My new Garand

[jgaffney]

I just received my CMP Garand last Tuesday. I was sweating it out with CMP to make sure I got the paperwork in before they ran out again (I missed last March), but everything came thru fine. I wanted one because I shot Expert with one in Navy boot camp.

I paid for the service-grade rifle, and mine's a Greek come-back. The furniture is pretty gummed up, but the action is in great shape. The barrel is clean and shiny with good rifling.

I cleaned the main part of the stock with mineral spirits and a green scrub pad, and I'm pretty happy with it. I've ordered the combo tool and the gas cylinder wrench from Fulton Armory so I can do a full tear-down and get the hand guards cleaned up. I don't want it to be too clean, just a shooter.

I now own a Garand just like the one my dad humped on Guadalcanal, and I own an Arisaka T99 just like the ones that were shooting at him. After owning both, I can see why we won. What did Patton say about "the greatest infantry weapon ever invented"?

I'll get some pictures posted later this week. If it doesn't rain this weekend in Sonoma County, I'll crank some rounds through it.

[five.five-six]

dish washer, no soap... or since my wife won't let me do that, I use a heat gun and a wet rag, lots of time but you can get the sock several shades lighter and raise a bunch of the bumps and dings

[ocabj]

You don't *need* the combo tool and gas wrench to tear it down. Get a wide blade flat head screw driver to unscrew the gas cylinder plug and get cracking on detail stripping and cleaning the gun now.

As far as it being too clean, don't hold back. That M1 has most likely been in storage for decades. You'll want to tear it down to each individual part and clean all the metal surfaces (and lightly oil with an oily cloth). Then grease the appropriate contact surfaces with milspec Lubriplate or wheel bearing grease after putting it all back together again.

The only item I wouldn't recommend taking off is the rear handguard clip. Even with the tool, you risk cracking the handguard, so you should only remove that item if absolutely necessary.

[five.five-six]

no joke, here is mine an hour after I got it

[Bassxhead]

dish washer, no soap... or since my wife won't let me do that, I use a heat gun and a wet rag, lots of time but you can get the sock several shades lighter and raise a bunch of the bumps and dings

Can you elaborate more on how to clean the stock with a heat gun?

[five.five-six]

oh it takes for ever, use the dishwasher if you can. what I did was use the rag to keep the wood wet, then heat the stock and whipt off the cosmaline that bubbles out. it is a ballancing act, the hotter you get the wood, the more cosmoline and junk bubbles out, but over heat is and you can burn the wood. you have to oil the wood fairly soon after or it may crack

[kurac]

no joke, here is mine an hour after I got it

You waited a whole hour to strip it down?

I just dropped an order in the mail today for a correct grade HRA

if its real nice maybe I will sell a couple of dogs to make room in the safe.

[five.five-six]

You waited a whole hour to strip it down?

no, silly! that's just how long it took me my first time. I was a M1 nube and all :P

[jgaffney]

You don't *need* the combo tool and gas wrench to tear it down. Get a wide blade flat head screw driver to unscrew the gas cylinder plug and get cracking on detail stripping and cleaning the gun now.

I already ordered it online from Fulton Armory.

The only item I wouldn't recommend taking off is the rear handguard clip. Even with the tool, you risk cracking the handguard, so you should only remove that item if absolutely necessary.

I have removed the handguard so I can clean up the wood. I'll leave the spring on while I'm doing that.

Thanks for the tips. I was a little anxious about tearing it completely down because I heard horror stories about bent operating rods. Life, Liberty, etc. has a good video on the field strip, and I learned that I was trying to rotate the op rod the wrong way (sound of hand slapping forehead).

Another horror story I've heard is about broken firing pins from dry-firing the rifle. I was used to snapping in from my Navy days, so I was a little worried about this. Fulton has a gizmo that fits in the breech and holds the bolt back about an inch. You can pull the bolt back far enough to cock the hammer, but it (the hammer) won't hit the firing pin when you pull the trigger. Any other comments on this?

[Bucc]

oh it takes for ever, use the dishwasher if you can. what I did was use the rag to keep the wood wet, then heat the stock and whipt off the cosmaline that bubbles out. it is a ballancing act, the hotter you get the wood, the more cosmoline and junk bubbles out, but over heat is and you can burn the wood. you have to oil the wood fairly soon after or it may crack

I put mine out in the sun on a good hot day.
I put it on the upper part of my deck on an old towel and it bled cosmo like a stuck pig.
It worked good for my SKS, and my M44s.
I used Linseed oil but a buddy used peanut oil and a heat lamp.

[Jarhead]

They let you fire rifles in the Navy? Just kidding Swabbie, you will enjoy your CMP M-1 Garand - in fact you will probably buy others. What's the serial number, WW2 or Post War?

Semper Fi

[jgaffney]

They let you fire rifles in the Navy? Just kidding Swabbie, you will enjoy your CMP M-1 Garand - in fact you will probably buy others. What's the serial number, WW2 or Post War?

The difference is that Marines shoot targets, we shot at targets!

The receiver is serial #5849852. According to the online databases, it's a 1954-55 Springfield Armory rifle that got shipped off to Greece. I don't know what the Greeks did with it, but the bore still looks very good.

I have all the metal parts washing in the dishwasher right now. I'll have it back together in time to shoot it this weekend.

[Bassxhead]

Does the dishwasher method remove all the finish and cartouches? I just got my first Correct grade and i want to preserve it dings and everything i just want to get it clean.

[Jeffy]

Does the dishwasher method remove all the finish and cartouches? I just got my first Correct grade and i want to preserve it dings and everything i just want to get it clean.

Yes, it will puff up the wood and any cartouche will fade a bit. I used a hot shower so I could control the water a bit better. I've heard some some people applying tape over the cartouche area so it doesn't get damaged. The later stamps like the P shouldn't have any problems. It's the Eagle and any of the Armory stamps that will fade.

You could also wrap it up in aluminum foil and let it sit out in the sun for a few days. This will help remove the oil finish without adding any water. Some have used oven cleaner too. You'll probably find a dozen different ways to remove the finish.

[otteray]

My god, you got a correct grade and want to use the dishwasher!!!??? Kinda defeats the purpose...
Go, now, to CMP's site and look at the recommendations for cleaning on the Articles page.
The dishwasher, oven cleaner, soaking in water, will strip it for complete refinishing.
Any original finish will be gone and the wood fibers will be irreversibly damaged (Checking, warping.)
You'd be better off just getting a new stock if you go the stripping route, and save the original from the torture.