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]

they have good deals. I bought 2 nagant pistols from them.

Everything about Mosin rifles:

http://www.7.62x54r.net/

[MileHi]

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

It shoots great in mine. But that ammo seems to be gone.

[dynachrome]

CMP ammo if ya can get it. The old warhorses were made to stand up to abuse.

[Chasaway]

Actually...maybe commercial 150 grains aren’t the issue; maybe it’s the stuff that throws heavier bullets - like 185 grains or so.

Come to think of it, I think (from what I’ve read) that it’s more the bigger bullet/powder combo that’s the issue than the fact that it’s “commercial”.

Maybe someone can calibrate me on this...

[dynachrome]

ps. treat any milsurp ammo as corrosive, especially in any humid climate. I shoot corrosive all the time.

[Viking2002]

That one has been at the top of my Mosin bookmark folder since the day I wiped the residual Cosmoline off of it, but thanks. I just noticed that J&G is now back to offering a hand-select ordering option. They had such a run on that, they suspended it at one point due to sheer sales volume. It took them two weeks to ship mine.

[dynachrome]

pps. If you have the coin, the Swiss k31 rifles are a good deal at JG right now.

[roostercogburn]

I know my 10 year old son shot one for the first time last weekend!

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1253817938625&ref=mf

[Eaker]

This is what they look like on the inside........... ;<)

[The KG9 Kid]

1. .30-06 surplus ammo is scarce right now. You can get on the email notification list for ammoman.com when more becomes available.

2. Scott Duff's books are what you're looking for.

3. Leave it alone. Come back when you can consistently shoot 2 MOA.

4. Fulton Armory, J&G Sales, and the Brownell's catalog are good places to start.

[dynachrome]

Looks like it kicks less than my M44 mosin carbine!

Looks like he has good technique.

[Viking2002]

The coin I got. Spending it without the wife noticing is a whole other bushel of apples. LOL Not that she has an aversion to it - she bought me my first gun for Christmas since we were married: a Pieta 1851 Navy revolver. She indulges me. She's also begun, ever so slowly, to appreciate the 2nd Amendment on many levels. Hey, this was a woman who hadn't even picked up a fishing pole since she was a kid, and now she gets her own copy of Bassmaster in the mail and owns her own spinning rig.

[MileHi]

They will chime in soon.

That is why I never tried any but 150 gr soft point.

BTW, mine is an early ‘70 Springfield made from surplus new parts, last run to use up the parts. So it isn’t WWII, but “new old stock” and the last of them. And, it is pristine, maybe 500 rnds ever. So not interesting as yours, but a new garand non the less.

[dynachrome]

Ouch! time for a new stock!

[MileHi]

I remember that Eaker. What ammo was that?

[dynachrome]

You shoot. She fishes.

Can’t go wrong!

[MileHi]

New rifle....

[GnL]

CMP is out of Greek M2 ammo, but is getting more soon. Here is a notice from the Director of CMP, Orest Michaels, dated 11/26/09:

“MORE .30-06 HXP AMMO SOON: The CMP has been successful in acquiring another large quantity of HXP .30-06 ammo. We expect delivery in Jan 2010 and should have the ammo ready for sale by Feb or Mar. Until we actually receive and inspect the ammo, we will not know what packaging configurations will be available, but expect them to be the same as we have had for the past few years. We do not yet know what our final cost will be. We do know that the quantity is large enough to satisfy our customer needs for several years. We will not accept any pre-orders or establish a waiting list. Thanks for your support and patience.”

BTW, I have 4 Garands from CMP and several thousand rounds of the Greek HXP ammo and have not had any problems with it. Most M1 guys consider it to be very good ammo. Join CMP and get in line for this stuff. You will pay much, much more for commercial M1-compatible rounds. FYI, the last batch of Greek stuff they had was about 45 million rounds and the one coming is supposed to be a large batch as well.

[VR-21]

If you look at your unloaded rifle at the muzzle, the 'tube' beneath the barrel is the gas cylinder. A small hole on the underside of the barrel (the gas port) allows gas to enter that tube and push the operating rod back to cycle the weapon. You'll see what looks like a slotted 'plug' at the muzzle end of the gas cylinder. That's what I referred to as the cylinder retaining screw. It's threaded, and it is what keeps the cylinder in place. They will occasionally come loose and you should check them for tightness.

There's a book titled The M1 Garand: OWNER'S GUIDE that has just about everything you want to know about the Garand from an operational and maintainance standpoint. It's available from Fulton Armory (www.fulton-armory.com) and very much worth having for anyone who owns an M1. Fulton Armory specializes in parts & accessories for M1 Garands and Carbines. There are a few others outfits as well.

[dynachrome]

The Swiss are good shooters by all reports, but that would mean another caliber running around the Dynachrome stash!