Finally time to shoot it--M1 Garand

[Danus ex]

Meet "Scar", my first milsurp:

After getting the cosmoline off, disassembling and reassembling the gun several times, successfully peening the splines that grab the gas cylinder, and doing a bad job repairing a crack in the rear handguard, I'm ready to shoot this rifle tomorrow! I've had a lot of fun just getting to know it in and out.

This is a USGI CMP service grade. Its main parts are:

1952 Springfield Armory receiver
1951 Springfield Armory barrel
IHC trigger group
stock with no cartouches

It got its scar because of my stupidity. The first time I tried to completely disassemble it, I managed to crack the rear handguard. That was irritating, especially considering that the warning about removing that particular handguard was on the next page of the instructions I was following, after the complete stock disassembly instructions! I must've missed that particular warning on my initial skim-through. Still, that's a horrible information design flaw.

Anyway, after I cracked it, I applied what appeared to be a very carefully-placed line of glue in the crack, held it together for a while, and the repair took. However, I did this before I removed the cosmoline from that guard, and after I removed said cosmoline, the wood in that area got much lighter in color (presumably from the few passes of solvent/rag after I did the repair), revealing the dark cosmoline-tinted wood trapped under a line of glue. When the cosmoline was on the handguard, my repair was incredibly difficult to see.

This should be a blast. Any tips on sighting it in?

 

[Mr White]

Center the rear sight in the hash marks. About 5-6 clicks up from botton should get you on paper at 100 yds. From there, 1 click=1 MOA. Once you get the elevation set, loosen the screw on the left side of the rear sight. That'll allow you to move the elevation knob w/o moving the aperture. Keep the aperture where its at and move the knob to line up the mark just below the 2 and tighten the screw back up.

Don't worry about the scar. It's what's called character. My CMP stock is full of character. Even though its a 5.8M receiver, the stock makes it look like its been through battle, and I think that's pretty cool. As long as the wood's sound and the stock gives you good tight lockup to the receiver when you close the trigger guard, I wouldn't bother with it.

If you really are bothered by it, refinsih the entire stock as a winter project.

It looks like you got a really good gun. Enjoy it.

 

[10X]

Have to agree with Mr White on sighting technique. I will ad start with the front sight centered as well. Later when you are sure of point of impact you have the option of moving the front sight left or right to keep the rear centered, if you wish.

They are such great rifles, enjoy.