Combat Arms 2869 Grove Way Castro Valley, California 94546-6709 Telephone (415) 538-6544 BBS Phone: (415) 537-1777 How to Get an M1 Garand Through the DCM Program The following material is based on my experience and knowledge of the Department of Civilian Marksmanship (DCM) program, articles in The American Rifleman and the obtaining of a genuine U.S. military M1 Garand directly from the U.S. Army for just $165.00. Qualifications 1. You must be a U.S. citizen. 2. You must be 18 years of age or older. 3. You must be a member in good standing in a DCM-enrolled club or state association. Around here I suggest joining the Chabot Gun Club or the California Rifle & Pistol Club. 4. You must have participated in highpower rifle competition and fired at least 120 rounds in not less than two (2) approved matches. What to do about shooting in the matches 1. Join the Chabot Gun Club if not already a member. The dues are $50.00 for the first year and are prorated if you join at sometime other than January 1st. The subsequent years are substantially less expensive. Telephone Chabot Gun Club at 415-569-0213 for details on joining. 2. Next, call Ron Levesque (415-547-8656). He runs the DCM shooting program in this area. Ask Mr. Levesque (pronounced luh-veck) when the next DCM match will be and make a reservation over the phone with him to shot in that match. It is usually the 4th Sunday of the month. 3. The match is held at the Chabot Gun Club in Anthony Chabot Regional Park on Redwood Road in Castro Valley. We have a map if you need directions to the range. 4. Smart folks either have their spouse/roommate pack them a bag lunch or they bring enough money to buy something at the concession stand. Concession stand food is mediocre the world over, so think about packing a lunch. You'll be there until about noon if you are in string one or two and until about 3:00 p.m. if you are in string #3 or string #4 and hunger pains make shooting tough! 5. At about 7:45 AM on the day of the match, show up at the 200 yard range with a "highpowered" rifle. What's a highpowered rifle, you ask? Well, it's one that fires a centerfire cartridge, such as .222, .223, 7mm, even .30 M1 Carbine, .308, .30-`06, etc. The rifle may be a bolt action model or semiautomatic. If it is semiautomatic, bring a couple of magazines. The weapon must be capable of holding 5 rounds with none in the chamber. 6. In the first of the four shooting events in the match, you will be required to shoot 22 rounds slow fire from the standing position with no sling. The first two rounds are the sighting in rounds and may be fired from any position. You have 22 minutes (1 minute per round) to fire the 22 rounds. The targets are always at 200 yards. I suggest you get you weapon sighted in at Livermore-Pleasanton Rod & Gun Club because they have a 200 yard target. Practice shooting from an unsupported position. That means you can use a sling but no sandbag! Also, no scope is permitted on the weapon. If your weapon is magazine fed, you load an empty magazine and manually put one round in the chamber of the weapon (or position the round through the ejection port and sit it in the magazine), close the bolt and discharge the cartridge. This manual loading procedure seems to me to be geared towards equalizing an advantage over the bolt action weapons. Yes, it is a pain in the neck, but those are the rules and even the pros follow them and many of those shooters are using M1A's, etc. 7. After every shot, the target will be pulled down and marked. The value of the shot will be indicated to you by the position of an orange disk set on the perimeter of the target. See the illustration below. For example, if the orange disk appears in the upper right corner of the target, your shot went somewhere in the 7 ring. When the target comes up, look for the position of the orange disk (for the value) and a white (if shot was in the black area) or black (if shot was outside the black area) disk to tell you the position of the shot. In our example of the 7 ring shot, you would be looking for a white disk somewhere outside the black target to tell you where you hit in the seven ring. If the orange disk is at the M position (12 o'clock) your shot was outside the 5 ring and worth zero points. Each shot for the record (which excludes the two sighting shots) is worth 10 points. Therefore the highest possible score is 20 shots x 10 points = 200 points. After all 22 rounds are fired (and remember that the first two were sighting shots and worth no point value in your actual score), you prepare for the sitting position. ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ³6 M 7³ ³ ³ ³ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ³ ³ ÛTargetÛ ³ ³5 ÛÛAreaÛÛ 8³ ³ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ³ ³ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ³ ³ ³ ³X 10 9³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ 8. In the second of the four shooting events, you will fire 10 rounds rapid fire from the sitting position plus two sighting shots. You may use a sling. Each time the sighting shots are fired, the target is lowered and the shots recorded and marked with the orange disk and the white or black disk. After finishing the two sighting shots the targets are all lowered. You will be told to load two rounds in one magazine and eight rounds in another magazine. At Mr. Levesque's command, you will stand, load and, when all of the target are raised simultaneously, drop to a sitting position immediately and fire 10 rounds from the sitting position in 60 seconds. You have a lot of time, so use it. Nothing is dumber than to finish this event in 20 or 25 seconds. Use all the time and make every shot an aimed shot! At the conclusion of the sitting shots, the targets will be lowered, scored and marked and then raised. When they reappear, you'll see 10 (assuming that each of your 10 shots hit the target) little black and/or white disks in the places where you hit plus a green slender chalkboard that has written on it the number of X's, 10's, 9's, 8's, 7's, 6's and 5's you got. You cannot see the values on the chalkboard or the little marking disks very well without a spotting scope or binoculars. 