Author Topic: M-1 Garand Rebuild (Read 3559 times)

hhuber50 · « **on:** April 11, 2008, 06:18:39 AM »

Does anyone have or know of an individual or a company they would recommend to do a rebuild of an M-1 Garand? I have a rifle I acquired in a private sale about two years ago that I am considering having rebuilt. It is not a CMP and has no documentation. I had a local “expert” look at it and he confirmed what I already knew. It rates between service and field grade (Wood is birch with no marks, throat gauges around 5, muzzle gauges around 3, most parts including receiver are Springfield, trigger group is Winchester). The rifle functions well and shoots okay (for me, groups 3-4” at 100 yds with mil surp ammo).

I am not a collector, but I do like good looking rifles that are also functional. My goal with this rifle is to be able to be “competitive” in a John Garand match, assuming I do my part. At a minimum, I would like to replace the wood with walnut, rebarrel the rifle, rebuild the action, rebuild the rear sights, and reparkerize the rifle.

I would appreciate any and all recommendations. Thanks in advance.

HH

AtlLaw · « **Reply #1 on:** April 14, 2008, 06:43:54 AM »

Ain't Garands great? Is there an import mark on the barrel? I've got 3 and am someday going to have Hook Boutin build one of them up to NM specs with a 7.62x51 barrel. From your post I don't think that is what you are wanting to do. Whatever you have done, remember that the JCG Match requires the weapon to be "stock." Not even a NM op rod which was a common rebuild addition.
"Service" and "Field" grade means nothing except maybe a reference point; these are CMP designations for the sale of their weapons. The wood may or may not be appropriate if you are looking to "restore" the rifle to "correct" condition which was all the rage for a while, and may still be. It can get very expensive looking for correctly marked parts (drawing numbers, cartouches) for a rifle. I've got an H&R that I would still like to bring back to correct status, but when I see a part that is right and then check the price I have to ask myself "why?" Most Garands have been through at least one rebuild. No big deal.

So after looking at your list of want-to-do's I have again ask why? You may want a walnut stock, but good luck on finding a nice one at anything like a reasonable price, then if you get an after market stock like a Boyd's you may run afoul of the JCG match rules. I'd go along with a rebarreling, but I believe the accuracy requirement for a Garand was 4 inches @100 yards. Finally, I really don't know what you mean bu rebuilding the action and rear sights? The parts are either the bolt either head-spaces or it doesn't, the small parts are either "in spec" or not, the rifle either functions as designed or it doesn't. If you are talking about a match trigger job or match sights, again you may run afoul of the JCG match rules.

Personal opinions about the people involved and marketing hype aside, the Fulton Armory web site used to be a great source of information.

Not much help but as you can tell I really like Garands.

Heck, get someone to rebarrel it for you and get it parked if you want it to look purdy, then shoot the heck out of it! That's what they're made for!

hhuber50 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 15, 2008, 06:55:18 AM »

AtlLaw,

Thanks for the reply. You're right. I'm not looking for a NM rifle or making this one “correct.” To answer your question “why” I guess the best answer I can give is “because.” I really don't nave a good reason other than I like Garands. My dad carried one as a “mud Marine” in the Pacific during WWII (Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Okinawa) and Korea (Chosin Reservoir). I drilled with one at the AF Academy in the early 70’s. I guess I have an attachment to them.

I guess what I'm looking for is a good “stock” rifle. Cost is always a consideration, but not a major concern. Your advice sounds right on in terms of the re-barreling. As for the “rebuild” of the action and sights, I really wasn't clear. What I plan to do is make sure everything is within specs and functioning accordingly, especially the gas system. I agree with your comment about the bolt and headspacing. As for the aesthetics, I'll get it parked and fitted with a JCG match legal walnut stock. I'll be checking out a guy in TN who apparently does very good work.

Again, thanks for your reply. I value your input.

HH

PS Garands are great.

