M1 Garand AFPG National Match 5338160 

Air Force Premium Grade NM M-1 Garand. These were built into match rifles by USAF armorers at the USAF Competitive Weapons Shop at Lackland AFB.  

Very few AFPG Garands made it into civilian hands, far fewer than Navy B's as it was common for the AF team member to "acquire" their rifles upon retirement and very few were sold to state shooting associations and clubs through the DCM. After the largest supporter of the competitive marksmanship in the USAF, Gen. Curtis LeMay, passed away the USAF NM rifle program died off. The USAF then turned most of the remaining AFPG M1s into drill rifles (welded and plugged barrels) or parade rifles (refinished for appearances). CMP has acquired a small quantity to sell on the auction site.  

 You can read more about this rare variant of the M1 rifle in the Garand Collectors Association Journal vol. 16 No.2 Spring 2002 issue.   

 This AFPG rifle is serial number 5338160  

It has an SA 3-66 barrel with an AFPG stamp near the muzzle. Barrel side marking is:

                 SA 11656514  3  66 MD61    P     M

7 . 62 MM

This barrel is chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO. ME=0 and TE=1.

SA 7790722 Op Rod with NM stamp on handle. IHC6528290 trigger group with the typical air force cut and polished trigger, hammer and sear. -3 SA hammer. SA-11 safety. 6528287-SA bolt with A-15 heat lot. SA 12 follower.  All other small parts are late SA.

Rear sight has NM hooded aperture with 595 hood, WCE elevation pinion, BME windage knob has typical AFPG ½ minute click mod. Front sight is NM stamped .062. NM gas cylinder with O lock screw.  

The handguards and stock have been refinished with a high gloss finish. This was done as part of the match rifle conversion, but was possibly redone by the armorers in the USAF if this rifle was refinished for parade use. All wood appears to be post war USGI birch. The handguards have the typical NM screws and epoxy holding them to the lower band. The stock ferule is also glued and screwed to the stock. Stock has the numbers 8160 on the forend tip on the left side, and 7 70 on the right side.

This rifle is not a drill rifle, and is fully functional.

 This rifle will make a great piece in any collection. Please see all pictures before bidding.

See CMP’s other current M1 Garand Auctions here:

http://cmpauction.thecmp.org/catalog.asp?catid=362&n=M1-Garand