Tanker Garand malfunctioning

[QuarterBoreGunner]

Saturday's NorCal THR shoot was the first chance I had to fire my new toy.
Previously I had completely stripped it (thanks to surplusrifle.com), cleaned and lubed/greased where needed. I should mention that this was tanker conversion done by Fulton Armory, who also converted it to .308 through a re-barrel, so I had a pretty good feeling going into the deal.

All was going well until about the fourth clip, when I started to get failures to feed. Gun go BANG, empty shell goes that way, sight picture and then squeeze. CLICK. Manually cycle and try again.

About three CLICKS per clip. I was getting frustrated so I put it away. I did notice what looked like a lot of gas blow-by from around the front sight/barrel interface.

I was using milsurp Venezuelan .308- no NATO spec but their standard military round. It’s always functioned fine in my FAL and M1A.

This is my first Garand and I’m not sure what I should be looking for.

 

[DFBonnett]

I'd look at the gas cylinder lock screw. May have worked loose.

 

[hps1]

this was tanker conversion done by Fulton Armory, who also converted it to .308 through a re-barrel,

did notice what looked like a lot of gas blow-by from around the front sight/barrel interface

Since this is a new conversion, I'd call Fulton and give them a chance to make it run.

There should be no gas leakage between the gas cylinder and the barrel. Maybe the gas port is not aligned with the square port into the gas cylinder??? You could look at that by removing the gas cyl. plug before calling Fulton. May be a poor fit between barrel and gas cylinder.....does there seem to be any play between the two?

Could be op-rod dragging, but that has nothing to do with your gas leak. The 308 conversion will run fine, suspect the problem is with the tanker conversion and/or gas cyl. fit.

Regards,
hps

 

[Destructo6]

Did you try different ammo, too? That Cavim ammo has a bad reputation with gumming up HK chambers with a tar-like substance.

I'd do the checks already mentioned and, if everything looks fine, try it again with NATO-spec ammo.

 

[Slingster]

Chris:

I have a Tanker done by Springfield Armory and it balked with one brand of milsurp ammo as well. I don't think it was CAVIM; most likely it was FNM. Velocities were on the low side as well. The gun functioned fine with Radway and some old Winchester "white box" milspec ammo, as well as with IMI Samson match, all at higher velocities.

So, before you take it to a gunsmith or send it back to Fulton, try some different ammo through it.

 

[Kor]

I concur with DFBonnet - tighten down that gas cylinder lock screw. The same thing happened to my .308 Garand(full-length) during a local CMP shoot - BANG, click, rack, BANG. My coach saw that he could turn the G-C lock screw with his fingers, cranked it TIGHT with his combo tool, and no more problems.

I also replaced the op-rod spring, but if your rifle came fresh from Fulton Armory, I'd expect they would have put a proper spring in it before letting it out the door. BTW - Tankers need a different-length/weight op-rod spring(Wolff#16625) than full-length M1's(Wolff#16620).

 

[hps1]

Quarter:
Kor may have hit the nail on the head, when you reassembled your rifle, if you stopped one turn short of tight on the gas cyl. lock, the gas port may not be alighned with the hole in gas cyl., which could cause both the gas leak and the failure to cycle properly.

You should not be leaking gas at the cyl/barrel junction, however.

Regards,
hps

 

[QuarterBoreGunner]

Gentlemen- once again THR comes through. I had checked the gas cylinder lock screw during the shooting session as I thought that may have been the problem, and to my (them) grimy and slightly greasy fingers, it felt tight.

After having the rifle in a cleaning cradle and taking another look, yes it appears that the screw had backed out a couple turns.

I squeaky cleaned the threads and cranked down on it pretty tight. Now for some good weather this weekend and we'll see what I've got. I'm also going to try some British Radway Green .308 NATO I have and see if that has any effect.

Thanks guys.