9. The third event requires that you fire 10 rounds rapid fire from the prone position in 70 seconds. You are permitted to use a sling. First, of course, you have two sighting shots. The target will be lowered after each sighting shot, recorded and raised. Then, just like in the sitting event, all targets are lowered. You will then be told to load one magazine with two rounds and another magazine with eight rounds. When all the targets are raised simultaneously, you have 70 seconds to complete the 10 shots. The targets are lowered and the shots scored and recorded as was done in step 7. You now prepare yourself for the last shooting event. 10. In the fourth and final event, you will fire 10 rounds (with two sighting rounds first) slow fire from the prone position (use of a sling is permitted). From the time you are told to commence firing, you have 12 minutes to fire the two sighting shots plus the 10 record shots. Like in the standing slow fire event, the weapon must have an empty magazine in it and one round at a time is loaded and fired. After each shot the target is lowered, the score recorded and the target raised. 11. You have now fired 50 rounds for points (for a maximum possible score of 500 points) plus eight sighting shots for a total of 58 rounds. Bring about 75 rounds with you. The concrete floor is hard, so it's a good idea to also bring a mat or blanket to lay on. If you already have a shooting jacket, bring it also but don't go buy one especially for this event. 12. The hardest part for me was understanding the method they use to indicate to you where you hit the target. So, when you call Mr. Levesque to make your appointment for the match, tell him you want to fire in string #2 or #4. This means you will get to pull and score the targets before shooting and that will make understanding the targets much easier. It helps tremendously if you bring a spotting scope or binoculars. 13. The first thing that happens when you arrive is that you get in line and sign up and pay the fee ($8.00). At 9:00 a.m., string #1 of the match is held for the serious guys and gals. About 10:15 a.m. they will be finished and then string #2 (who pulled and scored targets for string #1) gets to shoot at about 10:30 a.m. When you sign up you'll be told which string you'll fire in if you did not make a reservation by phone with Mr. Levesque. Some shooters in strings #3 and #4 then leave after signing up at 8:00 a.m. and later return. Since nothing ever goes smoothly in this world and things change, I suggest that you stick around. The first time you go to this match, watch the pros shoot and see how they do it. It'll help you when it's your turn. When string #2 is finished, string #3 begins shooting at about noon while string #4 pulls and scores targets. Then string #4 shoots and string #3 pulls and scores targets for them. The last of the shooting for string #4 occurs about 2:45 p.m. 14. Let's say you are in the second group to shoot (string #2), so you'll be pulling targets first. You will go down to the trench at the 200 yard line and mark the shooter's target as he/she shoots. Do a fair and helpful job because that person shooting will be the one who marks your target when you get to shoot! By the way, if a shot hits the dividing line between two values (e.g., the 8 ring and the 9 ring), the shooter is awarded the higher value. 15. After the shooter is finished, you calculate his/her score and go back up to the firing line, where you ready yourself for your shooting period. 16. Now you shoot. It is noteworthy that your score does not matter for the purposes of getting the M1 Garand. What matters is that you participated in the match. So don't get all embarrassed. It's tough to shoot offhand and you should practice if you want your score to be higher. 17. After you have completed your shooting and target pulling sessions, you leave and head for home. The paper work and time required 1. Sooner or later you will receive a copy of the official score results in the mail. Don't lose this because you must send it in to Washington to verify that you actually participated in the DCM approved match. The current rules require that you fire 120 rounds in approved matches. You just did 50 of them. Now you keep the score report for that 50 and need only 70 more rounds. That actually means that you have to participate in a total of three matches for 150 rounds to qualify to buy the rifle. So, go to two more matches and get two more score reports. 2. Now gather together photocopies of the following items. a. Proof of age and U.S. citizenship. Acceptable items of proof are any one of the following documents: 1. A copy of your birth certificate. 2. A copy of your DD214. 3. A copy of your voter registration card. 4. A copy of the i.d. section of your U.S. issued passport. 5. Proof of U.S. naturalization. b. Proof of participation in the DCM match. 1. Send a photocopy of the bulletins you received showing your score. Do not send the original, in case things go astray and you have to re-submit your paperwork. Remember that you need score reports from three matches. 2. Also acceptable for proof of highpower rifle marksmanship activity are any one of the following instead of item 2b1: i. A highpower rifle classification card issued by the NRA. ii. A certificate of completion of Small Arms Firing School for Rifle. iii. Proof of Distinguished Rifleman status. iv. Certified instructor cards for rifle (silhouette is not acceptable). 