Brought my first Garand home today

[boomer656]

"... Any 'VAR' stamped on the barrel? Be a really good thing if there is. Those barrels are match grade barrels.

No. It's got a Springfield barrel in it (4-49) that I assume was in it when it went to Denmark.

[browningautorifle]

It's got a Springfield barrel in it (4-49) that I assume was in it when it went to Denmark

If they were serviceable they passed inspection. If they needed replacement, they got it. You'll find Danish returns with WW2 inspected stocks...rare wood.

[boomer656]

I had one box of Garand specific ammo (PPU) and a beautiful morning to take the rifle for my first trip with it to the range. My main objective was to get it sighted in, which I believe is pretty much done.

Now to the question(s). When I first brought the rifle home and checked it out, I noticed the gas plug was loose. When I put everything back together, I snugged it up ... tighter than finger tight but not too much torque. Today I checked it after 12 shots and found it to be loose again. How much torque should be used when tightening the plug? Is this a common problem? Recommended fix?

Oh by the way - very pleased with the way it shot.

[Snowman1510]

I believe they are supposed to be pretty tight to seal in the gas. There are more knowledgeable people here that can give you the specifics.

[sakorick]

It is a Danish return and I love that sight tag. If I reading it right you would need to come down 6 clicks to be on at 300. Must be sighted in real high. All the parts I could see indicate a rebuild post war. I love 6 digit Springfields and you have a beauty. Send a check to the CMP for $25 to the Serial number clerk and she will mail you the CMP provenance letter. It will add at least a 10% value to your Garand or more!

[boomer656]

It is a Danish return and I love that sight tag. If I reading it right you would need to come down 6 clicks to be on at 300. Must be sighted in real high. All the parts I could see indicate a rebuild post war. I love 6 digit Springfields and you have a beauty. Send a check to the CMP for $25 to the Serial number clerk and she will mail you the CMP provenance letter. It will add at least a 10% value to your Garand or more!

That's the way I read the tag too.

Thanks for the info about the CMP serial # check. I wasn't aware they offered that service. I will definitely pursue that.

[sakorick]

That's the way I read the tag too.

Thanks for the info about the CMP serial # check. I wasn't aware they offered that service. I will definitely pursue that.

Well there's one way to find out......do you have a range around close by. Please keep this in mind if and when you shoot it. These Garands should not be hot rodded. You will need to find some tame loads for it. Everyone all of a sudden wants to get the latest hot loads for their deer rifle and I can add, the dead deer doesn't know the difference between 2750 and 2950'/sec but that old Garand does. Hot loads are a no no.


Added. No reason to over tighten the gas plug. I have a big phillips I use on mine. You can snug it down pretty tight if you clean it after shooting.

[boomer656]

Well there's one way to find out......do you have a range around close by. Please keep this in mind if and when you shoot it. These Garands should not be hot rodded. You will need to find some tame loads for it. Everyone all of a sudden wants to get the latest hot loads for their deer rifle and I can add, the dead deer doesn't know the difference between 2750 and 2950'/sec but that old Garand does. Hot loads are a no no.

I had it out today to start zeroing it in - the elevating knob indexing was way out. Only had one box of shells - a box of PPU optimized for the Garand. I probably won't get it out again until next week. Anyway, I'm at 11 clicks from the bottom at 25 yards. Took a few shots at 50 and 75 yards and the setting seemed to be good. I'll work my way up to 300 yards, but I don't think it's going to be 6 clicks from the highest setting. It's possible a sight has been changed since that label was put in.

Spent the rest of the morning giving my 1903 a work out - using up some of those hunting loads I don't use anymore

[sakorick]

Be sure to not molest that index....it's very cool!

[boomer656]

Be sure to not molest that index....it's very cool!

Don't worry about that - it won't be coming off as long as the rifle is in my stewardship.