Yet More Garand Questions and Some Pics

mmattockx

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Well, got up the nerve to strip my M1 and pull the synthetic stock off to put the wood one on in place tonight. Went smoothly with no problems, that rifle is a super easy piece to field strip. I do have some more questions that have come up from the work and mounting my repro sling on it. Pics at the end.

1) The US Army manual notes a number of places to use "rifle grease" on the M1. Is white lithium based grease a reasonable substitute? How about using Break Free CLP on the reciever and parking in that area?

2) Is there any place that offers repro cleaning and oiling kits for the stock pocket?

3) I bought a repro sling and mounted it now that I got the wood stock in place. It was different than any sling I have used before, can someone look at my pics and tell me if i have it mounted correctly?

4) The Op rod has a dogleg bend in it. Looking at the alignment of gas cylinder and op rod into the receiver, it looks like it needs this bend to align correctly. Should it be straight or bent to achieve a slight offset?

5) Does anybody make a nice leather slip-on recoil pad to match the leather cheek pads used on the sniper versions? The thing is really short for me and I could use another 3/4" on LOP if it was a nice looking leather add-on.

6) What is with the two front sling swivels?

Now for the pics:

Here she is in all her rough glory:

100_1036.jpg



The front sling swivel with sling attached:

100_1037.jpg


The rear swivel with sling attached:

100_1038.jpg



Thanks,
Mark
 
4) The Op rod has a dogleg bend in it. Looking at the alignment of gas cylinder and op rod into the receiver, it looks like it needs this bend to align correctly. Should it be straight or bent to achieve a slight offset?
The op rod is suppose to be bent, leave it alone!!


6) What is with the two front sling swivels?

Front most is a stacking swivle.
 
The short half of the sling should thread through the swivel and attach to the long part of the sling. You have got the long part in the right configuration though the brass hook attachments should be on the outside (so they do not scratch the stock and dig into your arm when using the sling for support).
White lithium will work but he actual grease is the same as commercially available "Lubriplate". Check at Canuck tire or automotive part supply store.
Not many reproduction kits available...Google Hayes Otoupalik, or Stan Wolcott and inquire with them...they are located in the US.
Looks like a good rifle you go there!!!
You are going to have a blast shooting that beauty!!!!!
 
The short half of the sling should thread through the swivel and attach to the long part of the sling. You have got the long part in the right configuration though the brass hook attachments should be on the outside (so they do not scratch the stock and dig into your arm when using the sling for support).
White lithium will work but he actual grease is the same as commercially available "Lubriplate". Check at Canuck tire or automotive part supply store.
Not many reproduction kits available...Google Hayes Otoupalik, or Stan Wolcott and inquire with them...they are located in the US.
Looks like a good rifle you go there!!!
You are going to have a blast shooting that beauty!!!!!

So the sling is assembled correctly and just needs to be spun 180 degrees in the swivels? I wondered about the hooks, they are also very close to the top of my shoulder when carrying it with the muzzle up.

I have white grease in my garage, but can certainly go buy a tube of Lubriplate. I used that in the past on trap guns with good results, so the M1 can get the same treatment.

I have been out with it twice and love it, the most fun I have ever had with a centerfire rifle.

Thanks for the help,
Mark
 
It is essential that the op rod move freely w/o interference. To verify this you can perform the "tilt test". What this involves is removing the stock,trigger housing,op rod spring and internals(bullet gd,follower arm,op rod catch and follower) leaving both the bolt and op rod in place. The muzzle and receiver are then elevated to a 45 deg position from the horizontal. When this is done the bolt should open and close freely from it's own weight. If this is not the case the interference/binding of the op rod must be investigated and corrected. In some cases it may be necessary to re-bend the op rod to achieve correct fit and function-not an easy DIY job.
 
So the sling is assembled correctly and just needs to be spun 180 degrees in the swivels? I wondered about the hooks, they are also very close to the top of my shoulder when carrying it with the muzzle up.

I have white grease in my garage, but can certainly go buy a tube of Lubriplate. I used that in the past on trap guns with good results, so the M1 can get the same treatment.

I have been out with it twice and love it, the most fun I have ever had with a centerfire rifle.

Thanks for the help,
Mark


Hey mark;
Yes basically it is set-up right...just extend the short strap to hook onto the long strap. One of the loops can be placed on the short strap close to the sling swivel so there is less play in the short strap, similar to what you have done with the long strap. The link provided by timberlord, shows the sling assembled.
Cheers
 
Check EvilBay for "rifle grease" and "garand cleaning kit/rod". U. S. GI rifle grease comes in little "pots" that fit into the buttstock with the oiler and cleaning kit. Search some of the M1 Garand specific forums for cleaning kit info and GERT YOURSELF A MANUAL! There are a number of places that sell reproduction or original manuals. The first one you should get is the FM (Field Manual) on the M1.
 
Seems like everytime I need to reattach those slings , I end up here for reference ;)
http://www.rifleslings.com/

Nice rifle !

This shows you step by step on how to do use and mount the sling;
http://www.shootingusa.com/PRO_TIPS/USAMU3-4/usamu3-4.html

Click here and watch the two video's and you will now know as much as the army grunt on the M1 Grand;
http://www.archive.org/details/Rifle_Marksmanship_with_M1_Rifle_Part_1

Wow, I had no idea on the sling. It is pure luck I got it as close as I did.

Thanks for the links, I never would have got the useage sorted out and I have been wanting to try properly using a sling in positional shooting. I should be able to make it all work from the two links.

Mark
 
Check EvilBay for "rifle grease" and "garand cleaning kit/rod". U. S. GI rifle grease comes in little "pots" that fit into the buttstock with the oiler and cleaning kit. Search some of the M1 Garand specific forums for cleaning kit info and GERT YOURSELF A MANUAL! There are a number of places that sell reproduction or original manuals. The first one you should get is the FM (Field Manual) on the M1.

I will take a look for that stuff on fleabay.

I have the field manual FM23-5, it has been a great help in keeping me from screwing things up too badly while getting aquainted with my M1. I need to search through milsurps.com for the marksmanship manual now.

Mark
 
There is no U. S. military manual specific to M1 marksmanship. Now the FM for the M14 did cover marksmanship. Not sure what was used as a reference for marksmanship training for the M1.

According to my M1 manual (FM23-5), marksmanship was covered in FM23-71.

I will take a look around milsurps.com, I think I saw it in there somewhere previously.

Mark
 
Way to go! There will never be a time when there are too many Garand owners. Nice rifle, congrads! A tip about lubriplate black grease; it stains EVERYTHING, including your hands. WD 40 removes it nicely, most hand cleaners don't!
 
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