Going to field strip my M1 Garand for the first time. Advice? Tips? Supplies?

[no4mk1t]

OK, found it.

This is from a USMC armorer.

Replace any spring that:

Is less than 19" free length regardless of round count.
Is kinked or does not lay straight when out of the gun.
Has flat spots on the coils.
Has >2500 rounds on it or unknown rounds in the case of a M1 you bought.

Do not use "extra power" springs or a spring longer than 20.5" long.



And do not use ammo that is not USGI spec or equivalent handload. Most commercial 30-06 ammo is loaded with powders that are not compatible with the M1. Federal and Hornady load ammo that is specifically designed for the M1 and is so labeled. Prvi Partisan also has a M2 Ball equivalent load.

[AaronGee]

Hello, if you can respond quickly it would be helpful.

Can you tell me if this is the proper spring. It says Fulton Armory but is posted on a different site. I just ordered a bunch of stuff from Brownwell as previously mentioned so if it's the proper op-rod I'm going to purchase and see if they can tack it onto my shipment.

https://www.brownells.com/rifle-part...prod38877.aspx

Thank you

[no4mk1t]

Yes, That's the one.

[musketjon]

Don't over think the lube. To an M1, grease is grease is grease. Get a 1# tub of high temp, high pressure wheel bearing grease from your local Wal Mart for about $5. It's more than sufficient and will last you 10 lifetimes. The best op rod springs for the money are the ones from Orion 7, bar none.
Jon

[Sunray]

"...my first full cleaning..." That should have been before you fired the thing. Anyway, an M1 isn't difficult to field strip.
Go here for a free .pdf manual. Read it. Note the need for the provided UN & PW. You want FM-23-5 and TM-9-1275. Don't worry about Ordnance being spelt wrong by Fulton.
Biggerhammer.net - Miscellaneous Firearms Technical and Training Manuals
"...removing the gas plug for cleaning..." Removing the gas plug is part of a full cleaning. Any screwdriver will do for off and back on. Screwdriver tight is enough.
"...Garands are hard to come by up here..." Garands in decent condition are hard to come by up here. They are Stateside too. S'why they worth the money asked. Only if the thing is in decent condition though. I've seen junkers at gun shows the guy thought were worth $775 when they were worth that Stateside in good condition. U.S. values mean nothing here. The guy hauled 'em back and forth for months. Same guy wanted $4 each for a $1.50 clip. That were in poor condition too.
When you get that far, think 150 or 168 grain bullets with IMR4064.

[RCS]

I can remember when there was at least one or two men in most every squad that could disassemble the M1, and put it all back together blindfolded !

Forget about those "GI cleaning party" where one guy cleaned all the op rods and another cleaned another part - my observations - everybody cleaned
his own rifle and never wanted to mix around parts from other rifles.

[browningautorifle]

everybody cleaned
his own rifle and never wanted to mix around parts from other rifles.

I did it for 35 years and never did see guys mix up rifle parts. The weapon was your own responsibility...be it the LAR or MG, rocket launcher or mortar...rifle...pistol...

[bob seijas]

I remember in Basic Training we were not supposed to disassemble the trigger group. One guy would collect all the trigger groups, take them into the latrine and blast them with the super-hot water in the sink. Then he would go down the aisle and toss a clean group on each bunk.

[RCS]

your basic training rifle is only temporary. I told the squad leader in basic that I could disassemble the trigger housing if someone could find
a good nail. Someone found a nail and I took each mans trigger housing apart for cleaning then put it together for final inspection.

The G.I. is not suppose to take the trigger housing apart

[bob seijas]

Or the bolt.