I recently started shooting my M1 Garand that I got from the DCM (now CMP) back in the early 90's. (yes I know, but please don't hate me. better late than never) I am having problems with accuracy and loading clips.
My accuracy issue can be quantified by saying I can't repeatedly hit a 12" target from a bench rest at 100 yards and no groupings whatsoever. Spraying bullets everywhere.( I am shooting reloads of 150 gr Sierra with 50 gr of 4064.)
So I took to cleaning the barrel last weekend. I am using Tipton's bore solvent by alternating soaked patches and nylon bore brush. I never got a soaked patch to run thru clean, so I gave up, dry patched the bore and coated with Hoppes 9 oil. I returned again yesterday and reengaged bore cleaning operations. For several passes with Tipton soaked patches, a LOT of blue was showing up on the patches. Then later, only lots of black stuff, no blue. After about two hours or so, I again gave up, dry patched the barrel and coated with oil.
I tried visually inspecting the barrel for some reference. I can see crud (rust?) in the barrel still, and it doesn't look shiny like the barrel of the two Savage bolt action rifles I cleaned in that same manner. However, due to design, it is a lot harder to get light into the Garand barrel. Another curious observation is that while I slowly withdraw the cleaning rod with a brush attached to the rod, the rod will rotate slowly for about the first 1/2 of the barrel, (starting at the chamber) and then stop rotating the last 1/2 of travel till the brush exits the muzzle. i.e. It appears the brush can't bite the grooves the last part of the barrrel. I can physically see the grooves with visual inspection in the last portion of the barrel.
So, based on that, I am thinking I would like an expert to look this gun and barrel over. I need to know is the barrel ruined, and why are the clips so hard to load.
Can anybody recommend a M1 expert? I live in NE Oklahoma, and feel like this is beyond the scope of a a local gunsmith, unless someone can tell me different. I can drive it to them or mail it I guess, although I am hesitant to do that.
Thanks for your time
My accuracy issue can be quantified by saying I can't repeatedly hit a 12" target from a bench rest at 100 yards and no groupings whatsoever. Spraying bullets everywhere.( I am shooting reloads of 150 gr Sierra with 50 gr of 4064.)
So I took to cleaning the barrel last weekend. I am using Tipton's bore solvent by alternating soaked patches and nylon bore brush. I never got a soaked patch to run thru clean, so I gave up, dry patched the bore and coated with Hoppes 9 oil. I returned again yesterday and reengaged bore cleaning operations. For several passes with Tipton soaked patches, a LOT of blue was showing up on the patches. Then later, only lots of black stuff, no blue. After about two hours or so, I again gave up, dry patched the barrel and coated with oil.
I tried visually inspecting the barrel for some reference. I can see crud (rust?) in the barrel still, and it doesn't look shiny like the barrel of the two Savage bolt action rifles I cleaned in that same manner. However, due to design, it is a lot harder to get light into the Garand barrel. Another curious observation is that while I slowly withdraw the cleaning rod with a brush attached to the rod, the rod will rotate slowly for about the first 1/2 of the barrel, (starting at the chamber) and then stop rotating the last 1/2 of travel till the brush exits the muzzle. i.e. It appears the brush can't bite the grooves the last part of the barrrel. I can physically see the grooves with visual inspection in the last portion of the barrel.
So, based on that, I am thinking I would like an expert to look this gun and barrel over. I need to know is the barrel ruined, and why are the clips so hard to load.
Can anybody recommend a M1 expert? I live in NE Oklahoma, and feel like this is beyond the scope of a a local gunsmith, unless someone can tell me different. I can drive it to them or mail it I guess, although I am hesitant to do that.
Thanks for your time
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