M1 Garand Question ...

[M100C]

I recently picked up an M1 Garand, '44 SA. I have had it apart, and checked it out, and there is one thing I cannot make out -

Below is an image of the front handguard where it meets the gas cylinder. On either side are bent tabs which look to retain a heatshield on the underside of the handguard to the front spacer. When I hold the swivel tight, and invert the gun muzzle up then down, it sounds like the heatshield has some play. I have confirmed this because there is some fore and aft movement of the tab ears, and when I hold down the tab ears and swivel, there is no noise.

Is this normal, and if not, can it become problematic? The gun shoots beautifully now, so I am not inclined to address it unless is will cause a real problem later on.

Thanks all!
Chris

https://www.dropbox.com/s/psgv47f25q3c9w5/Photo May 13, 7 49 37 PM.jpg?dl=0

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

its made that way for heat expatiation run a few EN BLOC's through it and it will tighten up

 

[rondog]

Yeah, that's not exactly a precision fit part. Nothing to sweat about.

 

[Orlando]

The front handguard liner should not move by iteslef.The whole front handguard should have very slight back and forth movement. If just the liner is moveing something is wrong

 

[Jim K]

Not really; that part is not always a tight fit. It does look like the tabs should be spread out a bit, though. It is not really a heat shield. It is called the front handguard spacer, and its main purpose is to keep the handguard from being squeezed and cracked when handling the rifle. Replacement handguard assemblies were issued with the spacer and ferrule in place, but in the civilian world, those parts were sometimes separated and sold separately, so you could have an assembled handguard.

Jim

 

[M100C]

Thanks all! As always, great advice!

 

[Reloadron]

The front handguard liner / spacer should not move on its own. When affixed to the front handguard it may move slightly fore and aft. The rear of the handguard is held by the Lower Band and Lower Band Pin secured to the barrel and the front handguard ferrule has the gas tube just about on it. The liner by itself should not move.

On some match rifles the liner is actually removed.

Ron