M1 Garand Help

[SGT K]

My Department recntly aquired some Garands to use for our Color and Honor Guard. They came with tube-type blank adapters all ready installed. The problem is, our drill routine requires the officer to manually cycle the action after every blank is fired.

I've included a photo. Can you tell from it if the gas lock has been removed to install the blank adapter? If it has been removed, I don't have them. As you can probably guess,,,,,I'm not very familar with the Garand. Am I going about this in the right way? I can not alter the rifles in such a way that I can not put them back to the condition I received them. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Paul

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Liftrat]

Yep, looks like the gas cylinder lock is missing (it screws on the barrel where the BFA is now). I'm not very familiar with BFAs, but I wonder if just replacing the BFA with the original setup would let you fire blanks without having the rifle cycle semi-automatically. Hopefully someone more familiar with that arrangement will chime in.

[Ernie]

Yep, your Garand is set up the way they are at almost all posts. The BFA replaces the gas lock. In this fashion you can function the rifle in semi auto mode.

If you really want to function the rifle in manual then I would take off the BFA and purchase locks for them. That way there is no gas buildup to work the action. YOu will have to manually cycle the operating rod to remove the spent round and chamber the next one. I am not sure why you would want to operate them that way but if that is what you want to do thats totally fine with me.

Just remove the BFA, replace with the lock, and you will be good to go in manual mode. I would keep the BFA's however as somewhere in time someone may desire the semi auto mode.

IF you need more info PM me.

Ernie

[John Kepler]

If I were you.....I'd change your drill rather than the rifles! You guys are just asking for trouble trying to use a Garand as a "straight-pull" with blanks! Stay with the BFI and watch how the Marine Honor Guard does it!

[Joe W]

If I were you.....I'd change your drill rather than the rifles! You guys are just asking for trouble trying to use a Garand as a "straight-pull" with blanks! Stay with the BFI and watch how the Marine Honor Guard does it!

I agree with John 100%. You will not find that extracting fired cases with the M1 is as easy as with the 03 and it will throw your team members off. Tell them it is "time for change".

[U.S.G.I.]

I agree with John. I'm on a Marine Corps League firing squad and we only do semi auto firing. I have never see anybody do it manually.

Semper Fi...Jeff

[m1903rifle]

It's no problem at all to operate the Garand manually with blanks.......I , along with about 800 other guys , did it for 6 weeks at Bragg in the summer of '66.

[John Kepler]

In 66 maybe.....with the current blanks.....I wouldn't try it! I've worked on too many VFW rifles for Mr. Whitten to say it's a good idea!

[U.S.G.I.]

I might add that I would be very careful with this kind of BFA. I have seen a couple of rifles with the barrel thread ruined. You must keep these BFA tight, don't let them become loose. I prefer to use the Hollywood adapters myself. They look more real and stay tight. Simple to install, remove your gas cylinder lock and screw, install the hollywood adapter and screw on your lock screw.

Semper Fi...

[SGT K]

Wow, I came back to the computer this evening and now I have a lot to think about.

Ernie, where is a good place to find some gas locks?* I'm pretty sure I can do this, even though I don't have much experience.

John, Joe and Jeff - I realize this forum is not about Honor Guards, but this is what I want to do - After coming to the firing position, on command the left hand comes off of the handguard and quickly slides down to the operating rod and works the action while the weapon is held by the firing hand in port arms.* The trick is,,,,,,,,,,getting everyone to cycle at the same time.* Seven rifles cycling at the same is awe inspiring, but,,,,,,,,,,it is hard to get everyone in time.* You can have only three people out of seven actually firing a live round if you want, but a rifle cycling out of time is pretty noticable.

I don't have any experince with 30-06 blanks.* Will they be considerably harder to eject than a 5.56?* Our 5.56 blanks don't always feed very well, will I have more problems with the 06?* I've got some fine young men to work with but we only have so much time to practice.

Thank you for all of your posts.* I all ready have my first question answered and I am gratefull to all of you.

Paul