M1 Garand Zero

akinswi · October 8, 2021, 10:43 AM

I noticed When I zero my M1 that I have to move my Front Post almost all the way over to the left side to hit center on the target . I want to keep my rear windage at dead center so its easy for me to adjust for windage. So I noticed When I zero my M1 that I have to move my Front Post almost all the way over to the left side to hit center on the target . I want to keep my rear windage at dead center so its easy for me to adjust for windage. So I “ONLY” want to adjust with the front sight

I Have the original front sight (1953) and was wondering if I changed to a national match front sight it would allow me to move zero closer to the center. or maybe a new GI front sight.

It just looks funny pushed all that way to the left. Gun shoots great but longer shots I found it easier for me to have my rear sight set to zero in order to adjust for windage

Thanks I want to do the adjustment with the front sight

I Have the original front sight (1953) and was wondering if I changed to a national match front sight it would allow me to move zero closer to the center. or maybe a new GI front sight.

It just looks funny pushed all that way to the left. Gun shoots great but longer shots I found it easier for me to have my rear sight set to zero in order to adjust for windage

Im a left handed shooter
Thanks

veprdude · October 10, 2021, 11:49 PM

A) Is the front sight noticeably bent?

B) What year is your M1?

C) Where did you get it?

I don't think I've encountered an M1 that needed much rear sight adjustment to zero. I have a detailed post on a re-weld M1 I unfortunately obtained. If you have a cobbled together one it's very possible the receiver is kinked up.

akinswi · October 11, 2021, 08:44 AM

The front post doesn’t look perfectly flat on top like it has a slight cant to it maybe someone filed it a bit before I had it .If I have the front post centered it takes 4 clicks of right windage to get it close to zero.

As far as I know the receiver isnt a reweld the Gun shoots ok for 70 year old barrel best I can do from it on a perfect day is about 2 moa from a rest.

I was just wondering if buying a NM front post would allow me to move that front post back close to center of bore axis since it is narrower.

1953 H&R
Barrel is original 1953

I purchased it from a friend of Mine about 12 years ago.

veprdude · October 12, 2021, 01:12 AM

It's possible the front sight got bent along the years. Any visible damage?

bamaranger · October 12, 2021, 02:12 AM

You mention that from mechanical zero, you must apply 4 clicks of windage (equivalent of 4 MOA) for bullet impact at center (paraphrased). At what distance is this amount of correction necessary, ie, what distance are you shooting to establish zero?

The National Match front sight width is .062" , A GI front sight spec is .082 +/- a .010" depending on mfg and tolerance. I don't believe changing a front sight width will help your problem. Center is still center, no matter the blade width............I think?

Are you by some chance cross dominant? (vision)

jcj54 · October 12, 2021, 06:59 AM

Remember that 3/4 of the M1 rifles were built when there was a war on. It is not uncommon to have to move the front sight that much off center to have the rear sight at center. I have seen it many many times over the years. It may look a bit odd, but it does work, and gives you max available windage adjustment in both directions.

stuckinthe60s · October 12, 2021, 07:13 AM

had numerous guns with front sights like that. its perfectly fine. cause? somethings non concentric. either the receiver threads or the bbl. and since bbls change over the life of a gun....viola, the cause. center your rear sight, adj the front and go kill some x's.

akinswi · October 12, 2021, 08:39 AM

Its at 100 yards, And I wear contacts I have astigmatism in each eye. I have to close my right when I shoot. I checked my AR15 M2 and I have to have two clicks of windage to the right on that. Same on the my pistols with adjustable sights So it’s probably my corrected eye sight. I ordered a national match front sight until I can find a H&R front sight.

I will post some pics of the original front sight when I get a chance.

**Unclenick** · October 12, 2021, 11:04 AM

Akinswi,

You might want to edit your original post. Everything in it repeats.

As mentioned, this situation happens. The Garand sight radius is about 28" so your sight should require about 0.008" of movement per moa. This means adjusting the front sight left by 0.032" to compensate for a 4 moa windage calibration error (regardless of range). This is about the displacement you would get from 1⅔° of error in either the barrel being screwed into the receiver or the error you could get if you peened the barrel spline to tip the gas cylinder a bit. A potential correction or partial correction therefore could come from peening only the left side (looking at the muzzle) of the top spline to intentionally tilt the gas cylinder a little bit clockwise.

akinswi · October 12, 2021, 01:00 PM

Thanks Nick,

I did recently peen my splines so maybe I peened one side too much. The illustration you provided should help me to level out the cyclinder. Unfortunately this time I did blue loctite the cyclinder so I will have to clean all the loctite off.

But that second illustration looks identical to how my front sight post looks

**Unclenick** · October 12, 2021, 05:22 PM

I was able to show it quickly because I already had a drawing. It was intended for this instruction on how to make a tool to control the amount of front sight adjustment.

