M1 Garand Trigger Assembly ?

[John J]

I own 2 Garands and have experience field stipping it for grease and oil maintenance.

I took my brand new unfired CMP apart for lubrication maintenance.

I am unable to set the trigger guard to complete the assembly.
The trigger assembly appears to be brand new. Despite my best efforts I am unable to close down the trigger guard. It seats just fine, I can close the trigger guard outside the gun.

If I swap trigger assemblies, I am again unable to close the trigger guard.

****Edit - It seems to be a stock fitment issue, as I can seat the assembly without the sock on.
*******Edit#2 - I just verified my new stock is the issue. The new gun with new trigger assembly fits into my old Garand and the trigger guard assembly closes fine. Now do I sand the wood on my new $1200 gun?

I put a whole lot of force on the guard and have stopped as I don't want to bend it.

A gunsmith may be warranted.

Any ideas?

[peppermintman]

With the trigger guard all the way up ?

[Sailormilan2]

How far from closing does the TG come? If you are within a 1/2" or so, smack it with a rubber mallet. I've actually used a clamp to force the TG closed.
If it still won't close, carefully remove a little(a little goes a long way) from under the pads at the rear of the trigger.
But, if it was closed once, it should close again. Being tight won't hurt anything.
Also, put a little grease in the slots in the receiver legs where the locking lugs on the TG go. It will help it close, and keep the lugs from wearing as bad.

[TRICKSTER]

If it fit before there is no issue. You want a tight fit, use a rubber mallet if you have to, sanding is a last resort.

[John J]

Yes

With the trigger guard all the way up ?

I can verify the little bar is cnonnecting with the two passageways on the gun by lifting the weapon up and the barrell assembly stays with the trigger guard. It just won't go the final inch and I AM putting a LOT of pressure on the guard.

[John J]

I may turn the gun over

And lean into it. I put white out on the little bar that is on the TG, it put whitout where I would expect it to on the gun raceways.

I already put a little nick in the new wood and the flat metal cover plate.

How far from closing does the TG come? If you are within a 1/2" or so, smack it with a rubber mallet. I've actually used a clamp to force the TG closed.
If it still won't close, carefully remove a little(a little goes a long way) from under the pads at the rear of the trigger.
But, if it was closed once, it should close again. Being tight won't hurt anything.
Also, put a little grease in the slots in the receiver legs where the locking lugs on the TG go. It will help it close, and keep the lugs from wearing as bad.

**** Are you in the USN? My son is an FC2 on the Stennis.

[Danodog]

Rubber mallet or a slam with the palm of your hand.

[John J]

Yay, all it took was some

Juaveos and an 8 pound rubber mallet.
Thanks

The gun did not have a drop of oil or greese on it.

If it fit before there is no issue. You want a tight fit, use a rubber mallet if you have to, sanding is a last resort.

[John J]

8 rounds just fired, all is good in M1 land today.

[TRICKSTER]

Juaveos and an 8 pound rubber mallet.
Thanks

The gun did not have a drop of oil or greese on it.

It's a common issue with new stocks. When I took the CMP Advanced Maintenance Class, most of the class had this issue and though that they had to sand their stocks. Most people were hesitant to hit it hard with a rubber mallet, thinking that they might bend or break something The instructor said to give it a good whack and that resolved the issue for the vast majority of the rifles being built.

[John J]

Well thanks for giving me the courage. Time for some of that in liquid form.

[microwaveguy]

Every M1 Garand owner should have at least one rubber mallet.

[peppermintman]

I can verify the little bar is cnonnecting with the two passageways on the gun by lifting the weapon up and the barrell assembly stays with the trigger guard. It just won't go the final inch and I AM putting a LOT of pressure on the guard.

If the wood is real tight how hard was it pulling the barrel off?

[2shotjoe]

Every M1 Garand owner should have at least one rubber mallet.

That's what I do. Then open and close it until it closes freely.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

[John J]

It all came apart

With a tap. I think the issue was the trigger assembly was new and unfired. I beat the heck out of it once I agreed, the thing worked before I took it apart, why not beat the crap out of my new $1200 gun. I spent 2 hours learning about my Garand before I beat it, hard, deep, and long.

If the wood is real tight how hard was it pulling the barrel off?