Garand malfing...

[Ian]

I have a friend with a tanker M1 in 308 that's giving some trouble. It will run fine for a few clips, and then will have several malfunctions in a single clip (even when all the shooting is done with one single clip being reloaded, so it shouldn't be the clip itself).

When it malfs, the problems are similar, but not always the same. Most common is a failure to chamber a new cartridge - the it will extract and eject the fired case, but then the bolt will close on an empty chamber. It will also sometimes get a cartridge partway out of the clip, but the bolt will run along the top of the cartridge rather than properly grabbing the case head. It's like the cartridges aren't coming far enough up sometimes to meet the bolt.

The rifle has a brand new Wolff recoil spring, so that shouldn't be an issue. The ammo being used is both South African and Portuguese surplus, from lots that work fine in other rifles (including my own tanker M1).

Any ideas on how to fix this?

 

[30Cal]

This is often caused by the oprod spring. The only wolff spring that I know of is their extra power spring (which has been known to create problems). It's a tanker though, the oprod spring is usually a different (custom) length, so it's anybody's guess.

 

[ShunZu]

Sounds like a rod causing the problem. Perhaps as it gets dirty and/or hot.

If it was used, there's a possibility it shot heavier bullets than the rod was designed for. That could have caused a little warping in it.
Good luck.

 

[nbkky71]

First thing to check is to make sure that the gas cylinder plug has not worked loose. If the plug is not tightened down enough it can work loose after firing the rifle. This will cause gas leakage and failure-to-feed issues.

 

[Ian]

Wow, I feel like an idiot now.:banghead: . The gas plug was way loose.

I did check the op rod when my friend got this rifle, and it didn't bind at all. Also, FWIW, Wolff does make an op rod spring sized specifically for tanker M1s.

Thanks guys!

 

[rodregier]

I had horrible function problems with Wolff op-rod springs in a full-size Garand. Switching to new production (claimed to be mil-spec) op-rod spring from Fulton Armory cleared them up. Apparently the Wolff op-rod springs are simply too heavy for the Garand op-rod usage.

I've used Wolff gunsprings in other firearms w/o issues.
(Glocks, 3-digit S&W autopistols, Ruger Model 77 bolt firing pin)..

 

[GarandOwner]

+1 for prob an op rod spring problem. The spring is what gives the tension to feed the bullets from the clip, as well as used to slide the bolt forward. If it isnt an underpowred ammo issue (failure to chamber) than it is most likely an op rod spring problem

 

[Swampy]

Ian,

Get rid of the Wolf spring....

Make sure the rifle is GREASED correctly, NOT oiled, per GI spec.

Best,
Swampy

Garands forever