M1 Carbine

[Viss]

I have zero experience with this rifle but have had one in my possesion for a few months now. I did some research on it and it is a Saginaw S.G. and went to a website that put the serial number in the 1943 manufacture.

I went to a gun show today and picked up some .30 carbine, and took it out shooting.

After about ten rounds the handguard came off. I put it back in position and pushed down on the barrel band to reseat it. I fired a few more rounds and it came off again, so I packed up and came home.

Now that I think about it when I pushed on the barrel band the whole barrel moved back some. I googled the problem but didn't find any info, anyone have any thoughts on what is going on here. Thanks

 

[ColbyBruce]

KenL knows a good bit about USGI .30 carbines.

The front right side of the stock should have a metal rod sticking out of it that the barrel band slides over and locks into place, The top part of the barrel band engages the front edge of the handguard, tension is controlled by the screw on the bottom of the barrel band. Not sure why your's is coming loose...check the fit.

 

[moosedog]

Colby hit it on the head.
Some times the metal rod will have the mating surface kind of rounded and just a few file strokes can bring it back. Also, sometimes the rod's spring tension will have it sitting too low to catch that notch tight enough.
A simple pry with a screw driver can increase that tension to make it pop out more. If you have to take that rod out, it just sits in the stock on an attached pin and the whole rod can be pryed out to work on it if needed.
They are simple a reliable guns. The SGs are nice.

 

[Viss]

Thanks for the replies, I'll look into those suggestions, but what I didn't communicate clearly is it appeared that the barrel band was moving forward, and that scared me a bit.

 

[moosedog]

Yes, the barrel band would move forward once it is no longer engaged with the small rod that locks it on.