Where to get a M1 Garand converted to take M14 Mags.

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Yes I meant a magazine...... TY no5enfield for the link. Yes, it was that cheap, it was $295 for the complete conversion and they included 2 new M14 Mags. The only reason I know this is for sure, they had set up at Camp Perry a few years back. I wanted to get it done then, but I was too busy and life was too hectic at that moment.

I will get this project done, regardless of the doubting thomasas..... I know what work needs to be done, I am a full time smithy and have my own shop.

Due to this being a Tanker Garand, it will even be shorter than the SOCOM and Scout, plus I am not giving Springfield my money, I have had too many customers burned by Springfield on too many other issues. I have $250 into this M1 Garand Tanker and want to spend the cash for the conversion.

I have looked, BM59 kits are NOT that cheap anymore, they used to be when the demilled kits hit the market close to 20 years ago. Sarco has a few pieces here and there, same with Numrich, Fulton has no parts. Plus, using a M1A1 receiver with a BM59 kit, will NOT work, Metric to Inch for many of the parts to the rec just do not fit.

It is this simple.... MY M1 Garand Tanker converted to take M1A1 or M14 Magazines and converted to 7.62 x 51. I was not looking for opinions of should I or not, was looking for the addy of the outfit that did the conversions. The question of IF I am going to do this has long ago been answered. Now it is a matter of who, where and when.
 
Due to this being a Tanker Garand, it will even be shorter than the SOCOM and Scout
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Every tanker I've seen (including my own) has had an 18" barrel, which makes that the same length as a Scout M1A (depending on muzzle device). The SOCOM M1As have a 16" barrel, and are shorter than the tankers. And you can't get a shorter barrel than that without getting an SBR stamp.

If you have your own shop and smithy and know what work needs to be done, then your best bet would be to do it yourself. I don't doubt that it can be done, I doubt that it can be done well for less than the cost of a new M1A (FTR, the Springfield rifle is called an M1A, not an M1A1).
 
I just measured my M26 Tanker barrel. It is 16.4"

Plus like I said, I do not want to give Springfield any cash, they have treated some of my customers bad in the past and I hold a grudge on poor or bad customer service as I am an old guy and cannot be taught how to be all pleasent and PC like. .

It used to be a regular thing to convert the Garand to take M14 mags, seen em all the time displayed at Camp perry. With advent of the Chinuk M14 and Springfields shortys, folks today do not enjoy the gun smithing projects we older folks used to enjoy.

I do know what work needs to be done, personally I do not have the propper heat treating capability it will take for the receiver work. Nor do I want to give it to a heat treat place that has NO clue on doing receivers.

In the end... regardless of opinion (which I never asked for in the first place) this will get done, it will be done on this Tanker and I will have a M1 Garand Tanker converted to take M14 mags. I just talked to a few in the know and the work is done now for $450 total out the door on MY Garand. It will be sent out the end of this week :neener:

All I asked for was names and addy and contact info for the folks that did this work.:banghead:

Yes, it is a M1A, not M1A1....and yes it is a Magazine not a clip..... but gawds I so hate human spell (proper desigination) checkers, they make me want to convert an 03A3 into a single shot rimfire. I am a plain speaking, plain idea type guy and if my ideas or intent gets understood, I am well Ok with that :cuss:

Regards,
Mike
 
When you get it finished, I want to see some pictures!!!! I just skimmed through, do you already have it in .308, or will they need to do it...let us know all the details when you get it back, sounds like a cool project.....
 
Tjey do the whole conversion... the mag and the convert to .308. Just made the deal today, will ship it end of the week. I will have before, during and after pics. I will also have a range report once I get it out and try it.

LOLOL yeah, so it is a tired old Tanker.... tell ya what, send me $1400, I will send you the Tanker and I will buy one of his converted National match conversion pieces.

Dennis, the guy doing it said it will be a 2 month turn around. NP, perfect for a fall trip to Kelbys Rifle Range. I already have a crap load of .308 ammo, so I will see what works. Also part of the conversion is a scope mount for a scout type rifle, long eye reliefe, so now I need to go spend some cash on a long eye reliefe scope......

BY THE WAY... just to mock the doubting thomasas, I am going to name my new piece "Jeanette's M1A123 Mk I Version II" and not an M1A..... no more finger pokin Mary Jane Rotten Clotchky's pretty pink panties... I will have a real piece to sleep with. "This is my rifle, this is my gun, this one's for shootin and this ones been dead for 10 years" :neener:

Regards,
Mike
 
I just measured my M26 Tanker barrel. It is 16.4"
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You measuring from the breech face? My Fed Ord "tanker" has an 18" barrel measured from the breech face (bolt closed obviously).
 
