M1 Garand loose front hand guard

Tido4570 · February 16, 2011, 08:54 PM

I have a Springfield M1 Garand, after field stripping and cleaning everything I reasembled the rifle and the front handguard is loose. There are not enough threads for the gas cylinder lock to screw onto to make the handguard tight. I manufactured a spacer to go between the front handguard and the gas cylinder assembly. I screwed down the gas cylinder lock and it is now solid. Is it normal for that front handguard to be loose? Am I doing a wrong thing by putting that spacer there? Any help. Thanks

Dfariswheel · February 16, 2011, 09:02 PM

TAKE THE SPACER BACK OUT BEFORE YOU SHOOT IT.

The M1 front AND rear hand guard MUST have some forward and back play.
If the hand guards are tight, when the rifle is fired and the barrel heats up, the hand guards will bind and this will cause the barrel to flex.
This will destroy accuracy.

The rear guard should slide forward and back about 1/8" or a little more, and the front guard should be loose and free to move slightly. It will rattle, which is normal.
If the rear hand guard isn't free to move slightly, it will also crack.

The only M1 rifles in which the front guard doesn't move are on National Match rifles in which the front guard has been "gutted" and bonded to the lower handguard barrel ring. These rifles should never be handled by the front guard or it may be broken loose.

Tido4570 · February 17, 2011, 12:45 AM

Thankyou very much! I have not shot it, so I will take it out.

zippy13 · February 17, 2011, 01:29 AM

Oops... omit

February 16, 2011, 08:54 PM	#1
Tido4570 Member Join Date: December 1, 2008 Location: Colesburg, IA Posts: 61	M1 Garand loose front hand guard I have a Springfield M1 Garand, after field stripping and cleaning everything I reasembled the rifle and the front handguard is loose. There are not enough threads for the gas cylinder lock to screw onto to make the handguard tight. I manufactured a spacer to go between the front handguard and the gas cylinder assembly. I screwed down the gas cylinder lock and it is now solid. Is it normal for that front handguard to be loose? Am I doing a wrong thing by putting that spacer there? Any help. Thanks

February 16, 2011, 09:02 PM	#2
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	TAKE THE SPACER BACK OUT BEFORE YOU SHOOT IT. The M1 front AND rear hand guard MUST have some forward and back play. If the hand guards are tight, when the rifle is fired and the barrel heats up, the hand guards will bind and this will cause the barrel to flex. This will destroy accuracy. The rear guard should slide forward and back about 1/8" or a little more, and the front guard should be loose and free to move slightly. It will rattle, which is normal. If the rear hand guard isn't free to move slightly, it will also crack. The only M1 rifles in which the front guard doesn't move are on National Match rifles in which the front guard has been "gutted" and bonded to the lower handguard barrel ring. These rifles should never be handled by the front guard or it may be broken loose.

February 17, 2011, 12:45 AM	#3
Tido4570 Member Join Date: December 1, 2008 Location: Colesburg, IA Posts: 61	Thankyou very much! I have not shot it, so I will take it out.

February 17, 2011, 01:29 AM	#4
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Oops... omit