3. Please note that military qualification records, hunter safety cards, Federal Firearms Licenses, etc. are not acceptable. c. Proof of current membership in a DCM enrolled club that is in good standing or in a state rifle association. 1. This is a copy of your current Chabot Gun Club membership card, etc. Out of date membership is invalid. 3. Write a letter requesting the purchase of a DCM M1 Garand to: Director of Civilian Marksmanship Department of the Army 20 Massachusetts Avenue, N. W. Pulaski Building - Room 1205 Washington, DC 20314-0100 Enclose the photocopies detailed in item #2 above. The current Director is Colonel M.S. Gilchrist. 4. Now the waiting begins. When the DCM gets your letter and photocopies, they'll review the documentation for correctness and, if you have sent all the required material, the DCM will mail you a "Purchase Firearm Packet" to complete. They normally ship that to you within a week of receiving your initial letter. The package includes a statement of intended use, fingerprint cards, and a request for disclosure of prior purchases under the program. You can only get one (1) M1 Garand under this program in your lifetime! If you have already purchased an M1 rifle from the Army, you may not purchase another. You must also certify that the purchase is for personal use and not for resale or other disposition. 5. Go to your local police or sheriff office and get fingerprinted using the fingerprint cards that the DCM mailed you in the Purchase Firearm Packet. No other fingerprint card is acceptable. The law enforcement agency charges a fee for this, usually around $10.00. 6. Mail all of the completed forms and fingerprint cards back to the DCM office. Also enclose a self addressed stamped postcard. DCM will complete the postcard and send it to you, thereby letting you know they received the package. When the DCM office has made a determination hat all forms are correctly prepared, they will send the fingerprint cards and DD Form 1518 (Background Investigation) to the National Agency Check and Investigative Center (NACIC) for a background check. This process with NACIC can take up to six months because it is low priority, not because you're a bad guy! When the DCM finally hears from NACIC that you are cleared, then the DCM, within about two weeks of receiving the NACIC clearance, sends an "approval of purchase request data" to Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois. This is the government Rock Island Arsenal, not the commercial one. Rock Island will check their records to ascertain that you haven't already gotten an M1 Garand through the program and will then mail you an invoice for $165.00 and the necessary instructions. Do not send money until you are requested to do so! From the time DCM sends the form to Rock Island Arsenal until you get the invoice from Rock Island is about two months. 7. When you finally get the invoice for $165.00 from Rock Island Arsenal, follow their instructions to the letter! When Rock Island receives your check they will, within about a two month period, send shipping instructions to Anniston Army Depot in Anniston, Alabama. 8. Once Anniston Army Depot gets the approval from Rock Island Arsenal to ship, Anniston will process the order and ship you an M1 Garand via U.S. Mail (not UPS - this is the U.S. Army doing the shipping and they use the U.S. Post Office). 9. From the time you shoot at the last of the three DCM matches until the postman delivers your M1 Garand typically takes 11 to 14 months, so don't get antsy and start bothering DCM. It's a waste of your time and theirs too. 10. Your total expenditure (assuming you are not already a member of Chabot Gun Club) will be $50.00 for Chabot Gun Club, $8.00 for the shooting match sign up fee times three matches for $24.00, $10.00 for fingerprints, about $1.00 in postage, and $165.00 for the M1 Garand for a total cost of $250.00 plus the ammunition you fired plus the cost of the cleaning for those three matches. If you came into my shop and ordered an M1 Garand, I could get new one in about 10 days and it would cost about $750.00. A used one, when I have it, goes for $399.95. So if you have more time than money, go the DCM route. If you have more money than time, ask me to order an M1 Garand for you. 11. Now that you are going to get one, what is an M1 Garand? It is a 9.5 pound, wooden stocked, semiautomatic, gas operated, shoulder fired rifle that shoots a .30-`06 cartridge from an 8 round clip. It was developed in the late 1930s, designed by John Garand and used in WWII and Korea by U.S. forces. The basic design was later modified and became the M-14 in .308 with a 20 round magazine. No, you can't easily covert an M1 to an M-14. The M1 Garand is still used by third world countries. The rifle is used by some shooters in the National Matches at Camp Perry in Ohio and is capable of accurately shooting 1,000 yard targets. Commercially, the M1 Garand is made today by Springfield Armory Inc. in Geneseo, Illinois. Match grade versions of the M1 Garand are available. If you decide to order one, please come by the shop or call in using your MasterCard or Visa credit card. Conclusion I hope that this information regarding the details of the DCM M1 Garand program proves helpful to you. I would appreciate it if you would please let me know the date you shot in the last of the three required DCM matches, the date you initially sent you first paperwork to the DCM office in Washington and the date you finally received the M1 Garand. Please try to participate in the matches whether you want a DCM rifle or not. They are a lot of fun and a great challenge. You will also meet some fascinating people and your marksmanship will improve a lot. If I can help in any way, please let me know. Richard M. 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