M1 Garand problem/question

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Ranger Roberts

Ranger Roberts

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Ok Gents, here is a good one for you. I received a new (to me) M1 Garand yesterday. I was told it was post WWII Garand chambered in '06. So today I was bored and decided to take it our for a test drive. I have another Garand, so I grabbed a clip and loaded it up with Garand safe '06. I fired one shot and the case wouldn't eject from the barrel. I got a cleaning rod out, popped it out and took a look at the case. It is bulged just above the bottom of the case. The ejector beat the crap out of the case trying to eject it. The neck of the casing is also bulged but just slightly.

Is this chambered in 308?

Thanks guys, I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!
 
I don't know.

But it should be impossible to get a 30-06 in the chamber far enough to fire it in a .308 chambered rifle.

rc
 
From your description, sounds like headspace problem. Where did you acquire this one, CMP perhaps? And can you provide a picture of the spend case? A little more info would prove helpful.

M
 
My father in law bought it for me from a reputable gun auction. The bulge in the case is very slight but I will try to upload a picture in a few minutes.
 
Here are a few pics of the case and the rifle
 

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Quote: "...loaded it up with Garand safe '06"

Okay, so it wasn't commercially loaded hunting ammo and the other Garand shoots the same ammo okay? From your pictures it looks like commercial which is loaded hotter and if so would probably be the reason you are having trouble.

I wouldn't shoot it anymore until I could have a competent 'smith check out the chamber. If it checks out okay, locate some surplus M2 ball and shoot that exclusively.

M
 
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M1key said:
Okay, so it wasn't commercially loaded 06. Good thing.
Click to expand...

Honestly it's a new box, I haven't tried it in anything else. It's getting dark and I don't want to piss off the neighbors by trying it in another Garand.

This might sound crazy but I remember a story from years ago about Garands. It might be completely made up but I don't know. I remember someone telling me that the Navy chambered Garands in 308 and they put some sort of adapter in the barrel to fire it. The problem was that the adapter would occasionally eject with spent rounds and the shooter would never know. Again, it might be complete bull crap but I'm not sure.
 
don't they have that stuff you shove into the chamber to see how it looks like? cerrosafe?

Also, if it is reputable... what kind of warranty they provide?

Also, I did not know anybody else but PRV made garand-specific ammo
 
MutinousDoug said:
What does the chamber look like? Could it be badly pitted?
Click to expand...

It had a little bit of surface rust but no pitting at all. Everything on the gun is in fantastic shape. The action almost looks too good to be true (and apparently it is!).
 
Ranger Roberts said:
Honestly it's a new box, I haven't tried it in anything else. It's getting dark and I don't want to piss off the neighbors by trying it in another Garand.

This might sound crazy but I remember a story from years ago about Garands. It might be completely made up but I don't know. I remember someone telling me that the Navy chambered Garands in 308 and they put some sort of adapter in the barrel to fire it. The problem was that the adapter would occasionally eject with spent rounds and the shooter would never know. Again, it might be complete bull crap but I'm not sure.
Click to expand...
Yes, the Navy did chamber Garand rifles in 308 (I owned a match version).

You might have read about problems with 308 versions such as these:

https://www.forgottenweapons.com/navy-308-garand-conversion/

Hopefully yours is not one of them.

M
 
It may be my imagination, but that right-hand/fired case neck looks
considerably longer than the loaded round on the left.

34hxcsn.jpg
 
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MEHavey said:
It may be my imagination, but that right-hand/fired case neck looks
considerably longer than the loaded round on the left.
Click to expand...

It is longer I believe. I will go get my calipers to check. If it is longer, do you have any theory as to what happened? Bulged barrel perhaps?

M1key said:
Yes, the Navy did chamber Garand rifles in 308 (I owned a match version).

You might have read about problems with 308 versions such as these:

https://www.forgottenweapons.com/nav...nd-conversion/

Hopefully yours is not one of them.

M
Click to expand...

You got me really nervous bud! My father in law was just telling me that there was a bidding war over this particular rifle. I asked him why and he said he didn't know. He is a gun owner and has a pretty extensive collection, but he's not exactly a "gun guy" if that makes sense.
 
What if it was conventional '06 ammo that was shot out of it? I don't think it was but just the other day I found two .25 cal bullets in a box of .22 rimfire. Anything is possible I guess.
 
I doubt that it is a 308. I just dropped a 308 round in the chamber and it did not go all the way in. I would have to put pressure on it to have it seat correctly. I fear that this gun was subject to a bad handload.
 
I was warned once upon a time that new production 30-06 commercial hunting ammo would be too hard on the rifle and would sooner or later cause problems like bending or breaking the operating rod.

It was recommended that I shoot GI surplus M2 ball--years ago there was plenty still available--or handload 150gr bullets with starting load powder charges. I have done so and never had any trouble with functionality or accuracy. I believe there are still a few companies that offer new M2 pressure-equivalent loadings.

For more precise info check with the guys on the CMP forum:

http://forums.thecmp.org/index.php?

Again, I would have a smith look at it before shooting it.

M
 
A 30.06 round will not chamber in a 308 chamber, that is not the issue
I cant see the bulges you are talking about on the brass??
Take rifle to a reputable smith and have headspace checked
 
I don't anticipate a chamber or barrel problem at this point.
I would like to hear what you found as to that fired case neck.
 
I was warned once upon a time that new production 30-06 commercial hunting ammo would be too hard on the rifle and would sooner or later cause problems like bending or breaking the operating rod.
Click to expand...
That is correct. The Garand is very sensitive to muzzle pressure, and modern .30-06 ammo is loaded with slower powders than the old M2 Ball. This results in more pressure at the gas port and a more violent thrust on the operating rod, which will soon be damaged by firing such ammo.
 
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The case looks a little rough almost like the chamber is rusty or pitted. I would not fire commerical .30-06 ammo in any of my Garands. I don't want a damaged OP rod. I reload so all my cases get trimmed to -.010 under max.
 
Get some GI spec ammunition and try that. Reloads must be made to GI specs (including pressure & velocity).

Also check the headspace.
 
The starting tools would be the throat erosion gauge and a set of 30-06 head space gauges. Lacking those your best bet is a competent gun smith who knows how to check head space and throat erosion in a M1 Garand. That is where I would start. The brass images you posted look fine to me.

If the throat erosion and head space are good and within specifications I would scrub the rifle down (thoroughly clean including the gas system) and try shooting it with some ammunition considered "Garand Safe", there is plenty out there which can be bought. Then see what you get.

Ron
 
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