Opinions on a Beretta M1 Garand Barrel

R

Rome

New member
Hi Guys and Gals,

I've got the opportunity to replace the old barrel on my M1 Garand with a new Beretta M1 Barrel. I plan to mate it to a Springfield Arms 3,599,xxx receiver. The barrel checks out as perfect in every respect. Does anyone have an opinion about this match?

Any help or opinions will be greatly apprecaited.

Rome
 
I wouldn't pay more than great Dane

I don't know about the Beretta barrels. I do know the milspec Danish "VAR" barrels are considered some of the best (if not the best) service barrels ever made for the M1. With the huge influx of Danish parts kits in recent years these VAR barrels are plentiful and not very expensive - maybe 50 to 75 bucks like new. Most things Beretta are of high quality but I wouldn't pay more than a great Dane. -- Kernel
 
Beretta made many of the M1s for the Danish - I have one. Beretta barrels are excellent replacements. Why not a barrel that would match the receiver date? Post over at CSP website and you might be able to find one that matches. Also check the CMP website for parts. BTW yours was made Feb-Mar 1945.
 
Are you sure it is new? A lot of PB barrels show up in parts kits but most have been shot several thousand rounds.
 
Thanks for the replys. I had my existing barrel checked for erosion and headspace. It looks good and I had a reputible collector check it out today and he indicated that it appeard to be servicable and capable of shooting safely.

This rifle will start it's life with me as a blaster, then I'll turn it into a good shooter. I don't have the desire to make it "too" good. Just good enough to be accurate to 250 yards or so.

I agree that it would be nice to have a barrel closer to the build date. The current barrel is a 1966 SA, 26 years after the receiver was built. I love the historical connection these machines have to the past so I'll probably go down that path if I can find a really nice vintage barrel. There's no rush. That's after I get comfortable to firing my own M1.

Thanks, again. Any other suggestions will be certainly appreciated. I'm a newbie to M1s and take any suggestions seriously.

Rome
 
There's no doubt the Danes bought many Italian barrels and M1s made entirely in Italy under license, but all barrels marked "VAR", short for Vaabenarsenalet - Danish for Arms Arsenal, were made in Denmark. The VAR barrels I've seen have been marked with mid 60's dates. While some were used, many appeared in new condition with zero throat erosion. It is thought that these barrels were installed as the rifles were being rebuilt prior to placement into long-term storage and were never used.

Nothing wrong with a '66 SA barrel. If your throat erosion is 6 or less it'll be good for thousands of rounds. -- Kernel
 
Kernal:

Thanks for the "6 or less" spec. I didn't know that. I'm well within that dim so I guess we're a go!

Thanks.

R
 
Just a little bit of information to pass along. I don't know if they are any good or not but in the December Midway Arms Sales Catalog they are advertising new M1 Garand barrels made by a company called Wilson for sale. IIRC the Midway price is about 160 or so. They are short chambered so a finishing reamer needs to be run in it to adjust the headspace after it is screwed into the receiver.
 
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