M1 garand parts question

[mindwip]

My CMP M1 field grade is ejecting its clip with live rounds about half way through firing. From what i have read in my M1 books it seems the problem is the bullet guide, or op-rod catch. Tonight I am going to buy a dial caliper (a better one then i have now) to measure the bullet guide so i know 100%. I called CMP and they dont sell parts.

Does any one know a good online parts dealer?




ps Of course i figure out what part it is, the day after a gun show


Thanks

 

[30Cal]

I would start with a new clip latch spring. It should measure ~5/8" long. My second pick would be a clip latch.

Oprod latch and bullet guide would be the last ones I'd try.

I buy parts from Bill Ricca or Orion7. If they don't have it, then I'll go to Fulton.

 

[mindwip]

Thanks i will look into those parts

 

[Dr. Dickie]

Here are the two I use the most, although I have to say Orion 7(garandguy) and fulton armory are great as well.
http://www.e-gunparts.com/
http://www.armscorpusa.com/

 

[hps1]

[My CMP M1 field grade is ejecting its clip with live rounds about half way through firing./QUOTE]

If the follower arm and follower arm pin are worn, it is quite common for the clip to eject with one or two rounds remaining in the clip. If yours is ejecting with four, doubt that this is the problem, but see if there is a lot of play between follower arm and pin.

I maintained our club's DCM rifles for a lot of years and that was one of the most common malfunctions and we completely wore out 4 rifles during that time frame.

One little trick you can use when pin/follower wear is the problem is to place the follower arm loosely between the jaws of a machinist vice with the pins supporting the arm. The arm will be in same attitude it would be in the rifle when it is being fired, that is w/curve on top. Measure the distance from the top of vice jaw to the top of the follower arm about half way between the pins; now, using a 1/2" or so diameter brass punch, place punch at spot where measurement taken and hit w/a medium size ballpein hammer. May take a couple of taps to bend the arm, but bend it 1/64 - 1/32" (This is a hammer fit, guys ). Put it in the rifle and give it a try. I like to have new arm/pin on hand just in case, but have never had this "hammer adjustment" fail to correct ejection on 6th or 7th round.

Regards,
hps

PS The only parts I found necessary to replace over the years were (in order of numbers replaced):
Follower Arm & Pin
Firing Pins
Extractors (and ejectors that flew out and were lost when extractor failed)
Op rod spring
Sent 4 back for new barrels after we shot them out

 

[Dienekes]

I would look at the clip latch spring first and the clip latch itself second. My son's M1 was doing that and I installed an "extra strength" spring from, I believe, Fulton Armory. Had no further difficulties afterwards.

Garands are now fifty to sixty-four years old, so some catch-up is in order to get these issues worked out and everything the way it should be again.

IMHO replacement of all springs of unknown vintage should be a starting point; saves doing it later after a certain degree of frustration anyway. BTW the clip latch spring is the only one I would get the extra power rating in.

 

[jrfoxx]

I just ordered some parts from Fulton Armory last week.Haven't gotten them yet, so I can say too much, except they had good prices, every part you could need, and shipped the next day.Worth looking at just based on that IMHO.

 

[Dr. Dickie]

I just ordered some parts from Fulton Armory last week.Haven't gotten them yet, so I can say too much, except they had good prices, every part you could need, and shipped the next day.

Uhhh, something is wrong here.
Fulton Armory has good prices, good stuff, but they are not quick. I have not had anything 'shipped next day." Shipped in about 3 weeks maybe.

 

[Onmilo]

Orion 7 is great but they have seemed to been having trouble keeping parts on hand.
http://www.m1garandrifle.com
This place is good but sort of slow to ship.
Parts have always been better than expected.
http://www.usarmory.com
This place is pretty good but turn your volume down before you bring up the webpage unless you like trains.
http://www.amherst-depot.com
For a follower arm, follwer arm pin, and bullet guide I go here;
http://www.billricca.com

 

[MechAg94]

www.sarcoinc.com is another good place to go for M1 Garand and Carbine parts. Their online ordering is not so good. I normally have ordered by phone.

