anyone????

[lapriester]

I don't know much about the Fulton rifles except they are excessively expensive. Sounds to me like you got a CMP rifle that should be an excellent shooter. Since you are just starting on the competition route you need to build up enough experience before, perhaps, buying the Fulton rifle. Putting it truthfully you would be wasting your money because you, the shooter, are not capable of getting the most out of the rifle. Before you start spending money on that Fulton rifle just remember that you'll probably do no better with it then with the SG you bought considering M1's are, for the most part 3-4 MOA rifles at their best. Considering the size of the 10 ring on a standard military target 3 MOA is fully capable of cleaning a target. Unless the Fulton is a fully modified NM rifle expectations of better than that 3-4 MOA are unrealistic. At the most you would gain 1 MOA and that will never justify the cost. If Fulton advertises better than 3 MOA or guarantees better than that it's pure marketing and I would wager the conditions they achieved that were to their choosing with match ammo and experienced shooters or bench shooting in a vise.

Fulton is overpriced for everything. Their rifles, their services, their parts....everything. Take that to the bank.

And, BTW, if you buy any of they're so called match grades from them it will not be legal for as issued competition. Only unlimited class, match class or Service Rifle comp. Their standard JCG legal rifle is more than double the cost of your SG and almost double the cost of a CMP Special. $1800 for that standard rifle is so far into overkill only a fool would buy one.

[CryptoDave]

Thanks for the sage advice

[lapriester]

Buy a CMP Special Grade and you'll get the same rifle except for some simple stock fitting for accuracy even a caveman can do. There's ton's of info on the CMP Forums concerning what fitting generally needs to be done on the new wood CMP installs. Once that fitting is done it will shoot every bit as good as the as issued legal rifle Fulton sells for almost double the cost. Fact is, for about $150-$200 extra you can have the CMP Custom Shop do all the as issued legal stock fitting for you when you buy the rifle. But, if you have any mechanical ability at all or a few simple woodworking tools the work is brain dead simple to do yourself. Some of it can, and generally should, be done on the stock of your SG if it has new wood or a non-collector USGI stock.

[Phil McGrath]

We all like nice pretty rifles however the CMP Garand Games are fired at 200yds where even worn out rifles can turn in solid scores. Save your money and get a good clean solid basic rifle and learn too shoot it. Then as your skills grow and build up, then you will figure out where and what you want too upgrade. Most folks call it the learning curve and its not rocket science.

[CryptoDave]

Thanks guys, this is a very welcoming site.

[Phil McGrath]

I also forget too mention, before you shoot your new too you used M1 always replace the op-rod spring. Who knows the round count or the condition of it. For the same price as a USGI op-rod spring spend the same amount on a Orion 7 op-rod spring. I wouldn't recommend Wolf springs heard too many horror stories.