Ever build an M1 Garand?

bookertbab · July 30, 2003, 14:10

I don't know why, but I just ordered a couple M1 parts kits from AIM. How hard are they to build? Do I need many special tools? Or would I be better off just keeping them for extra parts? How hard would it be to build one into a M1 in .308?

Thanks, Tony

**W.E.G.** · July 30, 2003, 15:02

All there is to building a .308 is to simply install a .308 barrel. No other mods required. Some folks like to put a block of some sort in the front of the clipwell (is that a word?) to prevent anybody from trying to load '06 ammo in them.

You will need a receiver wrench and a vise.

Buy this book
See http://www.gunbooks.com/us30.html

**Old Sarge** · July 30, 2003, 15:24

Hay Tony
I have done several now. A couple of them more then once. Not to hard to do. I bought the AGI tape just to find out how to time the barrel and receiver and do the headspacing. If you are using USGI parts you should not have to ream the chamber at all. If you want to go to 308 you will need to get a ream and a barrel with a short chamber. I have never gone that route so I can't be of much help. But if you are doing a rack grade GI drop me a line and I ll help out if I can.

Oh ya. Get a USGI receiver. It will save you $$$ and hart burn making it all work right. www.odcmp.com you can get one from them.

Old Sarge

ByronF · July 30, 2003, 16:04

You too, huh? Couldn't resist a $70 kit plus $20 for stock set. I got the cheapest kit since I want a 308 Garand. And because I'm a cheap bastard. Can't bear to convert my CMP rifle. It's toooo nice (but not too nice to shoot). For the price difference in ammo, the 308 conversion will pay for itself. And cheap ammo is good, because I'm cheap. Except that there's now another hungry mouth on my ammo teat.

I may try to WECSOG the barrel into the receiver, though I won't risk damage to do it. I am cheap. I swear, I'll do it unless someone stops me by offering to do it for cheap. Because, well, you know.

Byron

**W.E.G.** · July 30, 2003, 16:44

Ack! coff! Sputter!!!!

$90 for everything but the receiver???

Somebody point me to the URL for this!!!

bookertbab · July 30, 2003, 16:48

There is no URL it was in their flyer. You can call AIM at 888-748-5252 but they didn't have many kits. Hurry!

worldskipper · July 30, 2003, 16:49

How about a link boys, I can't seem to find it at the web site...

Worldskipper

BIG50 · July 30, 2003, 18:58

I have built several M1Garands now.
I made my own receiver wrench and barrel vise the garands are pretty easy to build just make sure like any gun build to check the head spacing.
BIG50

Sgt Rock · July 30, 2003, 22:00

I built my first M1 Garand over 20 yrs ago. In true wecsog fashion I put the receiver in my vice (the portion of it that disappears into the stock) installed the front sight in the barrel, screwed in the barrel as far as it would go by hand and then used the all purpose barrel torque wrench (aka pipe wrench) that's right PIPE WRENCH, using the front sight to let me know TDC. Yes it did leave some wonderful teeth marks in it but in my defense that rifle still shoots 1.2 - 2 inch groups at 100 yds. Needless to say once I got a little more money I got a receiver wrench and barrel blocks and have relegated that monkey wrench to black iron pipe.

187 · July 31, 2003, 07:58

I have the GI pull through reamer for 308 barrels if anyone needs a short 308 chamber reamed to spec. It takes about 5 minutes. I can also barrel M1 actions. My shop will be back in business in about a week after I finish cleaning up the flood damage

gr187@earthlink.net if you have any questions.

Thanks.

ByronF · July 31, 2003, 08:57

Just called Brian at AIM to add a second kit to my order. Sad news, fellows. They're already sold out. He says it was a one-time thing, with no more behind it.

Byron

raypayton · July 31, 2003, 21:46

I have two sets of tools to do it, one home made receiver vise and barrel wrench, and a Brownell's barrel vise and receiver wrench. It isn't hard to do if you are using GI components. If you have a NM barrel, you'll need a through the bore reamer just as you would for any commercial barrel. Both types are short If its a standard GI barrel and you have a standard receiver, it should go together without reamers or anything else if the parts are in spec. You can use something like a Starrett Machinsts test level to measure the flat on the top of a mil spec gas cylinder and compare it to the flat milled behind the sight ears. When it matches, bubble to bubble you're there. You can do M14s the same way. I have a set of special shims I made to do M14s in my home made receiver wrench. This receiver wrench bolts down to a work bench and the barrel wrench has a handle fitted to it. I'd trade the home made set for an FAL receiver wrench and a bushing that will fit my Brownell's barrel vise.

WyrTwister · August 02, 2003, 16:00

Quote:

Originally posted by bookertbab
I don't know why, but I just ordered a couple M1 parts kits from AIM. How hard are they to build? Do I need many special tools? Or would I be better off just keeping them for extra parts? How hard would it be to build one into a M1 in .308?

Thanks, Tony

What ever you do , usw a USGI or Italian Mil-Spec receiver . Nothing else .

I suggest a receiver from the CMP .

God Bless
wyr

July 30, 2003, 14:10	#1
bookertbab Registered Contributor FALaholic #: 5217 Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,376	Ever build an M1 Garand? I don't know why, but I just ordered a couple M1 parts kits from AIM. How hard are they to build? Do I need many special tools? Or would I be better off just keeping them for extra parts? How hard would it be to build one into a M1 in .308? Thanks, Tony __________________ Careful with that axe, Eugene. NRA Life member.