October 8, 2021, 10:43 AM	#1
akinswi Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2012 Location: Bowling Green, Ky Posts: 725	M1 Garand Zero I noticed When I zero my M1 that I have to move my Front Post almost all the way over to the left side to hit center on the target . I want to keep my rear windage at dead center so its easy for me to adjust for windage. So I noticed When I zero my M1 that I have to move my Front Post almost all the way over to the left side to hit center on the target . I want to keep my rear windage at dead center so its easy for me to adjust for windage. So I “ONLY” want to adjust with the front sight I Have the original front sight (1953) and was wondering if I changed to a national match front sight it would allow me to move zero closer to the center. or maybe a new GI front sight. It just looks funny pushed all that way to the left. Gun shoots great but longer shots I found it easier for me to have my rear sight set to zero in order to adjust for windage Thanks I want to do the adjustment with the front sight I Have the original front sight (1953) and was wondering if I changed to a national match front sight it would allow me to move zero closer to the center. or maybe a new GI front sight. It just looks funny pushed all that way to the left. Gun shoots great but longer shots I found it easier for me to have my rear sight set to zero in order to adjust for windage Im a left handed shooter Thanks Last edited by akinswi; October 8, 2021 at 10:49 AM.

October 11, 2021, 08:44 AM	#3
akinswi Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2012 Location: Bowling Green, Ky Posts: 725	The front post doesn’t look perfectly flat on top like it has a slight cant to it maybe someone filed it a bit before I had it .If I have the front post centered it takes 4 clicks of right windage to get it close to zero. As far as I know the receiver isnt a reweld the Gun shoots ok for 70 year old barrel best I can do from it on a perfect day is about 2 moa from a rest. I was just wondering if buying a NM front post would allow me to move that front post back close to center of bore axis since it is narrower. 1953 H&R Barrel is original 1953 I purchased it from a friend of Mine about 12 years ago. Last edited by akinswi; October 11, 2021 at 08:54 AM.

October 12, 2021, 02:12 AM	#5
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,804	sights You mention that from mechanical zero, you must apply 4 clicks of windage (equivalent of 4 MOA) for bullet impact at center (paraphrased). At what distance is this amount of correction necessary, ie, what distance are you shooting to establish zero? The National Match front sight width is .062" , A GI front sight spec is .082 +/- a .010" depending on mfg and tolerance. I don't believe changing a front sight width will help your problem. Center is still center, no matter the blade width............I think? Are you by some chance cross dominant? (vision)

October 12, 2021, 06:59 AM	#6
jcj54 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2011 Posts: 282	M1 front sight Remember that 3/4 of the M1 rifles were built when there was a war on. It is not uncommon to have to move the front sight that much off center to have the rear sight at center. I have seen it many many times over the years. It may look a bit odd, but it does work, and gives you max available windage adjustment in both directions.

October 12, 2021, 07:13 AM	#7
stuckinthe60s Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2017 Location: Va., Ct., Mo.. Posts: 955	had numerous guns with front sights like that. its perfectly fine. cause? somethings non concentric. either the receiver threads or the bbl. and since bbls change over the life of a gun....viola, the cause. center your rear sight, adj the front and go kill some x's. __________________ Retired Military Aviation Former Member Navy Shooting Team Distinguished Pistol Shot,NRA Shotgun/Pistol Instructor NSSA All American, Skeet/Trap Range Owner

October 10, 2021, 11:49 PM	#2
veprdude Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2019 Location: Texas Posts: 477	A) Is the front sight noticeably bent? B) What year is your M1? C) Where did you get it? I don't think I've encountered an M1 that needed much rear sight adjustment to zero. I have a detailed post on a re-weld M1 I unfortunately obtained. If you have a cobbled together one it's very possible the receiver is kinked up.

October 12, 2021, 01:12 AM	#4
veprdude Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2019 Location: Texas Posts: 477	It's possible the front sight got bent along the years. Any visible damage?

October 12, 2021, 08:39 AM	#8
akinswi Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2012 Location: Bowling Green, Ky Posts: 725	Its at 100 yards, And I wear contacts I have astigmatism in each eye. I have to close my right when I shoot. I checked my AR15 M2 and I have to have two clicks of windage to the right on that. Same on the my pistols with adjustable sights So it’s probably my corrected eye sight. I ordered a national match front sight until I can find a H&R front sight. I will post some pics of the original front sight when I get a chance. Last edited by akinswi; October 12, 2021 at 08:47 AM.

October 12, 2021, 01:00 PM	#10
akinswi Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2012 Location: Bowling Green, Ky Posts: 725	Thanks Nick, I did recently peen my splines so maybe I peened one side too much. The illustration you provided should help me to level out the cyclinder. Unfortunately this time I did blue loctite the cyclinder so I will have to clean all the loctite off. But that second illustration looks identical to how my front sight post looks Last edited by akinswi; October 12, 2021 at 02:05 PM.