M1 Garand magazine conversion

[KotKotofeich]

We all know that the M14 and the M1 Garand are very similar... Yet one is prohibited and the other is not... I seem to recall some people converted their Garands with the M14 barrels and gas systems... and I wanted to try the other side of it.

This was built up out of an Italian receiver + USGI parts kit + a new 308 Criterion barrel and takes M14 magazines. I have not tested yet but I expect that the 10rd AIA magazines should also work.

Don't know if I'd want to convert the front end to have a full NR M14 clone on a M1 receiver but even this amuses me enough...
This has no collector value as it's a piecemeal put together gun... so I think it would also be interesting to scope it. Any suggestions on what mount to use? Doesn't need to be anything Garand specific any more as there's no need to leave clearance for the clip to be ejected

 

[moosetaco]

That's honestly super cool. Interested to see a range report to see how it handles the mags.

 

[can14]

Use BM59 magazine trigger group parts they are basically m1 Garand

 

[hollowedpoint]

Beautiful!

 

[chucklehead21896]

interesting project

 

[pangit]

Scout rail like ultimak.

 

[JasonGTA]

Use BM59 magazine trigger group parts they are basically m1 Garand

Plus you get a sweet swing down winter trigger, thats what I did for my 308 M1 Garand build. The bonus because of the leverage it has is that it also as a secondary extremely light trigger

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

The operating rod and spring are part of the complex clip and cartridge lifter mechanics. How did you bypass those relationships?

 

[KotKotofeich]

Scout rail like ultimak.

I'm thinking an Amega scout rail and a long cantilever mount... But not 100% sure if that will get me a regular non scout scope as a result... I'm not a fan of scout setups - tried them before on mosins...

 

[KotKotofeich]

The operating rod and spring are part of the complex clip and cartridge lifter mechanics. How did you bypass those relationships?

Completely deleted.

The spring guide now has a tooth for the mag to catch...

I don't have a Garand just now to compare but here's a side by side with a M1a if it helps

 

[pangit]

I'm thinking an Amega scout rail and a long cantilever mount... But not 100% sure if that will get me a regular non scout scope as a result... I'm not a fan of scout setups - tried them before on mosins...

Here's what they might look like, but this is an M1A. I like the scout scopes, myself, so I didn't go cantilever with a handguard rail. Picture is not my firearm, but taken off Reddit. My concern with this setup is spent spent cases ejecting and hitting the scope.

 

[machman]

Completely deleted.

The spring guide now has a tooth for the mag to catch...

I don't have a Garand just now to compare but here's a side by side with a M1a if it helps

I see what you did with the op rod spring guide, but what about the op rod itself,
Did you have to cut & weld M14 & M1 oprods?

 

[KotKotofeich]

I see what you did with the op rod spring guide, but what about the op rod itself,
Did you have to cut & weld M14 & M1 oprods?

Oh... no, 0 changes to the oprod otherwise - the barrel is a regular Criterion Garand barrel in 308 so no length difference.

It's basically a regular garand in 308 with the complex stripper clip system deleted and the receiver opened up to accommodate a m14 mag with inspiration from bm 59 and em 62

I did not have bm-59 trigger to play with so had to make do with the original garand... Would be interesting, but they are not exactly easy to get...

 

[Hitzy]

Yesh... don't think I'd carve up a $2500 Garand just for M14 mags. 8 round enblocs are a beautiful thing, the ping/toss enbloc when empty is an emotional experience lol.
Limiting it to 5 rounds, likely messing with reliably, destroying value, I dunno about this project, not something that makes sense to me.

 

[Leg]

Certainly an interesting project and looks to be well done.

 

[KotKotofeich]

Yesh... don't think I'd carve up a $2500 Garand just for M14 mags. 8 round enblocs are a beautiful thing, the ping/toss enbloc when empty is an emotional experience lol.
Limiting it to 5 rounds, likely messing with reliably, destroying value, I dunno about this project, not something that makes sense to me.

It was a stripped receiver not a complete rifle so was very much a "I want to see if it can be done" thing. I would not cut up a complete rifle either

I chickened out putting a m14 barrel on it as I wasn't confident in being able to get the op rod welded properly... Was thinking I'd try again if I find another stripped receiver but they got way more expensive since then...

I'm not seeing any relliability issues with the mags - whether 5rd short, 5rd pinned or 10rd AIA

I agree with you about the ping and toss and I fully intend to have a true Garand in my collection one day... Other things just keep jumping to the front of the queue

 

[mikebaker1129]

Nice work on the conversion using M14 mags .
I have a conversion , that is a BM62 clone , but uses M14 magazines.

 

[can14]

Wouldn’t it be easier to use a BM59 stock, or do they present issues?

 

[KotKotofeich]

Wouldn’t it be easier to use a BM59 stock, or do they present issues?

No idea, to be honest. I didn't and still don't have access to a bm-59 (would love to one day), while a garand stock was easy to get with the parts kit.

 

[Bartok5]

Wouldn’t it be easier to use a BM59 stock, or do they present issues?

BM-59 Side-Folding Stocks (for Paracadistisi or Alpini troops) are available from SARCO through "the importer who shall not be named". You will pay a premium to the Importer, but in the end it is cheaper than obtainng an export permit for an item over $500 USD. The cost is right around $1K CAD, so pretty steep. That said, they ARE out there. I have one on order for my BM-59 Mk 4 "Nigerian" model to change things up a bit...