M1 Garand Front Site

jmquinn05 · October 16, 2010, 03:58 PM

I have an M1 Garand that was my grandfathers and have cleaned it up nice the only problem i have found is the front site is a bit loose it moves from side to side and obviously will kill the accuracy. Any tips on fixing this without buying new barrel and gas tube?

Scorch · October 16, 2010, 06:02 PM

Take the sight blade out, and use a small hammer to lightly tap down the top of the dovetail notch to close it up a bit, then reinstall the sight. If the sight is still loose after tightening up the dovetail, you can use a center punch to make ONE punchmark in the center of the botton of the dovetail notch. If this still fails to tighten it sufficiently, try a drop of clear nailpolish or blue LocTite under the sight.

Dfariswheel · October 16, 2010, 07:55 PM

Scorch: That's not going to work on an M1 Rifle.

jmquinn05:
Is the sight loose on the gas cylinder, or is the gas cylinder loose on the barrel?

If the sight is loose on the gas cylinder, use the correct size Allen wrench to tighten the screw at the rear of the sight. If the screw is stripped, replace the sight and screw.

If the gas cylinder is loose on the barrel, a simple, easy, and non-destructive fix is to close the splines on the barrel slightly to tighten the fit of the gas cylinder.
Remove the gas cylinder lock screw, remove the gas cylinder lock, and remove the gas cylinder.

Lay a socket from a socket set on the top barrel spline where the splines on the gas cylinder fit.
Use a plastic screwdriver handle to give the socket a couple of raps.
Put the socket on the second spline and repeat.
Put the socket on the third spline and repeat.

This will slightly close the splines and tighten the fit of the gas cylinder.
This doesn't take much so don't hammer on the socket. The splines will close too much.
Ideally, you should have to put a small block of wood in front of the gas cylinder and gently tap the gas cylinder onto the barrel.
You don't want to have to drive it on, so that's why you should only tap the socket on the splines.

To reassemble the gas system, put the gas cylinder on the barrel, then screw the gas cylinder lock on until it touches the cylinder. Back the lock off until you can get the gas cylinder lock screw in, even if that takes almost a full turn of the lock.
When the screw is tightened, this will pull the gas cylinder and lock together.

James K · October 16, 2010, 08:55 PM

FWIW, I like to correct gas cylinder looseness by inserting a round bar into the top part of the cylinder and tapping it to spread the splines a bit. That has the same effect as closing up the spline cuts in the barrel and the cylinder is cheaper and easier to replace than the barrel if I go too far.

Jim

October 16, 2010, 03:58 PM	#1
jmquinn05 Member Join Date: September 14, 2010 Location: The State of Texas Posts: 23	M1 Garand Front Site I have an M1 Garand that was my grandfathers and have cleaned it up nice the only problem i have found is the front site is a bit loose it moves from side to side and obviously will kill the accuracy. Any tips on fixing this without buying new barrel and gas tube?

October 16, 2010, 06:02 PM	#2
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,249	Take the sight blade out, and use a small hammer to lightly tap down the top of the dovetail notch to close it up a bit, then reinstall the sight. If the sight is still loose after tightening up the dovetail, you can use a center punch to make ONE punchmark in the center of the botton of the dovetail notch. If this still fails to tighten it sufficiently, try a drop of clear nailpolish or blue LocTite under the sight. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

October 16, 2010, 07:55 PM	#3
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,559	Scorch: That's not going to work on an M1 Rifle. jmquinn05: Is the sight loose on the gas cylinder, or is the gas cylinder loose on the barrel? If the sight is loose on the gas cylinder, use the correct size Allen wrench to tighten the screw at the rear of the sight. If the screw is stripped, replace the sight and screw. If the gas cylinder is loose on the barrel, a simple, easy, and non-destructive fix is to close the splines on the barrel slightly to tighten the fit of the gas cylinder. Remove the gas cylinder lock screw, remove the gas cylinder lock, and remove the gas cylinder. Lay a socket from a socket set on the top barrel spline where the splines on the gas cylinder fit. Use a plastic screwdriver handle to give the socket a couple of raps. Put the socket on the second spline and repeat. Put the socket on the third spline and repeat. This will slightly close the splines and tighten the fit of the gas cylinder. This doesn't take much so don't hammer on the socket. The splines will close too much. Ideally, you should have to put a small block of wood in front of the gas cylinder and gently tap the gas cylinder onto the barrel. You don't want to have to drive it on, so that's why you should only tap the socket on the splines. To reassemble the gas system, put the gas cylinder on the barrel, then screw the gas cylinder lock on until it touches the cylinder. Back the lock off until you can get the gas cylinder lock screw in, even if that takes almost a full turn of the lock. When the screw is tightened, this will pull the gas cylinder and lock together.

October 16, 2010, 08:55 PM	#4
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	FWIW, I like to correct gas cylinder looseness by inserting a round bar into the top part of the cylinder and tapping it to spread the splines a bit. That has the same effect as closing up the spline cuts in the barrel and the cylinder is cheaper and easier to replace than the barrel if I go too far. Jim