2-Groove Barrels

[ArtPahl]

In reading some of my research material on 1903 type rifles, I ran across some information on 2-groove barrels. A War Department directive of 23 Oct., 1942 ordered 2-groove barrels to be made standard for (among others) U.S. Rifle, Cal. .30, M1. That order was later, on 11 Dec., 1942, changed from standard to optional. Now I know that Johnson Automatics as well as Remington made 2-groove barrels. A friend had one on a model 1917. And, of course, I have 03-A3 rifles with 2- groove barrels. My three Garands are 4-groove. My question is: Has anyone run across an M1 with 2-groove?

I got in on the dumping of the 03-A3 rifles by the DCM for $10 + $4.50 inspection in the early 1960's and the related parts sales to convert them to hunting rifles. At that time, 2-groove barrels were considered junk and were sold for $1 +/-. My experience mirrors that of the Ordinance Dept. in that my 2-groove barrels shoot about as well as any others.

Information

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[Seaspriter]

My 1943 Inland has a 2-groove barrel (Stamped INLAND, General Motors, 1943)

From all I've read on various posts, including Lee Enfields, there seems to be no discernible difference between the accuracy of 2, 4, 5, or 6 groove barrels in rifles (not sure about carbines), although it seems that the more grooves the more collectors value them. (feelin' groovy?)

[CINDERS]

2 groovers were a production thing, one question I have is why did they go away from the metford style (polygonal type) to the grooved rifled barrels was it to do with obturation or manufacturing ! TIA

[RCS]

Aftermarket two groove barrels from Model 1903A3's were machined to fit M1 rifle barrel stubs, silver soldered and had the gas port drilled. The remains of the 1903A3 front sight base was still visible
on the barrel (most of the time). Believe this type of work was done during the late 60's and into the 70's when M1 rifle barrels were difficult to locate. These M1/1903A3 barrel combinations were also
used on M1 receivers that had been demilled and re-assembled into rifles (some are still around). Some were done quite well but still able to detect with a close examination as they were cut in half.

To my knowledge, none of the production WW2 barrels ever had two groove barrels

[ArtPahl]

The war-time manufacturers of M1 rifles, Winchester and Springfield, apparently did not feel the need to make 2-groove barrels so, of course standard production would not have used them. But, since most of the Garands we encounter have been rebuilt and barrels replaced, there should be some out there with 2-groove replacement barrels if they existed. Johnson Automatics made 2-groove replacement barrels for model 1917 and 03-A3 rifles. Did they make them for M1 rifles, also, and if so, where are they? I'm not talking about cobbled together barrel stubs and reclaimed receivers, but legitimate war-time replacement barrels.

Of course, the post-war M1 manufacturers would not have had the time constraints the war producers had so short-cutting on rifling would not have been an issue. Still if 2-groove replacement barrels were in inventory, we should see some even on HRA and IHC M1's.

[ArtPahl]

A friend had one of those sawed-in-two and welded together rifles. I don't know if it had a cobbled up barrel or not but it had to have the sights skee-jawed to shoot near point of aim.

[browningautorifle]

The didn't make M1 factory barrels with two grooves. Those are all made up barrels. I've seen them for carbines also, and they are also made up from '03-A3 rifle barrel replacements.