M1 Garand feed problems

[steve laity]

Recently I bought a used M1 and after having the gun looked at and re-barreled(worn out chamber) the gun will not feed a round from the magazine.  When a new clip is inserted the bolt wil not strip a round off as it should, it just rests against the base of the brass.  When fired the bolt will not retract far enough to strip a round out of the magazine.  If I have to take her to a gunsmith again I would like to have an understanding of the potential problem and some ideas on the solution.  The mainspring seems plenty strong(the gunsmith even commented on that when I brought it in for re-barreling).
When I shot I was shooting Remmington 30-06 hunting loads as mil-surplus loads were non-existant in my neck of the woods.  Any ideas on why it is not working would be appreiated.

Thanks

Steve

[Castaway]

It's common for the bolt to have to be shoved forward when feeding the first round from a clip but subsequent rounds should feed. The other problem (yes, they are separate problems) sounds like your spring is too stiff or your bullet was too light.  If using 150 grainers, I'd lean toward the spring causing the problem, if you're shooting less than 150 grain bullets, go heavier.

[steve laity]

I had thrown out the boxes the ammo came in so I cannot rember the exact bullet weight.  Just for the sake of an argument lets say I was shooting 185 grain bullets(the number sounds famalier but I cannot remember).  What can be done about the spring.  As it aged and was used woudn't it get weaker?  Or would it work harden?  My knowlege of mettaluragy is pretty slim.  At any rate how do I correct the problem(assuming it is the spring).  

Also what is the best grease to use on the moving parts?  I happend to borrow some white lithium marine grease from my dad and used that.  I'm told lubriplate is the best.

[Castaway]

Your grease is fine.  The Civilian Marksmanship Program site is:  
http://www.odcmp.com/
There you'll find the places to grease the Garand.

[rambo1937]

Check the following, ID of the gas cylinder,The diameter of the op rod gas piston.

IS the op rod rubbing on the gas cylinder?

Remove the operating rod spring and leave the op rod in the rifle attached to the bolt. Tip the rifle muzzle down and up does the bolt and op rod lock and unlock?

If not find where it is binding and correct it.Lube the underside of the barrel where the op rod rides, races the bolt run in and the op rod channel. Hope this helps. Jim

[steve laity]

Thanks Guys,

When I tip the gun with the spring removed the op rod and bolt lock and unlock as it should.  I ordered a new main spring and a tub of Lubriplate, hopefully that will fix the problem.  The next problem is finding the time to shoot.  Any good sugestions on how to get away from work and the girl friend, with out getting in trouble? :-)

[Abearir]

The above is correct. Also check the gas port. If its too small or partly plugged it will short cycle. I'd still bet on a bad recoil spring. I dont recall exactly the data, but it shold be easy to find on th web...but I believe the spring extended should be about 25 inches..These are pretty common to be bad and easy to get new...just stretch it a bit and try or better yet just junk it....I'd bet it solves the probem.  Brownells has them in their catalog.

[rambo1937]

Thanks Guys,

When I tip the gun with the spring removed the op rod and bolt lock and unlock as it should.  I ordered a new main spring and a tub of Lubriplate, hopefully that will fix the problem.  The next problem is finding the time to shoot.  Any good sugestions on how to get away from work and the girl friend, with out getting in trouble? :-)

Steve.Most likely you are going to find the problem is with the gas cylinder or the operating rod. Let us know the outcome. Jim

[dbking]

Steve , I shoot a Garand too. My Dad was in WWII, he said if you ever have a problem with your Garand, check your op rod and make sure it is clean and functioning correctly. As he used his for 'work'  on a day to day basis. , I pretty much go but that. Otherwise listen to these guys, you'll get some good advice.

[steve laity]

I appreciate your advice.

Hopefully this weekend I will get to the range to try her out.  When I used the lubriplate the avarything seemed to operate smoother.  Also the new spring was abour 3/8" shorter than the old one.  I am out of town on bussiness but when I get back I will check the gas port.   The oprod and gas cylinder look okay.  I have not miced them so I don't know the measurments.  Thanks again guys.  You have given me some good info to work with and hopefully solve the problems

Steve

[Skeeterbaymac]

Steve:  

I am of the opinion it's a gas piston/Op rod problem.  

Also I have heard of Grands having problems with op rods if to heavy of a bullet is used.  I have never seen it but have read something about it years ago. Maybe some others on here can shed light on that better.  I have always kept mine at 165 grain and under.  

[S.S.]

I have to ask what did the tip of the bullet look like?
Are they damaged after a fail to feed?
As these rifles were designed for sharply pointed FMJ
projectiles, I have seen Garands not feed a bullet with a
lead tip at all but they will spit out FMJ's all day quite nicely.
I have an SKS that will not feed softpoints at all
but I have never once had it fail to feed a FMJ.
My other SKS eats anything with equal pleasure. Go Figure?
Order some FMJ from the internet and see what happens.

[steve laity]

They were remmington soft point hunting loads.  I cannot rember the weight.  What would happen is the bullet would slide about an inch or less and then would stop.  almost like the spring was not powerfull enough.  I think a proper greasing and new spring have solved the problem, but you never know.  I have yet to return home(I work as a salesman so I am on the road constantly) to check the gas cylinder and op rod and gas port.

This is ot but I also have an SKS that doesn't like 1 out of 25 rounds of wolf ammo.  The best solution I have found is to buy the bear brass cased ammo.

Thanks again guys

[S.S.]

The Garand I was referring to would jam just about every round
with softpoint ammo. The point of the bullet would be severly deformed
afterward. Nothing we ever did solved the problem.
I do not ever remember it jamming with Ball ammo though?

[steve laity]

I went to the range this week end and the gun worked like a champ with commercial hunting loads.  I had aquired some surplus 30-06 rounds, and the gun experienced feed problems.  First the rounds could be bad, as I think they were russian.  The outside of the box had some information on it.  I know the bullets were 7.62mm and they used M2 powder.  In hand writing it said that the boxes contained 30-06 M2 ball powder, non corosive, berdan primed.  

They went boom, although not as powerfully as the remington loads I had.  Then the bolt would retract far enough to eject a shell, and close without chambering a new round.  My best guess is that the bullets could be to light.  

Thanks againg guys