Anyone here Assemble an M1 Garand?

[mtgrs737]

I am thinking about a M1 Garand build now that I have a surplus kit and a stripped receiver. All I lack is the proper tools to do it right. Is there anyone here that has these tools and gages and would lend/rent them to me for a single build?

[greg gremlin]

Problem. The bolt must headspace to the reciever correctly. And installing the bbl is not something a nubie should try. What does the bbl gage? If shot out you are spinning your wheels. (No dog in the hunt) I would look up Dean at DGR.com who does excellent work or Orion 7 (tony). Look at what they do and ask questions. I have had them do work, their prices are reasonable. hth greg

[mtgrs737]

I shall give them a look see! Thanks!

[jonk]

It isn't rocket science, but the needed gauges, reamers (if needed) barrel wrenches, etc. wouldn't make it worth it for putting ONE together.

Add to that while any handy individual can do it with the proper tools, having a qualified teacher show you how to do it the first few times is a must.

I've never put one together myself but have been hanging out at the gunsmith's when he put one together so I have some idea of what is needed and would say that while not HARD it is involved.

[Shiloh]

You need the gauges and can rent a reamer. After you remove/install the barrel.
Good advice by Jonk. Find someone who has been around the block a time or two.

My buddy has changed barrels on several and put a drill rifle back in running condition.

Shiloh

[smokemjoe]

What the others have said is true, I got a action wrench and barrel wrench froma fellow that sold out so that helped me out, Also I had go and no go gauges, I had to buy a field gauge next. I traded barrels around and lucked out and headspaced okey.
This year I ordered 8 stripped barreled action from the CMP, I got 8 kits from Dupage traders and started from there, Well if I wouldnt of had 8 bolts to intrchange I would of been pass the field guage on to much headspace on 3 of them.Most off the time they headspace up good. The barrels on a M1 are not that tight. Taking of a org. barrel they break loose easy, Go for it, Thats the way you learn. Joe

[opentop]

They are not that hard to do given the proper tools, I rebareld a few of mine, and a few for a freind. Just do your homework and you'll be fine.

Every one I did I used mill surplus barrels that were alraedy finish chambered. I only ran in to one that would not headspace. Bought a new bolt and that fixed that problem.

You will need an action wrench, barrel vice, tools to index the barrel, and headspace guages.

I would loan my tools, but I sold them a few years back.

[NickSS]

I rebuilt one several years ago. The rifle was a mess when I got it so I took it all apart and used the stock for firewood but kept all the metal for it. I bought a new stock then looked long an hard at the barrel work and decided that it was beyond my skills and tooling available. So I had a gunsmith install the new barrel I bought for it. He did a great job and it only cost me about $85 to have him screw it on and head space it. I considered that money well spent. The rest of it I assembled myself. I had some problems with the rifles cycling which I traced to a warn clip latch (several rounds and clip would occasionally fly out of the rifle during shooting). I still have the rifle and it shoots fine.

[NuJudge]

These are probably well-used parts, so there are some issues with 'tollerance stacking' that may come up in the receiver. Each part is within tollerance, but several mating parts deviating from the mean certain ways have caused me problems with the timing of the receiver feeding. If your rifle's bolt occasionally tries to break a cartridge in half, you have the problem, and you'll have to switch around parts until the gauge (available from CMP and other sources) tells you it's ok.

It would be good to look at the locating tab on the Operating Rod for wear and for fit, and you might want to just replace the Op Rod Spring. Jerry Kuhnhausen's shop manual would be the best book on the subject. If your Op Rod locating tab is not fitted right or is too worn, the Op Rod will pop out on you, always at the most inconvenient moment.

[mtgrs737]

Thanks guys for the replies, Tomorrow I am going down to a friend that is a gunsmith/machinist to let him take a look at what I have. He has re-barreled a Garand and says it would not be a problem if all is well. I have the shop manual on Garands and M14's that you refered to and am reading and learning from it. If I had the tools I would give it a go! Is it nessasary to lap the bolt to the receiver? I have a very good condition reeiver and a brand new SA bolt. I can see no clearance between the two when in battery.

[mtgrs737]

I dropped off my garand at my gunsmith friends shop, I have my fingers crossed. I hope all goes well on this project, as most always is the case I have more invested in this build than I would like.

[BarryinIN]

I just saw this.
I have the tools (receiver wrench, barrel vise), but as I've only done .308s that is what my reamer and guages are. I can loan them to you or your gunsmith, but obviously only the tools will be of much use unless you are making up a .308.

[Maj Dad]

I don't recall exactly what I paid Tony Pucci a few years ago to barrel/headspace my CMP M1 receiver & VAR bbl & 2 bolts, but it wasnt that much and was well worth it and then some. I am mechanically inclined, and I also know that there are some things described as "low volume, high risk" in quality control terms. I could have done it, but I also could have made an extremely slight mis-step and messed up the whole banana. If I were setting out to learn smithing, it'd be different; as it is, I'll do the support work, and the experts can address the detailed stuff I ought not.
My 2 cents and not a criticism at all,
Maj Dad

[mtgrs737]

BerryinIN and Maj Dad,

Thanks for the offer to loan some of the tools, if I would of heard from you sooner I would of taken you up on them as I enjoy doing things myself. I dropped it off at my gunsmith last Thursday.

I understand where your coming from Maj Dad, it is hard to justify the risk of botching it up and the costs of tools to DIY. But I know I would of given it a go if not for the price of the tools and the fact that the most I would do is one maybe two rifles.

Thanks again for the replies!

Rich

[TAWILDCATT]

I put together two.one 30/06 one 308.no special tools except a mill.wow it loaded

[sheepdog]

Just spend the $600 and buy you a service grade M1 from CMP. You can get you a nice 3 gauge throat H+R from them.