M1 Garand Issue

[VAPA]

First trip to the range today, loaded and shot single rounds while sighting it in with no trouble, it ejected the case and closed the bolt.
With the 8 round clip it strips the first round, ejects the empty and closed the bolt without stripping the next round, the bolt cocks but clicks on the empty chamber. I manually cycle the bolt and it will strip off a round and fire, have to do this for each round.
Also after the 8th round it does not eject the clip completely, only moves about 1/4 inch.
Any suggestions?

 

[s&wchad]

I'll assume you're using correct ammo. Commercial hunting ammo has too much pressure and can damage the operating rod. Surplus M2 ball or proper reloads are your best choice.

Make sure your gas plug is tight. You also might want to try different clips. If that doesn't cure it, you may have a worn piston or gas cylinder. Both are easily replaceable.

 

[VAPA]

I'm thinking ammo also, shooting a reload recipe that worked fine in another Garand that I had, may be too light for this one.

 

[tominboise]

Have you disassembled the rifle and made sure it was assembled correctly? There is an elevator in the magazine (can't remember the official name) that requires the recoil spring to be properly engaged. It may be that it was't hooked up last time or was inverted it was apart.

 

[AJ]

Try here, these guys will know. M1 Garand - CMP Forums

 

[Steve912]

New, tight, 'rough' parkerized en bloc clips can increase
friction and cause feed problems (and maybe clip ejection
problems?).

 

[VAPA]

Looked at my load recipe, Hornady book says 2,500 fps, I'm thinking it too slow for this particular gun.
Going to load some a little hotter and try it again.

 

[Liftrat]

Yes, that may be a little slow/under pressured for some guns. I'm assuming that it's correctly lubed, too? It does sound like the rifle's short cycling to me.

 

[jimbo728]

Try the M 1 Garand time tested load using 47gr IMR 4895.
It runs great in the 4 Garands I have shot them in.
Bullet is a 147 or 150gr .308 boat tail. FMJ.
Jim

 

[Puller]

Before I got too far troubleshooting the rifle I'd use some ammo of known performance. With using reloads you're not sure if the problem is the ammo or the rifle, I recommend eliminating one of the variables and the ammo is the simplest to eliminate. Once you know the rifle is operating correctly with specified ammo, then you can play around with reloads.

 

[growr]

This might help..........

MASTER PO'S

M1 loads (Courtesy of the NRA)



Recommended .30 caliber M1 loadings from the NRA

147 - 155 grain FMJ or HPBT bullets

IMR 3031 - 48.0 grains
IMR 4895 - 49.0 grains
IMR 4064 - 50.0 grains
W748 - 48.0 grains
AA2460 - 49.0 grains
AA2520 - 51.0 grains
AA2495 - 50.5 grains
H4895 - 49.0 grains
BLC-2 - 49.0 grains
H335 - 49.0 grains
RL-12 - 48.0 grains

165/168 grain FMJ, HP or SP bullets

IMR 4895 - 47.0 grains
IMR 4094 - 48.0 grains
AA2520 - 47.5 grains
AA2495 - 47.0 grains
H4895 - 47.5 grains
BLC-2 - 49.0 grains
H335 - 47.0 grains
RL-12 - 44.5 grains

173/175 grain FMJ or HPBT bullets

IMR 4895 - 46.0 grains
IMR 4064 - 47.0 grains
AA2460 - 46.0 grains
AA2495 - 46.0 grains
H4895 - 47.0 grains
BLC-2 - 48.0 grains

180 grain FMJ, SP or HPBT bullets

IMR 4895 - 43.0 grains
AA2460 - 46.5 grains
AA2495 - 45.5 grains
H4895 - 44.0 grains
BLC-2 - 47.5 grains
RL-12 - 41.5 grains



Master Po's comments

These loads only duplicate military spec. velocities for the given bullet weight, using commercial cases and powders. If you are using military cases, drop all charges by 2 grains.

If you are looking for accuracy, drop all charges by 1 grain and work up .2 grains at a time.

Master Po's Ancient M1 load secret

This is my personal M1 load I use in my CMP M1. It will shoot better than Master Po can. I worked this load up, as you should for your own rifle.

Remington .30/06 cases, flash holes deburred and weighed within 1 grain.
Federal GM210M Primers (Master Po has heard the horror stories of Federal match primers in the M1/M1A rifles. If you're squeamish or new to reloading, use Winchester Large Rifle)
47.0 grains IMR 4064
Sierra 175 grain MatchKing
Overall length 3.340 inches

This load, in my M1, duplicates almost perfectly the M72 match load specification with a very low standard deviation. Groups off the bench run 1 - 1.5 inches with the original 1945 barrel on the rifle. Of course, Grasshopper YMMV.



Back to Master Po's Temple

Randy

 

[tndrfttom]

If you suspect low gas pressure make sure the port in the top of the gas cylinder aligns with the gas port in the barrel. I've seen M1s fail to fully cycle because the gas cylinder was pushed too far back on the barrel splines or not far enough after disassembly for cleaning.

 

[Abflyboy]

Sounds like light loads not bringing the bolt all the way back to engage the next round in the magazine.

I've had a gas plug come loose a couple times causing the same problem.

If your op-rod spring is good enough to strip the top round without bumping the charging handle forward, you are most definitely not going to get away with light loads.

 

[growr]

M1

If you suspect low gas pressure make sure the port in the top of the gas cylinder aligns with the gas port in the barrel. I've seen M1s fail to fully cycle because the gas cylinder was pushed too far back on the barrel splines or not far enough after disassembly for cleaning.

As the armorer for Legion Post 4, I have seen far too many Garands with the gas cylinder pushed back as far as it will go and then cinch down the gas plug so that it is tight and no rattle by former members that thought they knew all about the M1.....

The port OUT of the barrel going into the gas cylinder needs to be in alignment for it to work properly. I have found that the thickness of a credit card to work very well for getting proper alignment.

Also, the op rod spring must measure 19.25 inches ideally.

I also think your load is under-powered......which causes this type of malfunction.

Please let us know the REAL problem on this magnificent rifle!!

Randy

 

[VAPA]

Update, Simply reloading hotter loads didn't correct the problem so I disassemble, relubed, adjusted the gas cylinder to front hand guard gap, found some old M2 ammo. The more I shot it the more reliable it became.
I believe that my original loads were too light and gun needed to be broken in as it was a CMP Service Grade sold in 2015 which the previous owner never shot.
Thanks for all advice.

 

[growr]

Glad you found the real problem.....go blast away and enjoy that ping!!

Randy