Garand part swapping? Do people do it?

[backstrap]

I have a super nice HRA 5.6 with a new walnut stock and an SA bolt. Lately I've been thinking if I found another guy with an HRA bolt and HRA stock I could swap with them and we both win? Do guys already do this?

[Lifeon2whls]

I don't know about swapping but I have heard of people who buy multiple Garands and then swap parts around to eventually build a "correct" rifle. I'm sure you could post something up on the CMP forums and get someone to bite.

I'm curious about how easy the bolts are to find...I have a HRA as well and the rifle is almost complete with the exception of the bolt and stock.

[stevie]

I usually do it amongst my own rifles. If you find a likely prospect for trading, sure.

[John Browning]

You cannot swap bolts without headspacing them. That is the one part that you MUST have checked out by someone with the right tools and know how.

[kurac]

guilty!, between my own and then I have been known to buy correct for receiver parts on ebay and sell the ones I no longer need. I think buying a bunch from the CMP and then swinging parts between them is more cost effective.

[G-Man WC]

I would be fun to have a Garand swap meet BBQ get together at a range some day
to do swaps. Maybe a sticky DB here in C&R looking for a parts swap or trade. -g

[pro-nra]

I do it all the time. Buy several rifle to cann to make one "correct". Depending on what era rifle you are "correcting" it might take 15-20 rifles just to make one "correct" especially WRAs and somethimes you will never get there in case of gas trap era rifles.

[CaliB&R]

I feel your pain OP, I have a HRA Bolt, Hammer, Trigger Housing Id like to swap out for Springfield. Had a swap set up a couple years ago, but it fell through.

[TRICKSTER]

You cannot swap bolts without headspacing them. That is the one part that you MUST have checked out by someone with the right tools and know how.

And is very simple to do.

[microwaveguy]

I swapped a trigger assy and stock to make my SA 5.8mil "correct"

[aghauler]

You cannot swap bolts without headspacing them. That is the one part that you MUST have checked out by someone with the right tools and know how.

YEP! You must check headspace when installing a different bolt!

[Orlando]

99% chance you are fine when swapping bolts but not bad idea to check headspace
I have built and swapped bolts in many Garands and none of them failed headspace.
Do I recommend you not check headspace? No
Do I still check? Yes everytime
Is it a big deal as everyone makes of it? No

[bruceflinch]

If the Factory installed it, then it is correct, IMO.

[aghauler]

99% chance you are fine when swapping bolts but not bad idea to check headspace
I have built and swapped bolts in many Garands and none of them failed headspace.
Do I recommend you not check headspace? No
Do I still check? Yes everytime
Is it a big deal as everyone makes of it? No

I learned from a Garandsmith (he had over 250 Garands in his personal collection) to always check when exchanging bolts. Case in point when I was a Garand rookie, I took a Garand to him to checkout which I had purchased privately, not a CMP rifle. The bolt that was in it did not pass the headspace test. He went through a series of 3-4 bolts before he got one that headspaced, so lesson learned, I got my own gauges to check headspacing when moving bolts around, not that difficult and a good safety measure. My experience only, your mileage may vary.

[Orlando]

And what catastrophic event would have happened if you would have fired the rifle?
Nothing, having a bolt that has excesive headspace will not cause a catastrophic event
Again, I agree, you should still check headspace, never once said it should be overlooked