I keep getting “How do I join the CMP to buy a Garand?” Stop asking. Read this and try not to screw it up.
First off, there is no “CMP membership.” Instead, you have to tick a few boxes so the CMP bureaucrats will sell you a rifle.
- Proof of U.S. Citizenship & Age (18+) – Birth certificate or passport. Make a photocopy and shove it in the envelope.
- Membership in a CMP-Affiliated Club – Check if your range is already on the list: thecmp.org/clubs. If not, join the Garand Collectors Association (GCA) online for $25 and move on.
- Marksmanship/Firearms Activity – Easiest proof is a copy of your Concealed Carry license. No carry permit? Download the CMP’s “I swear I fired 50 rounds safely” form and have a range officer sign it: marksmanship.pdf.
- Legal to Own a Gun – If you’re a prohibited person, try knitting instead.
- Fill out the CMP Universal Order Form – Current version: 1orderformfillable.pdf. Print, sign, get it notarized, and stop smudging the ink.
Stuff the paperwork, a check or credit-card info, and any required IDs into an envelope. Mail it to CMP and start pacing the porch until FedEx shows up.
What’s Actually in Stock Right Now (July 2025)
- Field Grade (Reclaimed Receiver) – $800. Rough, but it still goes “ping.”
- Expert Grade (.30-06 or .308, SA/HRA) – $1,150. New barrel & wood, decent guts.
- Expert Grade (IHC Receiver) – $1,250. Pay more for the cool roll-mark.
- Rack & Service Grade – Sold Out. Cry somewhere else.
- CMP Special, Correct, Collector – Auction-only. Bring a second mortgage.
Fine print the CMP buried in the site:
- They quit giving you a free rifle case after your first Garand of the calendar year. Cheap, I know.
- You’re capped at twelve surplus rifles per year. If that isn’t enough, seek professional help.