M1 garand Question

[Wildalaska]

Hung over, busier than hell,yet I just picked up a Garand in 308....stock is rough, metal is almost perfect, SA receiver, barrel marked 7.62 Nato M11 in big stamps..

OK save me some effort, gimme some wisdom and links so I can start resarchin...

WildomyheadhappyhalloweenAlaska

 

[Jim K]

You might try www.jouster.com which has an M1/M14/M1A board.

Actually, there are quite a few M1 rifles around converted to 7.62 NATO. The conversion is easy, requiring only a new barrel to do it right. Some rifles were "converted" by using a chamber "jug" or insert, but those were never very satisfactory, as the jug kept coming out.

Assuming the rifle is a product of the Government Springfield Armory, it was originally in .30-'06 (marked "CAL 30") and was converted. I don't recall an official "M11" designation applied to any of the conversions, but will stand corrected if anyone does. It sounds like a civilian conversion and marking.

Jim

 

[Wildalaska]

Hi it has the plastic insert and the chamber bushing which leads me to beleive its a true Navy....any other thoughts?

 

[Publicola]

First of all, only use mil-surp 7.62x51mm ammo. If the barrel is marked 7.62NATO that means the headspace is gonna be a bit too big for commercial .308 Winchester brass, espeically if the barrels had a lot fo rounds put through it.

I refer you to this for more info on the differences 'twixt 7.62x51mmNATO & .308 Winchester

http://outdoorsbest.zeroforum.com/zerothread?id=87590

Second have a 'smith check out the chamber bushing. Some are okay but enough to take note of weren't put in the barrel solidly enough. What could happen is that insert will come loose & be ejected with the brass leaving a .30-06 Springfield sized or bigger chamber for the next 7.62x51mm cartridge to fire in. Needless to say that's not a desirable situation.

As for history, I believe Fulton Armory has a page of Scott Duff's data base of garand serial numbers.

http://www.fulton-armory.com/tea/m1serial.htm

This one is kinda neat as it gives a little history for the ten serial numbers closest to the one you enter.

http://armscollectors.com/srs/lookup_m1.php

& here's a page with some useful links & d/l's

http://www.surplusrifle.com/garand/index.asp

& here's Scott Duff's site. Chances are if it's been documented about a Garand, it's been documented by him.

http://www.scott-duff.com

 

[Wildalaska]

Im not gonna shoot it, in fact I think Im gonna get rid of it....

 

[Publicola]

Why? The Garand is arguably the best Main Battle Rifle ever. It can make a real good target gun & a decent hunting gun.

Everyone should have at least one Garand.

But why are you not wanting to shoot it & now are talking of getting rid of it?

 

[VG]

What's the Serial # range?

 

[Biff]

Check your PM, please.

 

[Jim K]

NOTE: I DO NOT RECOMMEND THE USE OF 7.62 NATO IN A .30-'06 RIFLE OR ANY CARTRIDGE IN A RIFLE FOR WHICH IT IS NOT INTENDED. THE DESCRIBED EXPERIMENT WAS UNDER CONTROLLED CONDITIONS AND I RECOGNIZED THE RISKS INVOLVED.

It is possible to fire a 7.62 NATO round in a .30-'06 chamber without any serious problem. It was stated here and on another forum that if this were done, the rifle would blow up, or at least very bad things would happen. So I took an M1 to the range, loaded four clips with 7.62 and let fly. They all went through fine, and I could not have detected that they were not the right cartridge except by looking at the ejected cases. The cases look funny, though, with VERY short necks, like almost none.


Jim

 

[Wildalaska]

What's the Serial # range

2.1 Million

But why are you not wanting to shoot it & now are talking of getting rid of it?

Too many other irons in the fire.....