Couple of questions, M1 to be parked, and wra FG

[GTS]

Hiya, just found this forum, and after reading a bit have decided that I am going to send one of my rifles to Shuff (SA SG 2.3 mil serial) but before I do, I ask if this is an example of the 'Greek Black' (just curious) Image is not great, only have my phone's camera
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p592/spetezi/IMG_00091.jpg

But most of all I am interested in what your opinions are on what I can expect to receive from an WRA FG order I recently sent in. I have began to consider changing it to a different manufacturer based on some of the stories folks are posting about them recently and I believe I will get a more honest answer here than on the CMP forum. My concern is... am I going to get something that I can work into a 'recreational' shooter without replacing everything on the rifle? Should I just assume that I will need to replace the barrel and/or the stock? I already have a couple SA's and an HRA, so I really do want the next one to be a WRA if at all possible...

I guess that is a long winded way of asking if there would be anything wrong with the WRA FG that a trip to Shuff wouldn't be able to fix?

Thanks for any help

[buckshot85]

remember, the only thing guarenteed to be WRA is the receiver. from what guys are saying, it is better to hand pick the Winnies than to mail order. reports are all over the place as far as what people are getting. read the CMP description for the field grades and expect the worse. this way if it is better than expected, it's a nice surprise. to me Greek park is hard to tell sometimes. the older SAs were known to, at times, have dark park. being a 2.3 with a uniform finish, i would guess that it has been refinished at some time so who knows. i am no expert, just my .02

[buckshot85]

after you get it back from Shuff, be warned that it takes some time before the grin goes away. you WILL love it.

[Orlando]

Personally I would never take a chance on Mail Order Field Grade no matter what manufacture.

As far as is that Greek Black? cant really see anything from your pics.
Welcome to the forum

[jak]

GTS Welcome to the forum.
I was at both stores (North and South ) a couple of times in the last 2 years. I looked at some of the field grade Winchesters and I thought they were in worse condition as compared to the field grade SA and HRA. I personally didn't want to spend an extra $100 for a rifle in poorer condition just because it had "Winchester" on it.
I sure there are some gems in the field grade Winchester racks but you have to go the stores instead of relying on "the luck of the draw" on a mail order.
Like Buckshot85 said read the description and expect the worst. But also realize that a field grade rifle should be a shootable rifle, so you may not have to replace any parts.

As for the Greek black, I think that subject is overblown on the CMP forum. But FWIW, I saw a rifle a one of the stores that I thought was spay painted with black paint. Maybe that was the Greek black.

[KnickKnack]

I hand picked my Winchester at the North Store last November. I did look at the Field Grades, but found this one in the Rack Grades with a ME of 2. The only thing Winchester on it was the Receiver, but I've found most of what I want for it at reasonable prices on Ebay and the CMP forum. I will be sending it off to Shuff for re-park and a crown job soon. I also sould not mail order a FG, it's better to hand pick one, or have someone pick it for you.

[GTS]

Thanks for the responses, my concerns were heightened this weekend when I heard a report that they pulled the remaining WRA's from south store, the assumption being that they were being used to fill orders, and so the chances of getting a 'good one' went down significantly.

It probably will bite me in the tail, but I am leaning towards taking the chance on a WRA. But I still have a couple weeks to decide, so my mind will probably change back and forth a few hundred more times.

[Dave]

Thanks for the responses, my concerns were heightened this weekend when I heard a report that they pulled the remaining WRA's from south store, the assumption being that they were being used to fill orders, and so the chances of getting a 'good one' went down significantly.

It probably will bite me in the tail, but I am leaning towards taking the chance on a WRA. But I still have a couple weeks to decide, so my mind will probably change back and forth a few hundred more times.

You already have the order in, let it ride and see what you get. As far as greek black goes, it looks more like paint, not park, and its black, not dark charcoal. I have two and personally don't like them. Some folks do but I'm not one of them. Actually, I only have one left now because I'll be picking up the other one tomorrow. I sent it to Shuff last saturday, it was back this saturday. Unfortuneatly I was at work when the mailman came so I have to wait until monday after work to go pick it up. The anticipation has been killing me all weekend! I'll be sending him the other one as well but I'm thinking on changing that one to a 7.62.

[GTS]

Yea, as long as it's serviceable I will be happy. I think when I read some of the descriptions I start to think that I am going to receive something that looks like the auction that Orlando posted about.

372

[Dave]

Yea, as long as it's serviceable I will be happy. I think when I read some of the descriptions I start to think that I am going to receive something that looks like the auction that Orlando posted about.

372

No problem. Tim can repark that one too!