Lets say you received a CMP M1 and 1903A3

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Wayne02

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Four or so years ago I purchased a service grade M1 and 1903A3 from the cmp, and they have sat in the safe since then. Looks like I might have an opportunity to shoot them in the next month or so and was wondering how I should clean/prep them before firing? Yes I probably received a manual with them, no I can't find them at this time. I will be shooting the cmp .06 ammo in these rifles.

These rifles were not coated with cosmo and seem to function check ok but I'm wondering if they need to be broken down, cleaned, and re-lubed? Also should I run a patch or two through the bore? Wet, dry or both?

I assume the M1 (and maybe the 1903 as well) get lubed with grease in certain locations? I also obtained years ago a bunch of little tiny plastic containers with a yellow lid that if I recall correctly was "rifle grease". Maybe these were carried in butt stocks for use in the field or something. I have no idea what "rifle grease" really is comprised of but it seems to be some pretty thick stuff. Would this be fine as a lube for these rifles?

Thanks
 
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#1 to what S&W Chad said. Also the 1903 is just an excellent shooting rifle and I can see how it got the nickname silent death. I love mine and good luck with yours. Thanks Larry
 
Wayne02...yes they should be completely broken down and "detail cleaned". I have four DCM/CMP rifles and they all came "as is" from the military. They have been checked, but not cleaned.

If you don't know how to detail strip them, there is plenty of information on the internet about stripping the M1 and the 03A3 takes down like most all Mauser derived rifles.

The first thing you will probably discover when shooting them in the summer is the stocks, may, "weep" oil. All of mine did, and only long exposures to heat will get it all out. My 03A3 was a Greek return and it spent many hours sitting on a plastic tarp inside a closed automobile in the Oklahoma August heat. Finally it "came clean".

You can not be sure of the functioning of the M1 unless you do a complete cleaning.

The easiest way to get much of that hidden oil out is to use a solvent such as aerosol brake or parts cleaner. That cuts the work down to a minimum.

Once the M1 is clean, be sure to put an appropriate grease lubricant where the op rod rubs the barrel, in the "track" on the receiver, on the op rod spring and in the recesses for the bolt lugs. Oil will just come off, but grease will stay with you during prolonged firing.

The 03A3 should just be thoroughly cleaned, all grease removed and lightly oil as you would any other firearm.
 
One item I like to do on the CMP Garands is remove the 50 year old op rod spring and replace it with one of the new stainless steel milspec springs. There is a fellow "Garandguy" IIRC that has these made up, and he sells them for about 8 bucks a pop.

One area that was a problem on the CMP M1s at one time was corrosion under the rear sight. They used a steam genny for some cleaning, and it resulted in moisture left in that area. If you haven't done it yet, you should remove the rear sight, clean everything there and reassemble. The instructions are on the CMP site.

Those guns are accurate and a ball to shoot!
 
Gutpile Charlie is 100% right on his instructions. Remember, when you are using an M1 you are using a semi-auto designed in te 30's and it was designed to be shot with the bearing surfaces greased rather than oiled. Both great rifles that belong in everyone's battery, take care of them and they will let you take care of you.
 
When I received my M1 from Aniston Arsenal, I cleaned out the barrel and pretty much left the insides alone - went to the range with some 1960's US ball and loaded up an 8 round clip. The first pull fired the rifle three times and after that I got a couple of doubles.

I went home and pulled it all down and gave it a good going over and lubed it and returned to the range another day and it worked just fine.

Ward
 
Originally posted by Duster42:
M1 Rifle Operating Rod Springs

Order a new stainless op-rod spring from Anthony.
More info at this link at the bottom of the page.
Click to expand...

Thats the guy. Great springs.

The other post reminded me, you should also detail strip and clean the hammer/trigger assembly on the M1. When you reassemble, make sure the hammer hooks and mating surfaces on the trigger are DRY, no grease or oil on these.
Lube on the hammer hooks will cause doubling.
 
Wayne if you need a copy of the CMP manual for the 1903 let me know. I have an extra and I will send it you if you need it.
 
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