Rebarrelling an M1 Garand to .308

[Sven]

I'm interested in the getting a CMP Garand and having it rebarrelled to .308.

I'd love to hear from folks who have made or contemplated this conversion.

My primary reasons for exploring this include the relative availability of .308 / 7.62 NATO surplus versus scarcer and scarcer.30-06, plus the notion of sharing a caliber with an M1A - ammo stockpile optimization

Here is what I've learned so far:

-converting a Garand to .308 is as simple as a barrel change

-Barrels can be found at http://www.brownells.com and many other places online, including Match Krieger barrels

-most folks report excellent reliability with this conversion

-you can use the same el bloc clips as with .30-06

-it is recommended to get a block installed into the receiver such that the cartridges stay forward... also preventing you from loading .30-06.

-folks who can do this for you:

Miltech Arms
http://www.miltecharms.com

Tony Giacobbe
http://www.garandguy.com/

Champions Choice
http://www.champchoice.com/

Dean's Gun Restoration
http://www.dgrguns.com/

Roland Beaver

Orion 7
http://www.m1garand.com/

Fulton Armory
http://www.fultonarmory.com/

-

Anyone here have have a Garand rebarrelled to .308? I'd love to hear general observations or reports on accuracy or reliability this conversion.

Is .308 as accurate as .30-06 on this rifle?

Thanks,

-sven

 

[hondo68]

Try asking over here too... http://www.jouster.com/cgi-bin/garand/garand.pl

 

[Swampy]

Sven wrote:

"Is .308 as accurate as .30-06 on this rifle?"


NO..... It's MORE accurate.

Mine is at: www.swampworks.com/SwampysStuff-Home.html

Best to all,
Swampy

Garands forever

 

[Ebbtide]

Swampy,

That is one sweet Garand. I think you have motivated me.

 

[Swampy]

ehenz,


I'm certainly happy with the old warhorse..... 8)

Do an M1 in .308. YOu won't be sorry.


Swampy

 

[dude]

I had my gunsmith re-barrel a CAI Garand with a new .308 barrel a year or so back............... and 'tune' it for NATO ammo. The most fun rifle of my collection!!


yet another reason for sven to make a raod trip

 

[Destructo6]

I'm pretty interested in the same conversion. What's the total cost involved?

 

[Swampy]

destruct66,

The best deal is at Champions Choice....

Send them your m1. They will take off the old barrel and install and headspace a NEW Douglas Medium Wt. barrel in either .308 or '06 and return the rifle and old barrel to you.

Total charge is $220.00 US +S&H.

Can't beat that with a stick.

Swampy

 

[dude]

mine was $819.00 for everything (CAI Garand, new barrel, spring/ 'tuning' and smith-time)

 

[Backwoods]

Sven posted-

"it is recommended to get a block installed into the receiver such that the cartridges stay forward... also preventing you from loading .30-06"

Actually, the block keeps the cartridges in the rear of the magazine, the BLOCK goes in front.

Champions Choice is run by good people, thier Garand barreling service is a hell of a deal for the money.

Don in Ohio

 

[dude]

the smith who made my .308 Garand and who I moonlight for in my spare time (an excuse to play in my shop on the back alley-- with my drill press & stuff, play Hawaiian music and feed snacks to all the neighoborhood dogs & shmoozz with the cute babes out walking*) actually makes the .308 mag-well plug that Brownelles sells.

..and yess you are correct, it goes in the fwd part of the mag well







*yet another reason for sven to make a roadtrip

 

[natedog]

How much heavier is the Douglas Medium Weight barrel?

 

[Dave P]

My "match grade" 308, with a cheap wilson barrel, can almost keep up with my best M1A's for accuracy. Hook can do that bbl swap for you, I'm sure. Maybe I will dig up some pictures tonight ...

 

[BamBam-31]

Sven, your original post just about covers it. I had mine rebarreled with the "cheap" Wilson barrel as well, and it IS very accurate. Plus, access to the well-regarded Aussie ammo is a good thing, no?