AtlLaw · « **Reply #3 on:** April 15, 2008, 07:52:50 AM »

cptdco · « **Reply #4 on:** April 23, 2008, 03:21:20 PM »

From what I have read Springfield Armory can do a very nice job on the re-barrel and / or re-parkerizing, but be aware the new barrel may make it ineligible for the Garand matches. Evidently they have a little flat part that's different from the originals . Unless you know the current barrel to be bad, you might consider having them simply recrown the barrel while it's there being parkorized. The re-crown might make a difference. Also: the CMP has some nice looking replacement stock sets for $100 to $120. I believe these are legal for match competition. So for the price of having it parkorized and a new stock, you can end up with a very nice looking rifle. If t youi think you might want to go that way, check the CMP forum to confirm what I've said about competing and see their sales section for the stocks.

hhuber50 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 25, 2008, 07:46:08 AM »

cptdco,

Thanks for the reply. I'll check out the CMP forum.

HH

lrs · « **Reply #6 on:** June 16, 2008, 11:33:54 AM »

I've had one for about 12 years. I haven't shot it in about 10 yrs. I'm currently having it reparkerized. It is a springfield, with a pretty good bore. I glass-bedded the receiver at one point. When I was doing that, I noticed the wood looked pretty good. So I stripped off the old finish, and low and behold, the stock was a very nice piece of walnut. Has curly figure all through it. I refinished it with tung oil / polyurethane finish.
Anyhow, I have been thinking about taking up reloading, might just go ahead and do it.

lrs · « **Reply #7 on:** August 11, 2008, 08:31:09 AM »

It's back. With the refinished stock, and dark parkerized finish, it sure looks good !!!
My step father is a retired Command Sargeant Major, was a Ranger, and taught hand to hand combat, and also taught how to use an garand in hand to hand.
He gave me a little of his drill over the phone this morning.
To me, it is privilege to listen to this.
We will get together soon, and see how it shoots.

Mikey · « **Reply #8 on:** August 13, 2008, 01:21:01 AM »

Irs: I've known some Army CSMs in my time and more than just a few of them wore the Ranger tab but there is no such thing as hand to hand with a Garand - it's called 'Club to Skull'.....

The best load I have ever used for the Garand is a 180 gn fmj over 47.5 gns of IMR 4895 for 2650'/sec, which duplicates the 30 caliber Match Load for long range shooting in the Garand.

And by the way, if you are going shooting with the Sargeant Major you will need to be certain that your M1 Rifle is properly slung (correct sling) and that your hold on the rifle while shooting is correct, or you will stand to be corrected (Sargeant Majors are like that........). HTH. Mikey.

lrs · « **Reply #9 on:** August 13, 2008, 12:50:27 PM »

Since I was never in the military, I might need someone to demonstrate the proper use of the weapon. I'm sure Dad-in-law is up to the task, assuming I don't have some type of major malfunction.

NickSS · « **Reply #10 on:** August 14, 2008, 10:42:45 PM »

I bought several garands from CMP and except for a weak clip latch spring in one of them they all function as desighed. My oldest and most warn M1 has a 200K serial number and had the weak clip latch spring. the barreled action also slid around in the stock as there was almost no tention when closing the triger guard latch. I bought a new stock and a new clip latch spring. The stock I got from CMP and it is the older more slender WWII type wood and looks and fits just fine. You can buy a Boyds stock cheaper and spend a few days sanding to get it down to the same profile but I also like to support the CMP and do not like wood work.

lrs · « **Reply #11 on:** August 18, 2008, 09:12:30 AM »

My step father came to visit, and he could not hardly contain himself, he was so excited. He showed me how they used to hold it during parades and such, how you had to pass it to someone for inspection, bayonet drills, the works. It was worth the price of admission. He was a career army man, starting in Korea.
Could not hardly get him to stop telling stories, not that I would have wanted him to.

It was a good day.

