Gun stuff...Want to know everything about a M1 Garand!

12.2.09 | Me

[Chasaway]

Just picked up a 1943 M1 Garand.

What I'd like to know is...EVERYTHING about the Garand.

1. I need to know where to get ball ammo to feed it (it's a bit scarce, as far as I can tell);

2. I'd like to know the best data sheet/book on the Garand (breakdown, cleaning, greasing, etc.);

3. The best info I can get on making the weapon as accurate as possible (peep sights on the current configuration);

4. Where I'm most likely to pick up the best (and best valued!) accessories for it (slings, parts, etc).

I know...I should Google all of this. I HAVE! The Google results are enormous! But as always, FReepers have been the best on gun stuff!

And it's my bet that there are some Garand owners/aficionados on FreeRepublic...

Any thoughts or ideas...or even comments about the rifle?

Thanks in advance...

Chasaway

[dynachrome]

http://www.big5sportinggoods.com/

(to rub it in, it was $90 for that one on black Friday haha)

West of the Mississippi I guess. Dunhams stores east of the Big Muddy.

Sale price, otherwise they are $180 or so. Less selection of course.

try here for all things Russkie:

http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewforum.php?f=28

[dynachrome]

33 Tula?

Hex receiver? lucky dog!

[mamelukesabre]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34RqMoyMZmI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOKxBxLg1H0&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvMcSnOMxkk&NR=1&feature=fvwp

[Viking2002]

Aw, man, that just isn't fair. LOL But, my FFL guy pulled up stakes and is taking his sweet time relocating (imagine my surprise when I drove by and saw a mattress store where his shop was!).

[Chasaway]

You’re right...30.06 isn’t scarce...

Matter of fact, I bought several boxes of 185 g soft points at a gun show.

But I keep reading from the Garand folks that some of the “commercial” ammo isn’t so terrific for the Garand...

[If any or you Gunny’s who’ve shot/seen shot a lot of Garands know different, I’d really like to know it.]

That the Garand should be fed 150 grains or less and that some of the modern powders create a different gas pressure than is optimum for the Garand.

So I found some American Eagle FMJ 150g ammo, but I still think I paid too much. And I’m really looking to load up on the stuff.

[Viking2002]

Yup - hex receiver. It's a real bear finding them now - round receivers are all that seem to be in stock with most gun shops lately.

[ExGeeEye]

Is that an Arisaka?

People downthread think it’s chasaway’s “Garand”. (snicker)

[ExGeeEye]

Ah so.

Arigato.

[dynachrome]

Tula arsenal is a bit rarer and all hex receivers are pre-1935, I think(?). (Finnish reworked Mosins are reworked on all years and may actually be antiques if an early receiver was used and re stocked, dated, and with Finnish stamps.)

[MileHi]

Well, I have shot some 150 soft point in my garand and it shoots about the same spot as ball ammo, but I guess commercial ammo is discouraged. I am not sure the tech reason why. Let’s find out.

Squantos, can you help here? Who else on here might know?

[dynachrome]

Nah. I posted one of my oddities, the M95 Steyr carbine. Austro/Hungarian (hungarian in this case and rechambered to the 8x56r by the bulgarians. Big “S” on the receiver to denote that)

It was the carbine issued to police and 3rd line troops.

“Guarding the cardboard box factory? Here is your weapon!”

http://www.surplusrifle.com/steyrm95/index.asp

[Chasaway]

Yep...as usual, I don’t understand all I know about this..

But it would be great if I could find a good supplier or mil sup ball ammo for it.

With the dude in the White House, that might be a problem for a while. Seems like it sells out pretty quick.

[Viking2002]

I'm not the expert in that area, but I ran mine thru a cool web link I found to date and locate it. (I gotta have about 50 gun links saved for it.) And to my eye, this one doesn't appear to have been re-stamped - the S/N's all match as original, with no obvious machining.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Squantos, can you help here? Who else on here might know?

EAKER!!!

[Chasaway]

Okay...I’m not an absolute moron re rifles, but what do you mean, “...Pay close attention to the tightness of the gas cylinder retaining screw...”?

Can you be more specific for me?

Chasaway

[dynachrome]

Excellent!

if you don’t have

http://www.jgsales.com/index.php?osCsid=909de403d1d30567c9a8805fbec70599

check ‘em out.

they are good. if they say good shape it is.

[MileHi]

I have some of the Greek surplus ammo. It is mil ball, but it is hot loads. So I don’t know why commercial 150 would be harder on the rifle.

[Viking2002]

LOL Where do you think I got mine? And I go with whomever has the cheapest non-corrosive light ball ammo I can find, too. But J&G seems to have some good deals when you need one. I get their catalogs in the mail. They seem to be pretty on-the-ball.

[MileHi]

What have you done! Have you seen what Eaker does to a garand?

[Chasaway]

You know, that’s what EVERYONE says about the Greek mil sup ammo. It’s really hot; really heats up the barrel, etc.

I sure don’t know. I just don’t want to screw up a terrific, 60+ year old rifle running the wrong food through it.

But, the Greek stuff is supposed to be great. Hot or not.

Chasaway