The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is taking pre-orders for new M1 Garands produced by Heritage Arms USA, an Alabama manufacturer. For CMP, which has sold U.S. government surplus rifles and pistols for decades, it’s a brand-new venture.
M1 Garands by CMP rifles are a commercial reproduction of the original, right down to the distinctive “ping” the gun makes when ejecting the clip. Original drawings and specifications were used to ensure the freshly forged receivers reflect the historic design. Each has a new gas cylinder and commercially produced precision barrel. The only cosmetic departure, albeit a minor one, is the CMP serial number stamped onto the receiver.
The first rifles manufactured will be chambered for .30-’06 Sprg. And .308 Win. Other chamberings are being considered, depending on demand.
MSRP is $1,900, plus $40 to cover shipping and handling. Each will come with a CMP custom-fitted rifle case. The organization anticipates it will keep some of the lowest serial numbers for historic reasons and likely auction those numbering up to 100.
Due to strict maintenance to historic design ammunition is a consideration when shooting the rifle. “The CMP’s newly manufactured M1 Garand rifles are built to the original specifications and maintain the same gas system tolerances as the WWII-era designs,” CMP explained in its announcement. “As such, they require ammunition that stays within the correct pressure range to avoid excessive stress on the system.”
Extensive testing has already been conducted at Arizona’s Ben Avery range and North Carolina’s Eastern Games. The M1 Garand by CMP passed with flying colors using Lake City and other M2 ball specification ammunition.
CMP is a federally authorized non-profit organization that traces its history back to the 1903 War Appropriations Act. Its inclusion in that measure, supported by Theodore Roosevelt, was an effort to encourage marksmanship training among civilians to improve the nation’s defensive capabilities.
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