Garand assembly..

[Shanghai McCoy]

I need one of the Garand Gurus to advise me about getting the trigger group latch assembly to catch.
The back story... My wife used to shoot the DCM matches and I had gotten a stock for her rifle that I shortened so she could shoot it. Slow forward 25 years and I am putting the old original stock back on it but I just can't get that latch on the trigger guard to catch. I'm thinking that over the years the wood has swelled a bit and that's causing the problem.
Would it be OK to relieve the wood a bit on the under side of the stock where the assembly bears or could it be something else? (I am getting old and arthritic so the hands ain't as strong as they were the last time I did this... )
Thanks.

 

[AlexanderA]

Use a rubber mallet to pound the trigger guard closed. Do not relieve the wood.

 

[shooter1niner]

Out of curiosity how far is it from closing before it gets tight?

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Out of curiosity how far is it from closing before it gets tight?

It's close, maybe 1/4-1/8 of an inch...

 

[Sistema1927]

Whack it with a mallet. Tight is good.

 

[Laphroaig]

Use a rubber mallet to pound the trigger guard closed. Do not relieve the wood.

I'd try something like this. Tight is good. The trigger group is the only thing holding the stock to the action.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

OK, I'll whack it with the rubber mallet.
Thanks Gents.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Yep, whacked it and it popped right in.
Sometimes a well applied hammer IS the proper tool.

 

[HankC]

http://thecmp.org/wp-content/uploads/TightTriggerGroupArticle20121.pdf

 

[25-5]

I put the trigger guard on my wooden work table and lean down on it. I don't like whacking.
It's supposed to be tight.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Another victory for the hammer (mallet)