So I finally broke down and bought a cheapo M1 Garand. Against better judgement, I fell for one of Century Arms reworked rifles (the ones with the repop MIM receivers), but I was basically looking for something just to look at and cuddle with so I didn't really care.

I have heard a lot of bad things about CAI's Garands, but this one seems to work ok. The only thing I'm a bit worried about is that it seems like you can fire it with the bolt out of battery. If I work the action without bullets in it, I can drop the firing pin with the bolt in just about any position. I don't have any dummy rounds, so I don't know if this is possible with one in the chamber, but I assume that it is. I don't have a manual for it, but I would say that this is not right, and potentially unsafe.

I believe that these rifles were built from parts kits, so it could be as simple as a worn out trigger group. This is very easy to change, so I'm hoping that it will be as easy as to get a new one and drop it in. Does anyone here know how it's supposed to work?

I came back from Nam and got out of the Army in Jun 64. Even though I was a combat medic (specialized as a surgical tech) I did basic training in an infantry unit with the M1. I liked it so well that after I got out I bought one (there were plenty surpless M1s then because the Army was switching over to M14s. I bought a very nice one, with a brand new stock, for $75. Back in the 60s-70s, I could buy surpless AP ammo for $7/100. So I'd buy 200-300 rounds at a time and go out and use it up real quick. Now, you can't find AP! I probalby have less than 100rounds left. Also, I used to just leave the brass on the ground. Fortunately, one day I decided to start saving the brass to reload. Now, all my ammo is reloaded.
I also bought a bayonet, cleaning kit and several web belts for M1 clips. Haven't fired it for several years now.

i have an m1 garand, will have to check on that firing problem you have, may be nothing wrong if i remember the trigger uses a blocking safety and will only go on when bolt is closed and cocked. have not used it for about 15 years. i use to belong to the dcm at fort dix nj. i purchased mine through the dcm. i will check on that and get back.

I bought my Garand through the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) Just google CMP) You can go to Surplusrifles.com and download articles and how to documents that show asembly and disassembly procedures. You can also find rifle forums just like Team Chevelle where your specific question can be researched.

Dale

I have been wanting one for years. Me and my dad are thinking about splitting the cost on a new Springfield.

i have an m1 garand, will have to check on that firing problem you have, may be nothing wrong if i remember the trigger uses a blocking safety and will only go on when bolt is closed and cocked. have not used it for about 15 years. i use to belong to the dcm at fort dix nj. i purchased mine through the dcm. i will check on that and get back.

I have searched on the Internet, and there is some kind of firing pin safety, but I have also seen a few comments on that it doesn't always work. I would appreciate if you could check yours and see how it works by just cocking it, holding the bolt open about 1/2" or so and pull the trigger.

I bought my Garand through the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) Just google CMP) You can go to Surplusrifles.com and download articles and how to documents that show asembly and disassembly procedures. You can also find rifle forums just like Team Chevelle where your specific question can be researched.


CMP has got really good tech articles, but I couldn't find any details on the firing pin safety. I'm actually thinking about buying a CD from AGI, have always wanted to get one to see how they are. This would be a pretty good time to try it.

with the safety on, mine will not fire 3/4 way closed, with safety off it will but i do not see an issue because trigger has to be pulled if you hold trigger down mine does not fire you have to release it and pull it again. if you have fired it already it would be safe to say that you are pointed down range and in safe zone.. when you cock yours do you leave trigger pulled or are you pulling it at half to 3/4 cocked, if you are holding it down while cocking and it goes off you have a problem.

I don't own one, but my FIL has a real nice match grade that will be mine one day.. :cool: :thumbsup:

with the safety on, mine will not fire 3/4 way closed, with safety off it will but i do not see an issue because trigger has to be pulled if you hold trigger down mine does not fire you have to release it and pull it again. if you have fired it already it would be safe to say that you are pointed down range and in safe zone.. when you cock yours do you leave trigger pulled or are you pulling it at half to 3/4 cocked, if you are holding it down while cocking and it goes off you have a problem.

Thanks! That's actually kinda what mine does. The issue is that even if you're lying there, pointing the rifle down the range, you won't see if the chamber is completely closed and if the bolt has turned to engage the locking lugs. Firing with the bolt out of battery may result in a blown cartridge or worse, and I'm not sure if I like that. I might just take it to a gunsmith to be sure that everything is ok.

I don't own one, but my FIL has a real nice match grade that will be mine one day.. :cool: :thumbsup:

You suck, as usual. ;)

I have two one a WW2 veteran and a NM that I bought in the box 25 years ago. Don't get too excited about the NM it is the most cantankerous weapon I have ever ouned. The clearences are so tight that ammo must be loaded for that weapon only or it won't function. The old WW2 model will shoot anything that even comes close to being correct.

Just for reference: I sent an e-mail to Century Arms, an they replied that the M1 does not have anything that prevents the hammer from dropping, but the firing pin is made in a way that prevents it from hitting the primer if the bolt is not fully closed. I'll check to make sure that the firing pin doesn't move when the hammer drops, but it sounds like this is the way it's supposed to work.

Old Post revived..... guys, I really want another 06. My deer rifle ( actaully a Smith & Wesson, machined by Howa in Japan, and looks jsut like a Weatherby Vanguard ) is in that cal, and I'd like a semi in that cal. Have ton of brass and relaod, so prefer not to go to an L1 ( .308). Prefer the balance of the M1 to the Fn/Fal anyway.

Patrick, would you reommend the el cheapo one, OR how exactly does one buy one through CMP.

Have to rejoin NRA? THNX guys.

