The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > The Smithy

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old November 24, 2008, 09:26 PM   #1
360 jp
Member
 
Join Date: January 15, 2006
Posts: 32
M1 Garand question

I just bought a 1943 M1 Garand from a local place. The end of the barrel is chewed up on the right hand side and bottom where it comes through the reciever. It looks as if some rat chewed the right hand side and some bottom portions off ( for example). I am guessing it is from rust. So I am wondering if gas would blow back in the shooters face due to improper sealing of the bolt face against the breech. This is my 1st Garand I ever even looked at at length, but not my first rifle.
360 jp is offline  
Old November 24, 2008, 10:36 PM   #2
360 jp
Member
 
Join Date: January 15, 2006
Posts: 32
Is the right side, and a small part of the bottom of the barrel end supposed to be carved out where it meets the reciever?
360 jp is offline  
Old November 25, 2008, 12:00 AM   #3
ogree
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 18, 2005
Location: Idaho
Posts: 151
a picture would better illustrate what the problem is.
ogree is offline  
Old November 25, 2008, 12:11 AM   #4
hejlman
Member
 
Join Date: November 2, 2008
Location: SA
Posts: 26
Hard to say, need picture. Did you get any type of warranty, or repair/replacement agreement when you purchased it? Most dealers will allow you to get another that isn't as damaged as long as it is within a certain time frame, or he hosed you on purpose.
hejlman is offline  
Old November 25, 2008, 12:22 AM   #5
James K
Member In Memoriam
 
Join Date: March 17, 1999
Posts: 24,383
The very end of the barrel on the right is cut away for the extractor in an arc from about 1 o'clock down clockwise. But the cut should be smooth, not looking like a rat nibbled on it. A picture really is necessary.

Jim
James K is offline  
Old November 25, 2008, 08:07 PM   #6
Unclenick
Staff
 
Join Date: March 4, 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 21,022
There are also two cuts either side of six o'clock that act as feed ramps. Your description of it looking like a rat chewed it may be from removed rust. It may also bee the original owner dropped the barrel on that thin cutout area before installing it (it bends easily when outside the reciever), and had to break it off to keep it from interfering with feeding.
__________________
Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member
CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor
NRA Certified Rifle Instructor
NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle
Unclenick is offline  
Old November 25, 2008, 11:20 PM   #7
360 jp
Member
 
Join Date: January 15, 2006
Posts: 32
Thank You very much Mr Keenan, and Uncle Nick. The cutout does start at 1 o clock down to 5 o clock where it ramps up towards 6 o clock, and there is a small cutout, where it looks like some pin in the bolt interacts with the breech, at 6 o clock.

Right around 5 o clock, it has a pit or two in it, but not very deep. Will this cause problems feeding? Do I need a new barrel? I might have over-exaggerated abit, I apologize, but it is a big purchase for me. I paid $1000 for this rifle with no guarantee, from the shop.
360 jp is offline  
Old November 26, 2008, 07:29 AM   #8
Unclenick
Staff
 
Join Date: March 4, 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 21,022
You probably won't need a new barrel unless that one is shot out in the throat or the lands are funneled open at the muzzle from use of the segmented steel military cleaning rods. There are gauges available from the CMP to check both. If you are a one-gun Garand owner, see if you can find a gunsmith with a set to check it for you?

Take a felt bob on a Dremel tool (I know, I know, but this is gentle) and some JB Bore Compound or Iosso Bore Cleaner or Brasso and polish the pits and their edges. Those polishing materials should not remove enough metal to matter. You just want to round the edges of the pits so they can't grab. Flitz will work, too, but will take longer. When you shoot the gun, watch to see if you build up jacket metal in the pits? Removing a little metal from a bullet won't make a hill of beans worth of difference to accuracy, but if you have that building up you are beating on the bullets enough that they may tip in the cartridge case and be a little less accurate at long range. If you have any feed problems and the hang-up is always when the cartridge feeds on the pitted side, that would be another indicator it matters. Neither of those situations are likely. This is a battle rifle, after all, and is designed to keep working despite a degree of abuse.

If you look at your bolt, you'll see most of that cutting at the breech end of the barrel is profiling that allows the bolt to cover the case head as far as possible. It has to leave room for the extractor to snap into a case's extractor groove. The rib at 6:00 doesn't fit into anything. It is just a left/right feed ramp division to guide bullet noses coming off the staggered magazine stack into the chamber without bouncing over to the opposite side. I suppose the general funnel shape makes it a little easier to toss an individual cartridge into the chamber if you don't have time to insert a fresh clip?

Nick
__________________
Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member
CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor
NRA Certified Rifle Instructor
NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

Last edited by Unclenick; November 26, 2008 at 07:47 AM.
Unclenick is offline  
Old November 26, 2008, 08:34 PM   #9
360 jp
Member
 
Join Date: January 15, 2006
Posts: 32
Thank You again Sir, I'll have a gunsmith look at it.

Last edited by 360 jp; November 26, 2008 at 09:31 PM.
360 jp is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:54 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.06427 seconds with 10 queries