
rec.guns FAQ:III.D.2.g.4. How to Get an M-1 Garand through the DCM Program

III. Firearm Information by Type
D. Rifles
2. Models and Manufacturers
g. M-1 Garand
4. How to Get an M-1 Garand through the DCM Program


 
                         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. This information is current as of
February, 1990.


    QUALIFICATIONS TO GET A RIFLE THROUGH THE DCM PROGRAM

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 &#38; Pistol 
     Association (if you live in the Oakland/Hayward/Fremont
     area) or the San Jose Zouaves Rifle Club (if you live in
     the San Jose/South Bay area.).
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 a DCM-affiliated Rifle Club if you are not already 
     a member.  Details are available at the Chabot Rifle
     range located in Anthony Chabot Regional Park/Castro
     Valley or the Santa Clara Field Sports Park located off
     Metcalf Road in South San Jose.

2.   Next, call the DCM-affiliated Rifle Club and make a
     reservation to shoot in the next DCM match.  If you do
     not have a "highpowered" rifle, see if you can reserve
     one of the club's "loaners" at this time. 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.

3.   Smart folks either have their spouse/roommate pack them
     a bag lunch. You'll be there until about noon if you are 
     in relay one or two and until about 3:00 p.m. if you are
     in relay #3 or relay #4 and hunger pains make shooting
     tough!

4.   At about 7:45 AM on the day of the match, show up at
     the 200 yard range.

5.   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 your weapon sighted in at
     at one of the local gun range's 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.

6.   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. Therefore M
     stands for "missed." Each shot for the record (which
     excludes the two sighting shots) is worth 10 points.
     Therefore the highest possible score for the offhand
     standing position 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.

                   ZDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD?
                   36         M         73
                   3                     3
                   3      [[[[[[[[       3
                   3      [Target[       3
                   35     [[Area[[      83
                   3      [[[[[[[[       3
                   3      [[[[[[[[       3
                   3                     3
                   3X        10         93
                   @DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDY

7.   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, 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.

8.   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
     the 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.

9.   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.

10.  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.

11.  The hardest part for me was understanding the method
     they use to indicate to you where you hit the target.
     It helps tremendously if you bring a spotting scope or
     binoculars.  Also, if you have a person spotting for
     you, it might help to have them call the shots as they
     occur using the numbered rings on the target and an
     imaginary clock reference.  For example, a shot which
     enters the "6 ring" left of center would be called
     "6 at 9 o'clock".

12.  The first thing that happens when you arrive is that
     you get in line and sign up and pay the fee ($10.00).
     At 9:00 a.m., relay #1 of the match is held for the
     highly qualified and expert guys and gals. About 10:15
     a.m. they will be finished and then relay #2 (who
     pulled and scored targets for relay #1) gets to shoot
     at about 10:30 a.m. When you sign up you'll be told
     which relay you'll fire in if you did not make a
     reservation by phone with Mr. Levesque. Some shooters
     in relays #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. The first time you
     go to this match, watch the pros shoot in relays #1 and
     #2 and see how they do it. It'll help you when it's
     your turn. When relay #2 is finished, relay #3 begins
     shooting at about noon while relay #4 pulls and scores
     targets. Then relay #4 shoots and relay #3 pulls and
     scores targets for them. The last of the shooting for
     relay #4 occurs about 2:45 p.m.

13.  Let's say you are in the second group to shoot (relay
     #2), so you'll be pulling targets first. You will go
     down to the "pits" 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.

14.  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.

15.  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.

16.  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 Gun Club membership 
	       card, a letter from the Secretary of your gun club
               stating you are a member in good standing, 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 that 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 money order
     (preferred) or 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.  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 at guns shops around the
     country today are surplus weapons made in the United
     States, exported to Korea and re-imported back into the
     United States as surplus rifles.Match grade versions of
     the M1 Garand can be created from these surplus rifles
     upon request. If you decide to order one, please come
     by the shop or call in using your credit card.



