M1 Garand gas port alignment and tight hand guards

I recently bought my first M1 Garands after wanting one for a very long time. One is an SA July 1944 receiver with an excellent SA June 1944 barrel. All SA parts except for the HR op rod. The stock has the circle P and a DOD stamp. It all appears in excellent shape since it was overhauled at some point in it's life.
The other was recently built in Switzerland around a Beretta receiver with a new barrel and a beautiful tiger striped walnut stock. This will be my shooter.
My question is about the gas port on the Beretta M1. The 1944 has the correct amount of play in the front handguard. The new rebuild had the gas cylinder too tight with little to no play.
I have now taken one turn out of the gas cylinder lock and tightened up the screw. It now has about a business card or two of play which is correct from what I have read.
How do I know if the gas port hole in the barrel is still lined up with the hole in the gas cylinder?
Also, the rear handguard is also a bit tight. I realize this is all brand new wood so should I attempt to adjust clearance here as well?

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Originally Posted by ricohman

I recently bought my first M1 Garands after wanting one for a very long time. One is an SA July 1944 receiver with an excellent SA June 1944 barrel. All SA parts except for the HR op rod. The stock has the circle P and a DOD stamp. It all appears in excellent shape since it was overhauled at some point in it's life.
The other was recently built in Switzerland around a Beretta receiver with a new barrel and a beautiful tiger striped walnut stock. This will be my shooter.
My question is about the gas port on the Beretta M1. The 1944 has the correct amount of play in the front handguard. The new rebuild had the gas cylinder too tight with little to no play.
I have now taken one turn out of the gas cylinder lock and tightened up the screw. It now has about a business card or two of play which is correct from what I have read.
How do I know if the gas port hole in the barrel is still lined up with the hole in the gas cylinder?
Also, the rear handguard is also a bit tight. I realize this is all brand new wood so should I attempt to adjust clearance here as well?

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You want fore and aft clearance on the rear HG as well. If it's too tight, as the rifle warms up and expands, one or both can happen:HG puts downward pressure on the barrel and accuracy suffers, and the potential is there for a cracked HG, neither is desirable. As for the front HG, remove a small amount of wood from the HG where it fits inside the barrel band until it has slight fore and aft movement with the gas cylinder and lock properly seated.
Jon

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Originally Posted by ricohman

How do I know if the gas port hole in the barrel is still lined up with the hole in the gas cylinder?

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When the gas cylinder lock is removed you can clearly see the gas port in the passage hole of the gas cylinder. Use a bright light...

Thanks for the replies. When I removed the handguard the lock bottoms out at 6 oclock. and I can see the gas port.
This new wood is beautiful so I will take my time to adjust the clearance as needed.