Milling service to cut an M1D barrel?

[1903Collector]

I am looking to convert a std 1944 M1 Garand barrel to mount a M1D scope base. I live in the Dallas area and Im looking for info of any known milling service to cut a std barrel to M1D barrel specs?
I have had the scope base for years and have a M84 scope and a 1944 SA receiver. All I need is a std barrel cut to allow fitting the scope base.
Any suggestions?

[browningautorifle]

All I need is a std barrel cut to allow fitting the scope base.

Turned on a lathe, not cut on a mill... The rear of the barrel will need to be turned off at the shoulder just enough to fit the scope mount block/barrel to the receiver. The gunsmith will need the barrel, receiver and scope mounting block. Well, the whole thing...to be sure it's right. Then he needs to allow for the crush factor of the barrel torque to achieve TDC with the sights and all this requires an experienced gunsmith that has done this sort of thing before. Gunsmith not milling service, sounds like you're looking for a machine shop. They aren't the right guys to do it.

[Garandy]

I don't believe most of the commercial M1D barrel blocks are well regarded. You might be money ahead buying a Criterion M1D barrel rather than getting a block and paying someone competent enough to install it properly. Especially if the stock GI barrel is decent enough to sell to offset some of your cost.

[MAC702]

Agreed. Unfortunately, the .30-06 version is out of stock with a waiting list.

https://criterionbarrels.com/product...v=0b3b97fa6688

[1903Collector]

Hi again Jim, well most issues above were just a matter of semantics, but I get your point to the difference between a machine shop and a gunsmith. I just used overly generic terms, and mistakenly used "milling" instead of "turning". I am well aware the type of machining operation required is by lathe and I am assuming the base is press fit to the barrel. I was in fact asking for suggestions of who had the skills and knowledge to do the work...I understand your point of referring to them as a gunsmith, but that was my intent. It was late (for me these days) and I was getting lazy and sloppy in my typing and thinking...seems to be a trend for me lately.

So, yes, I am looking for a gunsmith experienced in turning a std M1 barrel into a M1D barrel. I was hoping someone on this site can steer me in the right direction.

For the record, I am a retired mech-design engineer and know enough of my way around a lathe to be dangerous.

A quick thought...do we know whether the scope base is pressed on the barrel before or after the barrel is fitted to the receiver?
Note: Ive never barreled a M1 Garand, but from what I recall of reading up on the method necessary to align the barrel and receiver correctly, it is a pain in the *** as there are no alignment scribe marks as far as I know. I begin to wonder if I really want to do this!

---------- Post added at 10:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:24 PM ----------

Many thanks, I thought I had seen something like this some time ago in Firearms News. If I had $500 and if they had the .30-06 chambered version Id be tempted, but I already have a barrel to turn and a base...mount...whatever it is actually called. Also, I wanted to use a 1944 SA barrel for this project.

I noted they qualified the add with "mount modified by Criterion to securely tighten to the base mount and not loosen during fire. May still require leveling/truing by a qualified gunsmith." This last part means I may still need to find a gunsmith who knows how to do this!

---------- Post added at 10:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:30 PM ----------

Good point. Ive had the mount for years and it came from a huge warehouse of surplus USGI parts located in Europe...Denmark if I recall correctly. It may still be a commercial mount, but Im hoping it is authentic USGI. Is there any way to tell?
I also wanted a 1944 SA barrel for this project. Im not partial to non-USGI barrels, but then again I do not intend to compete with it. The more replies I read, the more I think I may just drop this project...too many potential issues.

[browningautorifle]

do we know whether the scope base is pressed on the barrel before or after the barrel is fitted to the receiver?

Here's a discussion in the CMP forum. https://forums.thecmp.org/forum/cmp-...lock-and-setup

[Garandy]

The base is installed onto the barrel prior to installation on the receiver.

Barreling/rebarreling a Garand really isn't that hard, even without index marks.

Post pics of your mount, we might be able to tell you what you have.

[1903Collector]

will try, but Ive never been able to post pics...I am sure I am just not posting them correctly.

[1903Collector]

Thanks Jim, it was a good read. That thread and MAC702's reply helped clarify things in my mind.

After my last message to you I think I figured out the methods required. The mount HAS to be pressed to the barrel prior to installing it onto a receiver. I wish I could see a drawing for the base internal diameter and M1D barrel diameter after turning. If needed, I could probably select the interference fit that is pretty close to USGI spec. It will be a mid range press fit at a minimum. I am sure an alignment jig/fixture will be necessary to assure desired base and barrel radial alignment when pressed, but that is pretty straight forward (Ive designed many fixtures and tooling jigs in my career). I have a 3 ton press, so I am sure I could do it...I just dont have a lathe and am not sure Id trust myself with one anyway!

I could be wrong, but after reading the entire thread, it appeared a few were confusing the base with the mount. I have seen some repro mounts and I was not impressed. IF I have a repro base I am less concerned dimensionally, but proper hardness may be an issue. For clarity, I refer to the base as the machined block that is pressed to the barrel, and the mount as the stamped and formed item that holds the scope and screws/affixes onto the base. So I still need someone who can turn down the barrel, but Im not sure I need a gunsmith per se, with the possible exception as to whether any facing or trimming is needed to the base (as Criterion seems to indicate is a possibility in their add).

Ill have to re-read the barrel to receiver alignment process for the M1 Garand. I wasnt thrilled with the prospect when I first read it. What boggles my mind is why did Garand not include scribed alignment lines on both the barrel and receiver. It works fine for the 1903, M1917, and M1 Carbine...why not the Garand and probably the M14/M1A? What am I missing here?

[browningautorifle]

but Ive never been able to post pics

Check your PM for email address, I'll post them for you.

---------- Post added at 06:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:56 PM ----------

I am sure an alignment jig/fixture will be necessary to assure desired base and barrel radial alignment when pressed,

I would practically guarantee it. The block has to be like this so the sights come TDC and your crush factor is present...and it's all pinned together.

IF I have a repro base I am less concerned dimensionally, but proper hardness may be an issue.

Too, you could have the flats out of whack and have an optic pointing off at an angle. Things to be aware of...then you're shooting "Over there" and can't get it correct.

What boggles my mind is why did Garand not include scribed alignment lines on both the barrel and receiver.

I disagree that they worked fine, I've fitted enough barrels to find they were out by a smidge. Standards were lax enough to allow them to shoot passably but TDC is correct when it's correct. The M1 rifle sights aren't so hard to do once you've done a couple and then you get them perfect. Lines aren't needed. They would only lead you astray thinking you were correct when you weren't.