Garand troubleshooting

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Neo-Luddite

Neo-Luddite

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I know, it's like diagnosing a disease over the phone, but here goes.

I have a late, VERY low milage M-1 (531xxxx) that I've had for about 3 years.
I've shot maybe 150 rounds through it.

The clip has never seemed to latch at first loading and the bolt doesn't need to be 'bumped'--otherwsie no problems until now. It is very 'stiff' feeling--not smooth and broken in like my well-worn early '44.

Now, the first round fires and ejects normally--but round #2 doesn't cycle (chamber is empty) If I manually cycle, at this point it will fire normally and chamber and fire the remainder of the clip (with an occasional stopage). It seems to function more reliably the closer the clip is to empty--hardly any issues during the last 4 rounds. My 'gut' feeling is that it isn't a gas problem.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Mike
 
Any possibility that the follower arm is hitting the stock and not allowing the clip down far enough to latch? I've had that happen before? Check the stock just forward of the trigger group to see if the arm made any marks on the stock or take the barrel and receiver group out of the stock and see if you can load with the clip latching properly.
 
If you even think you need a new op rod spring, order one from Orion 7. He had springs made to original USGI spec, with the exception that they're made from stainless steel wire. They're under $10, the best available, and your Garand will thank you! ;)
 
You need to grease the op rod spring in the same manner you pack wheel bearings with the proper GI grease. All of the other moving parts should be greased with the GI grease also.

M1s should be greased, not oiled.
 
The springs weren't intended to last 60 years. Just replace it with a new one.

Check the follower rod/arm/bullet guide for interference.
 
Try this;
Make sure the first round chambers from the left side of the clip.
If that doesn't help look at the bullet guide and see if it has a half-moon notch on the side, it should.
If it doesn't, you have an earlier bullet guide in the rifle and need a late stamped bullet guide with the notch on the side.
The bullet guide controls the timing of the rifle and late war guns are dimensionally different from earlier wartime rifles.
Most early Garands will also benefit from the use of the late issue stamped notched bullet guide.

If the rifle still continues to cause problems you may consider replacing the follower rod as it may be bent or twisted and is binding.
I doubt this because the malfunction is always the same as reported.
A bent or twisted follower rod will cause malfunctions throughout the eight rounds with no real rhyme or reason.
 
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