New M1 Garand Owner - Hello and Questions

[Rhino-lfl]

Hello to all. I’m here to find out as much as I can about the M1 Garand. I have done research, read articles, done hands on work, and have endeavored to do so in a straight forward manner. I’m here to ask questions, take advice into consideration, and try to get some more knowledge about the weapon system from people who share my respect and appreciation and who have had first-hand real world experience.

Now I’m not sure what the people on this site are like … so if you’re waiting to pounce on the first person who has asked a question someone else has asked previously, waiting to flame the first time someone admits to not knowing everything about the M1 Garand like you think you do … or if you just want to remind me how you tea-bagged my mom … well this site isn’t for me.

That being said … I’d like to share a few things about myself that might help you help me, and I would then ask a few questions to start me on my journey … either to another site or hopefully to a better understanding through advice I receive here.

I’ve loved the M1 Garand for as long as I can remember loving my own wee wee lol … I don’t know if it was from the old John Wayne movies, reading stories, the history channel … but it was just something I had to have in my collection. I’ve restored many weapon systems that needed help and that I’ve had an attraction to. I don’t like buying the brand new shinny AR guns or that new polymer 9MM pew pew’s, I like owning something of substance, that matters … something with history or something unique in some way.

I have more than a hobbyist knowledge of most firearms, but I have exceptional proficiency with and/in M1911’s, Ruger 10/22’s, R700’s, Mossberg 500 & 835, unique 10MM pistols, Colt 45L revolvers, and Ruger M3 and M4 pistols.

Recently I purchased a M1 Garand … right now I don’t know if it was for more or less than it is worth, but I was ok with the price so I bought it … $900. Now previous to buying her I had never owned or operated one. To date I have done nothing more than slip a 8 round stripper clip into her with snap caps and run the action. That seemed to go fine. I was told when I bought her she was operational and to be honest … things do look ok. All I know is that the receiver is from 1943.

So here are my questions:
1. I know that there are many numbers on the M1. What numbers should I be concerned with and what is the best place to verify those numbers against? Is there a site for this you recommend?
2. I’m concerned with perhaps the barrel might be overshot. If that is the case, is it better to keep an in-operational barrel with the gun or find one that is operation like the receiver?
3. Is there a sight or tutorial that you recommend for a full soup to nuts strip, fix, clean, history, parts, fun, etc. video about the M1 that I can use as a reference?
4. What is the best site to buy M1 parts and pieces?
5. Anything else? Anything you want to say or warn me about? Any names you want to call me? Anything I should know I’m not on the trail of?

Thanks for whatever help you can offer.

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.

[browningautorifle]

If you could post pics as a start, we can have a better look and see what you have and it's condition for you. There are tutorials everywhere on stripping and assembling and care...we have some here up above this forum. Scott Duff published a couple of must have books for you on the M1 rifle...and there'll be more along shortly to chat...

[WarPig1976]

or if you just want to remind me how you tea-bagged my mom.

Welcome aboard... No worries, good group of people in all the forums here.

[bearrowland]

Welcome aboard and post pics ASAP!

[Rhino-lfl]

I will try and make some pics tonight. I'm not a super duper pic making guy. I assume you want some pics of the little movey aroundy thingies, the wood and grain, and the shooty hole. Unless you were asking for pics of me ;0 ... I'm sure i can find some 'candid' photos.

[browningautorifle]

Some clear reasonably close pics of the rifle details will help us to tell you about it.

[25-5]

You have come to the right forum. Very helpful people here. They know their stuff.
A good search engine here too.
Also YouTube has loads of videos.
Ammo is critical as mentioned. Privi Partisan works well in mine. If you reload, Hornady's 9th Ed. manual has a separate section for .30-06 and the Garand.

[Rhino-lfl]

So I fully stripped her down and put all the pics on my photobucket ... there are about 90 of them. Feel free to look through them all ...

M1 Garand Fully Stripped

If it is a help, here are some of the numbers I got off her.

Serial Number: 2914238
Trigger: 6628290-SA
Trigger Guard: C46025 W.R.A
Hammer: 646008-6 SA
Receiver: D28291 34
Guide Rod: D35382 6 SA
Barrel: 6535448 1 67 MD68
Slide: D28287-123A

---------- Post added at 09:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:07 PM ----------

There were dried up old bugs all on the inside lol.

[Rhino-lfl]

ok so I scrubbed her down with #9 and a nylon brush. All the bug parts came off just fine and there was some hardish red stuff in the innards ... probably really old gun grease. You can see a few areas that have some bubbly little rust patches on them ... notably about the barrel and around the safety and that metal plate. I didn't notice any hard corrosion or wood rot anywhere. I'm not sure exactly how to get that rust off outside of some type of sanding or filing. I was wondering if soaking some of the bits in a little WD40 might help ... but I don't know what that might do to whatever parkerization is left on it. Anyway once cleaned a applied a thin layer of grease on the areas in a Brownell's video and some oil ... additionally I applied a tad on areas I could clearly see rubbing. I put her all back together, rubbed the wood down with a little Old English and a rag and called it a night. I ran a stripper clip full of snap caps through her and it seemed to be nice and smooth. The next test will be at the range with live rounds. I have some 150 gr Hornady American Whitetails and some 150 gr Federal American Eagles that say 'M1 Garand' all over them lol.

[sarge508]

There is a lot of good and a little not so good info on "the greatest battle implement ever devised," on the net. There is a forum very similar to this one with a lot of the same members specific or nearly so, to the Garand. Link below. I have also attached a link to a M1 Garand user manual from Springfield. I was pretty happy to find it. I'm not an expert, but your rifle looks dry. They need grease, grease not oil in several locations. I like a synthetic grease called Super Lube, a 3oz tube from Amazon will last for years. Seriously grease it before you shoot it. You will love the ping. Oh I see a 1903A3 in your future.

User Manual: http://pdf.textfiles.com/manuals/FIR...d_m1garand.pdf

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