Anyone know how often one should change out the op-rod spring on a M-1 Garand. I have noticed a fall off in accuracy lately. It could be me, but I've heard stories about "tuning the rifle." I did get a Wolf spring kit that has 3 springs, the op-rod spring; a 3 inch one, the same same diameter as the long one and a third which looks like it came out of a ball point pen.
Life of Op-rod spring
- Thread starter Thomasss
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entropy
Member
Op rod spring would affect exctraction/ejection long before it would affect accuracy. I'd look at your load, Muzzle erosion, Throat erosion, the op rod itself, etc., before the op rod spring.
az_imuth
Member
Copper fouling would be a suspect at the top of my list. Clean the bore as usual, then shine a bright light in the muzzle at a 45 degree angle. If you see a good amount of copper there, then it is likely the same throughout the bore.
I don't think ANY spring on my M1 has been changed since 1955 if the general condition of the gun itself is any indication. It still shoots accurate enough for me. I have plans for a rebarrel in the very near future. When that happens I'll have the gun gone over and rebuilt. After that I'm not going to worry about the springs again.
P5 Guy
Member
Is the gas system loose? Have you changed ammunition? How does the action fit in the stock?
Springs, except for the one in the rear sight have no effect on accuracy.
https://m1-garand-rifle.com/garand-troubleshooting.php
Springs, except for the one in the rear sight have no effect on accuracy.
https://m1-garand-rifle.com/garand-troubleshooting.php
Jeremy2171
Member
Once your spring gets down to about 19.25" in length replace it.
Note the wolff spring is about 10% stronger on average.
Note the wolff spring is about 10% stronger on average.
P5 Guy
Member
Orion 7 | Orion7 – the M1 Garand Specialists. Home to M1Garand.com
These guys have the operating spring you will want.
Do NOT use the Wolfe extra power spring.
These guys have the operating spring you will want.
Do NOT use the Wolfe extra power spring.
Jeremy2171
Member
Nothing wrong with using a Wolff spring...matter of fact if you are shooting lots of hunting ammo it's a good idea to use one.
P5 Guy
Member
M1 Garand Spring Operating Rod Oprod New Production Orion 7 (ammogarand.com)
Unlike the wolff spring these are showing in stock.
Unlike the wolff spring these are showing in stock.
Jeremy2171
Member
tark
Member
Amen to this. I put one in my M-1 and the thing short stroked, even with hot factory ammo with a 150 gr. bullet @ 2920 FPS.
Many folks that get a CMP Garand automatically replace the op rod spring upon receipt of the rifle. I did on my several M1's. The springs are not expensive and is cheap insurance. Many folks do not.
Extra strength springs can hinder operation. If one is planning to shoot current hunting ammunition, one of the pressure relief valves would protect the op rod better than relying on a high power op rod spring.
The op rod is worth protecting. They require a special gauge to make sure the bends are correct and there are fewer of them available. Someday, they may become valuable enough for a someone to manufacture some new ones.
I'd get a new spring and measure the unloaded length. If and when it begins to shorten, replace it with a new one.
Extra strength springs can hinder operation. If one is planning to shoot current hunting ammunition, one of the pressure relief valves would protect the op rod better than relying on a high power op rod spring.
The op rod is worth protecting. They require a special gauge to make sure the bends are correct and there are fewer of them available. Someday, they may become valuable enough for a someone to manufacture some new ones.
I'd get a new spring and measure the unloaded length. If and when it begins to shorten, replace it with a new one.
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entropy
Member
I'm a big fan of Wolff springs, and sometimes the extra power ones; but this is one application where I would not go with one unless I had no other choice.
Jeremy2171
Member
This is correct. If your rifle is having cycling issues with a Wolff spring in it...then the rifle itself has some issues. Either the gas system is becoming marginal or it's not properly lubed or you are using substandard ammo..like late 60s M2 ball.
If you are having issues with the wolff spring and commercial ammo....it's not the spring...it's the rifle.
Jeremy2171
Member
Then your rifle needs to be gauged...specifically the gas system
Jeremy2171
Member
I did a rather thorough test with a wolff spring and had zero issues. I found that on average it reduces oprod velocity by about 10% and was still 100% reliable. My rifle was 100% in spec and properly lubed.
tark
Member
It has been.....everything is well within proper specs. I got a standard spring and the problem went away.
Jeremy2171
Member
Probably not if it wouldn't run with a Wolff spring
entropy
Member
I'm not going to change your mind, and you aren't going to change the rest of our minds. Enjoy your Wolff Extra Power op rod springs. May they never fail.
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lysanderxiii
Member
This answers the question of when to replace the spring.
Garandimal
member
M1 Garand Operating Rod Spring (GarandGear)
"...The army set forth certain parameters that an operating rod spring must meet. This specification is defined in drawing #6147568. These specification include things like wire diameter, outside diameter, maximum solid height, etc. The two most important parameters have to do with the spring rate. When the spring is loaded with a certain fixed weight (force) the spring must compress a certain distance. The specification states that when an operating rod spring is compressed with a 5lb weight the spring must compress to a length of between ( 16.75" and 17.75" ). When an operating rod spring is compressed with a 16lb weight the spring must compress to a length of between ( 11.75" and 12.75" )."
"We are pleased to be able to offer for sale a newly manufactured USGI spec operating rod spring. Our springs are manufactured in the USA using 17-7 stainless steel wire (ASTM A313) on state of the art CNC spring winding machines. After being formed our springs then undergo a heat treatment process which sets the springs to condition CH-900. This extra step (that many manufacturers skip) increases the ultimate tensile strength of the spring by over 21%. The heat treatment process also increases the yield strength of the spring by over 37%."
GR
tark
Member
I said that it wouldn't run with an extra strength Wolff spring. And it wouldn't. I was given a new, still in the wrapper, G.I. surplus spring and the gun worked just fine.
Jeremy2171
Member
Thats the same spring the GCA said didn't meet USGI specs when tested on a USGI gauge. Or course the author then decided to cut that spring until it cycled.. the problem is he used weak underpowered LC69 ammo in his test. When using regular in spec ammo it seems to work fine...and so does the Wolff spring.
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