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Yes, breech closed, measured with a marked dowel rod. 16.4" and this one is pure 110% orig. The serial matches the mfg date for the tanker. The barrel and receiver are matched. This is w/o the grenade launcher. This is an IHC.

Now why would I buy a BM59 for $1250, when I will only have $700 total, cost of the M1 Garand and the conversion work total into this piece. . I'd give him $800, but I would still do this project.

Regards,
Mike
 
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It's sad... in the last month we have had TWO ORIGINAL Tanker Garands here on THR! :rolleyes:

One was "modified" and this one is going to be chopped up...

The epitome of "Your rifle, do as you please."
 
Yes, breech closed, measured with a marked dowel rod. 16.4" and this one is pure 110% orig. The serial matches the mfg date for the tanker.
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And where would one find the serial number range and mfg date of the tanker? Are you claiming you have the only known genuine T26 in existence and are going to cut it up?

Post some pics if you can... just because the original barrel is on the receiver that doesn't mean it was originally a "Tanker". Many were cut down by various commercial firms.

Are there any other markings on the barrel? any stamp on the front left side near the muzzle?
 
There were two types of so-called Tankers. One was the GI field conversion. The others were test models developed at Springfield Armory. The test models eventually destroyed themselves. One surviving GI conversion and Springfield Armory conversion are displayed (or were displayed) at Springfield Armory National Historic Site (so, if you haven't made the holy pilgramage, you're a sinner). The "tanker" was not a name (to my understanding) that the military adopted for the shortened Garands. That was some post-war marketing idea.

The Op-rod has to be reengineered for it to work. It's a timing issue and the shorter op-rod has less mass and less weight. Consider that the gas port is closer to the shorter barrel, you've got more energy acting faster on a smaller, lighter op-rod. The op-rod is going to get beatened to death (or the bolt or the receiver). One possible solution is to reengineer the helix cut of the op-rod, such that the bolt will take slightly longer to unlock. Another thing that can be done is to drill the gas port hole smaller to allow less gas through and slow down the backward pressure and gain more unlocking time for the op-rod to function like its bigger brother. The Italians did just that with the BM-59. I doubt if the home-jobs offered by many sources even applied as much engineering to the op-rod like Beretta did.
 
4v50 Gary and highorder, you're both right, of course, and I thought it would be obvious that my first comment to this thread was facetious.

To the OP: You said: "Now why would I buy a BM59 for $1250, when I will only have $700 total, cost of the M1 Garand and the conversion work total into this piece. . I'd give him $800, but I would still do this project".

I'll take that to mean that you don't read more than your own comments completely, having apparently missed my answer to your followup question before you asked it when I said "..... save some trouble"........eh?
 
Krs, no I read it. and even checked the listing. LOL There is no trouble to me as I am having it done for me, not in house by me, I am doing the 03A3 conversion in house though. Both will have the before and after pics. I just do not see where I would be ahead spending $1250 on a BM59 on an Itailian Piece rather than converting my own Garand Tanker at around $700 * regardless of where or how it was made into a Tanker*. 4v50, yes I understand the engineering aspects and the op rod aspects.
 
Just one more thing here.... On THIS post, I honestly never asked for opinions or permission to do this project. I had only asked for the addy and contact info for the folks that did the conversions. I got that now.

I did ask for opinion, not permission on the 03A3 project post though.

So, since the intent of this post has been met (two different sources to complete the work and already scheduled), I will be closing it or if that can't happen, then just not respond to further posts in this topic :)) .....

Thanks to all

Live free and if you must die, then die well to all my military bros out there.

Regards,
Mike
 
OP: "I just do not see where I would be ahead spending $1250 on a BM59 on an Itailian Piece rather than converting my own Garand Tanker at around $700 *"
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Oh, well, there's that pesky business about authenticity...
 
LOLOLOL well, it will be an authentic converted *Tanker* Garand to take M14 mags and in .308. I honestly do not obsess about purist roles in inanimate objects and that is all they are, inanimate objects. If I thought a quad rail, laser and Pachmyer grips would help on a .36 cal pepper box, that would be done.

I'm out on this one................ Hasta all

Regards,
Mike
 
Dang, is there always this much contention and complaining in the "rifle country" threads?

Browse here once and find a few topics I'd like to follow. Now I doubt I'll hear of the ends now. And I'll be damned I won't be scouring the RC area for months on end just hoping and praying to find the conclusion.... :mad:

Justin
 
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