Garand Carbine

[Nightcrawler]

Does anybody out there shorten M1 Garand rifles to carbine length?

See, I've been looking at Oleg's Garand and I've decided I want one just like it. I love the M1D flashhider, too, and the synthetic stock.



Don't worry, guys. I would never have this done to an orginal Garand. If I really went through with this, I'd do it to a Springfield Armory new production model.



Before, I've expressed an intense dislike of the idea of a .308 Garand, just because I'd prefer original .30-06. Thinking, though....unless you get that adjustable gas port (and maybe even with it), you can't really fire .30-06 ammo that's more powerful than 7.62mm ball out of it without damaging it. The advantage of .30-06 over .308 is the greater volume allows higher velocity and heavier bullets (especially out of the M1's 24" barrel). But, in the M1, I don't think you can shoot commercial ammo or 220 grain bullet loads without damaging it. (Perhaps those adjustable gas ports can aleviate this?)

In any case, I think my Garand Carbine would be in .308, just for ammo commonality with my FAL. (My super nice, Orion 7 Garand, that I swear to God I'm going to get someday, will be in original .30-06.)

So, can the shortening be done these days? Who does them? I understand it has to be done just so in order for the weapon to be reliable. Something with the gas piston or something?

Thanks.

 

[Baba Louie]

You might try Fulton Armory for a copy of the T-26 replica
http://www.scott-duff.com/t26.htm
From the above link...

"Note on "Tanker Garand" Functioning
From rec.guns:
"I have seen a lot of bad posts concerning Arlington Ordinance Tanker Garands. Can anyone give me some specifics on the problems?"
1. Function: op rod fouls on lower band, stock or ? during reciprocation
2. Function: op rod detracks
3. Function: gas port not proper sized (they're often hogged out due to the short recoil caused by (1) above, so the obvious but wrong approach is taken)
To make a quick and dirty check of a specific "Tanker," field strip the rifle, remove the op rod spring, and check *carefully* for free and easy movement. It should reciprocate of its own weght (and that of the bolt) when elevated/depressed ~30 degrees from horizontal. See if anything's rubbing. Check for abnormal wear patterns on the op rod, receiver tracks & lug recesses, and bolt. Ensure you have proper firing pin retract as long as its apart.
Just remember that the Garand mechanism is balanced and timed in its original configuration; the T26 variation deviates significantly from Garand's original engineered design and there's no standard for the redesign required to shorten it."

 

[Nightcrawler]

Next question

Who makes a black synthetic stock that'd fit the shortened M1 Garand?

 

[Devonai]

Just buy the Ramline stock and disregard the front handguard.

 

[MuzzleBlast]

Or use the Ramline buttstock and rear handguard, and take a wood front handguard and whittle it down to fit and paint it black to match.

 

[Devonai]

I almost forgot, Numrich is offering the hardware, if you don't mind paying a smith to install it.

http://www.e-gunparts.com/DisplayAd.asp?chrProductSKU=881490&chrSuperSKU=&MC=

 

[Vendor Defendor]

is that what the called the 'Tanker' or something along those lines? I remember when I was looking for a Garand, that I came upon a couple that had been shortened by troops in the war so they would fit inside the Shermans a little better... is that the same thing?

 

[liliysdad]

Yes, this is what is commonly referred to as a "Tanker". What you saw, however, were nto as you were told. There were only two, perhaps three prototypes made, and they were detroyed. The conversions were quite popular, if unreliable, during the glut of surplus Garands in the 60s.

 

[MrAcheson]

I remember when I was looking for a Garand, that I came upon a couple that had been shortened by troops in the war so they would fit inside the Shermans a little better... is that the same thing?

This is a common old gunny's tale about the shortened garands.

 

[Vendor Defendor]

isnt this a tanker?

 

[natedog]

I dropped Oleg an email on the subject, and he said that his rifle was shortened by Federal Ordnance, and that the stock is the original wood with a black, pebbly finish.

 

[Kestrel]

I asked a question about Tanker Garands (on Jouster, I think) and the common response was that they weren't real reliable. I really like the concept, but dropped it because of the reliability concerns.

Steve

 

[MolonLabe416]

Smith can do a reliable conversion for you. See specifics at

http://www.smithenterprise.com/

I'll be sending a Dane out to them this fall.

 

[BerettaNut92]

I'd want one with a 16" barrel...reeeehawwww!!! *PINGGGG***!!!!!

 

[Jim K]

Just FYI, the prototype short M1 rifles were intended for airborne troops; tankers used the submachine gun (Thompson or M3) throughout WWII, and used the M3 and M3A1 for years afterward.

Jim