Mikey · « **Reply #12 on:** August 18, 2008, 02:02:22 PM »

Now that's the way to make an old guy happy. My regards to the Sargeant Major. Mikey.

lrs · « **Reply #13 on:** August 19, 2008, 12:58:04 PM »

Now I need to get into the ammunition business somehow. I do not have time to get started into reloading. Factory ammo is pretty high $$$ these days.
Does anyone have any ideas?

surveyor47 · « **Reply #14 on:** August 22, 2008, 11:53:01 PM »

Try James River Armory www.jamesriverarmory.com

They specialize in M1 and M1 Carbine rebuilds.

Captain Emo · « **Reply #15 on:** September 04, 2008, 05:09:54 PM »

Try contacting Tim at www.shuffsparkerizing.com. Many people love his work.

Troyboy · « **Reply #16 on:** September 21, 2008, 01:50:38 PM »

Cheapest place to buy ammo is the Show. See when the next one is and have a look. Just don't buy from the first vendor. And there is the CMP. Good luck

Troy

lrs · « **Reply #17 on:** September 22, 2008, 06:26:11 AM »

I did glass bed the stock, but made no other modifications. Will it still be eligible for matches?

ButlerFord45 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 25, 2008, 12:59:33 PM »

http://www.dgrguns.com/index.htm

gariders · « **Reply #19 on:** October 05, 2008, 03:08:52 AM »

IN one of your post you spoke of getting ammo. Be aware that Garand's use military ammo spec's. Commerical ammo is often hotter and can bend the rod of garands. I suggest the CMP. good price and they will mail it to your door. Also, the CMP just came out with new wood with metal for less than $150.

rzwieg · « **Reply #20 on:** October 11, 2008, 05:39:46 PM »

Most commercial ammo is loaded well below max to prevent kabooms.

My M2 "equivilent" is 150gr fmj over 49 grs of IMR4895, a sane recipe and a proven load.

I have an Winchester made M1 (rebuild) and wish I bought another before they became outragously priced, even for a clunker!

lrs · « **Reply #21 on:** October 14, 2008, 10:15:05 AM »

I took my Garand out hunting this past weekend, got a nice boar hog.

surveyor47 · « **Reply #22 on:** October 19, 2008, 03:45:47 AM »

I shot my sons CMP "Correct grade" M1 this weekend with Greek CMP ammo. Accuracy was OK. I could keep all shots inside the black of a 25 yard slow fire pistol target at 100 yards. Feeding was not OK. I had difficulty loading clips into the magazine well. They just didnt want to click in. When they did, the first round didnt want to strip off, sometimes resulting in a jam- one was particularly difficult to clear. Ejection was brisk to put it mildly. Several cases had severly bent case mouths. Clips fell back onto my head, one chipping my glasses. Is this normal?

kiddekop · « **Reply #23 on:** October 28, 2008, 04:54:58 AM »

Here's 2 sources for Garand rebuilds http://www.miltecharms.com/rifles.htm address Miltech,PO Box 322,Los Altos,CA 94023 and here's a source http://www.mccann.shop-utopia.com/rifles/garand/garand.html I have the March 1986 American Rifleman article "Reloading for the M1 Rifle" if anyone wants a copy of it send me your email address and I'll send it.The article covers powders,primers & bullets from 150gr thru 200gr with lots of pertinent information.I used the data to reload ammo for garand matches using Hornaday 150gr FMJ boattail bullets I bought from www.midwayusa.com , they still carry them in pkgs of 100 to 1000.I used the data in the article to load ammo for mule deer hunting with my garand in Colorado & shot a mule deer buck:165gr Nosler Ballistic Tip,47.5gr IMR 4895,CCI LR Primer using Denver 1942 & 1943 brass with the Dean Alley front sight installed.In the 1980's Fed Ordnance in S El Monte,CA had 800 round cases of M2 ammo in linkbelt for sale @ $90 so I bought 5 cases for myself & 4 club members.I was on ebay & noticed a scope rail for the M1 Garand made by http://www.amegaranges.com I submitted a bid of $118 and bought one.The only other modification to my garand is a Dean Alley Redfield # 65 Globe Front Sight (719002 with integral base,standard dovetail with inserts .316" high it's still available from Brownells.