M1 Garand front sight

[ONE HOLE 4570]

This is my 1st Garand, It is great to shoot but I have an issue with the front sight. The gas screw seems to be good & tight but the whole front sight assembly (not the sight itself but the nose cap of the stock) still seems to be loose I haven't pulled it apart yet being new to the rifle I thought I would ask 1st to see if there is a road to go down to fix this problem. Does not shoot so well when the whole front sight assembly moves 1/8 of an inch.

Any help will be appreciated

[jpuke]

Are you talking about the gas cylinder being loose?  The front sight attaches to the top of the gas cylinder, and the gas cylinder slides over the end of the barrel where it mates with three "splines" that surround the barrel and finally it's locked in place by the gas cylinder lock and screw. 

My gas cylinder had some play as well, so what I did (and I can't remember where I read to do this) was put some light dents in the splines with a ball peen hammer.  This solved it for me and as long as you're not removing the gas cylinder all the time you should be fine. 

If it's not the gas cylinder then someone else might have some insights. 

[84Jim]

It sounds like your gas cylinder is WAY loose.  I'd try taking off the plug screw and the cylinder lock (the figure 8 shaped screw) and seeing if you can't push or lightly tap it further in with a rubber mallet.  Maybe even remove the cylinder entirely to see if dirt or something else is obstructing it.  When you reassmble, the cylinder lock should tighten to about a 1/4 turn or less past the upright position.

Peening the splines is a way to tighten the cylinder if its still too loose.  Otherwise, you'll need to try different cylinder and cylinder lock combinations until you find one that fits.

[ONE HOLE 4570]

Thanks guys I'll give it a try just as soon as I can, this is my 1st Garand & I am still learning

[Captain Emo]

It could be that wobbly feeling you get is from the front handguard.  That's normal.  You front sight shouldn't move.  Locktite the screw or stake it. 

[TNyoteboy]

I bet the looseness you're talking about is coming from a loose fit between the splines and the gas cylinder.

[Birddog 1]

Ha Onehole count the revolutions it takes to remove the gas cylinder nut and dont tighten it anymore when you reinstall it. Now if the cylinder can be rocked and can be moved by hand take it off and just get a ball peene hammer and set the ball next to a spline and litley wack it and reinstall the gas cylinder.

Nim