July 30, 2003, 15:02	#2
W.E.G. Administrator Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 1211 Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Virginia Posts: 31,055	All there is to building a .308 is to simply install a .308 barrel. No other mods required. Some folks like to put a block of some sort in the front of the clipwell (is that a word?) to prevent anybody from trying to load '06 ammo in them. You will need a receiver wrench and a vise. Buy this book See http://www.gunbooks.com/us30.html __________________ . . . Ask me about the Mason-Dixon FAL Collectors Association.

July 30, 2003, 16:44	#5
W.E.G. Administrator Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 1211 Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Virginia Posts: 31,055	Ack! coff! Sputter!!!! $90 for everything but the receiver??? Somebody point me to the URL for this!!! __________________ . . . Ask me about the Mason-Dixon FAL Collectors Association.

July 30, 2003, 16:48	#6
bookertbab Registered Contributor FALaholic #: 5217 Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,376	There is no URL it was in their flyer. You can call AIM at 888-748-5252 but they didn't have many kits. Hurry! __________________ Careful with that axe, Eugene. NRA Life member.

July 31, 2003, 07:58	#10
187 Registered FALaholic #: 3967 Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,042	I have the GI pull through reamer for 308 barrels if anyone needs a short 308 chamber reamed to spec. It takes about 5 minutes. I can also barrel M1 actions. My shop will be back in business in about a week after I finish cleaning up the flood damage gr187@earthlink.net if you have any questions. Thanks. __________________ Magnum Gunsmithing, Ltd. Type 07 Licensed Manufacturer North Lima, OH www.magnumgunsmithing.com

July 30, 2003, 15:24	#3
Old Sarge Veteran Member Contributor FALaholic #: 3030 Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 1,095	Hay Tony I have done several now. A couple of them more then once. Not to hard to do. I bought the AGI tape just to find out how to time the barrel and receiver and do the headspacing. If you are using USGI parts you should not have to ream the chamber at all. If you want to go to 308 you will need to get a ream and a barrel with a short chamber. I have never gone that route so I can't be of much help. But if you are doing a rack grade GI drop me a line and I ll help out if I can. Oh ya. Get a USGI receiver. It will save you $$$ and hart burn making it all work right. www.odcmp.com you can get one from them. Old Sarge

July 30, 2003, 16:04	#4
ByronF Registered FALaholic #: 630 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,174	You too, huh? Couldn't resist a $70 kit plus $20 for stock set. I got the cheapest kit since I want a 308 Garand. And because I'm a cheap bastard. Can't bear to convert my CMP rifle. It's toooo nice (but not too nice to shoot). For the price difference in ammo, the 308 conversion will pay for itself. And cheap ammo is good, because I'm cheap. Except that there's now another hungry mouth on my ammo teat. I may try to WECSOG the barrel into the receiver, though I won't risk damage to do it. I am cheap. I swear, I'll do it unless someone stops me by offering to do it for cheap. Because, well, you know. Byron

July 30, 2003, 16:49	#7
worldskipper Registered FALaholic #: 4317 Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 796	How about a link boys, I can't seem to find it at the web site... Worldskipper

July 30, 2003, 18:58	#8
BIG50 Registered FALaholic #: 1441 Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: USA Posts: 633	I have built several M1Garands now. I made my own receiver wrench and barrel vise the garands are pretty easy to build just make sure like any gun build to check the head spacing. BIG50

July 30, 2003, 22:00	#9
Sgt Rock Registered FALaholic #: 564 Join Date: Aug 2000 Posts: 965	I built my first M1 Garand over 20 yrs ago. In true wecsog fashion I put the receiver in my vice (the portion of it that disappears into the stock) installed the front sight in the barrel, screwed in the barrel as far as it would go by hand and then used the all purpose barrel torque wrench (aka pipe wrench) that's right PIPE WRENCH, using the front sight to let me know TDC. Yes it did leave some wonderful teeth marks in it but in my defense that rifle still shoots 1.2 - 2 inch groups at 100 yds. Needless to say once I got a little more money I got a receiver wrench and barrel blocks and have relegated that monkey wrench to black iron pipe.

July 31, 2003, 08:57	#11
ByronF Registered FALaholic #: 630 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,174	Just called Brian at AIM to add a second kit to my order. Sad news, fellows. They're already sold out. He says it was a one-time thing, with no more behind it. Byron

July 31, 2003, 21:46	#12
raypayton Registered FALaholic #: 6120 Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Cameron, Mo Posts: 24	I have two sets of tools to do it, one home made receiver vise and barrel wrench, and a Brownell's barrel vise and receiver wrench. It isn't hard to do if you are using GI components. If you have a NM barrel, you'll need a through the bore reamer just as you would for any commercial barrel. Both types are short If its a standard GI barrel and you have a standard receiver, it should go together without reamers or anything else if the parts are in spec. You can use something like a Starrett Machinsts test level to measure the flat on the top of a mil spec gas cylinder and compare it to the flat milled behind the sight ears. When it matches, bubble to bubble you're there. You can do M14s the same way. I have a set of special shims I made to do M14s in my home made receiver wrench. This receiver wrench bolts down to a work bench and the barrel wrench has a handle fitted to it. I'd trade the home made set for an FAL receiver wrench and a bushing that will fit my Brownell's barrel vise.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode