The M1 Garand Build Thread
- Thread starter Don Kael
- Start date
headspace gauges Forester vs Clymer
I just wanted to say thank you for all of the great information that is being shared in this thread; I am getting ready to order some tools and a copy of The Kuhnhausen Shop Manual for the M1 Garand and M14 rifles. I have a question about head-space gauges, I came across a video where it was stated that Forester gauges do not work well for head-spacing Garands. I had planned on ordering Clymer gauges, but i was just wondering what the thoughts were on the comment about Forester gauges.
Funny i can't seem to find The Kuhnhausen Shop Manual on the Brownells site.
I just wanted to say thank you for all of the great information that is being shared in this thread; I am getting ready to order some tools and a copy of The Kuhnhausen Shop Manual for the M1 Garand and M14 rifles. I have a question about head-space gauges, I came across a video where it was stated that Forester gauges do not work well for head-spacing Garands. I had planned on ordering Clymer gauges, but i was just wondering what the thoughts were on the comment about Forester gauges.
Funny i can't seem to find The Kuhnhausen Shop Manual on the Brownells site.
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I have the Forster go, no-go, and field gauges as well as the Clymer no-go gauge and do find a slight difference between them. I also use a military "go" gauge. If anything, the Clymer "no-go" gauge is a bit more "forgiving" and seems to equate to the Forster "field" gauge. I've been using these gauges on many .30-06 chambers over the years and have concluded that both makes are fine. FWIW, just yesterday I finish reamed a NOS M1903 Springfield barrel using the Clymer finishing reamer, which cuts a minimum dimension "go' chamber, and found, as expected, that it would freely accept both the military and Forster "go" gauge with just a touch more bolt play felt behind the Forster gauge. The chamber also qualified on both the Forster and Clymer no-go gauges. To check headspace with both makes of gauges make sure that the bolt is fully stripped and that the op rod spring is removed.
For the Kuhnhausen book just google Brownells then check the book and videos heading. It appears on the 3rd page for $44.99- a very wise investment considering what you will spend on parts and tooling.
For the Kuhnhausen book just google Brownells then check the book and videos heading. It appears on the 3rd page for $44.99- a very wise investment considering what you will spend on parts and tooling.
I got my barreled action back from Jason today, he did his usual stellar work. The final cost was 75, he had to shave down the shoulder of the barrel a little bit. He ended up finish reaming about 5-10 thou from the chamber.
When I got it home I finished the assembly.
A view of the action.
Here you can see the one cosmetic booboo, from installing the handguard retaining clip. I don't have the pliers, both the booboo and lack of pliers are completely my fault
Front sight assembly.
I haven't seen anyone else claim to have finished a build using the SFRC receivers, so I will claim it myself. Maybe I'll get some free ammo for it? (hint hint)
Total cost was around 2k for everything, and I started acquiring parts back in mid-Oct. I could surely have gotten a CMP rifle imported for much less, but I now have a new barrel and bolt; a minty receiver; many new, NOS parts are included. I'll probably buy a NM front sight sometime this year.
The bad: I messed up the install somewhere, the clip won't fully insert. The bolt (op rod) catch has a problem somewhere, it's usually not holding the bolt/op rod locked open. For both issues I am confident that it's an installation f up - it's my first time doing this - rather than a material problem. When I have an opportunity I'll break it down again and check what I suspect I already know is the issue, likely the op rod catch. This page should have everything I need to sort it all out.
http://www.garandgear.com/m1-garand-clip-problems
Cheers,
Pierre
When I got it home I finished the assembly.
A view of the action.
Here you can see the one cosmetic booboo, from installing the handguard retaining clip. I don't have the pliers, both the booboo and lack of pliers are completely my fault
Front sight assembly.
I haven't seen anyone else claim to have finished a build using the SFRC receivers, so I will claim it myself. Maybe I'll get some free ammo for it? (hint hint)
Total cost was around 2k for everything, and I started acquiring parts back in mid-Oct. I could surely have gotten a CMP rifle imported for much less, but I now have a new barrel and bolt; a minty receiver; many new, NOS parts are included. I'll probably buy a NM front sight sometime this year.
The bad: I messed up the install somewhere, the clip won't fully insert. The bolt (op rod) catch has a problem somewhere, it's usually not holding the bolt/op rod locked open. For both issues I am confident that it's an installation f up - it's my first time doing this - rather than a material problem. When I have an opportunity I'll break it down again and check what I suspect I already know is the issue, likely the op rod catch. This page should have everything I need to sort it all out.
http://www.garandgear.com/m1-garand-clip-problems
Cheers,
Pierre
Check to see if your clip latch is fouling on the inside of the stock.
Hate to burst you bubble but I did a Beretta matched Restoration/build in the last week of October, your only a couple month late....
check you op catch in on the correct side of the clip latch and the op spring is not too long.
G
[/QUOTE]
"I haven't seen anyone else claim to have finished a build using the SFRC receivers, so I will claim it myself. Maybe I'll get some free ammo for it? (hint hint)
Total cost was around 2k for everything, and I started acquiring parts back in mid-Oct. I could surely have gotten a CMP rifle imported for much less, but I now have a new barrel and bolt; a minty receiver; many new, NOS parts are included. I'll probably buy a NM front sight sometime this year.
The bad: I messed up the install somewhere, the clip won't fully insert. The bolt (op rod) catch has a problem somewhere, it's usually not holding the bolt/op rod locked open. For both issues I am confident that it's an installation f up - it's my first time doing this - rather than a material problem. When I have an opportunity I'll break it down again and check what I suspect I already know is the issue, likely the op rod catch. This page should have everything I need to sort it all out.
http://www.garandgear.com/m1-garand-clip-problems
Cheers,
Pierre[/QUOTE]
check you op catch in on the correct side of the clip latch and the op spring is not too long.
G
[/QUOTE]
"I haven't seen anyone else claim to have finished a build using the SFRC receivers, so I will claim it myself. Maybe I'll get some free ammo for it? (hint hint)
Total cost was around 2k for everything, and I started acquiring parts back in mid-Oct. I could surely have gotten a CMP rifle imported for much less, but I now have a new barrel and bolt; a minty receiver; many new, NOS parts are included. I'll probably buy a NM front sight sometime this year.
The bad: I messed up the install somewhere, the clip won't fully insert. The bolt (op rod) catch has a problem somewhere, it's usually not holding the bolt/op rod locked open. For both issues I am confident that it's an installation f up - it's my first time doing this - rather than a material problem. When I have an opportunity I'll break it down again and check what I suspect I already know is the issue, likely the op rod catch. This page should have everything I need to sort it all out.
http://www.garandgear.com/m1-garand-clip-problems
Cheers,
Pierre[/QUOTE]
My assumption is that SFRC is selling some of the large number of Garand receivers that were seized in the process of being "exported" to the US some years ago. Until a couple of years ago Lever Arms were still selling stripped ex-Danish Breda receivers for around the same price as SFRC. Some of us have been building rifles on the Danish surplus receivers for quite a while. The Breda and Beretta receivers may lack the collector appeal of the US GI ones, but they are as good, if not better, in terms of quality. I've owned quite a few of the Danish surplus receivers of all makes and have never found one that was pitted or unserviceable. Most need re-Parkerizing, but overall the Danes maintained excellent technical control of their small arms, plus they never saw combat or extended use under field conditions.
The handguard pliers are almost a "must have" for installing the handguard clip w/o damaging the wood. There is a way of installing/removing the clip by fixing a wire in both holes in the clip, anchoring one end of the wire in a vise, and then pulling/stretching on the free end of the wire while rolling the handguard in/out of the clip. This is a real PITA compared to the pliers which makes it a very simple operation.
The handguard pliers are almost a "must have" for installing the handguard clip w/o damaging the wood. There is a way of installing/removing the clip by fixing a wire in both holes in the clip, anchoring one end of the wire in a vise, and then pulling/stretching on the free end of the wire while rolling the handguard in/out of the clip. This is a real PITA compared to the pliers which makes it a very simple operation.
I was thinking a pair of Pricess auto snap ring pliers might work there. As for the chip one poster took out, out to be repairable with a little wood glue.
Grizz
No, snap ring pliers aren't going to work. I found out the hard way early on in my milsurp career and ruined a couple hand guards. I use the steel pliers from Gunrunner. Brownells has them for about $29 and they will last forever, unlike the more cheaply made aluminum ones that are no less expensive.
Check your mailbox. Its full so can't PM you.
Well, I now have 3 coats of RLO on my stock set, including a nice GI rear handguard, and my metal is off to Vulcan for a blast and new GI-style parkerizing. Nearly there. Going for a US NAVY style 1965-1966 era 7.62NATO build. Used a Criterion .308 barrel, Beretta receiver, mix-mash of Winchester, SA, HRA, PB and BMB parts that all gauged well - so maybe it's a Danish Navy conversion (?) lol. I even faked the Navy stampings on the side of the Criterion barrel so it looks right with the op rod retracted.
Pics when it's all back and assembled. This one was built properly, inletted to GI standards, new or as-new gauged parts, perfect tilt test, nice down-pressure at the buttstock tip, no op rod rubbing, GI 7.62 NATO spacer block, new barrel, and a nice set of very dark american black walnut furniture. It should shoot like a house on fire
Hope everyone else is making good progress.
Pics when it's all back and assembled. This one was built properly, inletted to GI standards, new or as-new gauged parts, perfect tilt test, nice down-pressure at the buttstock tip, no op rod rubbing, GI 7.62 NATO spacer block, new barrel, and a nice set of very dark american black walnut furniture. It should shoot like a house on fire
Hope everyone else is making good progress.
Will be interested to see that build, for sure.
As an aside, has anyone ordered parts from Sarco for their builds? I placed an order with the the beginning of November 2013, and have yet to be invoiced, or mailed it. I call about once a week, and the story changes so bloody much. One week it is parts are backordered, the next is that they are having shipping issues with international shipments, and then back to the backorder story again.
Anyone know of any way to get the ball rolling at Sarco? I emailed some different folks there last week, and there have been no responses. Could this have something to do with Shotshow going on this upcoming week?
Thanks
As an aside, has anyone ordered parts from Sarco for their builds? I placed an order with the the beginning of November 2013, and have yet to be invoiced, or mailed it. I call about once a week, and the story changes so bloody much. One week it is parts are backordered, the next is that they are having shipping issues with international shipments, and then back to the backorder story again.
Anyone know of any way to get the ball rolling at Sarco? I emailed some different folks there last week, and there have been no responses. Could this have something to do with Shotshow going on this upcoming week?
Thanks
I've been ordering from Sarco for the past 30 yrs or so and still do occasionally. Their quality and service are off and on, both declining it seems, so it's always a bit of a crap shoot. My last order with them was a couple of yrs ago and it got caught in their "constipated" processing system. "Mike" in their International Orders Dept was able to expedite it for me. You can check their website for Mike's contact details.
I sent some emails to a couple dept. there and got no response so i called and made a order dec.4 of parts in stock-i called to check on it last week as i hadnt been billed and i was told it would be a couple more weeks as they are busy. Ive reorder some of my parts at other dealers in case i dont get the order, at worse case i may have some doubles---I probably wont deal with them again. It looks like 2 months is the norm. Dave
Assume you're ordering through their international orders dept ? Always had prompt and good service.
Grizz
