fix for loose M1 Garand wooden front handguard?

Rodman S. Regier

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Aug 13, 2002, 6:01:41 PM8/13/02

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This is a "rack-grade" unit. I don't want to purchase a synthetic
stock. I believe a loose handguard has a negative effect on accuracy,
I would like to avoid that issue.

TIA

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Douglas Skalitzky

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Aug 14, 2002, 9:56:17 AM8/14/02

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"Rodman S. Regier" <r...@hfx.andara.com> wrote in message
news:ajbvk5$rna$1...@grapevine.wam.umd.edu...
# This is a "rack-grade" unit. I don't want to purchase a synthetic
# stock. I believe a loose handguard has a negative effect on accuracy,
# I would like to avoid that issue.
#
# TIA

It's my understanding that if it's tight because the gas cylinder is in
contact you'll get impact shifts as the rifle heats up, so loose (0.010" min
clearance)would be better than tight. The front handguard can be unitized
with the lower band as a match conditioning step, if you'd like.

Doug S.
Milwaukee, WI USA

Lone_Wolf

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Aug 14, 2002, 10:00:31 AM8/14/02

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"Rodman S. Regier" <r...@hfx.andara.com> writes:

> ...

Get the NRA book "The M1 Rifle", they have instructions on accurizing
Garands. Be advised that if you follow these steps, you will NOT be able to
pick up your M1 by the front handguard. If you intend to keep it relatively
'rack-grade', don't mess with it. Mine are loose, but the rifles shoot
considerably within the Army standards, just not up to what is needed to win
rifle matches.

James

> ...

LoboMike

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Aug 14, 2002, 10:09:17 AM8/14/02

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Actually a loose hand guard is by design for a rack/service grade M1. It
allows for expansion/contraction during heating/cooling while firing.

HTH

--
LoboMike,

"You'll never get anywhere if you believe what you HEAR. What do you
KNOW?"

"Rodman S. Regier" <r...@hfx.andara.com> wrote in message
news:ajbvk5$rna$1...@grapevine.wam.umd.edu...

> ...

Charles Winters

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Aug 14, 2002, 10:09:45 AM8/14/02

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Dear R: There is a standard method for permanently affixing the upper
handguard to the barrel with epoxy. You are correct, its one of the
usual accuracy steps for the M1. Any good M1 smith can perform the work
for you or it is probably described in a shop manual on accurizing the
M1 rifle. Just as important are proper clearance between the gas
cylinder and the upper HG, bedding of action in stock, tighten sights
and clean up trigger letoff. I suggest you ship your rifle off and have
all of it done, its worth the effort. - CW

"Rodman S. Regier" wrote:
> ...

Dick Wells

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Aug 14, 2002, 10:10:25 AM8/14/02

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Some of the surplus Garands I have bought have had paper or cardboard wedged
into the space between the stock and handguard. I don't know if this was for
accuracy or sound supression however. RW

Walter J. Kuleck, Ph.D.

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Aug 15, 2002, 8:05:45 AM8/15/02

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Rodman, unless you securely affix the front handguard to the lower band
(this is traditionally accomplished by gluing & screwing), you want the
front handguard to float. In any case, it must *not* be jammed against
the rear ring of the gas cylinder. If it is, the pressure it exerts
will change as the barrel heats up and expands, resulting in vertical
stringing.

It's best if the handguard is secured to the lower band & clearanced,
but if it isn't, it should float.

See Kuhnhausen's "M1 Garand Shop Manual" (available from Fulton Armory)
for detail son the securing procedure.

Hope this helps.;

Best regards,

Walt Kuleck
Author, "The AR-15 Complete Owner's Guide"
--available from http://www.fulton-armory.com/
--see the review in American Rifleman

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-...@serge.shelfspace.com
[mailto:owner-...@serge.shelfspace.com] On Behalf Of Ronald Bloom
Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2002 10:22 AM
To: C&R FFL
Subject: Fw: fix for loose M1 Garand wooden front handguard?

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rodman S. Regier" <r...@hfx.andara.com>
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2002 6:01 PM
Subject: fix for loose M1 Garand wooden front handguard?

# This is a "rack-grade" unit. I don't want to purchase a synthetic
# stock. I believe a loose handguard has a negative effect on accuracy,
# I would like to avoid that issue.
#
# TIA

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Rodman S. Regier

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Aug 15, 2002, 8:07:48 AM8/15/02

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On Wed, 14 Aug 2002 14:09:45 +0000 (UTC), Charles Winters
<ch...@mindspring.com> wrote:

#Dear R: There is a standard method for permanently affixing the upper
#handguard to the barrel with epoxy. You are correct, its one of the
#usual accuracy steps for the M1. Any good M1 smith can perform the work
#for you or it is probably described in a shop manual on accurizing the
#M1 rifle. Just as important are proper clearance between the gas
#cylinder and the upper HG, bedding of action in stock, tighten sights
#and clean up trigger letoff. I suggest you ship your rifle off and have
#all of it done, its worth the effort. - CW

Unitizing the handguard. Knew about it, was hoping to avoid that
level of effort.

I did most of that and installed a synthetic stock on another M1
myself. It shoots great
I was hoping for a simple fix.
Some of the other posters suggest that the front handguard is supposed
to be loose on rack-grade units.

I'm "behind the lines" in Canada, so US gunsmithing for complete
rifles is today an unpleasant dream. Both Canadian and US federal
authorities would want at least a pound of paperwork for such a
transaction.

The M1 Garand was not to my knowledge a popular rifle for service
matches in Canada, so not a lot of gunsmith knowledge on them has been
developed in Canada. I've read Kuhnhausen on the M1 Garand,
but I don't have a copy currently in my possession.