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Anyone with a "short stroking"  U.S. Rifle, Cal. .30, M1 should consider
the following comments from noted gunsmith and high power rifle shooter
Joseph B. Roberts, Jr. (....from the NRA's book _SEMI-AUTOMATIC RIFLES_)
....check the *obvious* things first before jumping up 'n down and making
uninformed allegations about unservicable rifles.

A question was asked....."The M1 rifle I recently received through the DCM
sales program is a joy to behold, but it doesn't work - it fires and ejects
alright, but won't feed a fresh cartridge semi-automatically.  The shipping
instructions are marked "ship servicable weapon."  Mine is obviously unserv-
able.  What should I do?"

During the last few years we've read some variation on this theme at least
two or three times every month out here....it gets a bit repetitious.

J. B. Roberts, Jr. replies...."When they were place in storage in the early
1960's, the M1 rifles now be shipped to DCM-approved purchasers were ear-
marked either for war reserve or for sale through military aid programs.  As
such, they were carefully inspected and repaired or refitted as necessary
to insure their serviceablity.  Most were refinished as well.  Following
this procedure, the rifles were thoroughly cleaned of all oil and dry-packed
for extended storage.  Thus, it is unlikely that there is anything mechanic-
ally wrong with your M1 rifle.  Failure to feed because of short recoil, as
you describe, is a common failure of the M1, especially M1s as they are
received from long-term storage.  In most cases, short recoil failures will
be found to be operator failures and not attributable to unservicability of
the rifle.

Before attempting to fire a recently arrived DCM M1, disassemble the rifle
and lubricate it using Hoppe's, Lubriplate, Plastilube, RIG, or a similar
gun grease as follows:

Place a generous coat of grease on the bolt camming surfaces machined into
the operating rod handle.  Note: Lubriplate and Plastilube were designed for
this purpose;  use other greases as substitutes.

Next apply light-to-medium coats of grease to the boltways and operating rod
track in the receiver, on the underside of the barrel and matching concave
portion of the operating rod where the two parts slide together, and on the
contacting surfaces of the operating rod and operating rod catch.  Put light
coats of grease in the tracks in the receiver in which the follower assembly
slides, and in the slot in the follower for the follower arm.  Put a light
coat of grease on the follower rod.

Use a good grade of gun oil or a Teflon-bearing lubricant like Break-Free to
lubricate the operating rod spring and the follower arm pin.

Finally, disassemble the trigger housing group, lubricate, and reassemble
according to instructions published in the NRA's booklet _THE M1 RIFLE_,
article title "Improving the M1 Rifle's Trigger"...to order simply call NRA
Sales Department at 1-800-336-7402 (M-F 9-9ET) and order PB 01660 ... $2.95.

<Time Out>------------------------------------------------------------------
(NOTE: Another excellent source of information that covers these important
aspects of the M1 for civilian shooters is Scott A. Duff's _THE M1 GARAND:
OWNER'S GUIDE_....it is available from Fulton Armory (1-800-878-9485) at a
nominal fee, autographed by the author if I remember correctly.  If you own
an M1 Garand then you need both of these publications....'nuf said.)
<Time In>-------------------------------------------------------------------

When reassembling the rifle, take care to insure that the gas port in the
barrel is located wholly in the corresponding slot in the gas cylinder.
And, prior to replacing the gas cylinder lock screw, check the spring-
loaded head found in lock screws of newer manufacture (those having a cru-
ciform screw slot), to make sure that the head fits tightly in its seat in
lock screw.

Even when properly lubricated, the new finish on an M1 rifle may prevent it
from functioning with complete reliability until 25 to 50 rounds have been
fired to "wear it in."

This last point is quite valid and has been seen time and again on countless
firing lines across the country....a refinished firearm *must* be allowed to
"wear in" before it can be expected to give you reliable service.  Hopefully
you'll take care of this during practice sessions before showing up to fire
a match for record.

On another subject, REFURBISHED PARTS....from Jerry Kuhnhausen as written
in his M1/M14 Shop Manual.  Anyone interested in military service rifles of
any type should have this printed in large letters and hanging over their
gunsafe or work bench for thoughtful consideration.

"Although refurbishing old service rifles and reparkerizing parts does, in-
 deed, make them look better, IT CAN'T UNDO WEAR.  A new paint job will not
 turn back the mileage."

So simple....so true....and so often ignored by those hung up on "how does
it look"....instead of the more important question "how does it shoot?"

'Nuf said <Wry Smile>!

Robert Gibson

