Modifying an M1-Garand, how far?

F

Federico Tyrawskyj

New member
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I was simply wondering about how much could someone modify an M1-Garand and not have any problems with the law. More specifically, I was wondering about changing the caliber on it and making it more accurate. Bear in mind that I know nothing of gunsmithing. I simply thought that taking a beat up garand and customizing it would be interesting since it's the only semi-auto that can legally carry more than 5 rounds that I know of.

Thanks!
 
the only things you cant legally do to your rifle is: remove the serial, shorten the barrel under 18.5 inches, shorten the over all length under 26 inches or cause it to fire in a fully automatic fashion

anything else is fair game and we are allowed to use 10 round magazines with AR15s ;)
 
Apart from the legal aspects,why would you want to turn a Cadillac into a Trabant or something equally inferior? Yes,they have been dicked with to produce a so-called "tanker carbine" with a shortened barrel,but muzzle blast and functioning are always an issue here.They can be re-barreled to another cartridge with a .30-06 size casehead.incl .243,.25-06,.270,8mm-06 and .35 Whelan,but this requires the use of an adjustable gas plug for correct functioning.The easiest conversion is to .308 Win by simply replacing the barrel. Garands can be made to be extremely accurate in both the standard .30-06 or .308 Win calibers by tweaking the fit of various components,glass bedding,or the use of a heavier barrel.The sky is the limit as far as cost and time are concerned.My own accuracy expectation from a properly set up M1 with a sound barrel in as-issue condition is 2" groups with handloads @ 100 yds.But if one wants to spend the time and money to produce a match grade rifle,you can pretty much be assured of MOA accuracy with quality handloads.
 
Like purple sez' the most practical and least controversial modification is to change the barrel.

Garand collectors, especially on the Interweb, have convinced everyone that the only true Garand is one that is absolutely stock United States Government Issue as it left the arsenal. Parts have to have the right makers' marks, the right drawing number stamp and consistent finish. The barrel date has to fit the date range for the serial number. etc etc etc

Thirty years ago, the NRA published a little book on how to sporterize all the commonly available surplus rifles. How to make ugly military rifles into something more esthetically compatible with commerical lines, and hopefully easier to carry and hunt with. Their conversion of a Garand destroyed the receiver by milling off the sight ears. But the NRA's smartest gunsmiths also figured out how to get rid of some of John Garand's anachronisms, like the forward handguard, and make a rifle that resembles the Italian BM59. These guys also recognized that a Garand is 120 pieces flying in carefully balanced harmonic formation. Change one part and the rest refuse to cooperate.
 
I have a T-26 copy with a 18.5 inch barrel in .308. It also has a scout scope mount and Leupold 2.5 power LER scope.
It was not "sorted out" functionwise until I owned it. I have no desire to remove any metal from this rifle.
However this barrel was always, fully capable, of MOA at 100 yards with SA 7.62 ball. And with some practice, fully capable of banging a metal 10 x 10 inch gong at 300 meters using the same ammunition.
It once did have a Redfield 2-6 power handgun scope mounted on it, but it soon destroyed the reticle crosshairs.

I have yet to try it at longer distances, perhaps some day I will.
 
Last edited:
Quote: "since it's the only semi-auto that can legally carry more than 5 rounds that I know of."

Is this true? If so, does it also apply to my Norc M305 ?
 
no, it's only the m1 garand b/c it comes with and uses an 8 round enbloc clip- your 305 uses a standard 20/5 mag or a 5 round mag, hence, it's limited by law to 5 rounds- the only way you can use less rounds in a garand is by means of a SLED- and that's the reason you can't 'TOP UP" the rifle either- you have to fire 8 rounds, let the clip eject, and shove in another 8 rounder- you can't stop at 7 or 5 and recharge- at least not easily
 
"...does it also apply to my Norc M305?..." Absolutely not. The M1 is specifically exempt from the mag capacity law.
 
Hey guys, I didn't mean to offend anyone with my idea. As a matter of fact, I don't even own a Garand as of now. I just thought that if someone gets his hand on a Garand with a ruined barrel and stock, instead of just replacing them with newer ones(which would make the Garand no longer original anyways), he could instead turn it into something somewhat different. I wouldn't do that to a Garand in good condition. But, I got my legal answer. Thanks!
 
no offense taken- if you absolutely have to have something wierd and wonderful in a garand, either save your pennies for something like an m1c or d with the big funnel flash hider- there aren't that many things that you can do with a garand, and most just get by with replacing worn parts with less worn parts- trying to get an all matching is darned nrear impossible, as they've been through many hands
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom