M1 Garand: Adjustable gas system ???

Pietro Beretta

Pietro Beretta

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I've heard alot of talk about commercial ammunition isn't safe to use in the M1 Garand due to high-pressure, etc. The adjustable gas system reduces wear and battering on op rod, bolt cam, trigger group and receiver.

I've been useing Remington UMC 150 gr. MC (FMJ-BT) & Winchester Power-Point 150 gr. Soft Point. I noticed that many (40%) of the spent cases have dented case necks. The adjustable gas system states "Lets you control case ejection velocity, plus prevents dented case necks." Is this due to the high-pressure ???

Is this gas pressure problem only with MilSurp WW11 Garands?...reason I ask because I'm running these commercial loades in a new Springfield Armory Inc. 2002 production M1 Garand.

Thanks for any input:cool:
 
Dented case necks are normal out of an M1. Usually caused by the neck hitting the receiver on its way out. It's nothing to worry about. If you're reloading, the expander button fixes it with no fuss.
The alleged ammo issue applies to all M1's though. It's supposedly the design. It's claimed that commercial ammo can bend the op rod. Doesn't do anything to the trigger group, etc.
Mind you, in 30 plus years, I've never once seen nor heard of any M1 being damaged by the ammo alone. (I still wouldn't use any 'light magnum' ammo. Despite what Hornady says.) Not that I use any commercial ammo out of mine. My handloads only. Shot a box of 220 grain Silvertips, long ago, with no fuss too.
Federal does load a 150 grain FMJ and an FMJBT under their American Eagle brand and a Sierra 168 grain HPBT Matchking under their Gold Medal line, specifically for the M1.
SA Inc does say the use of handloads voids their warrantee. That's a CYA thing for them though.
 
I have used the adjustable gas system on the Garand. I would say it's worth the money. You can get your rifle and the perfect load tuned to cycle the action correctly and keep the brass in the best shape as possible. In other words you cut the unnecessary slamming of the action by letting some of the gas bleed off.

The use of heavy bullets and the so called alleged / supposedly claimed ammo issue. Well when it happens to you, you’re going to be pissed when the op rod breaks. With all military surplus, they are designed to shoot one type of one spec of ammo. You can shoot factory ammo that is the same or similar to the military spec. The Garand used a 150gr flat based bullet with 50gr of IMR 4895 (there where other loads but this was the most popular). Using a heavier bullet of factory loading using a heavier bullet places stress on the op rod. This could bend the op rod or break it. One will note that custom loads can compensate this issue. But you have to be aware of what you are doing.

For me, I can’t see shooting anything else but what the rifle was made to shoot. It’s a killer, the Garand that is…

Pete
 
"...can’t see shooting anything else but what the rifle was made to shoot..." That'd be .30 M1 ammo with its 174.5 grain BT bullet at 2647fps MV. Not .30 M2 ammo with its 152 grain FB bullet originally at 2700fps MV, then bumped up to 2800fps MV to match the ballistics of the .30 AP's 168 grain bullet, in 1940.
.30 M2 ammo didn't exist when the rifle was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1936. It came along because the .30 M1 ammo had too much range for National Guard ranges.
 
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I've got an adjustable gas system in mine and I would reccomend it for anyone. Just buck up some cash, and do your M1 a favor and get the thing. Even if you plan just to shoot miltary ball made for that rifle, you can still tune your rifle to the ammo, as well as reduce gas system pressure to the minimum required to cycle the action, therefore reducing wear on the rifle and increasing it's lifespan.
 
Northman999 said:
I've got an adjustable gas system in mine and I would reccomend it for anyone. Just buck up some cash, and do your M1 a favor and get the thing. Even if you plan just to shoot miltary ball made for that rifle, you can still tune your rifle to the ammo, as well as reduce gas system pressure to the minimum required to cycle the action, therefore reducing wear on the rifle and increasing it's lifespan.
Click to expand...

Where would a self respecting canadian go about getting one of these? :D
 
Just got my McCann to the range yesterday. It has 5 gas jets, I started out with the largest hole, and finally I got it to cycle reliable at the smallest jet. I was using my favorite .30-06 Sprng round (cheapest & most "mil-spec" like in apperance) Remington UMC 150 gr. MC (FMJ-BT) at 2,910 fps I think. Rifle is a 2002 Springfield Armory Inc. M1 Garand
 
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