 

[mindwip]

If the follower arm and follower arm pin are worn, it is quite common for the clip to eject with one or two rounds remaining in the clip. If yours is ejecting with four, doubt that this is the problem, but see if there is a lot of play between follower arm and pin.

Sometimes it ejects with 4 maybe about 50%-70% of the time

IMHO replacement of all springs of unknown vintage should be a starting point; saves doing it later after a certain degree of frustration anyway. BTW the clip latch spring is the only one I would get the extra power rating in.

Yeah funny i normally order springs for all of my pistols/mags to have spares, but the thought never occurred to me with my M1. I believe i am going to order the US Armory's spring kit or the m1garandrifle's kit, dont know which one the choice is to hard . Its cheap and with 3 Garands at home i am sure i will need them sometime in the future.

One little trick you can use when pin/follower wear is the problem is to place the follower arm loosely between the jaws of a machinist vice with the pins supporting the arm. The arm will be in same attitude it would be in the rifle when it is being fired, that is w/curve on top. Measure the distance from the top of vice jaw to the top of the follower arm about half way between the pins; now, using a 1/2" or so diameter brass punch, place punch at spot where measurement taken and hit w/a medium size ballpein hammer. May take a couple of taps to bend the arm, but bend it 1/64 - 1/32" (This is a hammer fit, guys ). Put it in the rifle and give it a try. I like to have new arm/pin on hand just in case, but have never had this "hammer adjustment" fail to correct ejection on 6th or 7th round

I think thats a bit above what i want/willing/can do. I rather replace parts. If i had to do that i would have a smith do it. Maybe later when i gain more confidence and/or have someone to show me.

 

[hps1]

I think thats a bit above what i want/willing/can do. I rather replace parts. If i had to do that i would have a smith do it. Maybe later when i gain more confidence and/or have someone to show me.

That's why I suggested you have a new one on hand before attempting to bend the old one.......what is there to lose? The old follower is no good as it is and you can always slip the new one in. Apparently it is not terribly critical, as I have never bent one too far and can always bend it a tad more if it still ejects clip prematurely.

As stated, I have never had one eject a clip with more than two rounds left, so you may have a problem w/clip latch or CL spring, as has been suggested. I have never had to change either of these parts, however and the 12 garands the club had saw lots of use. We figured at least four of them had in excess of 8000 rounds through them.

Garands are extremely dependable rifles and, given a good barrel, I have not found one yet that I could not tune up to shoot very close to moa w/good ammo and an experienced shooter. Unfortunately, my eyes will no longer focus on post front sights; enjoy yours while your eyesight permits!

Regards,
hps

 

[jrfoxx]

Uhhh, something is wrong here.
Fulton Armory has good prices, good stuff, but they are not quick. I have not had anything 'shipped next day." Shipped in about 3 weeks maybe.

Maybe they just like me better...
I ordered it last thursday, and on friday got the email with ups tracking number.UPS shows it will be here this thursday.Maybe I just got lucky (for a change )

 

[foghornl]

"Swampy" or '"Eclancy" or one of the other 'Garand Gurus' will be along shortly, but here are my sugestions..

If your rifle is tossing the en-bloc with 4 rounds or so still in it, look at the clip latch & clip latch sping.

For ejection with only 1 or 2 rounds left, check out the follower arm and follower arm pin.

Not that many things to go wrong on the M1, but springs & pins are always suspect.

 

[hps1]

Want to understand how the Garand action functions? Check out the following link to animated cutaway of the M1:

http://http://www.dav32.com/feeding.html[/URL]

Regards,
hps

 

[mindwip]

I have ordered 2 spring kits. Looked over the clip latch and it looks new. So i will try replacing the clip spring first.


Thanks for that link its cool, also i will update the thread when i get the new spring in. If it gets here by fri/sat i will try and shoot this weekend.