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M1 Garand conversion to .308 Win...
- Thread starter xtrarnds
- Start date
There are 2 ways I can think of right off hand. One is with a chamber insert that is put into the chamber and it conforms the the shape of a 308/7.62MM. The bad thing about this is that sometimes it sticks to the case and on firing is ejected with the spent brass. The other way is to re-barrle the rifle to .308. The 308's will feed, and function just fine from a regular clip.
One Caviat
Back in the late '50s or early '60s, the US Navy used M1 Garand Match rifles which had been converted to accept the .308. This was done to take advantage of the (believed) super accuracy of the M1 Garands over the (then new) M14s. And also to take advantage of the (proven) superior accuracy of the .308 Winchester round over the .30-06.
Unfortunately, when civilians attempted to duplicate the .308 Garands, several rifles blew up. The cause was traced to a combination of two factors. First the rifles had chambered TIGHT as per normal match practice. Secondly, the rifles were using GI 7.62 ammunition (either ball or Match)at the time of the incident.
The reason--.308 and 7.62 NATO are NOT identical! The 7.62 round has a slightly longer case neck than does the .308. Other case dimentions also vary slightly. Firing a 7.62 round in a chamber at, or less than, SAAMI minimum resulted in the case neck being jammed into the rifling, resulting in an overpressure condition when fired.
The Lesson--DO NOT chamber at of below SAAMI minimum, or NEVER attempt to fire 7.62 NATO ammo in said chamber.
Yr. Obt. Svnt.
Back in the late '50s or early '60s, the US Navy used M1 Garand Match rifles which had been converted to accept the .308. This was done to take advantage of the (believed) super accuracy of the M1 Garands over the (then new) M14s. And also to take advantage of the (proven) superior accuracy of the .308 Winchester round over the .30-06.
Unfortunately, when civilians attempted to duplicate the .308 Garands, several rifles blew up. The cause was traced to a combination of two factors. First the rifles had chambered TIGHT as per normal match practice. Secondly, the rifles were using GI 7.62 ammunition (either ball or Match)at the time of the incident.
The reason--.308 and 7.62 NATO are NOT identical! The 7.62 round has a slightly longer case neck than does the .308. Other case dimentions also vary slightly. Firing a 7.62 round in a chamber at, or less than, SAAMI minimum resulted in the case neck being jammed into the rifling, resulting in an overpressure condition when fired.
The Lesson--DO NOT chamber at of below SAAMI minimum, or NEVER attempt to fire 7.62 NATO ammo in said chamber.
Yr. Obt. Svnt.
A buddy of mine rebarreled his Garand in .308 a few years ago and he says he regrets it. That was back when milsurp 30.06 was scarce and .308 was plentiful. Then there were a few years when the opposite was true but now there seems to be plenty of both calibers available.
xtrarnds, there's a guy in the city of Orange who's a Garand expert. Somebody nicknamed him Dr. Garand but I've never called him that. He worked on mine and several of my friends guns.
World of Warriors
2771 N Orange Olive Rd
Orange, CA
(714) 637-0637
xtrarnds, there's a guy in the city of Orange who's a Garand expert. Somebody nicknamed him Dr. Garand but I've never called him that. He worked on mine and several of my friends guns.
World of Warriors
2771 N Orange Olive Rd
Orange, CA
(714) 637-0637
I have had one of my Garands rebarreled into a 308. All it really takes is the correct barrel. I used a Wilson ($140 dealer cost at Brownnels). You may want to also get a "Navy" spacer for the Garand that makes it impossible to load a clip of 30-06 (about $8).
I'm not aware of any problems shooting 7.62 nato in a 308 rifle. I have heard of problems the other way around. I believe 308 specs are higher max pressure then 7.62.
I'm not aware of any problems shooting 7.62 nato in a 308 rifle. I have heard of problems the other way around. I believe 308 specs are higher max pressure then 7.62.