TheM1Garand.com
Yes. You should probably just buy it.
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The very short answer is, if the M1 you are looking at is south of $1000, AND you have the money to gamble, do it, you probably won't get burned too bad on an impulse buy, and you may do well. You will have a blast learning about it, even if you discover you overpaid.
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If the M1 you are looking at is north of $1000, you may want to pause, take some pictures, and reach out to someone who can help. They made 6 million of these rifles, if you want one, you will find one. One of the most common M1's available locally are overpriced M1's.
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The CMP is just about the best place to get started and buy your first M1. You will have to do a little work comparatively speaking.
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Want my opinion? It's free.
These are the first 3 things I look at when I am considering a purchase:
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There are literally hundreds of things to look for when buying a garand. First you need to identify just what it is that you want. Most first time buyers are looking for one of 2 things: WW2 era, or just a fun shooter.
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Cartouche - Does it have any of the cartouches listed on this site?
Does the barrel match the receiver date? Pull the Op Rod back and inspect for a barrel date, does it line up with the S/N on the receiver?
Condition - How does it look? I stay away from rust and pitting on the receiver or barrel.
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