My new garand will not breakdown

[Bob Seijas]

A perfect fit of the receiver and trigger group to the stock is a crucial element of accuracy. While M1 production was going on, Springfield had no problem with this because they had thousands of stocks to pick through to find just the right one. The service teams did not have that luxury and had to struggle with the limited number of stocks they had on hand. Beginning in 1955 they petitioned the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice for permission to use fiberglass compounds to bed the stock, sort of like caulk. NBPRP said no, that was against the rule of "rifle as issued."
M1 production was halted in favor of the M14 in 1957, and SA ran out of stocks by about 1958, then had to struggle with fit just like the service shops. In 1959 they got behind the idea of fiberglass bedding, and NBPRP approved it for the 1960 shooting season. SA developed its own compound, but the shops preferred commercial products like Bisonite or Accrglass. From 1960 onward, match rifles included glass-bedded stocks.

[Seaspriter]

the shops preferred commercial products like Bisonite or Accrglass. From 1960 onward, match rifles included glass-bedded stocks.

Thanks Bob -- you are really one of the top experts on this field, so, to me, your word is like the "good book" (for those who don't know Bob, see his bio -- he's too modest to toot his own horn)
My National Match grade Winchester M1 (Springfield made authentic NM as a special production run, while some Winchesters were independently made into NM grade rifles as I understand it -- Bob I think you have some anomalies) was probably done in the late '60s or '70s by a Korean War Colonel from Arizona who loved to shoot in target matches. He hired a top-notch gunsmith to convert the weapon to NM grade. Now I know what that "glue" must be.
Any other advice Bob?

[Bob Seijas]

The barrel and receiver will come out of the stock if you want, it's not glued in, just bedded tightly... follow what AFJon said, sit down and place it upside down across your thighs, hold the front guard down with your left hand and smack the comb of the stock upward from underneath with your right hand. You can hit it as hard and often as you want, you won't break anything and it will come apart. As the shooters have said, however, when you put it back together it might take as many as 200 shots to reseat it all properly. If you don't have to, don't do it.

[Bob Seijas]

I always have to chuckle at the whole bedding controversy. SA absolutely controlled what could be done to the NM rifle... if they said no, it was no. The poor service shops struggled with lousy stocks, but IMO SA liked the idea that their NM rifles were better than anybody's and the right stock was a factor. The service shops were so insistent, however, that SA agreed to let Aberdeen Proving Ground test the question, which they did in 1957. The results make me laugh: APG found that a bedded stock was not significantly more accurate than a properly fitted unbedded stock. Well no $hit, Sherlock! That wasn't the question, everybody knew that... the question was how you make a sloppy stock fit right! But it killed the idea of bedding for three years.
But then SA runs out of stocks... they try gluing wood wedges in to make them fit right, but that's a real hassle and it only works for the recoil shoulders inside the receiver well. Suddenly, SA likes the idea of bedding, surprise, surprise, and of course the NBPRP says OK.

[Chris4366]

Hi every one I got stuck with a lot of work and have not touched the rifle,I will not take it apart.I thank every one for the info, there is a lot to learn.The guy I got the rifle from said it was one of the best garands springfield made.I just thought he was trying to sell the rifle he told me it was some kind of target long range rifle so I pade 450.00 for it.any more info would be good it dose have better sites than a normal garand.I was looking at other garands and it looks like a match rifle but not sure. what dose it need to be a match rifle. Thank Every one

[Seaspriter]

target long range rifle so I pade 450.00 for it.

Chris, it sounds like you got one very good deal. Most M1 Garands in very good shape are selling for upwards of 3 times what you paid. And if its National Match, or NM grade, you hit the lottery.

have not touched the rifle,I will not take it apart.

A wise decision. You can still remove/clean the trigger assembly, clean the barrel, and give the stock some TLC. You will have a rifle you can cherish for years.

[Chris4366]

Hi I found these markings NM sites,NM barrel,glass bedded trigger guard,barrel polished, bolt to, also SA 7791035 3 63 Y18 PM and a star, trigger will not come out.thank you for all the help I am new to forums and computers got mixed up a little so thanks

[Chris4366]

I put some pictures for you guys to look at,they are in my gallery,I hope I did this right.It would be nice if it was a match rifle for my first M1 Garand.I dont think I will ever get rid of it,my son has allready clamed it.So I will call the man that sold it to me and buy one of the two he has left one is a 308 target one is same as mine whitch would be better and they look new.THANK YOU

[Patrick Chadwick]

and will shoot under a inch at 100 yards with 1963 match ammo that I got with the gun

This sounds like a case of wanting to pull up an excellent plant to see how the roots are growing.

If

Question one have you removed the trigger assembly? If so turn the rifle upside down and smack the stock with the flat of your hand. That should loosen the stock from the barreled receiver.

does not work, leave it alone. If, as suggested, the system has been bedded, then removing it forcibly may break the bedding, and it will not be possible to reinsert the barrelled system cleanly. A case of "It's not broken, so don't fix it".

---------- Post added at 09:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:35 PM ----------

I pade 450.00 for it.

Over here that would be a Grade 1 steal! Congratulations

---------- Post added at 09:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:44 PM ----------

Just looked at the photos. You appear to have acquired a genuine National Match rifle at a bargain price.

Don't change a thing - get the others!

[Chris4366]

Hi guys I just called the guy with the other two rifles and will get them both, and asked him if there was any thing wrong with them he told me a guy tried to break one down and could not I hope there the same.Also why is the bolt head polished and barrel from receiver to the date,also I found a paper in the but stock that has something to do with long range shooting with my rifle.Is there any other NM marking to look for THANKS GUYS