[captain-03]

As stated in a previous thread, I made a trip to the CMP South Store in Anniston, AL last week. Went looking for some of the incomplete M44s (WWII Navy 22LR trainers) but did not find any that I just had to have. While there I look through all the Garands and most of the Carbines but again, I already have what I need (not necessarily want) in these areas. A single shot 22LR has actually NEVER crossed my mind as something I would really like to have. However, I picked up a few of the Kimber M-82 Governments and they really felt and looked nice .. However, they were $600 for a SINGLE SHOT 22!! The CMP describes them as --

These rifles were produced for the U.S. Army between 1987 and 1990. Although these are still in the original manufacturer's packaging and have never been used, many of the stocks, barrels, and receivers may have a light scratches or razor cuts from when the protective bags were opened to conduct serial number inventory in the mid-90's. This is a minor cosmetic deficiency that detracts slightly from the appearance, but does not affect the functioning of the rifle. This single shot .22LR has an overall weight of 10.75 lbs, a length of 43 inches, an adjustable trigger, three butt plate spacers, and a hand stop assembly. Rifle is complete with a Kimber rear aperature sight, a front sight with ten inserts, and the original technical manual. These rifles are shipped as received by the CMP.

In another rack was somemore M82s with a sign above the rack - "Rusty Kimbers" for $400. Two hundred difference in price! The CMP described these as --

Kimber Model 82-Rusty (Government Unused) See description for R22M82 above. May be minor or heavy rust in barrel, on bolt, or some other parts of the rifle.

I looked through all of them and ran across a couple that peaked my interest. The only problem with the couple I found was that they did not have any razor cuts or light scratches on the stock, and I could not find any rust!! Picked out the one I liked best - wood grain - and pulled out the old Amex. Since they have 9% sales tax ($36), I decided to have it shipped ($22.95). It arrived this morning via FedEx overnight. Came in the original box with sights still packed in the original packing.

These are "Unfired - Unused - Unissued" Don't know what I will do with it except "shoot" it later this afternoon or tomorrow morning!! May turn it into a squirrel gun! :lol4: Never thought I would pay that much for a SINGLE SHOT 22LR but they sure look nice!!

 

[dhollis51]

sure looks good there capt. doesn't look too rusty either how was the barrel?

 

[captain-03]

sure looks good there capt. doesn't look too rusty either how was the barrel?

Barrel is pristine!!

 

[righttoown]

Man, That's nice. Let us know how she groups and what kind of ammo you used.
Also you said you had it shipped to your house. When you paid for it over there you don't have to ship it to an FFL?

 

[captain-03]

...Also you said you had it shipped to your house. When you paid for it over there you don't have to ship it to an FFL?

Nope -- CMP can ship straight to your door -- no FFL required ...

 

[msredneck]

Wished you'd taken me with ya...I could have got me a "RUSTY ONE" Dang good looking rifle

 

[GunOneDown]

just order you one there 'neck. He has looked them over.

Nice looking rifle capt. we'll be awaiting the range report.

 

[cwink]

Nice..

 

[sidroski]

Nice and the rust ain't bad but still, unused and rusty??? What kind of armory did those come from. Pisses me off to see government (our) property get in that condition. Some armory officer needs his a$$ kicked if they were in gov't hands.
You should have a blast with that, always wanted a single shot .22.

 

[shoeshooter]

Any idea what the guvment intended to do with a TEN POUND .22? Maybe this was some kind of stimulus plan. :whaaa:

 

[Xd357]

I'll bet that thing shoots good. Congrats cap.

 

[captain-03]

Any idea what the guvment intended to do with a TEN POUND .22? Maybe this was some kind of stimulus plan. :whaaa:

Here is the story as I understand it to be ---

In the mid 80s the Army and military in general had a bewildering number of .22 trainers in service and there was no regular parts supply. The Kimber was adopted to create a service wide and maybe military wide .22 trainer rifle suitable for everything from JROTC to certain uses by the Army Marksmanship Training Unit (AMTU).

With a lot of specialized military contracts like this there is a tendency to over buy very task specific systems so that there is no need to go back and get more. It is believed that an extra 5k were added to the original 10k contract due to some political intervention that got the extra rifles bought to help Kimber out at a bad time.

About the time the rifles were being delivered to the Army, Communism collapsed as did the need for a lot of new rifles. The regular army lost about a quarter of a million soldiers from the ranks and entire college ROTC and JROTC units started to disappear. There was a deemphasis on marksmanship training in the Army under the Clinton Administration. Most National Guard and Reserve Units had their rifle teams cut or were proposed to be cut from the budget. Then in the mid 90s(?) a junior ROTC student was killed in an accident with a .22 trainer and the JROTC units were told to turn in their rifles. Suddenly there are a lot of NIB .22 Kimbers surplus in the inventory and following the Clinton Administration protocol, many were to be sent to the shredder along with hundreds of thousands of WWII era firearms.

Congress did step in and created the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) out of the old DCM. Now these rifles can be sold by CMP to us, the original purchasers (tax payers) of these fine little pieces of military history.

 

[SubGunFan]

Sorry for the sidebar/hijack but........

I heard a story/rumor back in the mid 80s that the US Gooberment in its "stupid widom" dumped 1000s of Garands in the ocean to "save US taxpayer $$$" from the labor to cut them up.

No business will survive if they sell their products for less than they paid/cost. However, when will the US Gooberment learn that they can sell stuff (back to US taxpayers) and ADD $$$ to the US Treasury. True, the sell price might be less than the cost, but at least there is $$$ going into the US Treasury, not costing MORE $$$ to destroy the stuff......................

<<< Edited to add after reading my post>>> True, the Gooberment sells some surplus items at auctions. However, if the Gooberment would setup guidelines (hopefully not too strict), they would start selling "taboo items" like firearms and ammo.

The United States of America.... A wonderful country being run into the ground by a few dumbasses (the US Congress).

PS: Great story Captain.

.

 

[swede62]

Nice find Captain!