Is it possible to remove the handguards without removing the gas cylinder?
I am thinking of this removal process:
Pry open the Rear Handguard
Band/Clip
Slide out the Rear Handguard
Slide over the Lower Band
Pull the Front Handguard back and up
I would to inspect the metal under the handguards for rust (i spilled some water there a few times years ago cleaning corrosive salts out of the barrel).
The gas cylinder is super tight, even with the special gas plug wrench and Gas Cylinder Wrench to prevent torquing the barrel. Then I read that a tight gas cylinder is good for accuracy and thought better of taking that out.
It's probably fine since I used hot water when I did salt flushing, but I want to get some RemOil on the barrel surface anyways just for peace of mind.
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Wow are you kidding !!! You will do way more damage to the rifle .. Why can't you remove the gas cylinder the correct way ? There some thing very wrong if you can not take the gas plug out ! You need to take the gas plug and cylinder off to clean it of built up fouling .
The rifle is designed to be field stripped, reassembled, and maintain its accuracy. Do it the right way. The great thing about guns is each one can only be disassembled and reassembled one way, or else they won't work. Plus, it's kind of fun going through the process and then knowing your M1 is cleaned, lubed and ready for the next shooting session or some downtime in the safe.
I have a tool which can remove the rear handguard - but there is always a risk of splitting the rear of it or cracking the front tip of it under the middle band and almost impossible with a handguard up against the face of the receiver - A risk without a reward
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I only knew that because when I bought my LL back in '76 it had that tool in the butt. I had no internet or even FM to go to, just figure it out in the barracks on the weekend. I never understood people wanting to remove the center band and how the handguard would crack it otherwise, mine didn't. But then, I was careful because there were no replacement parts at the time.
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