M1 Garand Queries.

Jarlath

Jarlath

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OK Gents. I love my M-1 garand. It's not terribly accurate (due to the shooter and bore condition), it's fairly heavy, and I hate loading/unloading the clips.

I do however love the way it works and the feel of the rifle. Plus it is pure bliss when shooting it (I actually like it better than shooting my buddy's AR!).
Before anyone asks. No, the rifle is not 100% original. It is an SA Garand with mis-matching parts (Bolt at least is different).


Now for my questions.
#1. Since I acquired my M1 in the Spring ('06 no less), I have had an initial feed issues. The first round almost always hangs up on the feed cannelures to the barrel. By hanging up, I mean that the bullet tip doesn't slide up the channelures and holds the bolt open w/o even the tip passing the channelures.This has occured with milsurp ammo as well as modern hunting rounds. I initially wore a glove to prevent too much thumb biting, but the bolt never snapped forward w/o hanging up. No after the initial shot, it works like magic until we hear the "p-ting!" at which time it locks open like it should. Anyone know what could be a potential cause? How to fix it?

#2. It looks like my chamber may be dirty as I am getting huge extractor indents in my ejected brass, in some cases the rim is almost tearing. Anyone know of a source for 30-06 chamber brushes, or a M1 cleaning tool? Unless anyone knows of a different explaination....

#3. I want to fully disassemble and clean the Garand, What is a good lubricant for it? Brownell's has Lubriplate, is it any good?

#4. I'm sure my barrel is worn to hell from abuse, poor maintainence and use. Anyplace in Canada sell newer/replacement barrels?

#5. Heard varying opinions on the types of ammo to use. Aka stay away from 180gr or larger etc... Any truth/comments?

Thanks for the help everyone.
 
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Your technical terms are not 100%, but try this link,
http://www.highspeedlane.net/m1garand/tm91275/page_14.htm
If no luck here try fulton armory.....but I suspect all your malfunction issues can be resolved at this link.

This link for handloads http://carnival.saysuncle.com/002449.html

Marstar, as of recent used to sell barrels, I am unsure if they are just take-offs or new.

By the way when the first issued M1 Garand went back to the unit armorers for repair, it was probably not going to come out of the shop with
original parts......no worries there. All Winchester, Springfield and H&R (IHC?) parts interchange.
 
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the "hang up" on the first round is normal, both my M1s do it. you can try replacing the op rod spring, for grease, Lubriplate works, plastilube works (both GI grease) tera makes grease thats good also.
 
I don’t want to hijack this thread but!:runaway: What is the cost of a new or good condition Garand barrel? I have a buddy that has a Garand with a bent barrel which he might sell to me for cheap! Thanks
 
My M1 which I have had 20 yrs is not a bad shooter but never fails to feed. Check the loading in the clips may be your problem.Try loading the clips on right then try the left My M1 likes the right, don't start playing with parts.
Cheers
 
1. Normal. Rounds loaded in the enblocs are tight, op rod needs a little push to strip the first round (most of the time, looser enblocs probably won't). It also saves your fingers.....
2. They are hard on brass, don't sweat it, but if you load, buy an adjustable gas valve (shuster from brownells is good) and adjust accordingly.
3. Any multi purpose grease will do the trick. I use a tub of castrol I got at walmart.
4. Clean the bore real good and examine it with a bore lite, if you don't know what a worn bore looks like, get someone who does to look at it.
5. Heavier bullets have a different pressure curve and may accelerate wear/damage. Firing a box or 2 won't damage anything, steady diet probably will over time.
 
Cleaning

Jarlath, please, before concluding you need a new barrel, try this:
If you have access to an electrolytic copper remover such as the Outer's Foul-Out device, clean and scrub your barrel the conventional way, degrease it with brake cleaner (important) then subject it to alternated sessions of conventional scrubbing, degreasing and Foul-Out treatment.
You just might find out that you don't need to replace your barrel, after all...
I've seen this enough times than I wanted to pass the news to you.
Good luck!
PP.:)
 
Enfield said:
I don’t want to hijack this thread but!:runaway: What is the cost of a new or good condition Garand barrel? I have a buddy that has a Garand with a bent barrel which he might sell to me for cheap! Thanks
Click to expand...


I think Brownell's in the US has new barrels for something like $150USD or so. Check their site since I don't remember how much.
 
OLD RSM said:
don't start playing with parts.
Click to expand...
Yet!
PS I do not endorse needless purchases, but if you an avid shooter, sometime, sooner or later,
you will have too...and it may be just a firing pin or extractor assembly, or a worn out clip etc....
Do you want to be well informed now, or just wait until it is too late to order those few, and oh so sorely needed parts?
And we all know how popular M1 rifles are, in Canada and the US.
 
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Steiner said:



I think Brownell's in the US has new barrels for something like $150USD or so. Check their site since I don't remember how much.
Click to expand...

I was thinking of Marstar's for $90 CAD. I don't need new mirror finish bore as I plink more than anything with my M1 (Yeah It's an expensive plinker to feed, you should see me go thru .300 WM though.... Last count was 460 empty brass to be reloaded.).

As for my bore, I haven't tried foam cleaning yet, but a crapload of conventional Nitro/Copper solvents and the bore is throughly pitted and dull grey throughout. It still shoots, but I'm getting 6+" groupings of 4 shots at 50yds. I will admit it is my ONLY rifle which has the peep type sights, but from a bench rest I expect a little better. Still a damned fun rifle to shoot.

I may have to look into that adjustable gas valve though as I do like to shoot heavier rounds.
 
Isn't Marstar all sold out of Garand barrels?

I've also heard that the M1 will give bad results if shot from a rest.
My barrel is pretty worn aswell, so I wouldn't be able to tell you if that's true.
 
From a rest...

The M1 will shoot just fine from a rest...provided that the rest is placed under the stock, behind the sling swivel.
P5020600.jpg

There are any number of things that can be done to accurize an M1, without spending an arm and a leg.
 
I think they still do, but I would probably tend to recommend a .30-06 barrel. Getting a .308 to run right can be tricky, and frankly, .30-06 does everything .308 will do - and then some.
 
Hitzy said:
5. Heavier bullets have a different pressure curve and may accelerate wear/damage. Firing a box or 2 won't damage anything, steady diet probably will over time.
Click to expand...

Never fire heavy bullets in a Garand. It's not designed to shoot anything but 150gr bullets....Period! (I'm not talking about military ammo here)

firing a box or two can bend the op rod, which can crack stocks or damage the gas cylinder. I have seen this several times. One then wonders why their rifle timing is off?????

M1 ball ammo spec is 150 gr FMJ Flat based bullet with 50gr IMR-3031

regards

Pete
 
Not entirely true. The NM M1's were tuned to work with 168gr match ammunition. 47gr of IMR4895 under a 168gr SMK was just about standard fare when Garands used to be competitive at service rifle.
 
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