CMP delivery

[ssgross]

Attachment 115209some tool marks and surface rust in the gas tube. could be dried oil.
whatever it was, it's not there anymore!
Attachment 115213

[ssgross]

how hard could it be to resemble the bolt? lots of videos out there make it look soooo hard, unless you buy the fancy tool. Well, took me all but 30 seconds. I used a tapered punch to line up the ejector from behind, using the GI tool that comes with the cleaning kit to depress it. Holding the tool on top just enough to keep the ejector from flying out, press in the extractor, popping out the punch. easy peasy.
Definitely a new firing pin too. the tip still has it's parkerized finish.

[browningautorifle]

how hard could it be to resemble the bolt

I liked to used the M10 cleaning rod handle like the book shows. That way it's all held in the rifle and just turn the tool with the rod...stripping or assembling. No, It ain't hard at all.

[ssgross]

No, It ain't hard at all.

in all honesty, I tried for a few minutes with just the handle and failed every time. the goofy ejector kept twisting every which way. it was easy peasy to align with a punch on the other side. I suppose you could align it with the threaded end of a rod just the same - so still no extra tools.

I cold blued one of the hand guard retainers that where left bright. I didn't like the look of it, so I ordered parkerized replacements - both retainers and the butt plate.

[ssgross]

Attachment 115242Attachment 115241
Looks like a complete IHC trigger group. The hammer is stamped with a drawing number and IHC as well.

I couldn't find anything else on the stock. Just the ~3/8" square with indeterminate interior and the circle P on the pistol grip.
Attachment 115243

[ssgross]

trigger is perfect, 3.5lb first stage, 2 lb second stage.
The op rod spring is very stiff. When I first opened the package and cycled the bolt, it was like dragging a boulder down a gravel road - took about as much force too. If you ride the handle up even the slightest, the bolt sticks. I figured it was just dirty, and set to work.
When I disassembled, the oprod spring was coated with a yellow/orange crust, and the inside of the oprod was correspondingly filthy. I immediately thought "there is my problem", perhaps along with the brand new park under the bolt not gliding smoothly along the follower (fixed that in the case tumbler above).

Everything is now clean. I soaked the spring in mineral spirits while I worked on the bore. The filth is off it, but it seems to have stained the metal an orange color. I relubricated, wiped off the excess, then greased it well. The rifle functions much better now, but the spring is still too stiff. It takes undue pressure to insert a clip (compared to the other 2 Garands I have), and the last round ejects late when pulling the rod by hand, and sometimes gets pinned between the clip coming out, and the top of the receiver.
First guess is obvious...it needs a new spring. Comparing the oprod to a better functioning rifle, I think it is OK.

[ssgross]

I swapped springs with another rifle and...perfect! On close inspection of the original, it has a slight bend in it about halfway down. I tried to take a picture, but you can only see it if you roll it on the table. New spring on the way. Now on to rifle no 2!

[browningautorifle]

On close inspection of the original, it has a slight bend in it about halfway down.

So, your op rod spring has a kink? Not unusual when some guy loses control during strip or assemble. Easily replaced if needed.

[ssgross]

New furniture and spring came in Wed. morning - so I got everything together after work and headed to the range. The first round was a big surprise...I switched the gas plug before heading out, thinking I put in the schuster adjustable, but actually put in another regular one. I was mildly surprised for a millisecond when the brass ejected unexpectedly.
My surprise escalated to panic when it bounced off the wall in my stall and into my hoodie! I jumped up and proceeded to dance the hot brass shuffle. It jiggled over to the left side of my neck, and into my shirt. I was left with a main burn and blister on the side of my neck where it first hit bare skin, and smaller lesser burn spots as it made it's way inside my shirt, and down along my skin. As luck would have it, the path it traced perfectly along my left shoulder pocket. What luck! I've had hot brass get in my collar from the marine next to me before, but never this perfect.
I shoot primarily left handed, and so I switched to righty. I'm pretty ambidextrous at most things, shooting included, with just enough advantage to favor lefty shooting, so I don't think I gave the rifle it's due attention. A friend joined me, and put 5 rounds on paper, first round a flyer then ~2 inch group of 4 rounds. So I'm optimistic. I'll take it again next week.

[ArtPahl]

I hope you were by yourself when you got the hot brass down your neck. It's a lot worse when you've got friends laughing their butts off at you!