Grinding M1 Garand Bolts

[Airbob10]

Has anybody ever heard of grinding an Garand bolt to make it head space properly? I bought a T2 Garand last week that was supposed to be a T2 on an Italian receiver with a 308 barrel. When I pulled it apart, I found that the bolt was ground in 4 spots, the barrel could be undone by hand and the gas cylinder was at .532. I sent it back to the retailer selling them in Canada.
I have built 6 Garands and I can't find any where in my shop manual that this practice is acceptable. The retailer states that it was "proofed", so they are deemed safe. I found in the manual that the op rod lug is not to be altered in any way, mine was.
Just wondering if any of you has seen this done.

Thanks.... Bob

Information

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[browningautorifle]

We have a thread about that whole subject currently. https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=57609

And short answer, there was such a practice as lapping, but grinding isn't that.

[Airbob10]

Thanks Jim,
I saw the other post, but I was trying to see if there was any information on the practice of grinding to make head space. I always thought lapping was on bolt action rifle, not semi's. (I could be wrong on this one). I always ream my chamber when fitting the bolt to a new barrel, so I was disappointed to see the bolt ground down. I was trying to focus less on the supplier and the Canadian Forum and more on the knowledge in the US to get info on this practice if there is one.

[browningautorifle]

I've done a few too, the last being a 7.62 on an SA receiver. I had a short chamber and finish reamed too...I worked with the existing bolt and there have been no issues, these guys were slapping stuff together. The barrel MUST come tight to begin with. Locktite doesn't count. They could have either mixed and matched parts until the found something that fit, or set the ones aside that didn't set up and do the proper job later. There's the ones that go together like magic and those that give trouble. I can sort out the problem children but not after the bolt's been damaged beyond repair by grinding through the surface or welding...a barrel that won't index is another thing all together. If that rifle had been GIVEN to me, I'd sort it out and carry on. Since you paid, it had to return to sender.

Lapping... But, it ain't grinding or welding... By the way, I too am in Canada, you don't HAVE to go to the US for help.

[fjruple]

Commercially bolts would be lap to fit the contact points on the receiver. Headspacing would be achieved by reaming the chamber to the proper depth. In the military (US) the armorer would fit a bolt from a pile that were on hand until one properly fitted. Grinding is big no-no since the grinding could go below the heating of the lugs on the bolt and be extremely dangerous. Given the numerous versions of the Garand that the Italians fielded it possible several parts from other versions were mixed in with the parts kits and replacement parts. Parts are parts. Sadly full guns could be imported back into the US. We have seen parts kits without the receivers and barrels.

--fjruple

[browningautorifle]

Grinding is big no-no since the grinding could go below the heating of the lugs on the bolt and be extremely dangerous

Agreed, and they were working from a pile of parts so they should have selected more carefully instead of grab and force fit. It could have worked out with a bit of care.

[Airbob10]

Thanks for your quick answers.
Jim, I realized you were from Victoria just after I hit post. I grew up there. So, you are right that we don't have to go south to get answers, but I find there is a lot of experience particularly on the M1's and some of the other US made WW1 & WW2 rifles I own. Its the numbers of 320+ million to 36 million people. Also, thank you for the lapping video. Very informative.
On the Canadian sites, it always seems to turn into a ****ing match with who has the best answer. A lot of chest puffing. It gets frustrating, so I went searching for a site that I could ask a question and expect good answers without being schooled.

[browningautorifle]

a ****ing match

A lot of chest puffing.

It gets frustrating,

And that's why I refuse to make even one single suggestion or post in any forum on GunNutz...or over on Culver's way back when for that matter...

[Sentryduty]

And that's why I refuse to make even one single suggestion or post in any forum on GunNutz

It is a silly place, their classifieds offer a wide variety of opportunities, but beyond that it is of limited usefulness as a learning resource.

[browningautorifle]

their classifieds

I deal there regularly, and have done some very good and profitable business. I just don't even open any other forums. It's like children screaming in the darkness...