You can find the requirements here:

http://www.odcmp.com/Services/Rifles/eligibility_requirements.htm

I have followed discussions on some message boards, and it seems like the supply is drying up. They don't really have much in stock, so you have to place your order and wait for the next time they receive a lot. I believe the rifles are sold on a first come, first served basis, so you basically have to sign up and cross your fingers, especially if you want a good one.

just in case anyone wants to know ....... if you google WOLF ammo its solid steel core :)

just one of these little pieces of trivia thats nice to know ;)

of course I wouldn't have any idea why anyone would want solid core ammo :thumbsup:

Old Post revived..... guys, I really want another 06. My deer rifle ( actaully a Smith & Wesson, machined by Howa in Japan, and looks jsut like a Weatherby Vanguard ) is in that cal, and I'd like a semi in that cal. Have ton of brass and relaod, so prefer not to go to an L1 ( .308). Prefer the balance of the M1 to the Fn/Fal anyway.

Patrick, would you reommend the el cheapo one, OR how exactly does one buy one through CMP.

Have to rejoin NRA? THNX guys.


Say Gene, where do you go to shoot? I want to fire off a few rounds with my new guns, but I'm kinda new to the scene. I've got a 12 ga. shotgun and a 30-06 i want to test out.

I have always liked the M-1's. Both the carbine and the Garand. But I would much rather have the Garand. Got an Enfield ,tanker version, at the house right now. The date on it is 1942 some time.

I had a jungle carbine enfield. I bought it from my friend that had a big scope cut above his eye. I gave him a bunch of stuff about it. I went out and shot it, with my eye very far away, I still got cut. That thing could kick! Neat gun, though.

I've never seen one of those. YOu ahve a picture of it?

http://www.angelfire.com/vt/milsurp/no5.html Here's a link to a picture of one, mine had a scope on it and kicked like a mule in .303 British.

Still alot of Enfields around here, every farmer had one in the closet. Harder to find the full wood military versions now but still around, most were sporterized after the war. They have a bit of a kick alright.

I'd owned several full stocked long barrel Enfields before the carbine. One was even a .308, good rifles. But that shortened, lightened jungle carbine kicked like no tomorrow. They did several milling operations to lighten them up not including shortening the barrel, and stock. Like milling the trigger group and hollowing out the ball on the bolt. I wish I still had that rifle.

My "buck gun" is my dad's old Mossberg 395 12 ga bolt. Cut the barrel down in a lathe to around 20", bought a smaller 20 ga stock from Numrich Arms, inlet it, stell bedded the action, adn it weighs 6 lbs. Ya wanna talk about kick! I mean its worse than any 300 win mag Ive shot. I joy to carryy all day long though, like those jungle carbines y'all have.

I had an M1 carbine when I was a kid. Man I loved that little rifle. Used to reload with Speer "plinkers" , these 110 gr exposed lead tip cheap heads. I sold it to my buddy's dad, a Korean war Vet, a GLORIOUS JARHEAD, to match his M1 G which he displayed, adn didnt my buddy just have to make the thing fully auto and busted both rails. Maroon. Thank God for Numrich Arms.

Also had a 303 carbine. My kid bro still has that out in AZ. Worked on an Enflield once, which means I range fired it. Steel buttplate, eh? Yeah that'll help the felt recoil! Not comfortable!

Anyway, I need the big cal version. At the risk of being labled "insane", I need a semi that'll stop a vehicle. I mean other than my 30mm launcher ;) But thats a single shot - with no ammo available! :( Anyone have any 30mm WP or HE???

Mark, I'll one upp ya on that. I'm sitting on both AP and tracer rounds 30-06 tracers and .308 AP heads. Given to me by one of our local peace officers who lives up the street. Heaven knows if it is still good, ALHTOUGH I still have some Red Dot powder from 30 years ago that still works! (I use it in my .44 for subsonic 240 wadcutter loads, "cowboy loads".) I dont think the AP heads have a steel core, I think its something, well a bit tougher than that, maybe tungsten. Dont have many of those, and I havent reloaded them yet.

Joey, I live across town in Hamburg and am a member of the Eden /North Collins Gun CLub. They shoot trap until 3 on sat/sun, but its open after that. Just put an old Weaver 1.5-4 on a cheap muzzleloader and need to sight it in, although I'm not using it for deer season- yet. I'm going to try and get over there after swork soon if I can pull out an hour early one day. I'm bowhunting this weekend, but if I can see a day in my schedule, I'll defintely PM you and let you know.

Patrick, thank you. I see now that my gun club isnt on the list but the other on in town is. I'll be having to join the " Bogtrotters Rifle and Pistol CLub", to get acccess to the CMP supply. I heard also that the high grade ones were becoming very, very scarce. No matter, aint shooting matches with this one.

Joey, I live across town in Hamburg and am a member of the Eden /North Collins Gun CLub. They shoot trap until 3 on sat/sun, but its open after that. Just put an old Weaver 1.5-4 on a cheap muzzleloader and need to sight it in, although I'm not using it for deer season- yet. I'm going to try and get over there after swork soon if I can pull out an hour early one day. I'm bowhunting this weekend, but if I can see a day in my schedule, I'll defintely PM you and let you know.

That would be great!

I was just out that way last week visiting my cousin in Lake View. My other cousin lives right on Rt 5 by a little church. it's always nice to drive down by the lake past the beach and tony's with the go karts!

Fisrt off, Thanks Olle this post has somehow inspired me to start my M14 clone project. I found a lot of good info at http://www.m-14forum.com in regards to M14/M1As. There are some subforums for other weapons including Garands. I joined the forum and seems to be a lot of sharp guys that are willing to help.