Garand Won't Eject

[Mamertine]

Hi folks,
I'm in need of some help.
I took out the Garand out and the brass from the first shot stuck in the chamber. The bolt went back, but extractor just ripped the rim off of the brass. I got it home and pounded the brass out with a wood dowel, but I'm left wondering what happened.

The ammo was CMP Greek surplus in en-bloc clips. So presumably it should work in the Garand. The last time I shot it it also happened, but I blamed that on using commercial ammo. A rookie mistake. I have shot it previous to those instances with other CMP ammo and it ran fine, but unfortunately the Garand has been in the safe a few years since then. There is some minor pitting in the chamber which could shrink the chamber slightly, but I'm not sure if it came from the CMP with that.

 

[Onmilo]

Weak operating rod spring can cause case head to rip off the case.
Try replacing the op rod spring first.

 

[Deus Machina]

Non-specific causes: out of spec or weak brass.
If you actually have to knock the case out after, instead of being able to press it out, it could be expanding into those pits. Check for high or shiny streaks or spots once it's removed.

 

[Tommygunn]

Sounds like a dirty chamber to me.

 

[rule303]

You said you were shooting commercial ammo out of it the first time it happened? Make sure your op-rod isn't bent, replace the spring and try again with M2. I have seen several Garands bend or break the op-rod from just one round of commercial ammo.

 

[P5 Guy]

I'm with Tommygun clean your chamber, while you have the rifle field stripped check your operating spring it needs to be at least 19 and 1/4 inches long and in one piece. I have seen M1 Rifles with broken springs work but not well.

 

[Onmilo]

Pitting doesn't shrink a chamber, If you haven't cleaned the chamber with a brush, as suggested, I would do that also.
Minor pitting won't affect a Garand's functioning if the rest of the rifle is in good shape.

 

[Reloadron]

Aside from what has been mentioned I would strip the bolt and inspect the Extractor Spring and Extractor Plunger real carefully. I have seen countless bolts where water or just moisture got in the extractor spring channel and rusted things. You can strip the bolt down using a few screwdrivers or some of the methods mentioned in this thread. Since the extractor did rip the rim off the brass I would assume it is working but it won't hurt to clean the bolt guts.

There is some minor pitting in the chamber which could shrink the chamber slightly, but I'm not sure if it came from the CMP with that.

Scrub it clean and give this thread a read.

While I agree with Onmilo that pitting doesn't shrink a chamber a fired case can expand into pits or deformation in the chamber walls. Jerry Kuhnhausen mentions this in his book The US .30 Caliber Gas Operated Service Rifles A Shop Manual. In the link RC mentions a good method to clean the pitting. Years ago I would use Flitz to polish chambers clean.

Anyway, I would focus on the chamber first. I also agree replacing the op rod spring is a good choice.

Ron

 

[Orlando]

Bent op rods ,weak op rod springs . commercial ammo or extractor has nothing to do with your issue as suggested
A dirty or pitted chamber will cause brass to stick, I have had this happen before.
I would first thoroughly clean the chamber with a brush and cleaner,you may need to do this several times. Completly dry,do not oil afterwards
Test fire and see if issue is fixed
I would say chamber is pitted, as round is fired case expands and holds onto the rough/ pitted chamber
You can try and polish the chamber,wrap steel wool around a 45 cal brush or white Scothbrite pad on a slotted tip with bore paste. Run rod down the bore screw on brush etc on at the chamber, attach other end of rod on a drill and go after it.
This make take several attempts before issue it fixed
Do not pull brush up into the neck, polish the chamber area only
If chamber is badly pitted there probably isnt any help and will need to rebarrel

 

[SilentScream]

From what the OP has said I would put my money the pitted/dirty chamber. If cleaning the chamber doesn't help, and depending on how bad the pitting is you might buy some time with a light chamber polish. Other than that, it's new barrel time.

 

[Roadking Rider]

I'm also thinking it's the chamber. However,I have seen on occasion where the lip on the clip scratched the casing and a little curl of the brass was rammed home with the round and caused the round not to eject. I've never seen a round in there so tight that it actually ripped the back of the case off, and you had to beat it out with a wooden dowel. I think I'd take a bore cotton swab and some metal polish and a cordless drill. What happens if you try to hand cycle the rounds?

 

[Mamertine]

Thanks for the input guys. The OP rod seems straight, but I'll do the test on reassembly. I think I'll do some chamber cleaning today and see if the spent brass ejects smoothly.
I live in a city so I can't check on live ammo until I get some range time.

 

[Orlando]

Id op rod is straight it wont cycle, it does have specific bends
Again, and inproper bent op rod will not cause brass to stick in chamber
It is either very dirty chamber or pitted or combination of both